I formed this opinion in October 2022, when I spent two weeks backpacking through Europe with a Eurail pass.
Eurail passes grant travelers unlimited access to most European trains for a set number of days. Some trains only require a Eurail pass, while others, including overnight trains, incur an additional, discounted price.
Instead of trudging through airports and squeezing into coach seating, I rode the rails in affordable, top-tier classes. Here's why I'll only take trains through Europe in the future.
I used Eurail to travel by train from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland and to travel locally in those countries.The author prepares to board a train in Europe.
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It was my first time using Eurail, and I bought a weeklong pass for $477. A ticket for the same journey in 2024 would cost about $360, according to a search on the company's website.
In total, I took eight train rides between six different cities over a seven-day period.The author's Eurail pass on a European train.
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I paid additional fees on top of my Eurail pass for two overnight trains, and when I upgraded from coach to first and business class on three rides. Each added fee was between $10 and $45, depending on the trip duration. The total cost of train travel was $560 with the upgrades.
According to a quick search on Google Flights, if I were to fly between each city in economy class instead, it would be about the same price as a Eurail pass — $360.The author gets off a red-eye flight in Berlin.
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But I'd still travel by train on future trips.
With Eurail, I could afford to ride in first and business class in large, plush seats.The author sits in business class on a train in Italy.
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From attendant service to oversized bathrooms with mood lighting, traveling in business class through Italy was a dream. Comparable cabins on a plane would be too expensive for me.
I also booked a bunk in a shared cabin on an overnight train.The author rides a Nightjet sleeper train in Europe.
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I could lie flat and get some sleep, which would have been much more difficult on a red-eye flight in coach.
Additionally, trains were easier and quicker to board than flights.The author boards trains in Italy.
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Rather than going through a lengthy check-in and security process at the airport, I could just walk right onto the train platform.
And on trains, I didn't experience one of the most annoying things that happens to me when I fly: the ear-popping that often lingers for a couple of days.The author enjoys a business-class ride on a Trenitalia train in Italy.
Plus, with large windows overlooking picturesque scenery, my train rides offered views of each country that I wouldn't see from a plane.Views of Switzerland from a train window
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As I traveled from Italy to Switzerland, looking out the window kept me off my iPad for the entire ride.
Lastly, I appreciated that traveling by train is a more sustainable way to get around Europe.Inside a train car in Italy.
For me, traveling by Eurail pass proved to be comfier and more eco-friendly than flying.The author boards a train in Italy with her big backpack in October 2022.