Train travel in Europe: Eurail pass basics

Europe's train network makes it realistic to fly into one city and travel onward by rail instead of booking a separate flight for every leg — often faster and more scenic for medium distances (under about 4-5 hours). A Eurail pass (for non-European residents) bundles a set number of travel days across multiple countries into one pass.

Whether a pass is worth it depends on how much you're traveling: for 2-3 long train journeys, individual advance-purchase tickets are often cheaper; for frequent, spontaneous, or last-minute travel across many countries, a pass usually wins on both price and flexibility. Note that high-speed and night trains often require a separate seat reservation even with a pass.