If you’ve ever typed “Interrail outdoors itinerary” into Google and sighed at the lack of results, you’re not alone.
Most of what you’ll find is a blur of back to back capital cities; Paris, Berlin, Prague, tick, tick, tick. Great if you’re after multiple back to back city breaks, but this is certainly not my family’s idea of a good time!
As a firm believer that the journey should be part of the adventure, I wanted to travel overland by train across Europe – but didn’t want to spend much (or any) time in big cities.
What I found was that planning an outdoor-focused train adventure across Europe is absolutely possible — but an Interrail pass isn’t always the most cost-effective way to do it.
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Is an Interrail pass worth it for outdoor adventures?
If your version of a European train adventure involves hiking between rustic and welcoming mountain huts, cycling along alpine valleys, and exploring Mediterranean islands, the typical Interrail itinerary won’t help much.
I wanted the kind of trip where we were spotting marmots in alpine meadows with the sun on our backs (and obviously the constant request for more Haribo to fuel the next uphill hike), not queueing for overpriced gelato in yet another crowded city square.
In this post I’ll walk you through our brilliant Alps to Adriatic itinerary; a trip that includes overnight trains, hut to hut hiking, family cycling routes, and a ferry to a Croatian island – all by rail. This isn’t a city-hopping checklist. It’s a practical, tested itinerary for active families and travellers who want less sightseeing and more fresh air.
Then I’ll show you the maths, and – spoiler alert – individual tickets actually worked out slightly cheaper than an interrail pass for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids under 12.
I’ll explain how and when a rail pass might make sense, and show you how to book either option through Rail Europe – the platform I use and trust for all our European train travel.
On the sleeper train
Cycling in Austrai
On the train to Amsterdam- Hiking in Austria
An outdoor Interrail itinerary: From the Alps to the Adriatic with hikes, bikes & island escapes
We’ve used Interrail passes and individual tickets (all booked through Rail Europe) for several of our family adventures — but one my absolute favourites was this route from the UK to the beautiful island of Vis in Croatia.
I built this rail itinerary entirely around hiking mountains, cycling valleys, fun overnight trains, ferries, and more. Whether you choose to use an Interrail pass or go for individual tickets , it’s a proper adventure, but it’s not complicated once you see how the connections work. I’ll show you exactly how.
This itinerary shows exactly how a rail itinerary can be used for active, adventurous, nature-filled travel, with stop offs that are perfect for families or outdoorsy travellers who want to explore beyond the usual cities.
🚄 Eurostar from London to Amsterdam
Your adventure begins on the Eurostar. A seat reservation (€30 per person, no discount for kids) is mandatory when using an Interrail pass. The price varies hugely if booking individual tickets. Find the cost on your preferred dates directly on the Eurostar website or use Rail Europe.
The train is quick and comfortable, and if you’re in the UK, starting your trip with a direct connection from London is very convenient. We spent a few hours exploring Amsterdam before boarding our overnight train, which kept things fun without overloading the day.
🌙 Nightjet Sleeper Train: Amsterdam to Innsbruck
From Amsterdam, you board the Nightjet sleeper train to Austria — a true highlight of the trip.
- Interrail seat reservation cost: Pricing is dynamic, depending on availability and popularity. A non-private 6 bed couchette should be up to €54.90 per person, but a 3 bed sleeper can be as much as €124.90 per person. This can easily push the interrail pass past the “not worth it” line.
- Individual journey booking: When I checked, a private 6 bed couchette for 2 adults and 2 children (2 beds would be empty) cost €319.60 if booking the individual train through Rail Europe.
This train was genuinely enjoyable. The kids loved sleeping in bunks, we arrived rested, and waking up in the Austrian Alps was a lovely way to start the day — far more relaxing than an early flight!
Travelling this way means you cover a huge distance while saving on accommodation — and keep the adventure going overnight.
🏔️ Innsbruck & Mutters: Stay in the Mountains, Not the City
We stayed in Mutters, a village just outside Innsbruck (accessible by tram from the city) that gives you all the mountain access without the city crowds. It’s a brilliant base for families — cable cars, outdoor pools, a bike park, and stunning views all within reach.
