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Sunrise at Fisherman’s Bastion, a fairytale-like UNESCO World Heritage Site in Budapest, Hungary, one of the highlights of my Eurail trip.
The best way to explore Europe is by train. Eurail makes it easy and affordable to travel seamlessly between countries in Europe without the hassle of airports. This spring, I spent three months in Europe with a long stint in the Azores for work. I was on a mission to explore some new parts of Central Europe and decided on a roughly two-week train trip to Wales and a Budapest-to-Zagreb journey with stops in Budapest, Bratislava (my new favorite city!), Vienna, Lake Bled (Slovenia) and Zagreb.
To help you plan your own European rail adventure, I wanted to break down my trip by location to share the best things to do, where to stay and eat, along with helpful tips on how to make the most of your Eurail pass.
Locations Visited: London, Conwy (Wales), Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Lake Bled, Zagreb
Duration of Trip: 19 Days
Type of Eurail Pass: Eurail Global First Class 15-Day Continuous Pass ($717 USD)
Disclosure : Eurail provided a free rail pass for this trip. All opinions are my own. The Eurail links are not affiliate links, but other affiliate links are included. If you make a purchase, I earn affiliate revenue at no cost to you.
Types of Eurail Passes
Eurail sells one country passes and global passes valid for two or more countries. Global passes include 33 countries and have two types: continuous or flexi, a set number of days within a month. All passes include unlimited travel .
Calculate how many days you will need to be traveling by train on your trip. If you are going to spend a few days in each city in between trains, then the cheaper flexible (flexi) passes are often your best bet. Since my trip was only 19 days, including four in Zagreb at the end, the 15-day continuous pass was perfect for me.
How to Use Your Eurail Pass
First, add and activate your Eurail Pass to your app (left), then start adding trains to your journey (right).
Activating your Eurail Pass and planning your trip is a breeze. First, purchase the pass that best suits your trip duration and type. Be sure to save and screenshot your confirmation email.
Next, download the Eurail Rail Planner App. To load your pass, simply go to the My Pass section on the bottom of the app, hit the plus button in the top right corner and follow the prompts to add your pass using your last name and pass number from your email confirmation.
Create a new trip under the My Trip section and name it accordingly. (I named mine Europe May 2026.) Then, use the planner tool to search for trains and add them to your trip, which automatically adds them to your pass. This feature easily organizes trains chronologically.
When you board the train, simply tap on My Pass, your trip name and show ticket to display a barcode railway staff scanned easily.
Conwy, Wales
An aerial view from one of the eight towers at the 13th-century ruins of Conwy Castle in Wales.
Why Go: Conwy Castle is one of the most intact medieval castles in Europe.
Where to Stay: I loved this centrally located Airbnb .
How to get there: Express train from London Euston to Chester and Express from Chester to Conwy (3.5 hours)
How Long: Two nights
Despite having lived in England, I had never been to Wales, so I Googled “ best castle town in Wales, ” and Conwy was the perfect match. (I started my trip in the UK because I needed to make sure, I didn’t go over my 90 days in the Schengen.)
Conwy Castle, a behemoth ruin on the banks of the River Conwy, is the main attraction for good reason. I highly recommend climbing all eight towers for the views. For the best photos of the castle, take a stroll on the walking paths on both sides of the river.
For tasty meat pies, try the spicy dragon rolls or the turkey/cranberry ones at Edwards of Conwy. The soup and homemade scones at 2 The Square (right below my Airbnb !) were lovely. The Albion, a co-op between local craft breweries, is a good spot for a drink.
Benefits of Eurail Pass in U.K.
First-class trains in the U.K. are like business class on a plane —food and drinks (including craft beer and alcohol) are free. Of course, I didn’t know this and was sitting there with my Marks & Spencer’s sandwich like a peasant. No other train on my trip provided free food. The value for the money for the first-class Eurail Pass in the UK is unmatched in the rest of Europe. This short journey alone paid for my pass! (I break down the pricing in this section.) This was the nicest train of my entire trip.
