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Eurail Global Pass to cover Paris-Zurich, Zurich-Munich, Munich-Salzburg, Salzburg-Vienna, Vienna-Budapest, Budapest-Prague, Prague-Berlin, Berlin-Amsterdam, Amsterdam-Brussels, Brussels-London
I am looking to buy a global euro rail pass. I couldn't find a good map. Does this pass cover these places? Paris --> ZurichZurich --> MunichMunich --> SalzburgSalzburg --> ViennaVienna --> BudapestBudapest --> PraguePrague --> BerlinBerlin --> AmsterdamAmsterdam --> BrusselsBrussels --> LondonAlso, does this mean if I buy the euro rail pass, then that is the only cost I pay? Because when I try to reserve a spot on the train while saying that I have a pass, it still charges me.
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Hi Rachael,
For the requested itinerary, your best option would be the Eurail Global Pass. For this pass, you would click here: https://www.raileurope.com/pass/eurail-global-pass-5880.
Rail passes only cover ticket costs for trains running ‘inter-city’ (between different cities) within the country or countries included on the pass. When applicable, reservations are a supplementary cost to a rail pass. If you were to purchase regular point-to-point tickets (instead of a rail pass), the value of any necessary reservations would still be considered/embedded into those costs. Therefore, a rail pass still often works out to be the most economical option for travelers taking multiple trains while in Europe. It just depends on the itinerary.
Reservations are required on most high-speed trains, many international routes, and all overnight trains. In much of Western Europe, most major cities are connected almost exclusively by high-speed trains. Therefore, it is often the case that reservations are required when traveling in certain Western European countries. With regard to your specific itinerary, I'll outline below:
Paris to Zurich
From Paris to Zurich, you would take a high-speed TGV Lyria train. TGV Lyria trains do require reservations as a supplement to the rail pass. For travel with a Eurail Global Pass, you would purchase passholder reservations from Paris to Zurich by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass'). When you pull up the results of your search, be sure to locate the actual direct trains.
Zurich to Munich
From Zurich to Munich, there are EC (EuroCity) trains taking about 4.5 hours in duration, but your pass would also be valid on buses (IC Buses) that take only about 3hr43min.
On the EC trains from Zurich to Munich, reservations are not required but they are recommended. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations for the trains from Zurich to Munich by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
It may also be the case that only one departure is able to be shown for each search you do. In addition to that, the 'Later Trains' button does not function due to an error on our website. To get around these issues and view more departures, you would need to adjust to the specific hour of the day for which you want to view schedules when you enter the criteria of your search. For example, if you want to view trains departing after 10am, click '10AM'.
Munich to Salzburg
From Munich to Salzburg, there are Railjet trains and Meridian trains.
On the Railjet trains, reservations are recommended as a supplement to the rail pass. On Meridian trains, reservations are not even accepted, so the rail pass is all you would need to board.
For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations for the Railjet trains from Munich to Salzburg by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
The route from Munich to Salzburg follows along the very scenic 'Rosenheim-Salzburg Railway' for a stretch of the trip.
Salzburg to Vienna
From Salzburg to Vienna, you would take a Railjet train on which reservations are recommended as a supplement to the rail pass. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations from Salzburg to Vienna by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
Vienna to Budapest
From Vienna to Budapest, you would take another Railjet train on which reservations are recommended as a supplement to the rail pass. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations from Vienna to Budapest by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
Budapest to Prague
The direct trains from Budapest to Prague are EC (EuroCity) trains on which reservations are recommended as a supplement to the rail pass. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations from Budapest to Prague by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
Prague to Berlin
Direct trains from Prague to Berlin are EC (EuroCity) trains on which reservations are recommended as a supplement to the rail pass. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations from Prague to Berlin by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
Berlin to Amsterdam
The direct trains from Berlin to Amsterdam are IC (InterCity) trains on which reservations are highly recommended as a supplement to a rail pass. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations from Berlin to Amsterdam by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass').
Amsterdam to Brussels
From Amsterdam to Brussels, there are IC (InterCity) trains and high-speed Thalys trains. IC trains in this part of Europe don't accept reservations, so the Eurail Global Pass would be all you'd need to board. On Thalys trains, reservations would be required as a supplement to the rail pass.
For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations for a Thalys train from Amsterdam to Brussels by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass'). If you prefer to take one of the IC trains on this route, there is no need to do this, because the pass is all you need.
Brussels to London
From Brussels to London you would take the high-speed Eurostar. Even this train takes you to the UK, the Eurail Global Pass is valid. Eurostar trains would just require passholder reservations as a supplement to the Eurail Global Pass. For travel with a rail pass, you would purchase reservations for the Eurostar from Brussels to London by searching the route on our homepage (www.raileurope.com), checking the box that says ‘I have a rail pass’, and then indicating the type of rail pass with which you'll be traveling (i.e. a ‘Eurail Global Pass'). -
EMPLOYEE
The 'Paris Pass' covers entry to over 60 top attractions, as well as public transportation on the Métro, RER, and buses in central Paris. You would purchase the 'Paris Pass' here: http://www.raileurope.com/activities/activity?code=2036PARIS&destId=479&catId=
The 'Paris Visite' just covers local transportation in Paris, which includes the Métro and RER networks, as well as city buses. You would purchase the 'Paris Visite' here: http://www.raileurope.com/pass/paris-visite-pass-8339
There is also the 'Paris Museum Pass', which does not cover any transportation, but it does cover entry to over 60 museums and historic sites around Paris. You would purchase the 'Paris Museum Pass' here: http://www.raileurope.com/pass/paris-museum-pass-8335
Various other city passes and tours for Paris can be found here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=France&cities=cities-479
To purchase the 'London Travel Card' you would click here: http://www.raileurope.com/pass/london-travel-card-8327
To purchase the 'Visitor Oyster Card' you would click here: http://www.raileurope.com/pass/visitor-oyster-card-8331
To browse other city passes for a stay in London, you would click here: http://www.raileurope.com/train-tickets/activities/?countries=England&cities=cities-737
Zurich: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Munich: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Salzburg: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Vienna: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Budapest: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Prague: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Berlin: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Amsterdam: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
Brussels: http://www.raileurope.com/train-ticke...
1. So if I purchased the Global pass, I would still have to book the tickets for the destinations stated above prior for most of the international to inernational cities. This means that I would be paying more on top of the actual cost of the global pass?
2. Does the Paris 1-2 day pass include the train to the CDG or Orly airport?
1.) They are reservations, not tickets, which is an important distinction. A rail pass's objective is to cover ticket costs, so that part would be taken care of by purchasing the Eurail Global Pass.
When applicable, reservations are a supplementary cost to a rail pass. If you were to purchase regular point-to-point tickets (instead of a rail pass), the value of any necessary reservations would still be considered/embedded into those costs. Therefore, a rail pass still often works out to be the most economical option for travelers taking multiple trains while in Europe. It just depends on the itinerary.
Reservations are required on most high-speed trains, many international routes, and all overnight trains. In much of Western Europe, most major cities are connected almost exclusively by high-speed trains. Above, I outlined where reservations are required and where reservations are just recommended, with regard to your specific itinerary.
2.) The 'zones 1-5' option of the 'Paris Visite' covers travel between the city of Paris and the Paris CDG Airport or Orly Airport via the RER network. However, the 'Paris Pass' does not cover the travel between the city of Paris and these airports (the 'Paris Pass' is limited to covering public transit only within zones 1-3).