Platform 11 Blog: Beginner Guides
Sep 27, 2026 · @Adam
Post 1: Interrail Explained — How the Pass Actually Works
An Interrail pass is one ticket that lets you ride trains across Europe as often as you like within a set period. It covers 33 countries, from Portugal to Turkey and Norway to Greece. Here is how it works in plain terms.
Anyone can buy one now
Until September 2026 there were two passes: Eurail for travellers living outside Europe and Interrail for Europeans. They have now merged into one pass called Interrail, sold to everyone wherever they live. If you bought a Eurail pass before the change, it stays valid.
Global Pass or One Country Pass
The Global Pass covers every participating country, so it suits trips that cross borders. The One Country Pass covers a single country and suits a trip spent entirely in, say, Italy or Germany. We cover which to choose in our next post.
Continuous or Flexi
A Continuous pass gives unlimited travel every day for a fixed block: 15 days, 22 days, or a month and more. A Flexi pass gives a set number of travel days, such as 4, 5 or 7, to use whenever you like within a longer window. Flexi suits most city-hopping trips, where you spend a day or two in each place between train rides.
Using it on your phone
Most passes are now mobile. You download the Rail Planner app, add your pass, and activate it on your first travel day. Before each journey you add the train to your pass, and the app shows a ticket to the conductor. You can buy up to 11 months ahead and choose your start date later.
What it does not cover
The pass gets you on the train, but not always a seat. Most high-speed and night trains need a reservation at extra cost. Some budget operators, such as Ouigo in France, do not accept passes at all.
One rule for your home country
If you live in one of the 33 countries, the Global Pass only covers one journey out of your home country and one journey back in. Each of those uses a travel day.
Who gets a discount
Youth passes are for anyone under 28 on the first day of travel. Seniors get a discount too, and young children travel free with a paying adult.
Next step: want the thinking done for you? Every Platform 11 guide tells you which pass, if any, is worth buying for that route.
Post 2: Global Pass, One Country Pass or Point-to-Point Tickets — Which Should You Buy?
A rail pass is not always the cheapest option. For a short trip with two or three train rides, single tickets often cost less. Here is how to decide.
The quick maths
Divide the pass price by the number of travel days. That is your cost per day. A 7-day Global Pass costs roughly €380 for an adult in 2nd class, or about €54 per travel day. Then add any reservation fees you will pay on top.
Now price your actual journeys as single tickets. If your average ticket costs more than the pass works out per day, buy the pass. If not, buy tickets.
When the Global Pass wins
Long trips across several countries, especially two weeks or more.
Last-minute travel, when single fares are at their highest.
Travellers who want the freedom to change plans on the day.
When a One Country Pass wins
It makes sense when your whole trip is in one country with expensive long-distance fares. Switzerland is the clearest example. Swiss fares are among the highest in Europe, so the Swiss Travel Pass usually pays for itself on a short trip.
When point-to-point tickets win
Short hops in small countries. In Belgium and the Netherlands, domestic fares are short and cheap, so a pass rarely pays off.
Two-leg trips in Italy or Spain. Advance Trenitalia, Italo and Renfe fares are often cheaper than a pass plus reservations.
Routes run by budget operators like Ouigo, which do not accept passes.
A simple rule of thumb
One country, few trains, booked early: buy tickets. Many countries, many trains, or booking late: buy a pass.
Next step: every Platform 11 route guide includes a pass recommendation worked out for that exact trip, so you never overpay.
Post 3: Seat Reservations — When You Need Them and When You Don't
Your Interrail pass gets you on the train, but some trains also need a reserved seat. Get this wrong and you could be refused boarding or fined. The good news: the rules follow a clear pattern.
Reservation required
High-speed trains in France, Spain and Italy. Think TGV, AVE and Frecciarossa. Book early in summer, because pass-holder seats are limited and sell out.
Night trains. You need a seat, couchette or sleeper booking on almost every overnight service.
Eurostar and some international trains. These use special pass-holder fares with limited availability.
