A step-by-step travel guide. Take the train from Amsterdam to Milan

Good to know when traveling from Amsterdam to Milan

Do I have to book seat reservations?

Regular train tickets

Some trains require that you have a seat reservation. Seat reservations are included when mandatory with all regular tickets purchases made on All Aboard. If you wish to reserve seats when they are not included you can do so either at the train station or on the operator website.

Seat reservation for Interrail

Seat reservations are usually  not required  for local and regional trains. However, it is needed for most high-speed, international, and night trains. But make sure to book seats if you need to be somewhere at a certain time, traveling with kids or if it's high season. Unsure if you need a seat reservation?  Check your route here .

Reservations for travelers with Interrail pass can be purchased at the train station, on the rail operator website, and on Interrail.eu .

Some rail operators will ask for your "pass cover number". This is a code which used to come with the old paper passes. You can generate such a code using your Interrail mobile pass here .

Is there wifi on the train?

There are few things as nice as watching a movie, listening to a good podcast or getting some work done on the train. And fortunately most long-distance trains in Europe today offer free wifi onboard .

Eurostar , Renfe , SNCF and Deutsche Bahn let you get access to wifi on the majority of their trains. If having wifi is very important to you, the best way to really know if wifi is available is to google the train number (that can be found on your ticket) and you'll find out.

For EU residents

Should the wifi connection let you down, as an EU resident, you still have the luxury to take advantage of free roaming in all EU countries, just remember to turn on roaming in your phone's settings. If you are an EU resident traveling through a non-EU country such as Switzerland, the UK, or Norway, it could be a good idea to bring a 4G dongle in your bag, and switch off roaming to avoid hefty bills.

What happens if I miss my connecting train?

Missed trains connections can happen, but no need to panic. If we plan our trips well, a potential delay is not that big of a problem. Here are a few things to think about:

Before you travel

• Plan trips that can handle a bit of delay. If you're switching trains, perhaps to jump on a night train, you should always have extra time so that you don't miss your connection if you're running late.
• Consider getting additional travel insurance. If a train is canceled or you miss a connection, you might need to get new tickets if you're unlucky. Travel insurances can cover this extra cost.

If you've missed your train

International rail travel is protected by the CIV rules - which means you're usually allowed to travel on the next available train free of charge.

• Always save your tickets. You might need them later.
• Ask the ticket inspector to validate your tickets as evidence of the delay.
• When arriving at the next station, ask the station staff what to do next.
• If you need to buy new tickets, save all receipts so that you can later show them to your travel insurer when making a claim.