If you’re going to festival your way across Europe, odds are that you will be taking a train. Train travel in Europe is incredible, with super comfortable seats and jaw-dropping scenic rides that you would miss by flying. Every festival that I’ve been to over the last two years has been located near a rail station, and it’s the easiest way to access fests.
Train travel costs can add up, so if you’re going to be in Europe for any significant time, it’s worth looking into a Eurail Pass. This all-in-one train ticket lets you access multiple trains in multiple European countries and can be as flexible as your travel plans.
All of the below passes and pricing can be found at the official Eurail website. A Eurail Pass can only be used by non-European citizens or residents, while European citizens can use an Interrail Pass instead.
The Festival Getaway
Best for: You’re looking to catch an international festival and work in a week or two of sightseeing.
Check out: Eurail One Country Pass
This is our favorite pass for exploring a single country. Get up to 8 flexible days of travel over 1 month and you can take multiple trains per day.
The Mini-Adventure
Best for: You want to see out three or four music festivals in neighboring countries
Check Out: Eurail Select Pass (not available for EU citizens)
Take away the hassle of transportation planning and pick the Select Pass which lets you tailor your rail pass to 2-4 countries. You can purchase up to 10 days of travel within a two month period.
The Grand European Festival Tour
Best for: You have the whole summer free and want to check off every music festival on your bucket list.
Check Out: Eurail Global Pass
Numerous options abound for long term travelers with the Global Pass. Choose a continuous pass from 15 days, 22 days, 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months. There’s also a flexi-pass option for 10 or 15 travel days within a two-month window, or 5 or 7 travel days within a one-month window.