For a full in-depth guide, head to: How to Travel Europe by Train and Bus: A Complete Guide for Young Travellers
Everything you need to know about travelling Europe by train and bus in 5 minutes
TL;DR — The Quick Version
Eurail Pass: Best for trips longer than 1 month, long distances (3+ hours), and stress-free flexibility. Youth discount (ages 12–27) gives you 25% off.
Individual Tickets: Cheapest option if you book 4-8 weeks ahead through national railway apps and stick to a fixed plan.
FlixBus/FlixTrain: Great for day trips, short distances, or when you want to save a Eurail travel day. Just be prepared for delays and less comfort.
Bottom line: If budget is everything and you’re organised, buy tickets separately. If you want freedom and less stress, get a Eurail pass.
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Taking Advantage of the Public Transport
Travelling Europe by train and bus is one of the easiest – and cheapest – ways to explore the continent. Whether you’re backpacking on a gap year or planning budget train travel across Europe, there are several ways to do it without blowing your budget.
Europe has one of the most extensive rail networks in the world, with high-speed trains connecting major cities across 12 countries and national rail systems covering almost everywhere else.
The downside? Trains can be expensive.
The good news is that there are several ways to travel across Europe without blowing your budget.
For young travellers, there are three main options:
| Option | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurail Pass | Long trips + flexible travel | Extremely flexible | Can be expensive |
| Separate Train Tickets | Planned itineraries | Cheap if booked early | No flexibility |
| Buses (FlixBus etc.) | Budget travel | Very cheap | Slow + delays |
Eurail Pass
If you’re wondering whether a Eurail pass is worth it in 2026, the short answer is: for most young travellers, yes. The Eurail Pass is one of the most convenient ways to travel Europe — it’s a train pass that lets you hop on and off trains across 33 countries without buying individual tickets for every journey.
Youth travellers (ages 12–27) also get 25% off passes.
There are two main types of Eurail passes:
- Travel across all 33 Eurail countries
- Unlimited travel within one specific country.
When a Eurail Pass Is Worth It
1. You’re travelling for more than a month
- If you’re travelling long-term, Eurail removes a lot of stress.
- You don’t need to constantly plan and book transport.
2. You’re doing lots of long train trips
- Journeys 3–4+ hours often cost €50–€100+.
- Multiple long trips can easily cost more than a Eurail pass.
3. You want flexible travel
You can:
- Change plans
- Hop on different trains
- Take multiple trains in one day
4. You’re visiting expensive rail countries
Train tickets are particularly expensive in:
- UK
- Germany
- France
- Switzerland
- Norway
In these countries, Eurail often saves money.
5. The pass is on sale
Eurail frequently runs Black Friday and seasonal sales.
If you find a pass discounted, it’s often worth it.
When Eurail Isn’t Worth It
1. You’re on a strict budget
Example:
- A 5-day Eurail pass costs about €239 (~€50 per day).
- If you book tickets well in advance (4-8 weeks) of your travel day, you may spend less.
2. Most trips are short
- If your journeys are under 3 hours, individual tickets can often be found cheaply when booked early.
3. You’re travelling in Eastern Europe
In much of Eastern Europe:
- Trains are slower
- Connections are weaker
Buses are often faster and cheaper.
Quick Eurail Rule
Eurail is best if:
- You want flexibility
- You’re taking long train journeys
- You’re travelling for a long time
Separate tickets are better if:
- You want the absolute cheapest option
- You plan everything well in advance
👉 Want the full breakdown? I’ve written a complete guide covering every pass type, how to activate it, and how to get the most out of it. Check it out here: EURAIL: Everything Young Travellers Need to Know.
Buying Separate Train Tickets
Buying separate train tickets is often the cheapest way to travel Europe by train — but only if you’re organised and you plan ahead.
There are two main ways to save money.
1. Book Direct and Book Early
The best strategy is:
Book 4–8 weeks before travel.
Prices can be 50% cheaper than buying tickets on the day.
Also always:
- Book directly with national rail companies
- Avoid third-party sites like Trainline or Omio when possible — they may offer convenience, but you will be paying an extra €2-€5 in fees.
When booking:
- Create an account with the national rail company
- Search your route
- Enter your age (youth tickets are cheaper)
- Choose the cheapest connection
- Buy your ticket
If booking online, download the railway app and add your ticket there.
Here are some links to public transport apps and websites for a few countries.
- 🇨🇭Switzerland: SBB App, SBB Website
- 🇦🇹 Austria: ÖBB App, ÖBB Website
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: SNCB App, SNCB Website
- 🇫🇷 France: SNCF App, SNCF Website
- 🇩🇪 Germany: Deutsche Bahn App, Deutsche Bahn Website
- 🇮🇹 Italy: Trenitalia App, Trenitalia Website
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: NS App, NS Website
- 🇪🇸 Spain: Renfe App, Renfe Website
2. Look for Youth Discount Cards
If you’re spending a week or more in one country, a youth discount card can save you some money — most pay for themselves after just 4-5 trips.