📍 Read my full post about staying in Mutters here →
After a couple of nights exploring the area, we took the train into Italy. We travelled from Innsbruck to Toblach (Dobbiaco in Italian) – crossing the Brenner Pass and the Italian border along one of the most scenic railway routes in Europe.
- Climbing at the top of the Muttereralmbahn
- If you’re using a pass, this leg is covered by your pass and doesn’t require a reservation, though you can reserve seats for €3 per person on the main line train out of Innsbruck if you want to.
- If you’re booking individual tickets for this one, it’s slightly complicated as you’re crossing a border. You may need to book for the first section from Innsbruck to Bruneck, and then make a second booking from Bruneck to Toblach.
- 2025 update – there’s currently a few problems on the line here, and there are rail replacement buses for the section between Brunico/Bruneck and Bressanone/Brixen. See more info here.
⛰️ Toblach & Drei Zinnen Hut-to-Hut Hike
Toblach (Dobbiaco) is the perfect starting point for my three-day hut to hut hike in the iconic Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) region of the Dolomites. There’s a regular bus up to the start point from Toblach train station (although you should take a day or two in Toblach first!). The trails are well-marked, the scenery is breath taking, and the huts make it easy for families to enjoy multi-day mountain walking without needing to carry tents or cook meals.
📍 I’ve written a full post on the route, how to book huts, and what to expect here →
This is one of the most rewarding parts of the trip — proper alpine adventure, all made accessible by public transport.
- In front of the Tre Cime, Dolomites
🚲 Cycle the Drau Cycle Path to Villach (or take the train)
From Toblach, you can rent a bike and follow the Drau Cycle Path — a mostly flat or downhill, family-friendly route that winds through forested valleys, past rivers and small towns, all the way to Villach.
📍 Here’s my full guide to cycling the Drau →
Not up for cycling the whole way? No problem; the train line runs alongside the path, and if you have an interrail pass, this covers all of it. Having said that, short hops on this train don’t cost much if you’re buying them directly either.
Villach itself has a Mediterranean feel and is a great place to relax for a night. It’s a city, technically (see, I’m not completely anti-cities!), but it’s small, friendly, and never feels overwhelming.
🥾 Optional Add-On: Another Hut Hike in the Lienz Dolomites
Lienz is a charming town on the Drau Cycle Path with great train connections and with easy access to a quieter, often overlooked corner of the Alps. Here you can head out on another three day hut to hut hike with spectacular scenery and fewer crowds than the main Dolomites routes.
- Access to the trailhead is easy via hiker’s bus or a short taxi ride from Lienz
- The route is ideal for families or anyone looking for a shorter alpine escape
- This makes a great mid-point adventure before continuing your journey east
📍Full guide to the Lienz Dolomites hut hike →
From Lienz, you can then rejoin the bike path (or train line) and continue to Villach.
🚉 Villach to Bruck an der Mur, Night Train to Split
Next, we took a scenic regional train to Bruck an der Mur, then boarded the EuroNight sleeper to Split — another fantastic long-distance leg.
- Villach to Bruck an der Mur interrail seat reservation cost: €3 pp – optional but recommended
- Villach to Bruck an der Mur individual booking: €21 for a family of four
- Interrail pass night train bed reservation cost: €40 per person for a 6-bed couchette, or €45 for a 4-bed couchette, slightly more on peak trains (dynamic pricing).
- Individual night train booking: A private 4 bed couchette for 2 adults and 2 children costs around €270-300 if booking the individual train through Rail Europe.
📍 Here’s my full guide to taking this train →
This sleeper train was (almost 3 hours!) delayed arriving in Split — but honestly, we didn’t mind; we had a compartment to ourselves, the kids slept late, and we really enjoyed relaxing in the sunshine coming through the large window. Watching the coastline appear through the windows was magical. Just don’t book a tight ferry connection — give yourself a cushion in case of delays.
☀️ Split: A Bit Too Busy
We had a few hours in Split, and to be honest, it was heaving. Cruise ships, packed squares, and a lot of people everywhere. It’s beautiful, no doubt, but also a very good reminder of why we don’t base our trips around big cities. Still, it was worth a quick wander, and the old town is lovely. We had lunch there and then headed to the ferry port (a quick 5-10 minute walk from the train station).
