Travelling within Europe - sorted now thanks!

thriftymanc

This is a really thick question, but I've managed to get to my mid 30s without ever travelling within Europe, so... I'm going to be travelling to one European country by coach, and then during my stay I may be travelling into another European country by train. Do I literally just need my passport to get through the borders? Can I just buy my tickets and go? Is it that straightforward? (Yes, I have been googling, but I want to hear it from someone who knows for definite before I do anything stupid!)

Moto2

I can't remember the last time I needed to show any form of ID once I was in mainland Europe.
You wont even notice you've crossed some borders

missbiggles1

Yes, it is that straightforward but don't forget to get your EHIC before you go.

ScarletBea

thriftymanc wrote: »

I did read that somewhere but wasn't sure I'd got it right. Am I correct in thinking that once you're on mainland Europe you're allowed to travel freely within certain countries?

Yes, that's what being part of the EU+Schegen Space means.
In some places you just show your passport, in another you just walk/drive/pass through.
Have fun

agrinnall

I don't think you will need to show your passport at any point once you have entered the Schengen area, the whole point of it is that check are done at the point of entry and then there is free movement. So it's only at airports, ferry ports or at border crossings between Schengen/non-Schengen countries where there should be any passport checks (or indeed, any facilities or staff to check them). My train from Schiphol airport to Brussels and back last week had no sign of any possibility of passports being requested.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

SW17

thriftymanc wrote: »

I did read that somewhere but wasn't sure I'd got it right. Am I correct in thinking that once you're on mainland Europe you're allowed to travel freely within certain countries?

Yes, within the Schengen Area you don't technically need to have your passport with you, and as mentioned above there are often no checks at land borders, but as Brits don't have ID cards it would be prudent to have your passport with you when crossing borders.

In the current security situation there may be increased checks at some borders. As a British Citizen, no more than a valid passport is required to visit any country in the EU + Switzerland, Norway, Iceland & Lichtenstein.

Which countries do you plan to visit?

callum9999

agrinnall wrote: »

I don't think you will need to show your passport at any point once you have entered the Schengen area, the whole point of it is that check are done at the point of entry and then there is free movement. So it's only at airports, ferry ports or at border crossings between Schengen/non-Schengen countries where there should be any passport checks (or indeed, any facilities or staff to check them). My train from Schiphol airport to Brussels and back last week had no sign of any possibility of passports being requested.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

ID checks are fairly common within the Schengen Area now - I wouldn't risk going through a "border" without it nowadays (not that there's any logical reason I'd be travelling through Europe without it anyway - other than being robbed I guess). The border between Denmark and Sweden was completely reinstated for example (and I believe still is?).

PompeyPete

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Yes, it is that straightforward but don't forget to get your EHIC before you go.

...and for anyone who allready has an EHIC make sure it's still in date [5 year validity]. Simple to renew online.

agrinnall

PompeyPete wrote: »

...and for anyone who allready has an EHIC make sure it's still in date [5 year validity]. Simple to renew online.

It takes about 10 days to turn up (as I discovered when I realised mine had expired the day before leaving the country recently), and as long as you have applied you can make a claim even if the card hasn't showed up before you leave, although you would have to make a call to them to get approval.

Cindy12

I think the most interesting journey I made was many years ago. I was traveling from the Hook of Holland to Berlin by train. The Wall was still up,.every time the train went through an eastern part of Germany armed guards would get on and passengers had to pay a small amount of money. They examined evert passport. I was on my own and will never forget that journey. Even the seats were wooden.
This doesn't happen today I know and I am sure you will enjoy your journey.

AlexMac

This is the kind of Q which brings the memories back- my first visits; initially hitch-hiking, then driving, and eventually by plane, were also before 'Shengen' open borders; but crossing these was no big deal- you just showed passports...

Which I guess will still be the case even if we do leave the EEA...

...except that time in the former Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) when they stopped me at the airport and wouldn't let me leave the country... but that's a long story!