For 18-year-olds: free train travel across Europe from July

From today, 35,500 young people will have the next chance to win a free train ticket. Anyone who is 18 years old (born between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006) and has successfully applied can travel through Europe for 30 days from July 2024. The young people themselves decide how this works: The tickets can be used until the end of September 2025.

Of the 35,500 travel tickets available across Europe in this round, 6,104 tickets are available for young people from Germany. The Commission launched the current application round today at 12:00 CET. It ends on Tuesday, 30 April at 12:00 CET.

Participants can also benefit from the DiscoverEU Culture Route, an initiative in the framework of the European Year of Youth 2022, which combines different cultural destinations such as architecture, music, visual arts, theatre, fashion and design. Participants can visit the European Capitals of Culture that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, sites that have been awarded the European Heritage Label or places that have been awarded the Access City Award, i.e. cities that have done more to be accessible to all.

DiscoverEU is much more than just a ticket. Participants also receive a discount card with over 40,000 discounts on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sports and other services in the eligible countries. In addition, the national Erasmus+ agencies organise pre-departure information meetings and the national agencies in all Erasmus+ countries prepare DiscoverEU Meet-ups, learning programmes lasting one to three days.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted online at https://t1p.de/DiscoverEUnow2024. The current round of applications is open to all 18-year-old young people born between 1 July 2005 (inclusive) and 30 June 2006 (inclusive) . The call is open to applicants from the European Union and countries associated with the Erasmus+ programme, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey.

To receive a travel ticket, applicants must answer a six-question quiz on the European Youth Portal.

Background

The Commission launched DiscoverEU in June 2018 following a preparatory action by the European Parliament. It is integrated into the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme. Since 2018, more than 1 million young people have applied for 284,000 available passports.

Advice on Eurodesk Germany

The youth information network Eurodesk Germany has created an information sheet about DiscoverEU and other travel grants for young people. The information sheets can be requested HERE free of charge. Eurodesk answers all questions about DiscoverEU and also provides information about alternatives. Eurodesk telephone: 0228 9506 250; e-mail: rausvonzuhaus(at)eurodesk(dot)eu