Colleague Debby shares her interrail adventure through Germany, Switzerland and Italy with her family. For them it was a unique and unforgettable journey full of new experiences and relaxing moments together.
Planning and preparation
Debby began preparing months in advance. She put together an itinerary with a mix of short travel times (no more than half a day at a time) and 2-3-night stays at each destination. She chose hotels within walking distance of stations and with family rooms, often with sustainable features and free cancellation options to maintain flexibility. Children under 12 travel for free, making interrailing budget-friendly as a family.
The route
Their trip started with the Amsterdam - Cologne route. In Cologne, they chose activities such as a visit to the chocolate museum and a ride in the cable car. This was followed by Freiburg, where they stayed in a rural setting and enjoyed beautiful walks. In Switzerland, they admired picturesque Chur, their boarding point for the Bernina Express, which took them to Tirano, Italy. Along the way, they enjoyed breathtaking views and opted for "slow travel" without the distraction of screens; after all, there was so much to see through those big panoramic windows.
Peace and quiet on Lake Lugano
In quiet Brusimpiano on Lake Lugano (Italian part), they took a break to swim and relax. They even added an extra night, thanks to flexible bookings that was possible. The trip ended in Zurich, where they took another boat ride on Lake Zurich. Due to an unexpected change in their overnight train, they traveled back to the Netherlands during the day, but with good seats they were still able to fully enjoy their last train trip.
Practical Tips
- Book early, especially for popular trains such as the Bernina Express and for accommodations in high season
- Check local timetables alongside the Interrail app, for the most accurate departure times
- Alternate eating out with supermarket meals for an affordable travel budget
- Seat reservations, especially with children, offer peace of mind and comfort during longer journeys and busier travel periods
- There is a large Interrail / Eurrail community on Facebook. If you have questions you can ask them well there, you are always well helped by experienced fellow travelers. This works better than Interrail's own customer service.
- Also nice: on several ICE routes the kids got a free "kids box" with some goodies and a train toy. That was obviously well liked 😉
With good preparation, this interrail trip became a special vacation where travel itself was the adventure. Debby and her family are already looking forward to another trip through Europe!
