Visit Rail Europe or Travelocity's European Train Travel websites to book train tickets or to find passes that match your itinerary. Find Eurail passes on either of these sites or at Eurail's site. These passes are valid on trains in several countries.
Type in the departure and arrival cities if you know your itinerary. If you're booking a multicountry or regional pass, select the number of countries or the region you'd like to visit. Click on the pass and specify the countries, which must be adjoining, as the website directs. Your pass may be used in the countries you specify. You may choose a "flexipass," which allows you to travel on a certain number of days within a month or two. Or you may book your travel for a continuous number of days. Choose a 21-country "Global Pass" from Eurail to travel throughout Europe in the number of days you specify. For this pass, you do not choose countries -- you are restricted to the 21 offered on the pass.
Enter your personal and credit card information to book the tickets. Prices may be shown in American dollars, Euros or Australian dollars. Choose to have the tickets mailed to you or to pick them up in your departure city.
Check your multicountry-pass tickets to determine whether you'll need confirmed reservations on a particular train. If so, reserve at the train station or call or e-mail the train company.
Activate your pass by asking a ticket agent or railway employee at most major European train stations to do so. A list of Eurail aid offices can be found on the Eurail website if you are unable to activate your pass at the station.
Consult train timetables at your departure station and choose your train.
Ask the ticket agent for a train to your destination. Specify the route you want to take. While stations in larger cities employ agents who speak English, prepare to speak the local language in small towns.
Pay in the local currency. Credit cards are often accepted but be prepared to pay with cash at small stations.
