DiscoverEU is a European Union initiative, part of Erasmus+, that gives 18-year-olds a free travel pass to explore Europe, mainly by rail, on 7 travel days within a one-month period. It is not a fully paid holiday, but it is a real chance to see the continent, meet other young Europeans, and travel on your own terms. This guide from Youth Works Hub explains what DiscoverEU is, the current October 2026 round and its dates, who can apply, exactly what is covered, how travellers are selected, and the separate DiscoverEU Inclusion Action for young people with fewer opportunities.
DiscoverEU at a glance:
🎂 It is for people who are 18, tied to the application round, not your birthday on the day you travel.
🚆 You get a free travel pass for 7 travel days spread across one month, mainly by rail.
💳 You also get a discount card for savings on accommodation, culture, sport, and local transport.
🗓️ The October 2026 round runs 1 to 15 October 2026, with travel between 1 March 2027 and 31 May 2028.
🔢 Around 40,000 passes are available this round, from a budget of about 23.5 million euros.
🤲 The DiscoverEU Inclusion Action opens the same adventure to 18 to 21 year olds with fewer opportunities, through an organisation.
According to Youth Works Hub, DiscoverEU is one of the easiest first steps into Europe, as long as you apply in the right round and budget for your own living costs.
What Is DiscoverEU?
DiscoverEU is the travel strand of Erasmus+, the European Union's programme for education, training, youth, and sport. It gives young people a free travel pass to discover Europe through short journeys, mainly by rail and, where needed, by bus, ferry, or occasional flights. Since 2018, more than 250,000 young people have received a DiscoverEU pass. The idea is simple: sometimes the best classroom is the continent itself, and travelling at 18 builds independence, intercultural understanding, and a real sense of what it means to be part of Europe.
The October 2026 Round: Key Dates
DiscoverEU opens in fixed rounds, usually twice a year, and timing is everything because the age rule is tied to the round. For the current round:
📅 Applications open on 1 October 2026 at 12:00 midday Brussels time.
⏳ Applications close on 15 October 2026 at 12:00 midday Brussels time.
🚉 If you are selected, you can travel between 1 March 2027 and 31 May 2028.
Because the window to apply is short, prepare your details in advance and apply as early as you can once the round opens.
Who Can Apply?
For the main DiscoverEU round, you must meet a few clear conditions:
🎂 Be born between 1 January and 31 December 2008, so you are 18 for this round.
🌍 Be a national or legal resident of an EU Member State or an Erasmus+ Programme country.
🪪 Have a valid identity card or passport number ready for the application.
The Erasmus+ Programme countries whose residents can take part include Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Türkiye, alongside the EU Member States, with the United Kingdom rejoining from 2027. For the full country picture, see our guide to eligible Erasmus+ and ESC countries. Because the age rule is fixed to the round rather than the travel date, read more in our Erasmus+ and ESC age limits guide, and check the wider eligibility rules on who can apply.
What You Actually Get, and What You Do Not
Being honest about the funding matters, because DiscoverEU is not an all-expenses-paid trip. What you receive:
🎫 A free travel pass, mainly for rail, valid for 7 travel days within a one-month period.
💳 A discount card with reductions on accommodation, culture, sport, local transport, and more.
🧭 Travel tips, a youth support network, and green-travel guidance.
What it does not cover:
⚠️ DiscoverEU does not pay for your accommodation, food, or daily spending, so you budget your living costs yourself.
The pass moves you around Europe and the discount card helps you save, but the day-to-day costs are yours. For a wider view of how EU youth funding works and where the limits sit, see what Erasmus+ covers.
How Many Passes, and How Big Is the Budget?
DiscoverEU is competitive, so it helps to know the scale of the round:
🔢 Around 40,000 travel passes are available in this round.
💶 The round is backed by a budget of about 23.5 million euros.
🏨 The first 250 successful applicants also receive free accommodation support for part of their trip.
These numbers change from round to round, so treat them as the figures for the current call rather than a permanent rule.
How Are Travellers Selected?
DiscoverEU is merit-based, not a lottery. When more people apply than there are passes, selection follows a clear order:
1️⃣ First, how many quiz questions you answer correctly.
2️⃣ Then a tiebreaker question, if scores are level.
3️⃣ Finally, the order in which applications arrive, so applying early helps.
🎟️ A reserve list is also kept, so if budget remains or selected applicants drop out, places can go to applicants on the reserve list.
The quiz is short and focused on the European Union and DiscoverEU, so a little preparation genuinely improves your chances.
DiscoverEU Inclusion Action: Extra Support for Fewer Opportunities
Launched in 2022, the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action helps young people with fewer opportunities take part on equal footing, rather than applying alone in the open rounds. It works differently from the main round:
🤲 It is open to young people aged 18 to 21, not only 18-year-olds.
👥 A group of one to five young people from the same country travels together, supported by an organisation or informal group.
