In Europe, unlike the United States, rail systems are one of the best ways to travel. Most countries in Europe have extensive rail networks that will get you to your destination without the hassle of renting a car. The roads in many older, smaller European villages are not well-suited for automobile traffic, and you generally don't need a car to explore these villages on foot.
If you're not sure where the rail networks go in different countries, here is a train map of the rail lines in Europe. Here is another rail map just for the UK.
The advantage of a rail pass over buying multiple separate tickets is that it will save you money in the long run. Purchasing multiple single or return train tickets can become costly over time, whereas a rail pass allows you to travel with more freedom and less expense. However, rail passes come with certain rules about when and where they can be used. So, before deciding whether to buy multiple single/return tickets or a rail pass, make sure you understand the rules of the rail pass you intend to purchase.
If, after calculating the costs, you find that booking single/return train tickets will save you money, a great place to book train tickets is at The Trainline website.
To buy tickets remotely outside of Germany with the DB Navigator App, you need to set your smartphone’s time zone to Central European Time (UTC+1). For S-Bahn tickets in Munich, use the MVV Website or App (available on Android and iOS). When using the app, you can purchase tickets up to 8 days in advance, whereas the MVV website allows you to buy tickets up to 30 days ahead.
If you decide to purchase a rail pass for your train travels, here is a list of the rail passes below.
NOTE: These rail passes are only for non-European citizens.