Eurailing vs. Budget Airlines: What’s the Best Low-Cost Way to Travel Europe?

So, which one is better? The short answer—it depends on your trip length, number of bags, and where you have your heart set on going. Let’s break down which option might be best for you.

Eurailing

When one purchases a Eurail pass, they’re purchasing a pass that allows them onto 

participating European railway and ferry companies. Prices vary on the set number of days in a set amount of time —for example, seven days of unlimited travel within one month for a one-time payment of $303 USD. The more travel days you choose, the lower the cost per day, making it significantly more affordable than booking individual tickets, which can add up quickly. 

Keep in mind that Interrail and Eurail are the same thing; however, Eurail is for non-European citizens, so be sure you’re buying the correct pass based on your citizenship. 

You can read up more on the global passes offered here.

If you plan on doing a lot of travel around expensive countries like Switzerland and Norway, plus neighboring countries during the same trip, then a Eurail pass can save you a significant amount of money. However, if you’re on a time crunch and plan on going to several places that are more spread out, then the savings may not be worth your time. 

If you’re visiting during the off-season for a longer duration- between 15 days and 3 months- and hope to stop in a handful of places, from cities to smaller towns, and move spontaneously, then one of Eurail’s continuous passes is a really good option. Their continuous passes give you the flexibility of jumping on any network in their system at any time while your pass is valid. 

One big advantage to traveling by train is that most train stations are centrally located in cities and towns, compared to airports, which are typically located a bit further and cannot be walked to. And, there isn't a strict limit on how many bags you can bring onto a train as long as you can carry everything. 

To find out if a Eurail pass will save you money on the itinerary you have in mind, you can use the map tool found here and plug in your route to see what pass would work for you. To compare, add up how much you’d spend buying each ticket individually online. 

Note that Eurail offers first and second-class passes, and some popular routes at peak times of the day may require or suggest the additional purchase of a seat reservation. If second-class seats are sold out, you might have to upgrade to a first-class seat reservation, which means you may face hidden extra costs.

In summary, I recommend getting a Eurail pass if you’re looking to have some flexibility with your trip, plan on visiting countries where transportation costs are a bit higher, and want to stop in as many places as you can, including smaller towns and don’t mind longer travel days based on your itinerary. 

Eurail also has popular trip routes by timeframe or theme with descriptions that can be used as inspiration. View them here! 

Flying Budget Airlines

Europe is home to several budget airlines, including Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, and Wizz Air, which offer surprisingly low fares on many routes.

However, these cheap tickets typically only include a small personal item that must fit under your seat. Adding a carry-on or checked bag can quickly double or even triple your fare, so if you're traveling with multiple bags, costs can add up fast.

Flying is most practical when you have a packed itinerary with must-visit destinations spread across different regions and less than two weeks to explore. In that case, maximizing time in your destinations rather than on travel days is worth the extra expense. For example, a direct flight from Portugal to Italy might take three hours, whereas a train could take a day and a half.

Depending on the region, some routes—such as those crossing large mountain ranges—may require multiple train transfers or may not even be possible by rail.

Keep in mind that many budget airlines operate out of secondary airports located farther from major city centers, so be sure to factor in extra travel time and transportation costs. That said, many cities also have affordable public transportation connecting their airports to the center.

In summary, flying is a great option if you're traveling light, booking well in advance, flying from one large city to another, and choosing longer-distance routes at off-peak times.

Use these notable differences to see which method is best for you, your plans, and your budget. And remember, you can always incorporate both into a successful, low-cost trip!