Going Interrailing Alone: Interrailing Solo Tips
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Going interrailing alone? You’re in the right place. Interrailing is one of the best ways to see Europe, and will always be my go-to when I want to explore more of the most diverse continent on the planet.
When interrailing alone, you will have the chance to meet plenty of other like-minded travellers. From staying in hostels to booking tours, bar crawls and nights out, there are so many opportunities to meet other backpackers. However, it’s also important to know that it’s ok to be alone when interrailing.
In the following post, you’ll find information and tips about going interrailing alone, to ensure you’re just as excited and confident as I was the first time I ever travelled Europe!
🚝 Need to buy your interrailing pass? I recommend checking this website for the best discounts and deals!
Other interrailing posts:
- Interrailing Italy: Ultimate Guide and Route
- What To Pack Interrailing Europe: Packing List Essentials
- 21 Interrail Tips for First-Timers: Interrailing Europe
Going Interrailing Alone: What is interrailing?
Interrailing is a great way to see Europe on a budget. Interrail passes are available for people of all ages, and they allow you to travel on any day of the week. You can also travel on multiple trains per day, making it easy to explore different countries and cities all in one single trip.
Interrail passes are valid for a certain number of days, so you can tailor your trip to your own needs. Plus, if you’re under 27 years old or under, you can get a special Youth Interrail pass that’s even cheaper!
Global passes for interrailing are the best way to see Europe – and they’re not as complicated or expensive as you might think. With a global pass, you can hop on a train and explore up to 33 different countries in Europe. There are different types of global passes to choose from, so you can tailor your trip to exactly what you want.
Whether you’re looking to backpack Europe for a week or a month, interrailing is a great option. Just be sure to check the rules and regulations before you go so that you can make the most of your trip.
Best hostels whilst interrailing Europe
One of my best interrail tips is to at least book your first hostel in advance. During the summer months, hostels in Europe will be fully booked. It will be tough finding a good hostel last minute.
Use Hostelworld to pre-book any hostels. They have excellent cancellation policies and you can usually get your money back right up until 24 hours before staying, so if you have any last minute changes, you have that flexibility.
Whilst I can’t list every single hostel in Europe, these are some of the best, well-known hostels to stay in whilst interrailing. Simply click the link to check prices and availability!
- 🇫🇷 Paris: Generator Paris or The People
- 🇭🇺 Budapest: Maverick City Lodge
- 🇳🇱 Amsterdam: Ecomama
- 🇩🇪 Berlin: The Circus Hostel
- 🇵🇹 Lisbon: Home Lisbon
- 🇦🇹 Vienna: Hostel Ruthensteiner
- 🇪🇸 Madrid: Sungate One
- 🇮🇪 Dublin: Gardiner House
➡ Check out other European hostels here.
Top 12 tips for going interrailing alone
1) Act confident (even if you aren’t)
Even if deep down you’re feeling way out of your depth and like you just want to crawl up into a little ball and cry whilst interrailing alone, you’ve got this!
If you look scared, worried or confused, people will pick up on it. And quick. Walk with purpose, intent and confidence, fully aware of your surroundings. Act confident, even if you’re not.
2) Plan a rough route in advance
Anyone can spot a backpacker looking lost and confused on the street. Imagine the wrong pair of eyes see this? You could be putting yourself in a really vulnerable position by not knowing what you’re doing.
Always be sure to know your route home, especially if you’re travelling home solo. If you end up in a new bar or location, do a quick Google search to check your journey back. Or, if all else fails, jump into a taxi.
Taxis are everywhere in Europe and you’ll never have to wait for more than a few minutes for one. Alternatively, Uber is available in most countries in Europe too.
If a person on the street asks where you’re staying or where you’re travelling to, don’t be afraid to lie. It’s normal to not let everyone know where you’re going.
And don’t forget to pre-book your interrailing pass here first!
3) Stay in hostels and shared dorms
As a backpacker myself, I’m a big advocate for hostels. Staying in hostels means you can make friends from day one, and there are people around you immediately.
During your stay at a hostel, you might become friends with a group of people and end up interrailing Europe with them. Or, you might book tours and activities with the hostel, which again are always done in big, safe groups.
