Big news for kids born between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006: this year too you can participate in Discover EU, an interesting opportunity offered by the European Commission which provides 35,000 passes for travel for free by train throughout Europe. Let’s discover this year’s rules together.
What is Discover EU
Discover EU is aimed at all 18 year olds residing in one of the Member States of the European Union or in third countries associated with Erasmus+. This is a real opportunity for today’s young people because it allows them to learn more about the diversity, cultural heritage, history, cultures, art and radiant nature of our wonderful continent. All this while coming into contact with people from every corner of Europe and on board a highly sustainable means of transport: the train.
Thanks to this program, in fact, it is possible to obtain a pass to travel (mainly) on the tracks and also a European card which gives access to many discounts on cultural visits, learning activities, sports, local transport, accommodation and food.
Who can participate and how
As mentioned, Discover EU is aimed at children who were born between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006 and who hold citizenship or residence in one of the following countries:
- one of the Member States of the European Union, including the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs);
- one of the third countries associated with the Erasmus+ programme: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey.
To apply, you need to search online for European Youth Portal and correctly enter your identity card, passport or residence card number and complete a quiz (unless you decide to participate in a group).
Registrations are already open, and to try to get a Discover EU pass you will have until 12:00 on 30 April 2024.
If you are selected, you will be able to travel for a period of at least 1 day and a maximum of 30 days between 1 July 2024 and 30 September 2025.
It is also good to know that in principle the winners will travel by train, but that to ensure the widest possible access, alternative modes of transport are also available, including ferries and buses and by plane (the latter in exceptional cases ).
Recommended itineraries
The railway lines throughout Europe allow you to take truly journeys that are impossible to forget. For this reason, there are some on the program website unmissable itineraries.
An example of this is the Bernina Express, which runs on the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world. It is an exceptional journey because it allows you to cross 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges that embellish fairy-tale landscapes. Dream cities, wild and romantic gorges, spectacular architectural works, glaciers and much more can be spotted (and visited) from modern panoramic carriages.
Also extraordinary is the Inlandsbanan, a Swedish panoramic train that runs on tracks for 1300 kilometers starting from Kristinehamn, in the South, up to Gällivare, in the North. All while discovering landscapes full of lakes, rivers, mountains and forests that truly leave you breathless.
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