New Zealanders are increasingly opting for Europe rail travel, as new Eurail data shows more than 6000 Kiwis travelled with a Eurail Pass in 2025, and young travellers are leading the charge.
Eurail’s senior research analyst Jody Bauer says 38% of all Eurail passholders from New Zealand last year were aged 12 to 27 years, and the proportion of Kiwi youth travellers using the pass is up from 34% in 2019 to 38% in 2025. Kiwis aged 28-59 accounted for 36% of New Zealand Eurail passholders, with its competitive pricing said to be a key drawcard for those from this demographic.
Bauer says one of the reasons why Kiwis are so important to Eurail, and European tourism in general, is their longer length of stay and their curiosity to explore different parts of the continent. “The most popular Eurail Pass category for New Zealand travellers in 2025 was the 10 days within two months’ Global Pass, which gives travellers the option to choose 10 different rail travel days within a selected two-month period,” she says.
Eurail’s 2025 data shows the most popular city destinations visited by Kiwi Eurail passholders last year were Milan, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, and Zurich. Looking ahead, more Baltic rail travel is expected to trend with Kiwis following the new direct connection between Riga and Tallinn, while frequency has increased between Vienna and Zagreb. There’s also a new Koralm railway line in Austria offering better connections with Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia (pictured), it adds. Direct EC trains between Munich and Zagreb via Vienna have also returned recently, and there’s a new direct Railjet service from Vienna to Trieste.
Overnight travel is also potentially increasing with a rise in European Sleepers, says Eurail. Later this month night trains will begin operating between Paris and Berlin via Brussels and Aachen, while Sep will see night train services from Brussels to Milan launch.
. . . And A Sale
Eurail has 15% off all Eurail Global Passes and One Country Passes in both first- and second-class travel (valid for travel up to 11 months from date of issue) for sales to 31 Mar. Purchase passes from Rail Europe HERE and International Rail HERE.
