I paid $560 for a 7-day Eurail pass to country hop by train across Europe. It was so much better than flying.

The author traveled around Europe by train and preferred it to flying.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI traveled by train in four European countries using a Eurail pass in October 2022.I preferred the experience of country hopping by train to flying to each place.Traveling by train was more comfortable and sustainable than flying.Traveling by train beats flying any day — at least in Europe. I formed this opinion in October 2022, when I spent two weeks backpacking through Europe with a Eurail pass.Eurail passes grant travelers unlimited access to most European trains for a set number of days. Some trains only require a Eurail pass, while others, including overnight trains, incur an additional, discounted price.Instead of trudging through airports and squeezing into coach seating, I rode the rails in affordable, top-tier classes. Here's why I'll only take trains through Europe in the future.I used Eurail to travel by train from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. I also rode the rails locally in each country.The author prepares to board a train in Europe.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderIt was my first time using Eurail, and I bought a weeklong pass for $477.A ticket for the same journey in 2025 would cost about $337, according to a search on the company's website.In total, I took eight train rides between six different cities over a seven-day period.The author's Eurail pass on a European train.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI paid additional fees on top of my Eurail pass for two overnight trains, and when I upgraded from coach to first and business class on three rides. Each added fee was between $10 and $45, depending on the trip duration. The total cost of train travel was $560 with the upgrades.Flying would have been more expensive than the Eurail pass.The author gets off a red-eye flight to Berlin.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderAccording to a quick search on Google Flights for a 2025 trip, if I were to fly between each city in economy class instead, it would cost about $440.With Eurail, I could afford to ride in first and business class in large, plush seats.The author sits in business class on a train in Italy.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderFrom attendant service to oversize bathrooms with mood lighting, traveling in business class through Italy was a dream. Comparable cabins on a plane would be too expensive for me.I also booked a bunk in a shared cabin on an overnight train.The author rides a Nightjet sleeper train in Europe.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI could lie flat and get some sleep, which would have been much more difficult on a red-eye flight in coach.Additionally, trains were easier and quicker to board than flights.The author boards trains in Italy.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderRather than going through a lengthy check-in and security process at the airport, I could just walk right onto the train platform.On trains, I didn't experience one of the most annoying things about flying: the ear-popping that often lingers for a couple of days.The author enjoys a business-class ride on a Trenitalia train in Italy.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI also didn't miss how flights dehydrate my body.With large windows overlooking picturesque scenery, my train rides offered views of each country that I wouldn't have seen from a plane.Views of Switzerland from a train windowJoey Hadden/Business InsiderAside from take off and landing, flight window views don't change much. But as I traveled from Italy to Switzerland, looking out the window kept me off my iPad for the entire ride.Lastly, I appreciated that traveling by train was a more sustainable way to get around Europe.Inside a train car in ItalyJoey Hadden/Business InsiderTravel sustainability experts previously told Business Insider that opting for train travel over flights can lower the carbon footprint of a trip.For me, traveling by Eurail pass proved to be more comfortable than flying.The author boards a train in Italy with her big backpack in October 2022.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderNow, I'll travel by train every time I'm in Europe.Read the original article on Business Insider

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