Tips for Interrail in Europe
My name is Tuva, and I am the daughter of Catrine and Eric, who own and run Expa Travel AS. Ever since I was little, I have joined my mom and dad on research trips to different places around the world. This has truly left me wanting more. So this summer, my friend Maren and I went on an interrail trip to Italy and France. We went on mountain hikes and visited big cities, shopped, swam, snorkeled, participated in both perfume and cooking classes, and tried a guided tour on a segway 😂
Now I thought I would share some tips and experiences from the trip:
First stop: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
To avoid spending too many days on the train journey from Norway to Italy, we simply started our trip by flying to Verona. From there, we took a train and bus further up to the alpine village Cortina d’Ampezzo. The view along the way was incredibly beautiful! However, there were quite a few transfers between train and bus, so my tip is to fly to Venice instead and take the direct bus to Cortina – easier and faster!
Cortina is a perfect "nature stop" when traveling on interrail. You easily end up visiting city after city, and then it is wonderful to break it up with some mountains, fresh air, and completely different surroundings.
The mountains around Cortina
We spent 3 days in the Dolomites and stayed at 2 different mountain huts (refugio) along the way. First Rifugio Son Forca – a larger and easily accessible hut with relatively good comfort.
The next day we stayed at Rifugio Vandelli, which is smaller and has a simpler standard. Here we got the authentic "mountain hut feeling". Two quite different experiences, but both were worth it in their own way. NB! We recommend booking the mountain huts well in advance as they quickly get fully booked in the high season.
Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona
One of the hikes we did was Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona. It is one of the most famous Via Ferratas in the Dolomites, and you do not need any climbing skills to hike it. BUT, there are many steep sections without harness protection, and just getting up to the starting point is a pretty tough leg. A 2-hour walk straight up a scree slope is quite heavy. I probably wouldn't choose to hike this one again.
However, the view was absolutely AMAZING the whole way, but I think there are other Via Ferratas in the same area that are more fun and or offer more variety. Among other things, I have seen that Via Ferrata Giro del Sorapiss looks absolutely beautiful, and it is definitely on my wishlist for next time.
Lago Sorapiss
What truly became the highlight of the trip was Lago Sorapiss. The lake is so turquoise that it almost doesn't look real, and the surroundings make it even more beautiful. One of the most 'insta-friendly' places on the entire trip.
We stayed at 3 different accommodations in Cortina: Accommodation / rating (on a scale from 1 to 6)
Hotel Fiames / 4
Rifugio Vandelli / 4
Venice
Venice consists of many islands, but we chose to stay in Mestre on the mainland to save money. Public transport to the city center works great, and you avoid spending half your budget on accommodation.
We had one day to wander around the city, and that was plenty. Venice is an iconic city with canals, beautiful bridges, and narrow streets, but it is also extremely crowded. For our part, it was perfect to experience the atmosphere for one day – see St. Mark's Square, eat a gelato, and take some photos – and then move on.
If you have the budget for it, a gondola ride is probably also a fun experience. Alternatively, you can visit the neighboring islands of Burano or Murano.
Accommodation / Rating:
Rome
We stayed 3 nights in Rome, and that felt just right. Hot tip: In big cities, it can often pay off to check the prices of hotels in addition to hostels – we found several nice hotels at a lower price than many of the hostels.
Porta Portese
Porta Portese, Rome's largest flea market, was an experience in itself. It is insanely huge, varied, and has good prices. Among other things, we came across a stock clearance from the clothing brand Brandy Melville where everything cost 5 euros.
Sightseeing on segway
We also tested sightseeing on a segway. Very touristy, but actually incredibly fun! I recommend doing this as soon as you arrive in Rome, so you get an overview of the city from the start.
Of course, we also visited the classic sights: St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican (which we actually ran around. Technically, we ran around a whole country then 🤣), the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the orange garden on the Aventine Hill.
Tip! By the way, the Colosseum and other monuments have free entry on the first Sunday of the month.
Learn to cook Italian food
We rounded off Rome with a cooking class where we learned to make authentic Italian pasta and tiramisu. Fun, educational, and very tasty! You can easily book this on GetYourGuide.
Accommodation / Rating:
Hotel Rome Love / 5
Cinque Terre
After a week of mountains and big cities, a few days on the beach in Cinque Terre was perfect. Monterosso al Mare is the one of the 5 towns with the longest coastline, so staying here was ideal.
From town to town
The entrance fee to the national park that the towns are part of costs 7.5 euros, and it is truly worth it.
Cinque Terre feels almost unreal: five villages clinging to the cliffs, surrounded by vineyards and turquoise sea. Everything looks like it could be the cover of a postcard.
