β‘ TL;DR
- 2-week trip: Pick 3-4 countries max β spend at least 2 nights per city
- Pass vs tickets: 4+ countries + flexible = get a pass. Fixed dates = book advance tickets
- Budget: Backpacker β¬60-80/day, mid-range β¬120-160/day (accommodation + transport + food)
- Night trains: ΓBB Nightjet is a game-changer β saves hotel costs and travel time
Pass or Tickets? The Decision Framework
π« Get a Eurail Pass
- Visiting 4+ countries
- Flexible schedule, spontaneous travel
- Heavy on Germany/Switzerland/Austria
- 7+ travel days
- Under 28 (youth discount)
- Value the freedom to hop on any train
ποΈ Book Individual Tickets
- 1-3 countries only
- Fixed dates and times
- Heavy on France/Spain
- Fewer than 5 travel days
- Budget priority (advance tickets are 50-70% off)
- Willing to spend time comparison shopping
Sample Itineraries
π 2-Week Classic
Paris β Brussels β Amsterdam β Berlin β Prague β Vienna β Munich
2 days per city is just right. Paris to Brussels by Thalys (1.5h), Berlin to Prague by direct train (4.5h).
π 3-Week Deep Dive
London β Paris β Interlaken β Milan β Florence β Rome β Vienna β Budapest β Munich
Adds Switzerland and Italy depth. London-Paris Eurostar is separate (β¬50-130). Switzerland has the most scenic routes β try the GoldenPass line.
π 1-Month Backpacking
Paris β Barcelona β Nice β Milan β Venice β Vienna β Prague β Berlin β Copenhagen β Amsterdam β London
Don't rush! Keep 3-4 buffer days for your favorite cities. Use night trains for long distances (Vienna-Berlin Nightjet from ~β¬30).
Cross-Border Routing Tips
- Plan geographically: Route your trip in one direction (north-south or east-west) to avoid backtracking.
- Minimize reservation countries: France and Spain require mandatory high-speed reservations with limited pass seats. Prioritize Germany/Switzerland/Austria if using a pass.
- Cross-border trains: Many border crossings need no reservations β MunichβSalzburg, AmsterdamβBerlin (ICE, no reservation). But ZurichβMilan requires one.
- Check reservations first: Use eurail.com's reservation page to see which trains require bookings. This heavily impacts route planning.
- Buffer connections: Allow at least 30 minutes for international connections. Missed trains happen β especially in Italy and France.
π Night Train Recommendations
Night trains are a backpacker's secret weapon β fall asleep and wake up in a new city, saving a hotel night.
| Route | Operator | From (seat/bed) |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna β Berlin | ΓBB Nightjet | β¬30 / β¬50 |
| Vienna β Rome | ΓBB Nightjet | β¬30 / β¬50 |
| Zurich β Berlin | ΓBB Nightjet | β¬30 / β¬50 |
| Paris β Berlin | European Sleeper | β¬49 / β¬89 |
| Stockholm β Hamburg | SnΓ€lltΓ₯get | β¬29 / β¬59 |
| Prague β Zurich | ΓBB Nightjet | β¬30 / β¬50 |
π‘ Pass holders only pay the seat/couchette reservation fee β no ticket needed.
Budget Estimates
| Backpacker | Mid-Range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation/night | β¬20-35 | β¬60-100 | β¬120-200 |
| Food/day | β¬15-25 | β¬30-50 | β¬60-100 |
| Transport/day | β¬20-30 | β¬30-50 | β¬50-80 |
| Activities/day | β¬5-15 | β¬15-25 | β¬25-40 |
| Daily total | β¬60-105 | β¬135-225 | β¬255-420 |
| 2-week total | β¬840-1470 | β¬1890-3150 | β¬3570-5880 |
Essential Apps & Websites
- Eurail/Interrail App: Pass activation, management, and mobile tickets
- DB Navigator: The best train schedule app in Europe β covers all countries, not just Germany
- Trainline: Multi-country ticket comparison and booking. Supports Trenitalia + Italo + SNCF and more
- Seat61.com: The train travel bible β detailed guides for every route in Europe
- Rome2Rio: See all transport options between any two points (train, bus, flight)
- Hostelworld / Booking.com: Essential for accommodation booking
Start Planning Your Europe Trip
Enter your dream cities and we'll find the best pass option for your trip.
π Calculate Now β Free