Reservation optional
Germany's ICE and IC trains. You can board without one, but a reservation guarantees a seat on busy routes and Friday or Sunday afternoons.
No reservation needed
Regional and local trains almost everywhere. Just add the journey to your pass and hop on.
Domestic trains in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium. Even the fast intercity services are walk-on.
How much reservations cost
Fees range from a few euros on domestic trains to much more on popular high-speed and night routes. A few reservations can add a noticeable amount to your trip, so include them when comparing a pass against single tickets. Interrail has also been trialling a Plus Pass that bundles some reservation costs into the price.
How to book
You can book many reservations through the Interrail website or app. Others must be booked with the train operator or at a station ticket office. Always carry your reservation alongside your pass.
Top tip
Check the train type, not just the route. Two trains between the same cities can have different rules: a high-speed service may need a reservation while a slower regional train does not.
Next step: Platform 11 Tier 2 guides list the reservation rules and best departure windows for every leg of your route.
Post 4: How to Plan Your First Multi-City Rail Trip in Five Steps
A great first rail trip is short, simple and well paced. Three cities in five days is the sweet spot: enough variety to feel like an adventure, without spending the whole trip on trains.
Step 1: Pick one country or region
Start small. One country keeps tickets, currency and languages simple. Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland are compact and easy for beginners. Germany, Italy and Spain reward a little more planning.
Step 2: Choose three cities along one line
Pick a big city to start, a smaller town in the middle, and a strong finish. Keep each leg under about three hours so you arrive with time to explore. A loop that starts and ends in the same city also makes flights easier to book.
Step 3: Split your nights
For five days and four nights, give two nights to the city with the most to see and one night each to the others. Don't pack in more stops than you have nights: every move costs you half a day.
Step 4: Decide on pass or tickets
Count your train rides and price them as single tickets. For most three-city trips inside one country, point-to-point tickets are cheaper. Switzerland is the main exception, where a pass usually pays off.
Step 5: Book the fixed parts, leave room for the rest
Book flights, accommodation near the station, and any compulsory train reservations. Then choose your top few things to do in each city and leave space for wandering.
A sample route
Brussels, Ghent and Bruges, returning to Brussels, is a perfect first trip. Every leg is under an hour, no reservations are needed, and each city feels completely different.
Next step: skip the planning altogether. Platform 11 route guides give you a ready-made route, nights per city, top things to do, pass advice and a budget. Or try our Tier 3 service for a trip built around you.
Post 5: Common Interrail Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Most Interrail problems come from a handful of easy-to-avoid slip-ups. Here are the big ones.
1. Buying a pass you don't need
A pass feels like the obvious choice, but for short trips in one country single tickets are often cheaper. Do the maths before you buy.
2. Forgetting reservations
High-speed trains in France, Spain and Italy, and nearly all night trains, need a reservation on top of your pass. In summer these sell out, so book as soon as your plans are fixed.
3. Not adding the journey to your pass
With a mobile pass, you must add each train to the Rail Planner app before you board. Without it, you don't have a valid ticket, even if your pass is active.
4. Overpacking the itinerary
Seven cities in seven days sounds exciting and feels exhausting. Every move eats half a day. Fewer stops with more time in each makes for a better trip.
5. Ignoring the home-country rule
If you live in a pass country, your Global Pass only covers one trip out of it and one trip back. Journeys within your home country otherwise need a normal ticket.
6. Leaving tight connections
Trains run late, platforms change, and big stations are huge. Leave at least 20 to 30 minutes for a change, and more when switching stations or countries.
7. Not checking which operators accept passes
Some operators, like Ouigo in France, don't accept Interrail at all. Check the train type before you plan around it.
8. Forgetting local habits
Shops close for siesta in Spain, dinner starts late there, and in Switzerland trains leave exactly on time. A little local knowledge saves a lot of frustration.
Next step: every Platform 11 guide includes essential tips for each route, so you can travel like you've done it before.