For the third time, the city of Frankfurt is giving away Interrail tickets to young adults. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 20 who has their primary residence in Frankfurt can apply for one of 200 tickets from 10 September to 10 October. The winners will be able to travel across Europe by train for free on seven days over the course of one month.
An invitation to discover
"The Interrail programme is an invitation to discover Europe with open eyes," said Eileen O'Sullivan (Volt), Head of the Department for Citizens, Digital and International Affairs. The city wants to encourage young people to get to know new cultures and gain experience beyond national borders. Frankfurt has been awarding the passes since 2023. 374 young adults have benefited from the campaign so far. After their return, many reported encounters and impressions that had a lasting impact on them.
Quota expanded
Due to the positive response, the budget for the programme has been increased. The number of tickets raffled off this year will rise from 174 to 200. O'Sullivan emphasised that the fact that the state of Hesse has now discontinued its own "Hessenrail" programme makes the city's initiative all the more important.
Kick-off with quiz night
The application phase will be accompanied by a kick-off event: On Thursday, 11 September, the city invites you to Café Sugar Mama on Kurt-Schumacher-Straße. A "European Quiz Night" will take place there, hosted by Hannes Lauter. A discussion with Councillor O'Sullivan about the city's European work is also planned.
Terms and conditions
Young people from Frankfurt can apply online at frankfurt.de/free-interrail-ticket. Anyone who is at least 18 but not yet 21 years old during the travel period between December 2025 and November 2026 is eligible to participate. If more applications are received than there are tickets available, the winners will be decided by lottery. People with severe disabilities can bring an accompanying person with them. With the Interrail Pass, you can travel to up to 33 European countries – an offer that the city of Frankfurt intends to continue in the future in order to open up perspectives for young people beyond their own city limits.