Tip: there are lockers at the train station where you can stash bags if you want to explore the city before heading to the ferry.
⛴️ Ferry to Vis Island
From Split, we boarded the Jadrolinija ferry to Vis, one of Croatia’s quieter islands.
- Ferry cost: under €25 for a family of four (one way) – not included in the rail pass. Book at https://www.jadrolinija.hr/
Standing on the top deck of the ferry to Vis was a welcome escape from the city heat. By late afternoon we were navigating into Vis harbour, and after the bustle of Split, the buzzy but relaxed vibe of Vis (and an immediate dip in the sea!) felt like the perfect final chapter to the trip.
We flew home from Split — a short hop back to London after three weeks of trains, boots and bikes winding through mountains, valleys, and coastlines.
As family trips go, this one struck a pretty perfect balance: proof that you really can build an adventurous, outdoorsy holiday across Europe by train.
An Interrail rail pass may not be the most cost effective option
If you want to travel across Europe without flying — linking Alpine towns, hiking routes, cycling paths, and islands without needing a car — an interrail pass gives you one ticket that covers all your long-distance journeys. On paper, it looks like the perfect solution.
Especially with the free kids’ passes (up to two under-12s get a free pass with each adult pass) and youth discounts up to age 27, it can feel like a brilliant deal for families.
However: recent changes to the seat reservation system — especially dynamic pricing on night trains like the Nightjet — have made the Interrail pass less cost-effective than it once was.
Those sleeper trains that used to offer cheap fixed-price reservations now charge more as demand increases. So while your pass still “covers” the journey itself, you might end up paying a lot more than expected to reserve a bed, especially if you’re travelling during busy school holidays (which is very likely with school-aged kids!).
I actually crunched the numbers for this exact Alps to Adriatic itinerary for this coming summer for a family of four (two adults and two children under 12).
I found that booking individual train tickets came out around £50 cheaper than using a 4-day Interrail pass at the time I checked.
If your kids are over 12 and no longer qualify for a free interrail pass, the savings from booking tickets individually may be even greater.
So, in all honestly – I probably wouldn’t choose a pass for this trip.
However, if I’d wanted to add more rail journeys or have more flexibility — the rail pass would have worked out better. The cost difference was minimal, and with dynamic pricing on overnight train reservations and fluctuating fares for direct tickets, the better-value option can shift quickly.
Interrail pass or individual tickets? You’ve got options
The good news is: you can book everything you need — whether that’s an Interrail pass or individual train tickets — through Rail Europe. It’s the platform I use and recommend, because it makes comparing both options simple.
If you decide the Interrail route makes sense, you can buy your pass and then upload it to and check your reservation requirements on the Rail Planner App (this is just for interrail ticket holders).
But if, like me, you find that individual tickets are better value for your dates and route, Rail Europe also lets you book those directly — without needing to hop between multiple national rail websites.
🎟️ Interrail passes → Best if you want flexibility or have 4 or more travel days in your itinerary
🚆 Individual point to point tickets → Ideal if your travel dates are fixed, have 3 or fewer travel days, and you want to lock in savings early
Interrail Pass Guide: Pass types, planning tools, costs and booking tips
When I priced up this exact trip for a family of four (with two kids under 12), booking individual tickets came out around £50 cheaper than using a 4-day Interrail pass.
However, the cost difference wasn’t huge; and a pass could easily work out better depending on your travel dates, booking windows, or if you want the freedom to tweak your itinerary as you go. Here’s the information you need if you choose to go down the rail pass route!
🎟️What type of pass should you get?
For this multi-country, outdoorsy rail itinerary, a 4 or 5 days in 1 month Interrail pass would be a good fit; especially if you want some flexibility.
💡 How would this trip use a pass?
If you opted for a pass, a 4-day version could cover this trip efficiently:
- Day 1: Eurostar from London to Amsterdam and night train to Innsbruck
- Day 2: Innsbruck to Toblach
- Day 3: Lienz to Villach (or a section of this route) if you don’t fancy cycling
- Day 4: Villach to Bruck an der Mur and sleeper train to Split
🛈 Tip: Night trains only use one travel day — even if they travel overnight across borders. You just need to board before midnight. Any trains you take before that night train also count on the same day.
