Transportation

The pages below provide information and price comparisons of many of the many forms of transportation available in Europe.

Travel Tip: When trying to determine which rail pass is the best for you, use RailSaver. It will help save you money by calculating the best combination of passes and tickets for your specific itinerary.

Information to help you get started
For many people the only way to travel in Europe is by train.   Eurail and/or Inter-Rail passes provide fast and efficient for those wanting to travel Europe by train.

• Eurail  passes are available to anyone who is not a citizen of Europe.
   
• Inter-Rail passes are only available to citizens of Europe or for people who can prove they have been residents of a  European country for more than six months. 

If you are traveling in a small group (2-6 people) you might find it cheapest to rent or lease a car for the duration of stay in Europe. When computing the price remember to factor in buying gas, road tolls, and any other applicable charges.

Several different companies offer flexible bus passes that go to many of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. Bus passes are sometimes, but not always, cheaper than train passes. They are an especially good deal for those traveling in Europe for more than two months, because most rail passes are only valid for up to two months from first day of use (depending on the pass you purchase).

Yet another travel option is backpacking bus tours. I went on two of these week long tours as supplements to my independent train travel. They are fun way to travel (especially when traveling solo) and a great way for a traveler to see certain parts of Europe in depth.  

What I used during my three month trip
Depending on the length of your stay, combining rail and bus passes can save you money and offer you greater flexibility.   During my three months of travel I:   used a Britrail Flexipass, went on a MacBackpackers tour, took a National Express bus to/from Ireland, went on a Tir Na NOg tour, took a Eurolines bus from London to Paris, used a 10 days in two month Eurail Flexi-Pass, and took the Eurostar from Brussells to London.