9 Things You Never Knew You Could Do With a Eurail Pass
Heading to Europe this year to enjoy the best dollar-to-euro exchange rates in a decade? You probably know that a custom-fit Eurail pass can save you even more on European train travel, whether you’ll be hitting one country or a dozen. But what you may not realize is that beyond the rails, Eurail passes offer a plethora of further European freebies and discounts, both on land and at sea. Here are our favorite little-known Eurail pass perks.
Ferry between Italy and Greece
With a Eurail pass and a ferry ride, you can see two of Europe’s most popular countries in one go! (Photo: Getty Images)
Eurail pass holders are not only entitled to discounts on ferries and other boat rides across Europe, but those with passes covering both Italy and Greece can also take completely free ferry rides between two of the Mediterranean’s most popular countries. Second-class pass holders get free deck passage, while first-class pass holders can ride in dormitories or comfy airline-style seating.
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Discover Eastern Europe
Once upon a time if you wanted to explore behind the former Iron Curtain, a Eurail pass would have been virtually useless. These days, Eurail passes cover 11 former Soviet bloc countries and counting, with Poland, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina being the latest fascinating – and so far lesser-traveled – additions to the ever-widening Eurail family. For the most focused Eastern European coverage, get a Balkan Pass, which includes Bulgaria, Romania, and four former Yugoslav states, as well as Greece and Turkey.
Take the kids along for free
Kids up to 11 can travel with you for free! (Photo: JP Danko/Stocksy)
For families, some of the biggest potential Eurail pass savings comes in the form of generous allotments for free child travel. Children under 4 always travel free without the need for additional passes, while children between the ages of 4 and 11 can usually travel free as well – each adult with a pass can take along two children in this age group, meaning that two parents traveling together can take up to four children at absolutely no cost (note that kids age 4 to 11 do require a free Eurail Child pass, which you can order along with your other passes). And even when traveling without adults, anyone up to 26 can save with Eurail’s youth discount of 35 percent off.
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Lounge in class
Spring for a first-class Eurail pass and you’ll get free access to a number of elite lounges at train stations across Europe, including SJ Lounges in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden; ÖBB lounges in Vienna, Salzburg, and four other Austrian cities; CD lounges in the Czech Republic; DSB lounges in Copenhagen, Arhus and Odense, Denmark; Mav Start lounge in Budapest, Hungary; NS International lounges in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Breda, Netherlands; PKP lounges in Warsaw and Wroclaw, Poland; and the SBB lounge in Zürich, Switzerland.
Take buses
Eurail perks aren’t only limited to trains. Maximize your benefits but taking the bus as well. (Photo: LJM Photo/Design Pics/Corbis)
One of the most surprising benefits of a Eurail pass is its usability on select European bus routes, including from London to Düsseldorf; from Prague to Munich or Strasbourg; from Copenhagen to Berlin; from Frankfurt or Munich to nearby outlet shops; and on any Czech CD bus route that’s not also covered by rail. Pass qualifications vary for different bus routes, but usually require that your pass be good for all countries traveled; see individual country benefits for more information.
Commute to the suburbs
Visiting friends or relatives in the suburbs, or just want to venture beyond the city center? In many places a Eurail pass has you covered there too, including free travel on S-Bahn lines in Vienna and Innsbruck in Austria and several major German cities, as well as the S-Tog system in Copenhagen.
Related: Best Places in Europe to Escape the Summer Crowds
Cruise stunning Swiss lakes
Eurail can get you onboard some beautiful Swiss lake cruises. (Photo: Frank Lukasseck/Corbis)
Switzerland is blessed with some of the world’s most dazzling lakes, and with your Swiss-valid Eurail pass, you can board cruises for free on many of them, including Lake Geneva and Lake Luzerne. (See the full list of Switzerland benefits for more info.)
Indulge your inner rail nerd
Train fans can learn more about local rail history for free at a number of railway museums across Europe, including the Finnish Railway Museum in Hyvinkää, the Athens Railway Museum, the Norwegian Railway Museum in Hamar, the Serbian Railway Museum in Belgrade, and the Orient Express Railway Museum in Istanbul.
Sleep for cheaper
Get discounts in Spain at Husa Hotels, like the stunning Husa Sant Bernat. (Photo: Husa Sant Bernat/TripAdvisor)
It’s a less widespread perk, but in several countries your Eurail pass can get you great discounts at certain hotels, including Spain’s 130 HUSA hotels, Slovenia’s SZ spas and hotels, and select properties in Slovakia. (See individual country benefit pages for more info.)
Eurail passes can be purchased by anyone who doesn’t live in Europe. In the U.S. they’re most commonly sold via Eurail.com and Rail Europe, both agents of the Eurail Group. Book by April 30, 2016 and receive additional free travel days on most Eurail passes.
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