👉 If you’re cycling the whole way from Toblach to Villach, you could save a travel day and use it to stop off in Amsterdam or Vienna — or upgrade to the 5-day pass to keep your options open.
💶 Interrail Global Pass Prices (2025 – 2nd Class)
| Travel Days | Adult (28–59) | Youth (12–27) | Child (<12) |
| 4 days in 1 month | £252 | £188.50 | FREE |
| 5 days in 1 month | £283 | £212.50 | FREE |
| 7 days in 1 month | £339 | £254.50 | FREE |
Prices are approximate and may vary slightly depending on exchange rates and Rail Europe’s live pricing. You can buy your pass up to 11 months in advance.
🚉 What About First Class Passes?
Interrail passes are available in both 1st and 2nd class. First class gets you more spacious seating and quieter carriages — which can be a bonus if you’re travelling in peak season or just want a bit more comfort.
But keep in mind: seat reservations in 1st class often cost more, especially on premium routes like the Eurostar or Nightjet. So if budget is a concern, 2nd class offers excellent value — especially since kids under 12 travel free with an adult pass.
👨👩👧👦 Family & Traveller Discounts
- Children under 12: Free pass (up to two per adult pass)
- Youth (12–27): Discounted pass prices
- Seniors (60+): 10% discount on adult pricing
📱 What’s the Rail Planner App?
The Rail Planner app is the official trip-planning app for Interrail and Eurail passes. It lets you:
- Look up train times across Europe (even offline)
- Check which trains need reservations and buy them
- Save journeys to your itinerary
- Activate your travel days if you’re using a pass
- Show your mobile ticket (QR code) to the conductor
You’ll load your mobile pass into the app, choose your travel dates as you go (for flexi passes), and add each journey to your ticket with a quick tap. Once you’ve done it once, it’s genuinely very straightforward — even with multiple family members.
It’s designed to make travelling with a rail pass simpler — especially for multi-country trips. You can also manage passes for more than one traveller on the same phone (ideal for families).
And yes, you still need to make reservations separately for trains that require them (like the Eurostar or night trains), but the app clearly shows which ones do.
💡 Tips for Booking with Rail Europe
- You can buy both Interrail (for UK/EU travellers) and Eurail (for non-EU residents like those from the US or Australia) at Rail Europe. It’s easy to book, and everything’s clearly labelled so you’ll know exactly which pass you need based on where you live.
- Advance Purchase: Buy passes up to 11 months in advance of travel. The Rail Europe website asks you to enter a date – but it doesn’t matter what you enter here (I called Rail Europe to check this!); the pass will be valid for a year from purchase, with activation up to 11 months from purchase (because once activated it’ll be valid for a month). Buy your passes here.
- Easy Activation: Interrail mobile passes activate via the Rail Planner app
- Reservations Required: High-speed and night trains need seat or couchette reservations, which are not included in the Interrail pass price, and bookable on the Rail Planner app.
Individual train tickets: Booking tips
- All in One Place: If you choose to book the individual journeys, Rail Europe lets you book everything in one place, without bouncing between different national rail sites.
- Groups and families often get good discounts on individual tickets too – you’ll be offered these automatically by the Rail Europe system for each journey.
- Individual journey tickets usually include your seat reservation (and definitely include your chosen sleeping arrangement on the sleeper trains).
- When you search for a train on Rail Europe you’ll get the nearest train to the date you’ve searched for, and possibly the next one too. Check that you select the actual date you need!
- Click on the drop down arrow next to the automatically selected cheapest ticket type – which will be a seat (called “Second”) – you definitely don’t want this, unless you love sleep deprivation!
- You should choose one of the fares with a little bed icon next to them – these are all couchette or sleeper tickets. The best value fares are called “Sparschiene Inkl. Reservierung“.
What about seat reservations, luggage, and planning?
Whichever approach you to take – passes or individual tickets, the idea of organising a multi-country trip by train might feel a bit overwhelming; especially with kids, gear, or a mix of hikes and bike rides planned.
