{"id":3317,"date":"2022-05-18T16:37:55","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T16:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.hostelworld.com\/?p=3317"},"modified":"2026-06-26T15:33:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T15:33:05","slug":"inter-rail-europe-my-top-ten-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/inter-rail-europe-my-top-ten-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Interrail Europe – My 10 Top Interrailing Tips & Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TLDR: <\/strong>By Rob Fehily, winner of ‘Travel Writer of the Year’ at the National Student Media Awards (Smedias) \u2014 awarded for articles written during his own Interrail trip around Europe. Rob shares his top ten interrailing tips and tricks below, drawn directly from that trip.<\/p>\n

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Interrailing around\u00a0Europe\u00a0was a life-changing experience. I found it to be like a sort of travelling Pandora\u2019s Box with a colourful array of different and notable things contained within – attractions, restaurants, tours, parks, museums and sights all for you to experience and explore. Like in the Pandora\u2019s Box myth however, there is an important cautionary element to note in relation to such a trip. It would be unwise not to think and plan before considering interrailing, and I learnt there are some very practical dos and don\u2019ts with journeys like this. But using my top ten i<\/strong>nterrailing tips<\/strong>, your European interrail trip should flow that little bit smoother.<\/p>\n

Read Next:<\/em> Backpacking Through Europe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Here’s my top interrailing tips and advice:<\/h2>\n
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1.\u00a0<\/strong>Don’t take too much luggage with you<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This was one of our biggest mistakes. We packed everything we thought we needed and then some. What I strongly recommend is that you take as little as possible. Travel light. I once read (after our trip) a tip about travelling abroad. It said you should \u2018lay out everything you think you will need on the floor. Now halve it.\u2019 It seems drastic, but when you are lugging around that big, heavy backpack with you mostly everywhere you go, probably in relentless heat, you will wish you had brought less. Don’t be afraid to buy a few mundane, cheap, single-use items while on the trip, such as sachets of shower gel and toothpaste for instance. At every opportunity, save on space. The lighter the better.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/strong>Consider your budget realistically<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Believe me when I say that you will likely end up spending more money than you think you will. Be economical with certain things (such as souvenirs) but don\u2019t try to cut corners when you\u2019re considering accommodation, food and drink. Do not (as I have heard from some in the past) try to save cash by sleeping for free in train stations. This is reckless and stupid. I can\u2019t stress the importance of shelter and nutrition enough. During the summer months Europe is blisteringly hot, and if you\u2019re not well rested, well fed and well hydrated (drinking enough water is crucial) you simply won\u2019t be able to enjoy all the great attractions.<\/p>\n

Read Next:<\/strong> How much does interrailing cost?<\/a><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0<\/strong>Be selective with your company<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First and foremost, if you\u2019re travelling with somebody else make sure you get on with them very well. Remember that you will be spending all of your time with this person (or people) for the entire trip, unless you have plans to split up along the way. I travelled with my cousin and though we had one minor quibble during our month of interrailing, we understood each other very well and had zero arguments. If you have a fight and things get awkward, make sure to sort it out as soon as you can. This way you won\u2019t let it ruin your interrail<\/a> trip.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Jacques Bopp<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4.\u00a0<\/strong>Always book accommodation in advance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t arrive in a city (especially one of the more popular ones) without knowing you have somewhere to sleep. Every time we arrived in a different location, the worry of finding shelter assaulted us like an unwelcome, loud dog because we never booked ahead. Only twice on our trip did we have a hostel pre-booked and it really made a huge difference because the anxiety of securing a bed was nowhere to be felt. We simply turned up as expected. It also speeds things up; the time you save not wandering around searching for a place to stay means you can capitalize on your new surroundings.<\/p>\n

