36,000 rail passes « Euro Weekly News

18-year-olds who are itching to explore Europe can rejoice. The EU is handing out the perfect opportunity: a free travel pass that lets 18-year-olds ride the rails across the continent for up to 30 days.

It’s part of the European Commission’s DiscoverEU initiative, which has just opened applications for its latest round, offering nearly 36,000 travel passes to young Europeans.

According to EU Business, “successful applicants will be able to travel across Europe by train for up to 30 days between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2026, discovering new countries, cultures, and experiences.”

How to apply for a DiscoverEU travel pass

Applications opened on April 2, 2025, and will close at 12:00 pm CEST on April 16, 2025. To apply, you must be born between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, and be a citizen or legal resident of an EU country or one of the Erasmus+ associated nations: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, or Türkiye.

You’ll need to complete a short quiz about the EU when applying through the European Youth Portal, unless you’re joining as a group member. According to the portal, passes “will be awarded to the top-ranked applicants until all tickets are distributed.”

What’s included in a DiscoverEU travel pass?

The youths selected won’t just receive a travel pass. They’ll also get a DiscoverEU European Youth Card, packed with thousands of discounts across 36 countries. As the Commission explains, “…you will receive a wealth of discounts on cultural visits, learning activities, sports, local transportation, accommodation, and food.”

You can travel solo or with up to four friends, as long as they meet the same eligibility criteria. “They will use your application code to submit their own application,” states the official FAQs.

Suggested routes to explore by the DiscoverEU initiative

Travellers can create their own European adventure or follow one of the suggested routes, including the Green Route, which showcases Europe’s most sustainable cities. EU Business says this path “features award-winning Green Capitals and Green Leaf cities, stunning parks, and nature reserves.” There’s also the New European Bauhaus Route, focusing on vibrant, innovative architecture.

For those with accessibility requirements, the DiscoverEU programme includes “support for participants with disabilities, health conditions, or fewer opportunities” and makes special arrangements for those living in “remote areas, islands or outermost regions” (cited by EU Business).

Join #DiscoverEU

Selected participants automatically become DiscoverEU Ambassadors and will be encouraged to share their travel experiences online using the #DiscoverEU hashtag.

The community aspect is big – once selected, members will be invited to pre-departure meetings and get-togethers with fellow travellers. The official Facebook group already has over 106,000 members and is a great place to plan trips and swap tips.

As the European Commission says, “Europe is at your feet. Take the first step.”

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