We spent a whole day visiting the other 4 towns: Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The paths connecting the 5 towns offer spectacular views the whole way. But, in the summer heat, taking a train or boat between some of the towns can also be a nice alternative – fast and air-conditioned. Alternatively, you can combine the two like we did.
Tip! If you get the opportunity, I really recommend taking a boat back from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, it's incredibly beautiful to see the 5 colorful towns from the sea as well.
Accommodation / Rating:
Hotel Palme / 6
Sanremo and Ventimiglia
In Sanremo, we had some quiet days on the beach. In the evenings, we walked through the city streets which are full of life and small shops. The town is quite small, but it was perfect to wind down here for a few days.
We were a bit unlucky with the location of our accommodation; if I were to go to Sanremo again, I would probably spend a few extra euros to stay a bit closer to the beach and the center.
One of Italy's largest markets
A short train ride from Sanremo lies Ventimiglia, known for one of Italy's largest markets. There you can find stalls with everything you can imagine, and at good prices. The market stalls never end, and for those who like markets, this is a place where you can walk for several hours without getting bored.
Accommodation / Rating:
Apartamento Lucky / 3
Menton
Right on the border between Italy and France, on the French side, lies Menton. It is a bit more expensive than the neighboring towns, but also much cozier. We stayed here for only one day, but I would have liked another day. The town has a large beach, so we did a lot of swimming during the day. In the evening, we strolled into the center where the colorful houses and the church that Menton is known for are located. Really beautiful and atmospheric!
Roquebrune
We also hiked up to the castle in Roquebrune. The path there was manageable even in the heat, and the view from there was absolutely stunning – you can actually see all the way to Monaco.
Despite Menton being known as a lively, small coastal town, it is also a good starting point for hikes in the southern part of the French Alps. We actually planned to take the local bus to the mountain village of Gorbio and walk back down to Menton – a hike that is supposedly absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, the bus to Gorbio does not run very many times a day, so it's smart to plan ahead here.
Menton is also famous for its lemons, so feel free to taste something with lemon while you are there – whether it's lemon curd, lemon pie, or ice cream. It's just part of the experience.
Accommodation / Rating:
San Maria Menton / 4
Nice
Just 40 minutes by train from Menton lies Nice – larger, with more tourists, but still full of charm. Here you can do a bit of everything: Swim along the long shoreline, shop in the center, go hiking, or use the city as a base for day trips.
Day trip to Monaco
We went to Monaco (only 20 minutes by train) and visited the casino, the prince's impressive car collection (very fun for F1 fans), and the oceanographic museum.
Tip! With a student ID, you get half price on a number of attractions, so remember to bring it if you have one.
Of course, we also went for a swim in Monaco. Really recommend Solarium Beach at the very edge of the harbor – here the water is completely clear and blue.
Organized snorkeling trip in Nice
Back in Nice, we spent a few hours on the long pebble beach. It fills up quickly, so it pays off to go early to get a good spot.
We also tried a snorkeling trip in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Both the water and the boat trip were beautiful, but you can just as easily snorkel on your own – the organized trip was not worth the money.
Tip! If you are heading to Paris next, it is wise to book train tickets well in advance. Direct departures from Nice to Paris are often sold out in the summer, and it quickly turns into many hours of waiting at the station if you do not reserve a few days in advance.
Accommodation / Rating:
Le Campus Nice / 5
Paris
The trip ended in Paris, where we stayed for 4 nights.
Disneyland Paris
We chose to spend a whole day in Disneyland – expensive, but absolutely worth it for the nostalgia, the rides, and the insane fireworks show in the evening.
Tip! Bring your own food this day, you will save a lot of money on that.
Paris classics
We also had to visit all the city's classics: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, Champs-Élysées. The Louvre is massive, and is really worth a stop if you are in Paris.
Tip! For EU citizens between 18-25, entry is free, but remember to book your ticket in advance.
Create your own perfume
We also tried participating in a perfume workshop, where we made our own perfume – actually one of the coolest souvenirs from the entire trip.
Of course, there were also croissants, macarons, and the famous thick hot chocolate from Carette (Recommended to share one between two people as it is extremely rich). The Montmartre district was on the list, but unfortunately, we didn't make it this time – something I would definitely prioritize next time.
Accommodation / Rating:
Hotel Aix Europe / 4
Summary of the trip
Experiences we will never forget!
Three weeks with trains, mountains, beaches, and big cities have truly given us memories for life.
I think the coolest thing about interrail is the freedom to create your own journey. For us, the combination of the Dolomites, the coastal towns of Italy and the French Riviera, as well as the big cities of Venice, Rome & Paris, was absolutely perfect.
Your route doesn't have to look like this, but one thing is certain: Interrail is something everyone should experience!
– Tuva Olivia Berglund, August 2025 –
