Discover Europe by train: The EU Commission is once again giving away a total of 35,000 free travel tickets for 30 days to 18-year-olds from Europe. Interested parties born in 2004 can apply for the so-called Interrail passes on the website of the European Youth Portal between 11 and 25 October 2022 (12:00 noon). So far received within the framework of program DiscoverEU a total of around 165,000 young people the free tickets.
Applications are accepted from the 27 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. In order to get hold of an Interrail ticket, the applicants have to answer quiz questions, among other things.
Free travel for a month
Individually or in groups of up to five people, the winners can travel for up to one month between March 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024. In addition, they will receive discount cards for 2022 with discounts on accommodation, local transport, cultural visits and more.
Train travel is usually paid for, but buses and ferries can also be used. The plane may be taken exceptionally so that young people living in remote areas or on islands can also take part.
program since 2018
The program has been around since 2018. It goes back to an idea by activists to give every EU citizen an Interrail ticket on their 18th birthday and thus familiarize them with the continent and its cultures.
“Through the program ‘DiscoverEU’ young people get the opportunity to gain enriching experiences all over Europe, to travel our continent, to further their education and to make new friends,” explained Minister of Education Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) in a broadcast. “All of this is probably more important than ever after the years of the pandemic.” State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) also welcomes the initiative: “So that Europe is not just a spot on the map, but a feeling and part of our own identity, we need programs like DiscoverEU.”