Scenic Train, Norway. Photo: Eurail If you’re thinking about taking a train trip through Europe next year, now’s a good time to look at Eurail and Interrail. Both passes are 25% off until December 17, and the discount applies to every Global Pass and almost all One Country Passes.
Railway, Italy. Photo: EurailThe only exception is Switzerland. You can buy now and travel anytime in the next 11 months, giving you plenty of time to plan.
Just as a reminder, Eurail Passes are for travelers who don’t live in Europe, and Interrail Passes are for European citizens and residents. So whichever group you fall into, your version of the pass is part of this promotion.
Eurail is also bringing back its "Journeys That Make a Difference" campaign, an initiative that encourages travelers to choose trips that benefit both them and the places they visit. As part of the program, Eurail will donate €100,000 to The Intrepid Foundation, continuing a partnership focused on helping local organizations across Europe. Previous contributions have supported community projects such as waste education in Croatia and essential care programs for mothers and children in Greece. This year, two grassroots groups will receive Impact Grant funding: AMURTEL in Greece, which works with refugee and migrant families, and Cooperativa Coraggio in Italy, which promotes sustainable farming and community education near Rome.
Eurail says the idea behind the campaign is simple. “Eurail believes the benefits of travel can go both ways, enriching both the traveller and the destinations they encounter,” said Kavita Kooijman, Brand Strategist at Eurail. The message from The Intrepid Foundation echoes this sentiment. “The Intrepid Foundation believes that travel can be a powerful force for good,” said General Manager Biheng Zhang.
If you’re trying to decide between one-way tickets and a pass, think about how many trips you’re planning. A single ticket is for point-to-point travel, and that’s sometimes all you need. However, if your itinerary includes several stops, a pass often works out better. It’s flexible, and you can choose when to use each travel day.
Scenic train, Switzerland. Photo: EurailGlobal Passes are the best fit if your trip crosses multiple countries. They cover 33 nations, work on thousands of routes, and let you adjust your plans along the way. Eurail is for non-EU residents, and Interrail is for Europeans, but both offer Global and One Country options.
You can also pick between a Flexipass and a Continuous Pass. A Continuous Pass lets you travel every day within the validity period, while a Flexipass gives you a set number of travel days to use whenever you want. If your trip has a mix of long travel days and slow days in one place, the flexible option usually makes more sense.
Many passes also come with extra perks, like free travel for children or discounts for young and senior travelers. Some even offer reduced prices on museums or public transport. If you’re using high-speed or international trains, you may need seat reservations, which you can book directly in the app.
A One Country Pass is often the best choice if you want to focus on a single destination but still move around a lot. You choose the country, the number of travel days, the validity period, and whether you want first or second class.
With the current 25% discount, it’s a good moment to lock something in if you already have a route in mind, or even if you don’t. Europe is easy to explore by train, and these passes make it even easier.