Popular Routes

Popular Routes

An InterRail pass is your gateway to Europe. There are 30 different countries you can travel to, each one beautiful and unique in its own way.

There’s so much to see and do in each country, but unless you want to see nothing but trains and stations it’s unlikely that you’re going to see all 30. It’s best to choose a specific area to travel around. Aim to see four to ten countries rather than trying to squeeze in as many as you can.

There are a number of popular routes to choose from. You need to decide which part of Europe you want to see first, and then plan out your route. Here are a few ideas to help you decide:

Central Europe – If you want to InterRail around Central Europe then your best bet is to start off in either Dubrovnik or Zagreb (Croatia). You can fly into either of these two cities with Easy Jet or Ryan Air. From the capital, Zagreb, we recommend this route:

Croatia >> Slovenia >> Hungary >> Serbia >> Croatia

Travelling around Central Europe is great fun and it’s cheap too. Croatia is a particular backpacker favourite due to its pristine beaches, amazing dive spots, booming party towns and stunning waterfalls.

Gapyear rating: GGGG/GGGGG (CREATE GAPYEAR.COM RATING BUTTON)

Eastern Europe – If you want to InterRail around Eastern Europe then your best bet is to start off in either Prague (Czech Republic) or Warsaw (Poland). You can fly to either of these two cities cheaply with Easy Jet or Ryan Air. From Prague, we recommend this route:

Czech Republic >> Poland >> Slovakia >> Slovenia >> Austria >> Czech Republic

If you want to include Bulgaria and Romania then look into flying home from either Sofia (Bulgaria) or Bucharest (Romania).

Of all the routes through Europe this is the cheapest. Austria is an architect’s dream; the Czech Republic is a favourite for weekend breaks and romantic holidays; Poland has the world’s best vodka; and Slovenia is a hidden gem, guaranteed to be a favourite.

Gapyear rating: GGG/GGGGG

Scandinavia – If you want to InterRail around Scandinavia then your best bet is to start off in Copenhagen (Denmark). It’s by far the cheapest city to fly into. From Copenhagen, we recommend this route:

Denmark >> Sweden >> Norway >> Sweden >> Finland >> Sweden >> Denmark

The reason you pass through Sweden so many times is because it’s in the middle of the four countries.

Of all the routes through Europe, this is the most expensive, but it does have some of the best landscapes. Even though Stockholm (Sweden) is one of the world’s most expensive cities, it’s also one of the world’s most fun. People who travel around Scandinavia are shocked by how kind and welcoming people are, and how much there is to see and do.

Gapyear rating: GGGG/GGGGG

Southern Europe – You can split Southern Europe into two mini-trips.

The first is flying into Lisbon (Portugal), and travelling around Portugal, Spain and France. Spain and France are two of the biggest countries in Europe and can therefore take a few weeks travel around.

The second is to flying into Rome (Italy), travelling down to Southern Italy, and then across by ferry to Greece, through Greece, and across by ferry to Turkey. You can fly back home from Istanbul (Turkey). This trip will delight any history lover; Italy has one of the oldest and colourful histories of any country, as does Greece. They shaped Europe into what it is today.

Gapyear rating: GGG/GGGGG

The Balkans – If you want to InterRail around the Balkans then your best bet is to start off in either Dubrovnik or Zagreb (Croatia). You can fly to either of these two cities cheaply with Easy Jet or Ryan Air. From Dubrovnik, we recommend this route:

Croatia >> Bosnia & Herzegovina >> Montenegro >> Serbia >> Macedonia >> Greece

The Balkans is a backpacker favourite because you get a little of everything; culture, the challenge of travelling through a couple of difficult countries, and lazing on a beach at the end of it.

Travelling around the Balkans is cheap and relatively easy. Macedonia is an absolute gem and it’s still ‘undiscovered’.

Gapyear rating: GGG/GGGGG

Western Europe – The most popular InterRailing route is through Western Europe. You can hop from country to country easily and English is widely used. If you’re travelling from the UK, then you can catch the Eurostar train to Paris. From Paris, we recommend:

France >> Belgium >> the Netherlands >> Germany >> Austria >> Luxemburg >> Switzerland >> France >> the UK >> Ireland

This route takes in some of Europe’s best sites; the Eiffel Tower in Paris; the Grand Palace in Brussels; the canals in Amsterdam; the Bavarian beer houses in Germany; all the sites and activities in London; and much much more…

Gapyear rating: GGGGG/GGGGG