Interrailing, or travelling by train, around Europe is one of the most popular ‘gap year’ activities. However, you can get a pass for anywhere between 5 days and a month, so it’s a great alternative to a traditional summer holiday even for the grown ups with a career! An interrailing trip can take a lot of planning, as you need to know your route beforehand to avoid running into hidden costs or any problems once you get into Europe. This guide is designed to help you plan the adventure of your lifetime.
About Interrailing
With one ticket, you can travel all around Europe for up to a month. You can either purchase a One Country interail Pass, which allows you to explore a single country, or a Global pass which will allow you to explore the following destinations:
- Germany
- France
- Norway
- Austria
- Sweden
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Finland
- Luxembourg
- Greece
- Italy
- Spain
- Croatia
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Poland
- Portugal
- Hungary
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Czech Republic
- Serbia
- Macedonia
- Slovakia
- Turkey
- Slovenia
With such a wide range of countries to visit, you can pass through bustling cities or relax on sunny beaches. The pass works by offering ‘travel days’, such as 5 in 10 days or 10 days within 22 days. What this means is that of the 22 days that your pass is valid for, you can travel on 10 of them. Before you board your first train, you should fill out on your calendar provided which days you are going to travel- if you don’t, this is the equivalent of travelling without a ticket!
Because you have to plan your travel days, it’s a great idea to plan your route roughly before you go.
An interrail pass is personal, so you should always carry your passport in case you are asked to prove your identity. 
The pass allows you to use Europe’s trains for free, but some journeys may require a supplement or fee to reserve a seat, or a bed for night trains. Make sure you ask at the station to avoid any surprises.
Before you go
Read up and plan your route before you leave. You should start off somewhere that is cheap to fly to from where you live. Easyjet offers cheap flights to a range of European destinations. Remember to also book your flight home, so at the bare minimum your planned route should include a beginning and end destination. Once you know where you want to go, teach yourself a few words of each language. This will help you get by in each country. You should know:
- Hello/goodbye
- Please/thankyou
- Yes/no
- Do you speak English?
- Numbers
- Do I have to pay a supplement? (for train travel)
Accommodation
The choice of where to spend the night is down to your budget (we’ll discuss this later!) and personal preference. There are a range of options:
Camping
This is a popular and cheap way to enjoy your trip. There are campsites all over the continent and in some places, wild camping is permitted (check before you bed down for the night). You should bear in mind that camp sites are often located far away from the train station and you will have to carry all your camping equipment around with you.
Hostels
Hostels are the most popular option for travellers. They’re much cheaper than hotels, but you may have to share a room or a bathroom. They’re also a great way to meet fellow travellers, and many hostels will organise tours and bar crawls.
Trivago has a range of hostels in many popular interrailing destinations.
Night trains
You’ll often have to pay a supplement for night trains, but they’re cheaper than a hostel and you will maximise your time away. Plus, if you board a train after 7pm and it doesn’t reach it’s final destination until after 4am, this only counts as one travel day! 
Couch Surfing
This is becoming a more popular option for travellers on a budget. Stay with a local for free, on the premise that you’ll return the favour if they ever end up in your neck of the woods one day. This method is great for experiencing your destination through the eyes of a local.
Budget
It’s very likely that you’ll end up spending more money than you expect. You’ll spend the most on accommodation, so maximise your budget by eating street food or buying a picnic from a supermarket. Drink plenty of water, but don’t buy it in tourist locations. If you plan to buy souvenirs, stay away from the tourist shops and remember that whatever you buy you will have to carry around with you.
How much money you take depends entirely on how much you plan to do. If you plan to do paid attractions and eat out every day, it will become expensive, but if you pre-book accommodation and eat bread and cheese, it can be much cheaper.
What to pack
Remember to pack light as you’ll be carrying everything around. Your backpack is very important, so pick one that is around 60 litres in size. Then, fill it with: 
- A light sleeping bag, perfect for night trains or if your hostel bed is less than ideal.
- Travel pillow, again ideal for night trains. A self inflating one will save space.
- First aid kit- nothing too wild, just plasters, paracetamol and antiseptic cream.
- Combination lock- for your backpack.
- Universal travel adapter- you’ll want to charge your phone so you can keep in touch with loved ones!
- Toiletries- travel toothbrush, mini toothpaste, baby wipes.
- Guide book- try to choose one that covers all of Europe, such as one by Lonely Planet.
- Money belt- not very stylish, but will help to keep all the important things safe.
Lastly, have fun! Interrailing can seem like a lot of planning, but it will truly be the adventure of your lifetime.
