Getting around
Rail passes, train tickets, night trains, ferries and rental cars. Price the route before you buy the pass.
A rail pass beats point-to-point tickets only when your average train day would cost more than the pass price plus seat reservations, divided by travel days. So price the route first: list each leg, look up the operator's fare for your dates, and add the reservation fee that most high-speed and night trains charge pass holders. Then decide when to book. The cheapest fares are limited per train, tied to one departure and usually cannot be refunded, and each operator opens sales on its own schedule, from about four months ahead to a year. Buy from the operator when you can, because a reseller sells the same ticket with its own fee on top. Night trains add a choice between a seat, a couchette and a sleeper. The guides here also cover the places a train does not reach: Greek island ferries, the international driving permit, and the rental car insurance you can and cannot decline.
Guides
Head to headIs a Eurail pass worth it? Price it per travel day first
Field reportSleeping on the Nightjet: a four-berth couchette, hour by hourPhoto essayArriving by night train: six dawns in six stations
How toGreek island ferries: how to book, which operator, and how to track strikes
RulesInternational Driving Permit: who needs one, where to get it, what insurers say
How toBuying European train tickets: official sites vs resellers and the booking window
How toRenting a car abroad: the insurance you can decline and the one you cannot
How toNight trains in Europe: how to book, which berth, what it costsQuestions people ask
Is a rail pass worth it, or should I buy point-to-point tickets?
Do the sum: pass price plus seat reservations, divided by travel days, against the fares you would pay for your dates. A 7-day Eurail Global Pass cost €381 for an adult in 2nd class on 3 October 2026, about €54 a travel day before reservations. On a short trip between a few cities on high-speed lines, operator fares booked ahead often come out lower.
How far in advance can I book train tickets in Europe?
It varies by operator. On their own sites, read on 2 October 2026: Eurostar 10 to 11 months ahead, Deutsche Bahn up to 12 months, ÖBB Nightjet up to 360 days, SBB up to 6 months within Switzerland, and SNCF usually 4 months for TGV INOUI. Trenitalia and Renfe state no fixed window, so check the booking engine for your date.
Do I need seat reservations with a rail pass?
On most high-speed and night trains, yes, and the fee is not included in the pass. Indicative fees on the pass seller's site, read on 3 October 2026: €10 to €20 for a French TGV INOUI, €13 for an Italian Frecciarossa and €10 to €13 for a Spanish AVE. On German ICE trains a reservation is optional, at €5.50 in 2nd class.
Is it cheaper to buy train tickets from the operator or a reseller?
The fare is the operator's either way. A reseller adds its own booking fee, which shows before you pay and is not refunded. Compare the two totals for the same train and fare type, and check who handles a change: operator sites list their own change and cancellation fees separately.
Can I change or refund a cheap advance train ticket?
Usually not. Saver fares are tied to the train you book: ÖBB's Sparschiene and Deutsche Bahn's Super Sparpreis cannot be exchanged or canceled, SBB refunds a Supersaver only within 30 minutes of purchase, and Renfe's Básico is non-refundable. Flexible fares cost more and allow changes, so book the saver once your dates are fixed.