In Europe, unlike the United States, rail systems are one of the best ways to travel. Most countries in Europe have extensive rail networks that will get you to your destination without the hassle of renting a car. The roads in many older, smaller European villages are not well-suited for automobile traffic, and you generally don't need a car to explore these villages on foot.
If you're not sure where the rail networks go in different countries, here is a train map of the rail lines in Europe. Here are the rail maps just for Great Britain.
The advantage of a rail pass over buying multiple separate tickets is that it can save you money when you are taking a lot of trains. Purchasing multiple single or return train tickets can become costly over time, whereas a rail pass allows you to travel with more freedom. However, rail passes come with certain rules about when and where they can be used. So, before deciding whether to buy multiple single/return tickets or a rail pass, make sure you understand the rules of the rail pass you intend to purchase.
If, after calculating the costs, you find that booking single/return train tickets will save you money, a great place to book train tickets is at The Trainline website.
For S-Bahn tickets in Munich, use the MVV Website or App (available on Android and iOS). In the app, day tickets and passes can be bought up to 7 days in advance, while single tickets are for immediate travel only. The MVV website sells day tickets up to 30 days ahead.
If you decide to purchase a rail pass for your train travels, here is a list of the rail passes below.
NOTE: Check who can buy the pass you want before you plan around it. The Interrail Pass, which took over from the Eurail Pass in September 2026, is sold to everyone, with limits on travel in the country you live in.
The math isn't always obvious. An Interrail Global Pass covers 33 countries but costs several hundred dollars depending on how many travel days you need. The break-even point against single tickets depends heavily on which routes you're taking. High-speed intercity routes like Paris to Amsterdam or Rome to Milan are expensive individually, which is where a pass earns its cost. Slower regional trains are often cheap enough that buying single tickets makes more sense.
One thing many people don't realize: most high-speed and overnight trains in Europe require a paid seat reservation even when you have a rail pass. Interrail puts the average at about €10 on a domestic train, €15 on an international one and €20 on a night train, and Eurostar costs more than €30. Factor those in before deciding a pass will save money.