Do You Want to Travel for Free? - Look into DiscoverEU
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 9 minutes
‘Ecological’, ‘inclusive’ and ‘digital’ have been the objectives of the European Year of Youth 2022. Every year, the EU chooses an action theme that will be stressed to raise awareness and change national governments' behaviour during the European Year of Youth.
2022 has followed the guidelines of the 11 European Youth Goals, which all follow the specific guidelines of engaging, connecting and empowering the European Union's young population. The ecological objective has been present in all the activities proposed for this year following the European Green Deal changes proposed by the European Commission.
Discover Europe by train
Travelling predominantly by rail through educational opportunities, the Erasmus+ program's DiscoverEU initiative allows you to travel free for a month.
You will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful landscapes and varied cities and towns of Europe. In addition, you will be able to discover the diversity of Europe, its history and cultural legacy, and make friends with people from all over the continent. Moreover, DiscoverEU helps you as a young person to acquire life skills that are important for your future, such as independence, self-assurance, and cultural sensitivity.
The chosen participants will receive a DiscoverEU discount card, which offers discounts on local transit, lodging, dining, sporting events, and other activities.
How to apply?
First of all, we will advise you to keep an eye on the European Youth Portal for any announcements and the different requirements to apply. Therefore, the conditions for applying are as follows:
The initiative only applies to persons born between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2005,
You need to submit a valid copy of your identity card (ID), passport, or legal residency card on the online application form;
You must be a citizen or long-term legal resident* of:
one of the EU member states, including OCTs, or
one of the third countries affiliated with the Erasmus+ program, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey.
When should I apply?
The application period for 2023 has, unfortunately, officially ended. The applicants will be notified of the results and the announcement of the results in January 2023.
In the spring of 2023, the subsequent application period will begin (specific dates will be announced later). If you are 18 or going to turn 18 in 2023, pay attention as you'll get access to additional passes in the spring!
So, stay tuned at the European Youth Portal for any announcements!
Sharing is caring
As one of the lucky young Europeans, in December 2021, I and my sisters won DiscoverEU tickets. And yes, it is possible if you have been wondering if you can apply with friends and family. You can go solo or add up to 4 friends in your group, provided they meet the conditions mentioned above.
We decided to travel in the summer and did the Baltic Route: Kaunas, Vilnius, Riga, Tartu, Tallinn and Helsinki. It was a journey mainly done by train, except for the cruise we had to take to arrive in Helsinki. How to discover a new culture, people and types of traditional food almost all of which were really delicious?
Our essentials:
Plan your trip before you leave. Depending on the time of the year you plan to travel with the DiscoverEU program, different countries offer various activities, festivals or celebrations. It is a chance to eat and observe the diversity of other European nations.
You do not need to speak the language of the countries you intend to visit. In most countries you visit, it will be enough to speak English to communicate with the people you meet.
Join the Facebook group of DiscoverEU: when you get your acceptance. You will also be sent an invitation to join the Facebook group of the DiscoverEU program. You can ask questions about the journey but also get to know fellow young Europeans whom you can meet around Europe or join on trips.
Last but not least, there are many websites explaining different routes you will likely be interested in. I highly recommend the interrail website. It has many other trips you can do depending on the dates and what you want to see.
Then... are you ready to leave home and discover our beautiful Union? The program DiscoverEU is waiting for you. Do not hesitate to apply - it is an opportunity that you will highly enjoy!
