This post is part of our How to Play Blog Series, where we explain popular board games in a beginner-friendly format. New to games like this? Try How to Play Catan, another great starting point.

What Is Ticket to Ride: Europe?

Published by Days of Wonder, Ticket to Ride: Europe is a standalone game in the Ticket to Ride series. Players collect train cards, claim routes between European cities, and try to complete secret destination tickets. 

Compared to the original game, the Europe edition introduces tunnels, ferries, and train stations, which add strategic layers and replayability.

Want to know more? Watch How to play Ticket to Ride Europe

What’s in the Box?

Here’s what comes with your copy of Ticket to Ride: Europe:

• 1 game board featuring a map of Europe with train routes

• 225 colored train cars (45 per player)

• 15 train stations (3 per player)

• 5 wooden scoring markers (1 per player)

• 110 Train Cards

• 46 Destination Tickets

• 1 Summary Card

• Rulebook

Interested in expanding your game collection? Try something different with How To Play Carcassonne

Game Setup: Step-by-Step

Follow these steps to get started:

1. Choose a Color

Each player selects a color and takes:

• 45 plastic train cars

• 3 train stations

• 1 scoring marker (placed on the “0” space of the score track)

2. Deal Train Cards

Shuffle the Train Cards and deal 4 cards to each player.

3. Deal Destination Tickets

• Shuffle the Destination Tickets

• Deal 3 tickets to each player

• Players must keep at least 2, but may keep all 3

4. Reveal Train Cards

Turn over 5 Train Cards face-up next to the deck to form a draw row.

5. Determine First Player

The oldest player goes first (or randomize). Play proceeds clockwise.

Want to try a game with resource management instead of routes? Check out our How To Play Sequence guide, perfect for fans of strategic planning.

How to Play: Turn Structure

On your turn, you must take one of the following 4 actions:

Action 1: Draw Train Cards

• Draw 2 Train Cards from either the face-up row or top of the deck

• If you draw a Locomotive (wild card) from the face-up row, it counts as both draws

• Refill the face-up row after each card drawn

Action 2: Claim a Route

To claim a route on the map:

1. Choose a route between two connected cities

2. Play a set of Train Cards matching the color and number of spaces

3. Place your trains on the route

4. Score points based on the route’s length:

   • 1 train = 1 point

   • 2 trains = 2 points

   • 3 trains = 4 points

   • 4 trains = 7 points

   • 5 trains = 10 points

   • 6 trains = 15 points

Special Route Types:

• Tunnels: Reveal the top 3 Train Cards from the deck. If any match the color used, play that many extra cards.

• Ferries: Require at least one or more Locomotives as indicated on the board.

• Gray Routes: Use any color set, but all cards must match in color.

Action 3: Draw Destination Tickets

• Draw 3 new Destination Tickets

• Keep at least 1, return the rest to the bottom of the deck

• Completed tickets add points at the end; uncompleted ones subtract them

Action 4: Build a Train Station

• Build one station per city (max of 3 stations per player)

• Discard cards of a single color:

  • 1st station: 1 card

  • 2nd station: 2 cards

  • 3rd station: 3 cards

• A station lets you use another player’s route to complete a ticket.

Scoring in Ticket to Ride: Europe

You’ll score points in the following ways:

During the Game:

• Claiming Routes: Score instantly based on route length

At Game End:

1. Completed Destination Tickets: Add points

2. Uncompleted Tickets: Subtract points

3. Unused Train Stations: +4 points each

4. Longest Continuous Route: +10 bonus points

Strategy Tips for Beginners

• Prioritize completing your Destination Tickets

• Don't ignore short routes—they add up

• Save wild cards for tunnels and ferries

• Use train stations strategically, especially when you're blocked

Want to explore other interesting games? Learn How to play Throw Throw Burrito

Final Thoughts

Ticket to Ride: Europe is a gateway to strategy board games. It’s visually engaging, accessible to all skill levels, and offers endless replayability thanks to new paths, blocked routes, and evolving strategies.

If you're new to board gaming, this is a great choice to start your journey—and once you've got this down, you'll find transitioning to other classics like Catan, Carcassonne, or Azul a breeze.

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