Travel-curious young Europeans now have the chance to win a free travel pass to spend up to a month exploring the continent by rail, thanks to the European Commission’s DiscoverEU programme. Nearly 36,000 passes are up for grabs and all it takes to be in with a chance of securing one is to make an online application and answer a short quiz. But hurry, because applications end on 16 April 2025.
Successful applicants will have a window of over a year (between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2026) to travel across Europe by train for up to 30 days, “discovering new countries, cultures and experiences,” a press release says. Applicants must have been born between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007, and be European Union residents or citizens of countries associated with the Erasmus+ programme. That includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye.
18-year-olds your time is here! The 🆕 #DiscoverEU round of applications is open!
— European Youth ❤️🇪🇺 (@EuropeanYouthEU) April 2, 2025
Exploring Europe while making new friends and levelling skills up has never been so easy. 🚀
🚆 Applications open from 2 – 16 April.
👉 https://t.co/PX8syXTNGn pic.twitter.com/GxGOQQ21Cc
Where to apply?
Candidates must apply via the European Youth Portal, completing a short quiz about the EU. Passes will be awarded to the top-ranked applicants until all the tickets have gone.
DiscoverEU “opens the door to adventure, learning, and unforgettable experiences,” said Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, who said the participants would get to know Europe’s “rich heritage” and “make lifelong memories.”
Those who are lucky enough to get their hands on one of the passes will automatically become “DiscoverEU Ambassadors” who are invited to share their travel experiences social media using #DiscoverEU. But more importantly than a social media title, the pass opens up a range of real world possibilities and horizons.
Choose your own route
Travellers can design their own European itinerary or choose from among suggested routes, such as the New European Bauhaus Route, that showcases “vibrant, sustainable cities”. Another option is the Green Route, that ventures into some of the most sustainable and nature-friendly destinations on the continent and introduces young people to award-winning cities, stunning parks, and nature reserves.
What’s more, along the way, travel pass holders can benefit from a discount card “packed with thousands of offers on transport, museums, food, accommodation, sports and more across 36 countries.”
Special support is available for participants with disabilities, health conditions or fewer opportunities. Additional arrangements are also offered to those living in remote areas, islands or outermost regions.
Launched in 2018 and integrated into the 2021–2027 Erasmus+ programme, DiscoverEU has already awarded over 355,000 travel passes. All participants are invited to join the #DiscoverEU official group, with over 106,000 members sharing experiences and tips.
