Benefits of travelling on European trains with kids

Testimonial from an Argentinan family who loves train travel 

"We are Yamila, Marcelo and Sofia, and we love to travel as a family around the world. Visiting part of Europe together as a family has been a great adventure for us. We travelled through a large number of cities, places and landscapes, and, as Argentines, we were happy to be able to go between countries with just a few hours on the train! 

We found that the comfort of a train is unbeatable. We like to travel on the huge train network in Europe because it is comfortable, fast and safe. When travelling with a little girl, we try not to waste time on airport boardings or take more time sitting on a bus. That’s why we thought that travelling by train would be the best option, and we were not wrong. 

Sofia drew at the train tables, ate, played and slept in the seats, even in those that were less comfortable! 

By using the Pass with the Rail Planner app, we were able to plan the trains to take, knowing in which cases a prior reservation had to be made. In addition, with the Pass, we were able to make trips within cities as well as between cities and countries. Without a doubt, we recommend that if a family wants to visit a large number of cities and countries in Europe, they do it by train with a rail pass. You have comfort and speed at your fingertips." 

Testimonial from the backpacking family

It all started with a birthday wish: “I know what I want for my 50th!”. Pedro chose a family Interrail trip as an unforgettable present, and we were delighted with the idea! With 2 teenagers (Aitana, 16, and Nicolas, 15), a holiday outside of our comfort zone sounded like a great plan. In our mind, Interrailing was for young people, but we discovered that there were good prices available for young travellers and families. We decided to go to Central Europe, visiting Prague, Vienna and Budapest (via Geneva) with a 5-day Pass. 

As our travel days were limited, we spent a lot of time comparing routes and planning itineraries. We also took some time to book accommodations – better not to improvise too much when you’re far from home. Preparing our luggage was big fun! 4 backpacks, including some gluten-free provisions, travel guides and entertainment stuff: books, card games… 

We tried to get the most out of our Passes, using a wide variety of trains: from traditional slow trains (14 hours from Barcelona to Geneva), to panoramic ones (Swiss GoldenPass line, Montreux–Interlaken), fast lines (TGV in France) and night trains (Mannheim–Prague). We also experienced train dining, from DIY picnics to restaurant-carmenus (excellent gluten-free food in the Prague–Budapest line!). 

We spent two amazing weeks! Travelling by train allowed us to enjoy life at a different pace; a slow holiday with plenty of time to debate, think, dream…

The experience challenged us with unplanned situations, from train cancellations or last-minute changes to sudden storms and soaking luggage. Each one was a good lesson! We encourage families to dare to try the Interrail experience. There is an amazing Europe to discover from a train window!

Written by Lorena Corfas. Follow her Instagram account to see more of her family's travels! @lorecorfas