The best discoveries rarely make it onto your itinerary

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Leave room for the unexpected

Some of the best discoveries rarely make it onto your itinerary. I discovered that somewhere between Berlin and Leipzig in June 2012, on my way to help host the 40th anniversary of the Interrail Pass.

While studying the Eurail map as the train rolled through the German countryside, an elderly couple recommended a town I’d never planned to visit.

A few hours later, I was feeding my last emergency sunflower seeds to the overconfident ducks that call the Dresden Zwinger home, realizing that the most unlikely discoveries and travel companions are often the ones you never set out to find.

That experience stayed with me because it sums up what Eurailing is all about.

Yes, it’s worth booking popular train reservations early, packing light, and embracing the spirit of slow travel. But after speaking to experienced travelers for our latest article, I realized the advice that resonated most was the same lesson I learned on that train: leave room for unexpected discoveries.

Sometimes the most memorable part of Eurailing isn’t the destinations. It’s the random conversations over lukewarm coffee as the train rattles along, the recommendation to try the best flammkuchen in town, or the spontaneous detour you never saw coming.

Read our 10 essential tips for first-timers and discover new ways to make the most of your adventure.

— Ellie Kingswell, Copywriter

A love letter to night trains & an exciting giveaway

Growing up in India in the early 2000s, most of our family holidays began on a train. My fondest memory is travelling more than 2,300 kilometres from Delhi to Puducherry, spending two nights in air-conditioned sleeper cabins with bunk-bed style beds aboard the Rajdhani Express with my parents, their friends, and my cousins.

All our meals were catered, we spent hours talking, played card games (and a few practical games) when we got bored, and never missed a chance to observe life outside the train window.

The holiday began before we even got to our first destination. And it’s been a joy to carry that love of sleeper trains into adulthood, crossing Europe by night with a Eurail Pass and waking up somewhere new.

Journalist and writer Monisha Rajesh onboard the Royal Scotsman night train.

Travel writer and journalist Monisha Rajesh explores the charms of traveling while the world sleeps in her latest book Moonlight Express. She details her journeys on Austria’s Nightjet, Finland’s Santa Claus Express, and many others. Read our interview with the author to learn more.

Celebrate the book launch with us and get a chance to win a copy of Moonlight Express AND a FREE Eurail Global Pass (7 travel days in 1 month, 2^nd class).

— Sukriti Kapoor, Lifecycle Content Specialist

Make this the year you explore France with Eurail

Whether you’re in the mood for a laidback journey through France’s château country or an adventure by night train from Paris to Berlin, there’s never been a better time to explore France with a Eurail Pass.

As rail carriers add new services across Europe, the Eurail Pass network is growing too, adding more routes and connections. Find out why France is one of the most exciting destinations for Eurail travelers this year.

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