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- I traveled by train in four European countries using a Eurail pass in October 2022.
- I preferred the experience of country hopping by train to flying to each place.
- Traveling by train was more comfortable and sustainable than flying.
Traveling by train beats flying any day — at least in Europe.
I formed this opinion in October 2022, when I spent two weeks backpacking through Europe with a Eurail pass.
Eurail passes grant travelers unlimited access to most European trains for a set number of days. Some trains only require a Eurail pass, while others, including overnight trains, incur an additional, discounted price.
Instead of trudging through airports and squeezing into coach seating, I rode the rails in affordable, top-tier classes. Here’s why I’ll only take trains through Europe in the future.
I used Eurail to travel by train from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. I also rode the rails locally in each country.
It was my first time using Eurail, and I bought a weeklong pass for $477.
A ticket for the same journey in 2025 would cost about $337, according to a search on the company’s website.
In total, I took eight train rides between six different cities over a seven-day period.
I paid additional fees on top of my Eurail pass for two overnight trains, and when I upgraded from coach to first and business class on three rides. Each added fee was between $10 and $45, depending on the trip duration. The total cost of train travel was $560 with the upgrades.
Flying would have been more expensive than the Eurail pass.
According to a quick search on Google Flights for a 2025 trip, if I were to fly between each city in economy class instead, it would cost about $440.
With Eurail, I could afford to ride in first and business class in large, plush seats.
From attendant service to oversize bathrooms with mood lighting, traveling in business class through Italy was a dream. Comparable cabins on a plane would be too expensive for me.
I also booked a bunk in a shared cabin on an overnight train.
I could lie flat and get some sleep, which would have been much more difficult on a red-eye flight in coach.
Additionally, trains were easier and quicker to board than flights.
Rather than going through a lengthy check-in and security process at the airport, I could just walk right onto the train platform.
On trains, I didn’t experience one of the most annoying things about flying: the ear-popping that often lingers for a couple of days.
I also didn’t miss how flights dehydrate my body.
With large windows overlooking picturesque scenery, my train rides offered views of each country that I wouldn’t have seen from a plane.
Aside from take off and landing, flight window views don’t change much. But as I traveled from Italy to Switzerland, looking out the window kept me off my iPad for the entire ride.
Lastly, I appreciated that traveling by train was a more sustainable way to get around Europe.
Travel sustainability experts previously told Business Insider that opting for train travel over flights can lower the carbon footprint of a trip.
For me, traveling by Eurail pass proved to be more comfortable than flying.
Now, I’ll travel by train every time I’m in Europe.
Read the full article here