This is one of the biggest sticking points for families wondering if train travel across Europe is worth it. But once you understand the basics, it’s genuinely very manageable. Here’s how we’ve made it work!
🎟️ Seat reservations: Do you need them?
If you’re using an Interrail pass, some trains will require a seat or sleeper reservation on top of your pass — most notably:
- Eurostar (London to Amsterdam)
- Nightjet sleeper trains (e.g. Amsterdam–Innsbruck, Bruck an der Mur–Split)
These reservations come at an extra cost, and prices for night trains now vary depending on demand — one of the reasons why a rail pass might not always be the best-value option.
However, if you choose to book individual train tickets instead of a pass, your seat (or couchette) will usually be included in the fare. That simplicity is one of the advantages of going for individual tickets — especially if you have fixed dates.
If you buy an interrail pass, you can book your reservations directly on the Rail Planner app.
🧳 Luggage: Yes, even with hiking gear and kids’ stuff
Train travel is far more forgiving than flying when it comes to packing. There are no baggage fees, you can carry hiking poles if you need them (not usually allowed in a plane cabin), and even a small pen knife (great for making picnic lunches on the go!) and you’re not wrestling suitcases into overhead lockers. I recommend:
- Pack super light — we hiked with trail runners instead of hiking boots, so we had one pair of shoes and a pair of sandals each
- Rent bikes, helmets and panniers or even bike trailers – no need to bring your own!
- Backpacks over wheelie bags — especially if you’re hiking or moving around frequently – one good mid-sized hiking backpack each to cover all bases! (See my favourite hiking backpacks for kids here!)
- Leave unneeded luggage at hostels / hotels for each section of the trip – most are more than happy to store your luggage for you while you hike for a few days
- Packing cubes or drybags to stay organised across hut nights, city stays, cycling kit and swimming stops
- Luggage storage is available in most major stations (we used this in Split before the ferry)
What makes this type of outdoor family interrail itinerary so doable
This itinerary isn’t theoretical — it’s a route we’ve done ourselves, and I’ve deliberately built it to avoid the usual logistical headaches. The train connections are smooth (and actually there aren’t very many of them), the longer distances are covered overnight, and every stop is there for a reason — either because it links naturally by rail, or because it unlocks an incredible outdoor experience without the need for a car at all.
Train travel actually makes a trip like this easier. You don’t need to wrestle with airport queues, car seats, or figure out foreign road vignettes. Once your key reservations are made, it’s just a matter of showing up at the station and hopping on board. And if you plan ahead, it’s all easy to book — whether you go for a pass or individual train tickets.
The good news is that you can book either approach – passes or individual tickets – easily through Rail Europe.
💡 One of the reasons I love this route is that it proves something many adventurous families don’t realise: You can:
⛰️ Hike hut to hut in the Alps
🚵 Cycle traffic-free valleys
🛂 Cross borders
🏝️ End your trip on a Croatian island
🚞All whilst making the journey part of the adventure.
You don’t need to piece this all together from scratch. I’ve already done the legwork to find the places that combine incredible outdoor adventures with easy train access — which I know from experience aren’t always easy to find.
Every stop on this itinerary was chosen not just because it’s beautiful, but because it works.
If you’ve been dreaming about an outdoor focussed train trip like this which isn’t just city after city, but weren’t sure how to make it work, this is your sign that it is possible! You can follow this route, adapt it to your pace, and know it’s all been road-tested by a real family.
This isn’t just a wish list; it’s a route we’ve done, and now you’ve got a plan you can follow!
Ready to plan your own outdoor focused European train adventure?
If this sounds like the kind of trip you’ve been imagining; a proper outdoor journey across Europe with mountain trails, scenic trains, and fewer crowds, then this itinerary is yours to use, adapt, and make your own.
Whether you decide to use an Interrail pass or book individual point to point tickets, you can organise the whole thing easily through Rail Europe, which is the platform I use and trust for planning multi-country rail trips.
- Book an Interrail pass if you want more flexibility or are planning a longer or more spontaneous route
- Book single point to point tickets if your dates are fixed and you want to lock in the best fares
Either way, the Alps to Adriatic route works beautifully — and now you’ve got a detailed, tried and tested outdoorsy family rail itinerary to follow.
