InterRail: Western Europe - Paris - Belgium - Germany ...

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
Have a look at our handmade schedules to find connections, saving extra reservation fees:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]

And at online schedules here:
[ux]plan.rail.cc[/ux]

Paris - Brugges: avoid the Thalys trains on this route. For example TGV from Prais to Lille (EUR 6), then by IC and local trains to Brugges.
Brugges. Brussels - Cologne by free ICE train:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/bruges-to-brussels[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/brussels-to-cologne[/u]

There are no night trains on these routes.

For all other connections, use the links I gave you.

Vienna to Split:
first Vienna - Zagreb (free day train), then Zagreb - Split (night train).
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/vienna-to-zagreb[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zagreb-to-split[/u]

Peter :)

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Hi Peter,

Sorry for the late reply...we hope to buy our inter-railing passes off railcc this weekend for travelling on the 30th of May...do you think that would be enough time?

I was also wondering...we plan to get a train from Paris Nord to Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and I have found the time and all on the BAHN website but I was hoping you could tell me how I could go about reserving a seat and when I need to do this?

Thanks alot for your help,

Brian

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi Brian.
Delivery time is given by the system with 7 business days. And the tickets always arrive in time( usually even faster - but I can only guarantee the 7 business days), so it should fit. :)


[b]Paris - Düsseldorf[/b]
Which connection did you selected? Definitely avoid connections with the THALYS (THA) trains!
As Thalys is very very expensive to use as Interrail traveller: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/thalys/41[/u]


Better travel this way:

[b]Paris - Luxembourg[/b]: by TGV train. Get the reservation at Paris, as soon as you arrive there. It should be around EUR 3. If no reservation is available anymore (limited seats for rail pass travellers), do it the way like described here - see forum link: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/tgv-sncf/42[/u]

[b]Luxembourg - Trier[/b]: free train

[b]Trier - Koblenz[/b]: free train

[b]Koblenz - Düsseldorf[/b]: free train

Example:
Paris Est dep: 0840 - TGV
Luxembourg arr: 1055

Luxembourg dep: 1114 - local train, free
Trier Hbf arr: 1206

Trier Hbf dep: 1213 - local train
Koblenz Hbf arr: 1338

Koblenz Hbf dep: 1413 - IC train, free
Düsseldorf Hbf arr: 1531

By the way, this is a very nice route between Luxembourg and Koblenz. :)

Thank you for supporting railcc, Peter :)

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Thanks for your speedy reply Peter and for always given great advice.

The only problem is that we are hoping on getting there around 8ish;

It says that the products are THA and ICE so i'm guessing they will be expensive and if so, how much do you think?

I was just wondering if you heard anything about the eiffel tower in Paris...do you know if you can get tickets on site and if they sell out quickly? It's okay if you can't answer that...I know the site is for inter-railing.

Thanks Peter :)

Brian

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej Brian,

Thalys requires an expensive reservation, eg 30€ for Paris - Bruxelles or 36€ for Paris - Köln. Also there are reports that there are difficulties to obtain such IR reservations for Thalys.

When do you want to be in Düsseldorf? 8am? Or 8pm?


Flo 8)

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Hey Flo,

I have to be in Dusseldorf because I'm meeting someone there...what other way would ye suggest? Thanks, Brian

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Well, when do you have to be there?

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

I have to be there on the 01/06 after 5pm but I'd prefer not to travel more than 6 or 7 hours?

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

a)

Paris Nord 0801 - 1115 Köln Hbf :arr: Thalys, 36€ reservation
Köln Hbf 1131 - 1201 Düsseldorf Hbf :arr: RE, free with IR

The same connection runs Paris 1201 - 1601 Düsseldorf

b)

Paris Est 0910 - 1215 Mannheim Hbf :arr: TGV Alleo, 13€ reservation
Mannheim Hbf 1235 - 1431 Düsseldorf Hbf :arr: ICE, free with IR

I would recommend this connections as it combines a fast travel time with moderate reservation costs.


Flo 8)

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Flo,

Thanks so much for being so helpful...where did you find these?

Do you know if your option b goes at any later time like if it departs around 3pm or that?

I was planning on meeting him around 7 or 8 pm at Dusseldorf station?

Thanks so much

I really appreciate the help

Thanks

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej,

no problem. Basically the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable is helpful as well as the online travel planners :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-train-route[/u]
However, having personal experience comes handy as well since the online schedule planners often do not show you what you really need or show you that what you want only when you know how to do it... ;)

What about:

Paris Est 1310 - 1658 Frankfurt/Main Hbf :arr: TGV Alleo, 13€ reservation
Frankfurt/Main Hbf 1710 - 1836 Düsseldorf Hbf :arr: ICE, no reservation required


Flo 8)

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Hey,

Sorry took so long to reply...Flo, that sound great thank you so much.
I'll take that one so...really excited!

I had to book my Inter-railing ticket with railcc simply because of the great help I got...thank you so much...booked them about an hour ago! :)

Can you recommend anything to do in the following cities/countries;

- Paris, France
- Germany
- Brussels/Bruges, Belgium
- Krakow, Poland
- Venice/Rome, Italy
- Zagreb, Croatia

As you can see...we have changed out Itinerary but were open for recommendations.

Thanks a lot for you help

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Hey Flo,

Just trying to reserve that train you were telling me about and the only choice given is 1st class for €76?

Is there anywhere to reserve it for the €13 you spoke about?

Thanks, Brian

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej Brian,

thanks for supporting railcc! :)

Where did you find the 76€ price? If you cannot get a reservation in the railcc shop you will have to do so directly at a station. This of course could be problematic since you start in Paris and there is a possibility that the train is full already. :|
Anyway, the 13€ is the regular price for the reservation at a station; if it happens that you cannot get a reservation for that TGV there are alternative connections possible, some of which I already pointed out before.
I can have a look for other possible connections in case you dont get a reservation.

What to do in:

- Paris: Well...if it is your first time I'd do the standard touristy things...Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, Sacre Couer...you can rather easily walk between most important places and can get nice impressions of regular life as well this way. :)
I'd also recommend to have a visit in Parc Buttes-Chaumont or Parc Montsouris...are there any things you are especially interested in visiting or doing? Maybe I can think of some other tips then. :)
- Germany: Humm...I've been to Düsseldorf last year to visit a friend but didnt see much of the city... At least you have to try the typcial beer Alt, for instance in Füchschen brewery.
- Bruxelles: The Grande Place and its surroundings are nice; the Atomium is interesting, apart from that there is not much else to see, at least that's my experience;
- The city centre is small, so just walk around and exlpore; it is mostly surrounded by a canal so you know when you are walking in the wrong direction. Again, have a seat in a beer bar and enjoy the numerous specialties of Belgian beers! :D
- Rome: Trastevere quarter is nice; if you are in for the main sights just follow the flocks of tourists... :D I like Piazza Navona and its surroundings as well as the area of Spanish Steps; go to Gianicolo for a nice view of the city.


Flo 8)