Hostels are a great way to stay safe whilst interrailing Europe. The reception desk is there to listen to you if you have any worries or fears, and they put your safety first.
4) Bring essential solo safety items
If you’re going interrailing alone for the first time, these are some items that will help you to stay safe.
- A portable charger: so you can stay safe travelling from point A to B.
- An eSIM: downloaded on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.
- A money belt: to protect yourself from pickpockets.
- Different bank cards: ideally both a VISA and Mastercard. Some ATMs only accept one type of card.
5) Know your emergency numbers
Knowing your emergency numbers is vital. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use them, but it’s so important you know them just in case! These numbers are totally free and even work with low signal.
🇬🇧 UK: For all emergency calls, dial 999 for the fastest response.
💶 Europe: For all emergency calls, dial 112 for the fastest response.
If you don’t have a European SIM, this number will still work via your UK/USA contract. However, I do recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.
6) Always trust your gut
If you’re interrailing Europe as a solo female traveller, you’ll find a lot of times you’ll need to rely on the kindness of strangers. Most people you talk to and rely on for directions or help are decent human beings, but we all know that sometimes people just don’t have the best intentions. This is when it’s vital to trust your gut.
Don’t be afraid to lie. It’s way easier to get yourself out of a situation sooner rather than later. Be rude if you have to be.
Back in 2018 in Vietnam, my friend and I had to jump out of a taxi driver’s car mid-drive (I kid you not, I wish I had it on video) because he was giving us such scary vibes. We later found out he was scamming us out of $100. It was awkward, but I immediately had a bad gut feeling about him. Turns out when I checked my money-converting app, I was right. Trust your gut!
7) Be kind
Being kind to others will actually help you whilst interrailing alone, especially when it comes to safety. The last thing you want to do is treat the locals like a walking Sat-Nav or accessory.
Treat locals like a friend. Use basic phrases in their language. Even simple ‘gracias’ and ‘por favor’ will make a difference. In general, people around the world are kind and welcoming. If you treat them well, they’ll do their best to return the favour.
Be conscious of your body language, and your wording. Look people directly in the eye if you’re speaking to them. Smile, greet them in their language and say goodbye. It will make a world of difference! Being kind will directly impact how safe you are on your interrailing trip in Europe.
8) Join free walking tours
Another great tip for solo travellers in Europe is to join a free walking tour. They’re a great way to see a new city and meet new friends, especially if you’re interrailing alone.
And best of all, walking tours are free! They’re the perfect budget backpacker activity. Just be sure to have the cash to tip the guide at the end of the tour (roughly £10 ($12) per person).
🚝 Need to buy your interrailing pass? I recommend checking this website for the best discounts and deals!
9) Update your friends and family regularly
Another way of staying safe whilst going interrailing alone is to always let someone know where you are. Similar to location tracking, smartphones are great at allowing anyone to track your taxi or journey. This is so important when you’re travelling alone!
But I know this can be hard when you’re backpacking in a country with a time zone completely different to your family and friends back home. And do you really want to keep bothering them with your location? You have two choices.
A) You don’t care about ‘bothering’ them, as they love you and want to keep you safe! You ask them to keep an eye on you when you’re doing uncomfortable or long journeys. This is great!
B) If the time zone is too difficult, let someone in your hostel know where you’re going. You don’t need to tell them your life story, or what you’re doing, but if you’re visiting somewhere new (or meeting someone new!) someone should know where you are. If you can, exchange numbers with someone at your hostel. It’s likely you won’t need to use it, but it’s an extra layer of security.
10) Download Google Translate and know how to use it properly
There are over 200 languages spoken in Europe, and nobody expects you to know them all! Download Google Translate so you can check words and phrases when travelling between countries. One of the best features of the app is its photo translations. Simply take a photo of any foreign text and have it translated within seconds! This really helps out when reading road signs, menus and food labels.
