Your interrail trip will be one of the best (if not THE) best experience of your life, but there are a few things that can make your trip all the more enjoyable, stress free and budget friendly.

From route planning to seat reservations, I’m sharing the key bits of advice I wish I knew before setting out on my interrail trip. I’ve learned these lessons the hard way so you don’t have to… 🤣

1. Don’t stop off in places just because you can

When you have unlimited travel across Europe it can be pretty tempting to stop off pretty much everywhere. While this could make for some interesting stories, you’re likely to waste a lot of time and miss out on places you really want to see.

I would say avoid places that you could easily go to for a long weekend. For me that was places like Lyon and Nice in France – not only have I been to both before but as a Brit they’re super close to get to for a long weekend in future. Instead, you want to plan your route around places you either want to spend more time in (like walking village to village in Cinque Terre, Italy) or places you’re unlikely to make it to for a long weekend as they’re further from an airport (like Bergen in Norway).

So save your time, plan strategically and make sure you use your travel days to see the places that fill you with excitement, not just the ones on your train route…

For more route inspiration – check out my ultimate 3-month interrail itinerary with all the best spots I visited.

2. Always book train seat reservations in advance

Something people don’t talk about enough is seat reservations. While your train tickets are covered by your interrail pass, some high speed city to city or international trains require you to book a seat. These reservations generally cost between €10-€20 (but you can find the full breakdown in my budgeting blog here).

Of course in an ideal world there wouldn’t be this extra cost, but the thing to really focus on is booking them in advance – these reservations get booked up quick! Especially if you’re travelling in summer or in rush hours, book your seat reservations as soon as you know your plans. Aim for at least one week in advance but longer if you can. We ended up in a pinch in Luxembourg trying to get on a train the next day to Lyon where reservations were filling up and only €40 seats were left. That’s a chunky cost you don’t want to eat into your travel fund (you can find other money saving tips here).

So don’t make my mistake – get those seats booked in!

3. If you don’t like somewhere, you can get back on the train

Now this one might sound obvious but one of the main benefits of interrail travel is the freedom. Most of the time that means you get to see incredible places pretty spontaneously. But in some cases you may arrive somewhere and not like it so much. Whether it’s feeling a little sketchy, more expensive than you can afford or just a little dull, with your interrail pass you have the freedom to get out of there.

Just hop on the next train and head to somewhere you like more. This is your time, your trip and your money which isn’t worth wasting on a night in a town you’re not comfortable in.

4. Rest days are just as important as travel days

I am very much guilty of trying to see TOO much. Every time I think “4 days of back to back travel sounds doable” I have to remind myself, that’s 4 days of carrying my bags (or leaving them at a Bounce bag drop – more details on that back saver here), 4 days of on the go logistics and less time to see each destination.

You have to find the pace that’s right for you, but I would recommend accounting for at least one more chill day a week while travelling. Ideally have two nights in each destination to avoid packing up and moving every day but if you are on a tight timetable then reward yourself with a break every couple of stops.

Without proper rest, you can’t enjoy the places you’re visiting. So trust me, slower travel isn’t always bad!

5. Always pack more snacks

Last but by no means least, always pack more snacks than you think you need! You never know when your train is going to get delayed or unforeseen circumstances mean you miss mealtimes, you will be forever thankful for that extra sandwich, bag of crisps or chocolate bar you packed.

That goes for water too – always travel with enough water for the journey, especially in more remote locations where the next refill station or shop could be a while away. Plus, if you’re travelling solo, sharing a snack always helps break the ice with new friends 💗

There we have it, the key tips I wish I knew before I set off on three months of interrailing – don’t make the same mistakes I did! Wishing you the most incredible interrail experience and if you have any tips or advice to add, please let me know in the comments.

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