Three European countries that you can travel cheaply or for free by train

Train travel is becoming popular again, with many countries around the world either reinstating previously canceled routes or even launching entirely new ones. Two beautiful European countries offer tempting train travel for pennies, reports TravelOffPath.

Photo: IStock

Europe has a well-developed railway network connecting several countries. It aims to sharply reduce carbon emissions over the medium term. To achieve this, countries turned to the railways to stimulate tourism.

Now both Germany and Hungary, two of the most beautiful destinations in Europe, offer unlimited train passes for around $55.

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It's worth mentioning that there is a third country that you can travel to for free, and it's just as exciting as the other two. Lucky for you, this mysterious, highly underrated place is just a stone's throw from the German border.

How does a German travel pass work?

Last March, Germany released a $55 ticket.

This measure, which was considered temporary at the time, was so successful that the government has continued to implement it and it looks set to become permanent. Transport Minister Volker Wissing called it "the biggest reform of public transport in German history."

The Deutschlandticket, as it is officially known, or simply the "Germany Ticket", allows holders to travel as many times as they want on any regional public transport route across almost the entire country for a fixed monthly price.

It covers short to medium distances domestically and acts like a digital subscription that can be canceled before your next month's bill.

Essentially, people can take any regional and local buses and trains they want during their subscription period.

For example, those using the Berlin Metropolitan Pass can now travel freely from the German capital to the neighboring state of Brandenburg without paying additional fees. Brandenburg will be considered a short or medium distance trip.

On the other hand, pass holders cannot board the train from Berlin to Frankfurt or Berlin to Cologne without booking a separate train ticket as it is a long-distance train. This applies to all long-distance routes, including any trains operated by DB Fernverkehr AG, including RE, and FlixTrain (IC, EC and ICE).

However, this is a great way to save money when traveling in Germany, since the total cost of train travel between cities is usually more than $55.

In addition, pass holders can board certain eligible trains from/to stations in neighboring countries if they are operated by a German operator and if the pass is linked to the region of entry. These include Tønder in Denmark, Wissembourg in France, Basel in Switzerland and Swinoujscie in Poland, which have direct transport links to Germany.

Tickets can be purchased directly from Deutsche Germany banh or from local transport companies in different cities.

What about Hungary

As for Hungary, two passes are available: one for the whole country and one for the districts.

When traveling through the Eastern European pearl, tourists can purchase a “National Travel Card”, which gives them access not only to every train, but also to every bus line in the country, as long as it is operated by the following companies:

• MÁV-START
• MÁV-HÉV
• GYSEV
• Volánbusz (buses only)

For 30 days, you'll be free to explore the city, from Budapest's majestic Austro-Hungarian thermal pool to the serene Lake Balaton, known as the "Hungarian Sea."

As with the German ticket, the Hungarian national travel card costs approximately $55, and foreign visitors are able to purchase it at more than 1100 ticket offices throughout Hungary.

All you have to do is simply go to any train station, find the nearest MÁV-START, GYSEV or Volánbusz office or just a vending machine and choose the option that suits you best.

It's worth noting that this pass cannot be used on municipal services, meaning you cannot use it to travel on the tram or metro in the wider Budapest urban area or on any regional public transport in any specific Hungarian city.

In some ways this is the complete opposite of the German experience.

Luckily, Hungary then introduced the “County Travel Card”. It gives its owners unlimited bus and train travel in one of 19 counties. It costs approximately $27 and is an ideal option for tourists who want to stay in one place longer.
This option is sure to please digital nomads in Budapest, as they often live in the city for one to three months at a time.
If you are a student, you should know that you are eligible for a 90 percent discount on these tickets, so be sure to bring a valid international student ID showing your status.

third direction

A $55 train ticket sounds great, but what about unlimited free travel for both residents and tourists?

Luxembourg is currently the only European country to offer this privilege to tax-free visitors. They can take any train or bus of their choice throughout the Principality without prior reservation.

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The free ticket is valid for public transport, regardless of route, train line or distance. It applies to citizens of all countries, provided that it is a national route that does not cross Luxembourg's borders with France, Germany or Belgium.

Luxembourg, the country's compact capital, is known for its famous medieval fortress and the cobbled historic center of Vianden.

Because Luxembourg is a tiny country, you can cover most of the area in three to five days, making it an ideal halfway point on your trip across Europe.

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