Solo rail journeys have taken me from Finland (where I live) to Istanbul, Lisbon, southern Spain, the Scottish Highlands, the Baltics and many places in between. An Interrail global pass offered the freedom to stay longer in places I loved or make spontaneous decisions to move on. With the help of those passes, I’ve travelled more than 16,000 miles by train across Europe in the last three years, mostly on my own.
My experience is an example of growing enthusiasm for European rail travel. Passengers took a record-breaking 8.7 billion rail trips within the EU in 2024, according to the latest data from Eurostat (the official statistical office of the EU). Demand for solo travel is also strong. Data from online travel search engine Skyscanner found that bookings made using the “solo traveller” hotel search filter had increased 83 per cent between 2024 and 2025. Freedom is the biggest motivation for travelling alone, says Opodo’s Solo Travel Trends 2026 report. Trains are the perfect vehicle for a liberating solo trip.
Paula has travelled around Europe by train (Photo: Provided)
There are 33 countries in the Interrail scheme, and passes are valid on most trains in Europe, as well as some ferries. Second-class adult passes (for people aged 28–59) start from £246 for four days of unlimited travel within one month to £832 for three months of continuous travel. There are cheaper “youth” (aged 12–27) and “senior” (aged 60-plus) tickets.
