Traveling around Europe sounds expensive. Well, with interrail and good planning it doesn’t have to be
Interrailing is probably one of the coolest things you can do while young. The freedom of hop in and off in trains while discovering one of the most beautiful regions in the world is an experience I can recommend to everyone. After preparing a guide about how the different Interrail passes in Europe work, we decided to take a step further and show you some tips on how to make your trip more comfortable and less expensive.
If you plan your journey carefully, doing interrail on a budget is possible. Cost of train tickets, accommodation, food and entertainment do vary between countries in Europe, but there are many ways to enjoy a low-cost trip. Luckily, with some preparation, rail travel in Europe does not have to cost nearly as much as you may think!
To help you plan the perfect trip around Europe, we have put together a handy guide on interrail tips in Europe from our own experience traveling around the continent.
Read more: A guide for traveling on interrail
Plan your route and compare interrail fares
Make sure to plan your European interrail itinerary and to compare the costs of different train fares. Save money by travelling outside of the high season. Travel on the cheapest day of the week too. You will save yourself a lot of money and dodge the swarms of travelers. This will enable you to travel for a fraction of what it would normally cost during peak times. Compare costs on websites like Safe a Train and begin planning and pricing up your train journey.
Read more: 48 tips for backpacking Europe on a budget
Save on accommodation by taking the night train
On any European travel adventure, one of the biggest expenses is accommodation. The choice of where to sleep for the night very much depends on your budget and the type of experience you are looking for. Night trains are a good option for spending less money on accommodation. There is no additional fee to travel on a night train and you will also maximise your time by travelling while you sleep. If you are travelling from Milan to Paris or Venice to Paris the Thello Trains are an efficient and comfortable way to reach your destination. Travelling on a night train is one of the great interrailing tips as it is a fantastic way to stretch your budget during your trip!
NOTE: Although there are no extra fees for traveling at night, seat reservation is obligatory and of course: Beds are way more expensive than that uncomfortable seat.
Read more: Why interrailing alone is awesome
Take advantage of free city attractions
In some cities, you can visit a variety of museums and attractions for free. London has an exceptional range of museums and attractions to visit, completely free of charge. In European cities, such as Copenhagen, free admission into museums is offered once a week. Berlin has an incredible free walking tour of all the city’s main attractions.
Many other cities like Amsterdam have an annual night where all museums open their doors to the public for free. Your budget does not have to be big to explore these incredible cities. Make sure to take advantage of all these wonderful free attractions.
Read more: Tips for packing on an interrail trip
Eat where the locals do
European cities can be expensive to eat, especially when you are on a tight budget. Try to avoid dining in restaurants situated in the main tourist areas. These are the restaurants that are more expensive and often the quality of food is less than places further out.
Try to walk out of the main tourist areas and eat among the locals for delicious food that is half the price.
Read more: Eating in Athens like the locals do