🧑🏫 An organisation guides the whole journey, and no contribution can be collected from the participants.
The organisation, not the young person, applies to its National Agency. Key rules for the organised track:
🗓️ The organisation applies by 12 February at midday Brussels time, with a possible additional round on 1 October.
📆 The overall project can run from 3 to 24 months, and each DiscoverEU travel lasts from 1 to 30 days.
🧳 Each travel must include at least one country other than where the participants start.
🧑🤝🧑 Up to two accompanying persons per participant are allowed when justified, and they must be at least 18.
💙 A dedicated inclusion support budget can cover specific needs, from accessibility to extra guidance.
Every Inclusion Action project moves through four stages, planning, preparation, implementation, and follow-up, and must follow the Erasmus Youth Quality Standards, with clear attention to the safety and protection of participants. If you think this fits you, ask a local youth organisation whether they run DiscoverEU Inclusion projects, because they apply and travel with you.
Where Can You Travel?
You can travel across the EU Member States and the countries taking part in the Erasmus+ Programme, from the Mediterranean coast to the cities of Central and Northern Europe. You plan your own route and decide your own stops, whether that means famous capitals or quieter towns most travellers miss. For the countries whose residents can take part and where you can go, see our guide to eligible Erasmus+ and ESC countries.
Green Travel and Sustainability
DiscoverEU is built around rail for a reason: trains are one of the lowest-carbon ways to cross Europe. The programme encourages you to travel responsibly, reduce your footprint, and choose sustainable options where you can. If you want to understand how green travel is rewarded and encouraged across the programmes, read our guide to green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC.
What You Learn: Youthpass and Recognition
DiscoverEU is a learning experience, not only a holiday. The competences you build, from independence and problem-solving to intercultural understanding, are real and worth documenting. Participants in the Inclusion Action can have their learning outcomes recognised with a Youthpass certificate. Reflecting on what you gained is what turns a great trip into something you can point to later in your studies or a job application.
How to Apply, Step by Step
The process for the main round is straightforward:
1️⃣ Wait for the round to open, as the official DiscoverEU application takes place on the European Youth Portal at youth.europa.eu.
2️⃣ Fill in the application form and answer the short quiz, applying alone or as a group of up to five, where only the group leader answers the quiz.
3️⃣ If you are selected, receive your free travel pass and discount card.
4️⃣ Plan your route within the travel window and start exploring.
If you might be eligible for the Inclusion Action, do not apply alone. Instead, ask a local youth organisation whether they run DiscoverEU Inclusion projects, because they apply and travel with you.
Why DiscoverEU Is Worth It
DiscoverEU is not only about the journey, it is about who you become on it:
💪 You gain independence and the confidence that comes from handling a trip yourself.
👫 You meet people from all over Europe and build friendships across borders.
🌍 You learn about cultures, languages, and values first hand, not from a screen.
📈 For many young people it is a first taste of Europe that leads to bigger steps, like an Erasmus+ youth exchange later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DiscoverEU? DiscoverEU is an EU initiative, part of Erasmus+, that gives 18-year-olds a free travel pass, mainly by rail, to explore Europe on 7 travel days within a one-month period. You can travel alone or in a group of up to five.
When is the next DiscoverEU round? The current round runs from 1 to 15 October 2026, both at midday Brussels time, and selected applicants can travel between 1 March 2027 and 31 May 2028.
Who can apply for DiscoverEU? For the main round, you must be born between 1 January and 31 December 2008 and be a national or legal resident of an EU Member State or an Erasmus+ Programme country. The DiscoverEU Inclusion Action is open to 18 to 21 year olds with fewer opportunities, through an organisation.
Is DiscoverEU completely free? The travel pass is free and you get a discount card, but DiscoverEU does not pay for your accommodation, food, or daily spending. You budget your living costs yourself, though the first 250 successful applicants receive some free accommodation support.
How are people chosen? Selection is merit-based, not a raffle. It depends first on your quiz answers, then a tiebreaker question, then the order applications arrive, and a reserve list is kept for remaining places.
How do I apply? Applications open in rounds, usually twice a year, through the official DiscoverEU application on the European Youth Portal. You complete a form and a short quiz, and selected applicants receive their travel pass.
In Short
DiscoverEU is your chance to see Europe at 18 with a free travel pass, on your own terms. The pass covers 7 travel days within a month and the discount card helps you save, though you budget your own accommodation and food. The current round runs 1 to 15 October 2026, with travel from 1 March 2027 to 31 May 2028, and around 40,000 passes are on offer. If you have fewer opportunities, the Inclusion Action opens the same adventure with extra support through an organisation. According to Youth Works Hub, the trick is simple: apply early in the round, prepare for the quiz, and plan your route once your pass arrives.
Ready to find your next opportunity?
Youth Works Hub lists open Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps opportunities across Europe, updated regularly and free to browse.
Explore Erasmus+ opportunities: https://youthworkshub.org/category/erasmus-projects