11) Remember it’s ok to be alone
Remember it’s ok to be alone when interrailing Europe. You don’t have to be with people all of the time. Enjoy your alone time, and embrace it! There are many people in the same position as you. Take some pressure off yourself to meet new people every day; this can drain your social battery. It’s ok to be alone, and that includes on the trains, in your hostel and in restaurants.
12) If in doubt, join a group tour
Another great way to stay safe whilst interrailing Europe is to throw yourself into a group tour. Booking a group tour, volunteering with Worldpackers or learning a new skill ensures you are in a safe environment. You’ll meet people with similar interests to you, at a similar age, as well as have a point of call in any emergencies. They’ll have your back from day one!
Useful apps for staying safe when interrailing Europe
- Google Maps allows you to follow area maps even when you’re offline. Download some of your local areas before heading out to ensure you can travel safely on the right route at any time.
- Shake2Safety allows users to input emergency contacts to which a message, location, audio or photo can be sent in an emergency situation. Simply shake your phone or click the unlock button 4 times to send the alert. This can also be used without wifi and when your phone is locked.
- The Circle of 6 app allows you to save 6 contacts of your choice which can be notified in just two taps if you’re in an emergency situation.
- As horrible as it sounds, One scream works by being able to detect the scream of a panicked female. A loud siren will go off, and after 20 seconds an automated voice call and message will be sent to your emergency contacts.
Going interrailing alone: FAQs
1) Is it easy to meet people whilst interrailing?
Yes, there are a number of ways that you can meet people whilst interrailing Europe! Most backpackers stay in hostels to meet other like-minded travellers. Hostels in Europe often put on nightly events and tours for backpackers to mingle and make friends easily.
Alternatively, you can meet people on trips or walking tours in European cities, or on bar crawls and nights out. If you’re confident and have an extroverted side, you can strike up a conversation with other travellers wherever.
2) Is it safe to interrail alone?
Europe is considered a safe continent for backpackers to travel alone. But of course, it helps to use common sense and have a number of safety precautions in place. For example, when going interrailing alone, you should:
👯♀️ Let someone know your plans before you go and speak to friends back home often; that way, if anything happens, they’ll know where to find you.
👩❤️👨 If you’re going to date whilst interrailing, especially via dating apps, always meet in a public place. Send your location to your friends and keep them updated throughout.
🗣️ Be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut if something doesn’t feel right.
📲 Keep your valuables close to you and don’t flash them around, especially in busy city centres.
💸 Keep your money in multiple places in case anything is misplaced or stolen.
🚨 Have travel insurance. As a backpacker interrailing Europe, I always recommend SafetyWing. Yes, it costs money, but never, ever travel without it! The risk just isn’t worth it.
3) How do I plan a solo trip to Europe?
Planning a trip around Europe can seem overwhelming. If you’re planning a solo interrailing trip, first decide on how long you are going to travel for, then get a rough idea of which countries you want to see. You can then buy an interrailing pass depending on the duration and countries you want to visit.
From there, use the interrailing planning app to check train times and durations. Most countries in Europe are connected by train, so it’s easy to get around. Also, this blog has a lot of information about planning an interrailing trip. You can check out my other interrailing guides here.
4) Do I need a SIM card to interrail Europe?
Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing! Plus, there are eSIMs available for the entire continent of Europe, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
➡ BUY YOUR INTERRAILING PASS NOW!
5) What tours should I do whilst interrailing Europe?
Looking to book a tour whilst interrailing Europe? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!
When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else!
➡ You can check out available tours in Europe with prices here!
6) Do I need a car to interrail Europe?
The whole point of interrailing is to travel Europe by train, so it’s unlikely you will need to hire a car. However, if you head to the Italian countryside, or want to take a day trip, you may want to hire a car; especially if a group of you have got together in a hostel and want to travel together.
If you’re looking to hire a car in Europe, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in Europe now!
Going Interrailing Alone: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about going interrailing alone. When you’re planning a trip to Europe, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Europe content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other interrailing posts you might like:
- Interrailing Italy: Ultimate Guide and Route
- What To Pack Interrailing Europe: Packing List Essentials
- 21 Interrail Tips for First-Timers: Interrailing Europe
- How to Interrail on a Budget: Interrail Europe CHEAP!
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
