Interrail: Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin-Prague-Ljubljana

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi Jamie!

Just a quick answer for now:
The route is pretty straightforward, no big issues to be expected. With a few adjustment you could even do it with a 10in22 pass - but it would be more relaxed if you would go for the one month pass. However I dont know how much time you have available..

Except for Italy you will be able to travel without any extra reservations and even there it would be no big deal to avoid them.

All basic stuff should be covered here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/first-time-interrail[/u]

Just ask if you have more questions and please consider:
To support the free information and the forum on railcc, please be fair and buy your official Interrail pass via our railcc partner link: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)


Flo 8)

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Thanks Flo! Could you give me some advice on how to avoid the reservation fees in Italy? I'm not too bothered about having to pay some, but for instance trains where I might have to make 1/2 changes, would I have to pay separate reservation fees on each one?

Thanks

Jamie

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi Jamie.
To avoid reservations in Italy, don't use the high-speed-trains which each is EUR 10:
Frecciabianca: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/frecciabianca/trenitalia-fb/48[/u]
Frecciargento: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/frecciargento/trenitalia-fa/49[/u]
Frecciarossa: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/frecciarossa/trenitalia-av/50[/u]

There are IC trains ( [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/intercity/trenitalia-ic/47[/u] ) which are free of reservations - but a reservation is recommended. Normal point to point tickets always include a seat reservations, so if you sit in an IC, you might have to change the seats several times if someone reserved your seat (seats have no signs if reserved or not).
These reservations are easily available at ticket machines at train stations even at short notice. Select the option Global Pass.

Free are regional trains.
Examples for your route Venice to Milan (see the option extra fees): [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/milan-to-venice[/u]
It's the same for all other options.

To find these free regional trains on your routes in Italy, have a look at the live schedules planing tool [ux]http://plan.rail.cc[/ux] and select the option only local transport.

Peter :)

P.S.: border crossing Slovenia to Italy is via Gorizia - including a short walk or bus trough the city from the Slovenian to the Italian station. Think about adding Bled (Lake Bled): [u]https://rail.cc/en/bled/c[/u]

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Hi I thought I would add a reply to this post rather than starting a new one. I don't suppose anyone here could help me budget how much I will need to spend on metro tickets and the like for my trip, roughly?

My itinerary is as follows:

Paris: 4 nights
Brussels: 2 nights
Amsterdam: 3 nights
Berlin: 3 nights
Prague: 3 nights
Krakow: 3 nights
Budapest: 3 nights
Zagreb: 2 nights
Bled: 2 nights
Venice: 3 nights
Florence: 2 nights
Pisa: 2 nights
Rome: 4 nights

Thanks!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

Generally, I rarely use public transport while travelling - you can do most touristy stuff easily on foot.

If you want to use public transport, calculate with ~2-3€ for a single trip and about 7-10€ for a day ticket in western European countries and with about half these prices in eastern Europe.
In Venice, the Vaporello boats are rather expensive, I remember paying about 7€ for a single ticket in 2012.

Also, you can often buy special tourist passes which also included (discounted) entrance for various attractions like museums etc as well as other reductions - but I never used one of these.


Flo 8)

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Thanks Flo you've been great!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

No problem. :)

I forgot to mention: You probably wont need any public transport in Amsterdam, Brussels (except if you go to the Atomium); Prague, Krakow, Zagreb, Bled, Venice (except you want to visit one of the islands such as Burano, Murano or Lido di Venezia), Florence and Pisa.
In the other cities you might find it more convenient to cover certain routes with public transport instead of walking but it would be absolutely no problem to just walk everywhere.

In Berlin you can use the S-Bahn (suburban railway) network with you Interrail pass which is especially handy if you want to travel east-west: the Stadtbahn line runs through central Berlin (the central station is also on this line); of course you would need a travel day for that so this is only recommended if you have a continuous pass or on the day you arrive/leave the city.

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Ah brilliant, I wasn't sure if public transport costs were going to cost me a fortune! My girlfriend and I are both keen walkers so where possible we will walk! Thanks for your help.

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Hi again,

Is it safe for me to book a Thalys train from Paris to Brussels on [u]http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/[/u]? Booking the reservation only that is.

Thanks,

Jamie

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yes - however you could support our work by buying through our affiliate link [ux]https://rail.shop/sncf[/ux] - thanks. :)

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Hi guys really looking for help here! Getting a train from Budapest to Zagreb tomorrow and we have 2 options - I have attached them to this post but they are either the 06.12 direct train or the 13.59 which has 2 changes. We originally planned to get the 06.12 but went to the station to try and reserve a seat today and had a very confusing time with 2 ladies who spoke very little English and so we didn't manage to reserve one. Could anyone speak from experience as to whether this is a busy train or one we need to reserve a seat on, as we don't want to be stood up for 6 and a half hours. And beyond that, could anyone tell me if the second train with the 2 changes would be fine? We don't want to get stranded in Dombovar as I've noticed it's only a 12 minute change over. Also are all these trains valid with the interrail pass with no reservations?

Thanks

Jamie

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
Traveling inside Hungary requires a reservation for IC train.
As you are leaving Hungary by direct train, no reservation is required for the first train:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/budapest-to-zagreb[/u]
Do you use an offline tool. Use this one and you see the second connection you made a screenshot from is not available: [ux]http://plan.rail.cc/Budapest/Zagreb-Glavni-Kolod/0500/1308[/ux]
If you want to buy a reservation, go to the international ticket office in Budapest Keleti (enter main entrance and keep left).
Pete :)

jld1993
Traveller
7 comments

Thanks Pete! Think it's too late to reserve a seat now and we've spent all our Hungarian money so just to reassure me, it'll be 100% ok to catch that train with no reservation? That being the direct 6.12 from Budapest Kolenfoeld to Zagreb? Thanks again!

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Now to late I think. Sorry. But yes = free of reservation.
I would get in in Budapest-Déli if possible, better to find a seat - but I think you will get a seat without problems. Let us know how your trip was. :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

How did your trip go?
On what tool did you find the second connection? Train 204 starts from Budapest at 1445 so normally I dont see the point in going via Dombovar...but I am too lazy now to check if there have been any construction works affecting train 204... ;)
As Peter mentioned: no reservation needed on the direct trains if you go to Croatia.