I started my journey at London Heathrow and Eurail covers the Elizabeth Line train, so it was easy to get around in London, but I had to pay for a short Tube ride to connect to Euston station. My Eurail pass wouldn’t scan, so I always had to show it to an attendant for the Elizabeth Line. (FYI: The line connects directly to Paddington Station.)
Seat reservations are free on trains in the UK, so I made sure to reserve my seats at advance in the station. (You can do this in the Eurail app, but it’s paid. The app said reservations were required for my train, but this was not true.) Due to time and the fact that my job was paying for the flight, I flew from London to Budapest instead of taking the train, which would have been covered by my pass.
Budapest, Hungary
A sunset view of Budapest’s parliament building from across the Danube River.
Why Go: Thermal baths, architecture (Parliament Building, Fisherman’s Bastion) and eclectic dive bars
Where to Stay: I loved this beautiful apartment on Airbnb.
How to get to Budapest: I flew from London to start my trip.
How Long: Three nights
Budapest did not disappoint. I purposely chose an Airbnb away from one of the city’s most famous and largest ruin bars (dive bars housed in abandoned buildings ), Szimpla Kert. One of my favorite photos spots was the fairytale-esque Fisherman’s Bastion that provides excellent views of the Parliament building. (I went at sunrise (5:30 a.m.!), and it was packed with Instagrammers who disappeared after an hour, so I finally had it to myself.)
It was cold and rainy, so I decided to visit the indoor circa 1571 Rudas Thermal Baths. The historic rooms were cool, but I was bored after an hour and left. One of the highlights was the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, a gallery with rotating exhibits and a permanent exhibition about the famed Hungarian-born war photographer who assumed an American identity to command higher wages.
The Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library is worth a visit. It costs $6 (for non-members) to explore the portion of the library housed in an ornate 19th-century palace.
Budapest Eurail Transit Tips
Since I had a lot of luggage, I ended up taking a taxi to the train station because the metro has the steepest escalators I’ve ever seen! The Eurail app said that a seat reservation was required for my train, which was true. I stopped by the train station the day before to book a seat. It was three Euros in person and six through the app. (It’s always cheaper to book seats in person at the station.) It was always very easy to book seat reservations in advance in person. I just showed my app with my pass and never had an issue.
Bratislava, Slovakia
A view of Bratislava Castle from the top of St. Michael’s Tower.
Why Go: Laid-back European capital with cobbled streets and castles minus the crowds
Where to Stay: LOFT Hotel Bratislava
How to get there from Budapest: RJ276 Railjet Train from Budapest-Nyugati to Bratislava Hlavna Stanica (2.5 hours)
How Long: Two nights
Bratislava (Slovakia’s capital) was the most surprising part of the trip. I absolutely loved it—such a fun, livable city with large public parks and tons of people walking dogs. Plus, the craft beer and food were top-notch.
During its golden age, the city was the coronation capital of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1536-1783 at St. Martin’s Cathedral. The city is famous for its preserved cobbled old town, gorgeous palaces, quirky street statues (like Napoleon leaning on a bench) and the UFO bridge .
Buying the 24-hour (30 Euros) Bratislava Card was the most affordable way to see all the sights, but it was a struggle to see them all in one day! Public transport is also included. (Most European cities have this pass, but I didn’t find it to be a good value in Budapest for my interests.)
The best view in town is from the St. Michael’s Gate tower in the morning, and the interior of the pink-hued Primates Palace was very photogenic. Devin Castle, perched at the confluence of the Danube and Morava Rivers, is one of the country’s most important landmarks and worth the 30-minute bus ride.
Bratislava Eurail Travel Tips
The aging Bratislava train station wasn’t my favorite station of the trip, but it was very walkable from the old town (35 minutes). I chose a hotel ( LOFT Hotel Bratislava ) halfway between the two. The train to Vienna was a short 56-minute journey on an older commuter train with compartments of seat benches that face each other like they do in movies. Seat reservations weren’t possible. Even on the smaller trains like this, my Eurail pass worked easily with no issues.