Examples include:
Germany — Probe Bahncard 25
- €20 trial version
- 25% off train tickets
Austria — Vorteilscard Youth
- €21
- 50% discounts on trains
France — Carte Avantage Jeune
- €49
- 30% off TGV trains
Italy — Green Card
- €40
- 10% off domestic trains
- 25% off international routes
My Recommendation:
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in one country, then youth discount cards are a great option. However, if you’re only planning 2-3 trips, then don’t worry about it.
Just remember to calculate all costs before buying any pass.
*Note: If you buy a youth discount card, remember to cancel your subscriptions at the end of your trip, otherwise it will renew automatically.
Downsides of Separate Tickets
The main problem is flexibility.
Cheap tickets are usually:
- Locked to a specific train, date and time
- Non-refundable
- Non-changeable
If you miss your train or change plans, you will need to buy a new ticket at full price.
This is why Eurail can be better for long trips.
Seat Reservations
Seat reservations in Europe are simple.
On regional trains, you don’t need reservations. However, some countries require them on high-speed rail.
Usually Required:
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Portugal
If you book through the national railway site, the reservation is usually included automatically.
Alternatively, if you have a Eurail Pass, you can book your reservations through the Eurail Trip Planner app.
Usually Optional:
- Germany
- Austria
- Switzerland
In these countries you can usually just sit anywhere.
However, consider reserving if:
- You want a window seat
- The train is busy
- The journey is 3+ hours
Luggage Storage
Luggage storage is generally easy.
On high-speed trains:
You’ll usually find:
- Overhead racks
- Large luggage racks at the end of carriages
If you have a large suitcase, choose seats near the luggage racks.
On regional trains:
Space is more limited.
Best places for large luggage:
- Bike/wheelchair areas (if not needed) — normally located at the front and ends of the carriage
- Front or end of the carriage
FlixTrain
FlixTrain is a low-cost train company in Germany.
It connects around 50 towns and cities and is usually much cheaper than Deutsche Bahn.
Tickets often start around €5 – when booked early.
Popular routes include:
- Frankfurt → Basel
- Hamburg → Berlin
- Berlin → Leipzig
- Berlin → Dresden
- Berlin → Frankfurt
- Frankfurt → Stuttgart
Downsides
FlixTrain can be unreliable.
Common issues:
- Long delays
- Cancellations
- Old carriages
- No air-conditioning
Since many routes only run once or twice per day, delays/cancellations can cause problems.
But you get what you pay for — at FlixTrain’s prices, it’s hard to say no.
To view all available routes and to buy tickets, visit www.flixtrain.com
FlixBus
If you’re weighing up FlixBus vs trains in Europe, FlixBus is almost always the cheaper option. It’s Europe’s largest long-distance bus network, connecting thousands of cities across 30+ countries.
Pros
- Extremely cheap
- Huge network across Europe
- Many daily departures on popular routes
Cons
- Much slower than trains
- Regular delays
- Less comfortable seating
Sometimes buses take 2–3x longer than trains.
If a train costs just €15-€20 more but saves you several hours, it’s usually worth the upgrade.
Before booking any bus, always compare prices on comparabus.com so you know you’re getting the best deal.
When I Would Use FlixBus
Buses are most useful for:
- Short trips
- Day trips
- Saving Eurail travel days
- Travelling in Eastern Europe
Example:
Frankfurt → Heidelberg
Train:
€18–€30 one way
FlixBus:
€6–€8 one way
Same travel time → bus wins.
To view all available routes and to buy tickets, visit www.flix.com
Other Bus Companies
FlixBus is the biggest network, but other companies exist, including:
- BlaBlaCar Bus
- Eurolines
- RegioJet
To compare routes and prices, use compareabus.com.
Final Advice
The best way is to use a mix of transport options.
A simple strategy:
- Use Eurail for flexibility and long trips
- Use separate train tickets when you can book early
- Use buses for cheap short trips
If you combine all three, travelling Europe can be surprisingly affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most young travellers doing long trips across multiple countries, yes. A Eurail youth pass (ages 12–27) gives you 25% off and removes the stress of booking every journey. If you’re on a strict budget and willing to plan ahead, buying individual tickets can be cheaper — but you lose all flexibility.
Yes. FlixBus is widely used across Europe and is generally safe. The buses are modern and you’ll book a specific seat. The main downsides are delays, cramped seating, and longer travel times — not safety.
Book individual train tickets 4–8 weeks in advance through national railway apps, use youth discount cards where available, and supplement with FlixBus or FlixTrain for short trips. For trips longer than a month, a Eurail youth pass often works out cheaper overall.
