Eurail Pass Guide: Price & How to Use This Train Ticket Across Europe

You may not be familiar with the term Eurail Pass, but for those who have traveled to Europe—especially more than once—this is a common go-to travel solution.

So, what exactly is a Eurail Pass?

What Is a Eurail Pass and Which Countries Are Covered?

The Eurail Pass (formerly known as Europass or Eurorail Pass) is a special train pass for non-European residents that allows unlimited rail travel across various European countries.

The Eurail Global Pass is valid in 33 European countries, including:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

However, five European countries are not covered by the pass: Albania, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Moldova.

Alternatively, if you only plan to explore one specific country, you can get the Eurail One-Country Pass, available for nearly all European countries except Switzerland (which uses the Swiss Travel Pass instead).

Unlike Japan’s JR Pass which operates its own train system, Eurail Pass is valid for public trains—used by locals for daily commuting—so you’ll need to follow regular European train schedules.

Eurail Pass Prices

There are different price levels for 1st Class and 2nd Class tickets:

• 2nd Class: Regular trains used daily by locals.
• 1st Class: Offers more comfort and space, typically used for longer journeys.

Tickets are also categorized by passenger type:

• Senior: Age 60+
• Adult: Age 28–59
• Youth: Age 12–27
• Child: Age 4–11 (Free with adult ticket)
• Infant: Under 4 years (Free, no ticket required)

Note: One adult ticket comes with up to 2 free child passes. For more than two children, additional youth passes must be purchased.

Here are the price details:

How to Purchase a Eurail Pass

You can conveniently buy a Eurail Pass via their website here. You’ll be asked to provide:

• Full name and gender (as per passport)
• Travel start date
• Date of birth
• Email address
• Phone number

After your details are submitted, Global Komunika will send your Eurail Pass and user guide directly to your email.

How to Use the Eurail Pass

Once you’ve received your electronic Eurail Pass, follow these steps to activate and use it:

Step-by-Step via Rail Planner App:

1. Download the Rail Planner App (Google Play / App Store)

2. Open the app → Tap the pop-up box → Click “Get Started”

3. Choose “Eurail Pass” → Click “Next”

4. Tap “Add a Pass” → Choose “Mobile Pass”

5. Enter your last name and the 6-digit pass number

6. Click “Add this Pass”

Reminder: Child passes can only be activated with an adult pass. If traveling as a group using the same device, you must stay together.

Connect Your Trip:

1. Tap “Connect a Trip” → Name your trip → Tap “Connect this Trip”

Activate Your Pass:

1. Tap “Activate this Pass” → “Start Activation”

2. Enter your passport number

3. Select your start travel date (You can change it before the date begins)

4. Review the info, then click “Activate this Pass”

Use It on Trains:

Tap “My Pass” → “Show Ticket”

Scroll down to check that your selected train journey is listed

If not, tap “Edit Journeys” to add your trip

Show the barcode to station staff when asked