Vienna, Austria
Why Go: Imperial history, classical music and coffeehouse culture
Where to Stay: DoubleTree
How to get there from Bratislava: ER 2515 Euregio from Bratislava Hlavna Stancia to Wien Hbf (56 minutes)
How Long: One night
Vienna was just a practical stop to break up the trip for the long journey to Lake Bled the next day. I’d been here before, and it’s not really my favorite. (Vienna does parks well, I will say.) I did walk around to a few locations from Before Sunrise, one of my favorite travel movies. The lounge for first-class was nice in Vienna and included a few snacks. It was mostly nice to have a quiet place to relax before the train.
Lake Bled, Slovenia
The view of Bled Island in Lake Bled from the Ojstrica viewpoint.
Why Go: Emerald-green lake with a cliffside castle and a 17th-century church perched on an island
Where to Stay: Centrally-located Airbnb just steps from bus station
How to get there from Vienna: RJX 52 Railjet Express to Villach Hbf connecting to EC 115 EuroCity train to Lesce Bled (5 hours if trains are on time)
How Long: Two nights
The beauty of Lake Bled is undeniable, but beauty often equals crowds. Even on a weekend visit, I found ways to escape the hordes (go out before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.) to hike and paddleboard in relative solitude. It was a perfect weekend. (I did a morning run around the lake at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning, and it was nearly deserted!)
I used the eastern edge of the lake in Bled, the largest village on the lake, as my base, which I would recommend. The first thing I did was walk the 3.7-mile loop (1.5 to 2 hours) around the lake at sunset to scout for photo locations.
For 20 Euro roundtrip, I took a traditional wooden pletna boat (rowed by a local oarsman) with other travelers to Bled Island to visit the 17th century Church of Assumption to ring the famous wishing bell. The island is worth visiting, and you can also rent a smaller rowboat to go on your own.
I’m a hiker, so I scouted the best time to trek to viewpoints for the best light for photos, which is 4 p.m. in late May. I did the Ojstrica Loop, going to the Mala Osojnia viewpoint first (highest view to separate the island from the mountains), then to the famous (and more crowded) Instagram spot of Ojstrica (island is centered in the lake with a rock people can stand on for photos).
I rented a paddleboard for 15 Euros/hour and had a magical Sunday morning. (You can’t land on the island in a paddleboard.) I recommend renting boats and paddleboards on the western side of the lake at this spot because it’s closer to the island. On my walk back to Bled on the southern side of the lake, I met an old man named Bobi selling paintings for 4 Euros who literally made my trip. When you buy a painting, he paints a portrait of you and him on the back!
For food, I loved the peach burrata salad and local wines at Beestro Bled, ice cream from Jodlar, baked goods and affordable sandwiches from Pekarna Planika (affordable) and pricey but delicious sandwiches for the train from the Market by the Lake.
Parking is terrible, so I’d avoid having a car unless you have parking at your accommodation. It’s easy to walk everywhere.
Lake Bled Eurail Travel Tips
Traditional wooden pletna boats, rowed by an oarsman, drop off people at Bled Island for 20 Euros round-trip.
The town of Bled is about a six-minute drive from Lesce Bled train station. A taxi is 15 Euros, so I took the bus for 1.50 Euros. Check the bus schedule on the tourism website.
Arriving in Lake Bled by Train
The best thing about the Eurail pass is the ability to hop on almost any train (that doesn’t require reservations) instantly. If you miss a train, you just catch the next one with no drama. This was a huge benefit on my way to Bled because my initial train from Vienna was late, so I missed my connecting train and had to wait two hours for the next one. I didn’t have to stand in line to change my ticket. The first-class car on the smaller train was only half a carriage and not really the best.