Need Inspo?<\/strong> Best Interrailing Destinations<\/a><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0<\/strong>Don\u2019t forget your compass<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you venture into a foreign city, make sure your phone is set up to actually help you navigate. Download offline maps for each region before you arrive (Google Maps and Maps.me both support this), since data roaming isn’t always reliable and you don’t want to be stuck without directions in an unfamiliar station. It’s also worth getting comfortable with the official Interrail Rail Planner app before you set off \u2014 most passes are now digital, and the app is where you’ll activate your pass, check timetables, and in some countries make seat reservations. A portable charger is genuinely essential kit here, since you’ll be relying on your phone far more than any paper map.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Eryk Piotr Munk<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6.\u00a0<\/strong>Buy souvenirs sparingly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you wish to buy souvenirs, try not to be too liberal. It’s nice to have a token by which to remember your stay in Chocho\u0142\u00f3w – a ceramic or wood plate for example – but don’t forget that you will have to carry it around with you everywhere you go from the moment you buy it. Sending souvenirs home is a possibility, but we found this to be quite expensive, and money that was better spent on food, accommodation and tours.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0<\/strong>Learn a few basic words of the native language<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re not fluent, then try to learn a few very basic utterances and greetings in the local tongue. At least know how to say please and thank you. Most of the locals will probably smile when they see a foreigner in their country making the effort to thank them in their own language. If this is the case they are likely to be more patient when giving directions to that landmark you desperately wish to see, or taking your order at the nearby restaurant.<\/p>\n

A translation app like Google Translate (with offline language packs downloaded in advance) covers you for anything beyond the basics, but learning a handful of phrases by heart before you go will get you further with locals than pulling out your phone every time.<\/p>\n

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8.\u00a0<\/strong>Chat to the hostel staff before exploring<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you reach your destination, the first thing you might think of doing after checking into the hostel is exploring on your own. Don\u2019t. The first thing you should do is speak to whoever is working behind the desk in the hostel. This way you can get essential information on the local area, maps and tips directed specifically toward budget travellers. Think of it as time invested rather than time wasted. You will thank yourself (and the hostel staff!) for it later.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0<\/strong>Bring comfortable clothing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unless it\u2019s unavoidable, don\u2019t bring any formal or heavy clothes. It\u2019s important not to have a weighty backpack, and don\u2019t think that the sun will show mercy when wearing jeans or cords trekking around the\u00a0Parisian<\/a>\u00a0boulevards. Without bordering on the unacceptable, wear as little as possible. Think shorts, sandals and a light fabric t-shirt. If you\u2019re wearing sandals, be absolutely sure they\u2019re comfortable. It\u2019s painful after thirteen hours of walking when the strap begins to cut into your foot. I made this mistake – don\u2019t make the same one.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0<\/strong>Prepare yourself for long journeys<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Europe really is a magical continent, but it covers a vast portion of the world. If you plan on interrailing around it, that takes time. It will of course depend on the nature of your trip, but on average we spent approximately four hours on every train. Multiply this by the fifteen trains we took during our month away and you get an idea of how much time we spent zipping around the European landscape in a tiny cabin at hundreds of kilometres per hour. For these long journeys bring something to pass the hours away such as a small book, a pack of cards, Travel Scrabble, or some other such item that won\u2019t monopolise the precious space in your backpack.<\/p>\n

A loaded-up phone or tablet works just as well, of course, but a physical book or deck of cards never needs charging, which is no small thing on a long regional train with no power socket.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Daniel Abadia<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are many more elements one ought consider when planning an interrail journey, but the ten above are some of the most important and basic. The spirit of my message is to think before you act – do internet research, make phone calls and have a good idea of which cities you want to visit. If you take this advice I can guarantee that your European interrail trip will be smoother and more enjoyable. Here are ten tips; my eleventh and hugely important one is this – be sure to have fun. Europe really is fantastic and has some of the most amazing, inspiring and provoking attractions in the world. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.<\/p>\n

Browse our listings for some awesome deals on hostels<\/a> in Europe.<\/p>\n

What to read next?<\/strong><\/p>\n