Where is the best place to book a train ticket in Europe?

Where is the best place to book a train ticket in Europe? In most cases, the best way to purchase European train tickets is through a third-party booking website like Omio or Trainline. These services are much more user-friendly than booking directly through each country's national rail service.

How far in advance should I book a train ticket in Europe?

On-sale dates vary by country, route, and time of year, with most starting two to four months in advance of travel, and six months ahead for Germany and the Eurostar Chunnel train. In some areas (such as Switzerland and most eastern countries), advance-purchase deals either don't exist or aren't worth the hassle.

What is the cheapest way to travel through Europe by train?

Buy European rail passes Purchasing relevant rail passes for European countries can seriously help cut costs when travelling by train. “Consider buying an Interrail pass (for European residents, interrail.eu) or Eurail pass (for non-residents, eurail.com).

Is First Class train in Europe worth it?

First class rail travel is irresistible. There's nothing like watching the beautiful and ever-changing European scenery pass by from a quiet and comfortable train compartment, with the comforting sound of rail cars gliding smoothly over the rail tracks.

What is the most reliable way to book train tickets in Europe?

In most cases, the best way to purchase European train tickets is through a third-party booking website like Omio or Trainline. These services are much more user-friendly than booking directly through each country's national rail service.

What is the cheapest day of the week to travel to Europe?

Trying to save money by traveling on a certain day of the week can be hit-or-miss with flights to Europe. It's often cheaper to fly mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in particular, but sometimes you can get the same mid-week fare on a Saturday. 2 The length of your stay can make a big difference in price.

Is it worth getting a Eurail Pass?

But if you're planning a longer journey with multiple stopovers and changes, the flexibility and convenience of a Eurail Pass is unrivalled – and for many popular routes it works out cheaper than point-to-point tickets, especially if you're traveling as a group or with children and you can take advantage of Eurail ...

Is it better to buy train tickets online or at the station Europe?

Tickets bought at train-station windows tend to be easier to change (or have refunded) than tickets bought online. In some cities you can avoid trekking to the train station by visiting a neighborhood travel agency or branch office of the national railroad.

What is the difference between Eurail and Raileurope?

Rail Europe is an official reseller of the tickets and passes that Eurail creates. Interrail is the same pass but for Europeans only; Eurail/Rail Europe is for non-Europeans. While Eurail also sells the same pass as Rail Europe, Rail Europe often sells these passes at a discounted price.

How do I avoid Eurail reservation fees?

If you're traveling on a budget, remember that most slower national and regional trains don't require seat reservations, so if you're willing to take the scenic route you can often avoid the extra cost.

What is the best way to tour Europe?

Trains in Europe work really well and they usually link all the most beautiful cities, even in different countries. You can even travel by bus if you like it more. Buses travel all around Europe and they link lots of cities, and they are very cheap.

Can you sit anywhere with Eurail?

You can hop on and off most trains as you please with your Eurail Pass, but some trains ask you to buy an additional seat reservation before you can jump aboard.

Is food included in Eurail Pass?

A 1^st class Eurail Pass is more expensive than a 2^nd class Eurail Pass, but it also gives you access to seats with more space and extras that can even include food and beverages. Check out our complete overview of differences between 1^st and 2^nd class to find out everything you need to know.

Can US citizens use Eurail?

Eurail Passes can only be used by non-European citizens or non-European residents. European citizens can use an Interrail Pass instead.

What is not covered in Eurail Pass?

Eurail passes do not cover local transport like trams or metros, only intercity trains. Rail Europe is another company that offers similar European train passes.

How to save money on trains in Europe?

Book train tickets in advance While many of us plan and book flights well before our trip, train travel is often left until the last minute. Like planes, train tickets are released in price sections—the cheapest fares are first, and the most expensive ones can be purchased up to an hour before the train time.

What is not included in Eurail?

Eurail passes do not cover local transport like trams or metros, only intercity trains. Rail Europe is another company that offers similar European train passes. But Eurail is the most popular and for the sake of this article, we'll just be focusing on Eurail Passes.

Is it cheaper to buy train tickets in advance at the station?

Is it okay if we book 30 days ahead ? In general it is cheaper to book long distance trains ahead of time - 10 to 12 weeks is when cheap (but inflexible) tickets are released for sale. At 30 days on most routes there would be a reasonable selection still on sale if you are not too choosy about times.

Is it better to purchase your ticket at the station or on the train?

Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train. To secure the best available fare, passengers should purchase tickets prior to boarding the train.