Departing Lake Bled by Train
Since there were only two direct trains from Lesce Bled to Zagreb (an early and later afternoon one), I stored my luggage at Funturist Bled, a rafting, biking and outdoor company at the bus station for 5 Euros a bag. I highly recommend this spot because the owner was so nice and helpful with travel details. This train was packed, and the first-class car was overly crowded, so book ahead for seats if you can. (The Lesce station is staffed infrequently, so seat reservations were impossible in person, and it wasn’t an option in the app.)
Zagreb, Croatia
The colorful tiled roof of St. Mark’s Church in Zagreb, built in 1880, features the medieval coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia on the left and the emblem of Zagreb on the right.
Why Go: Crowd-free capital with an excellent food scene
How to get there from Lake Bled: EC 115 EuroCity from Lesce Bled to Zagreb (3.5 hours)
How Long: Four Nights
Zagreb was a charming, livable city with a great food scene. It’s a refreshing break from the crowded hotspots of Spilt and Dubrovnik. It’s famous for the world’s shortest funicular ride (217 feet!) and the intricate, colorful tiled roof of St. Mark’s Church and the Grič Tunnel, an underground walkway through a former bomb shelter during World War II.
While those are all cool, the best thing in Zagreb is the Museum of Broken Relationships, a crowd-funded art project sharing objects and stories from broken relationships of all types (romantic, work, family and friendship). It’s hilarious, heartbreaking and above all, real. It’s worth going to Zagreb just for this award-winning museum!
The culinary scene is fabulous. Stop by Bastion No. 19 for some unique wines —one of the Croatian co-owners is the beverage manager for Gaggan in Bangkok. The Garden Brewery is an easy train ride from the city center and has one of the best taprooms in Europe. La Štruk serves up traditional Croatian štrukli, a baked dish of dough and fillings.
Eurail FAQ: Is a Eurail pass worth it?
The Eurail Rail Planner app keeps track of your journey.
Yes, my Eurail pass saved me almost $300! An adult Eurail First Class 15-day consecutive pass is 618 EUR/$717 USD, while the total cost of individual tickets would have been $1,011.92. The pass saved me 27% of the total cost.
Prices below are all one-way for the trains I took on my trip.
London Heathrow to Conwy Wales (I did this round trip. One-way prices listed below.)
First Class: 281 GBP/$378 USD
Standard: 85 GBP/$114 USD
Budapest to Bratislava, Slovenia
First Class: 79.99 EUR/ $91.50 USD
Standard: 42 EUR/48.60 USD
Bratislava to Vienna
Standard: 18.50 EUR/21.16 USD
No first-class option.
Vienna to Lake Bled, Slovenia
First Class: 69.90 EUR/79.96 USD (nonflexible)
Standard: 49.50 EUR/56.62 USD (nonflexible)
Lake Bled to Zagreb
First Class: 54 EUR/62.30 USD
Standard: 36.25 EUR/41.47 USD
How to Use Make Seat Reservations with a Eurail Pass
The Eurail app gives you the option to book and reserve seats on select trains in the app directly through Eurail or the trainline. Seats can also be reserved in person for a cheaper fee.
The Rail Planner app lets you make seat reservations for most trains for a fee (usually around 6 Euros). You can also reserve directly through the train line in person and online. I found it to be much cheaper to reserve seats directly at the station, instead of using the app. Keep in mind that seat reservations aren’t an option on many smaller trains. For peak travel times like holidays and summer months, reserve seats well in advance.
Is a first-class Eurail pass worth it?
A first-class Eurail pass is worth it if you are taking long-haul services, especially in the UK where food and alcohol are included for free. The shorter trains usually have very tiny first-class compartments that don’t add as much value as the long-haul ones. The standard price for my round trip trains to Wales alone was more than the cost of the pass. In big transit hubs, a first-class ticket and Eurail pass includes lounge access with snacks and WIFI.
Overall, my Eurail pass made this trip seamless, even with train delays. The pass is worth the money, but I’d just book seats in person at the station or directly through the trainline to save money.
