Omio Review: Is Omio Legit for Traveling in Europe?

Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you make a booking.

Omio is a safe and reliable website for train and bus travel. Continue reading everything you need to know in my Omio review!

While you’re probably over the moon with excitement over your next European adventure, there are a lot of logistics to cover when it comes to planning a trip!

Indeed, it’s easy to get around Europe by trains and buses. But, figuring out how to book train and bus tickets in foreign countries can be quite complicated!

That’s why a website like Omio can be incredibly useful. And before we go any further—yes, Omio is legit.

I’ve personally used Omio on both desktop and mobile in Europe. For me, it boils down to security and convenience—I can clearly understand what tickets I’m booking and keep them all in one digital wallet. I’ve also booked all sorts of tickets (regional, express, commuter rail, long-distance) with no issues!

Now that you’ve had an introduction to Omio, let’s get down to the details. In this Omio review, we’ll explain how the website works, why to use it, how much Omio costs, how to book tickets, and the pros and cons of using it.

Plus, we’ll go into detail on why Omio is safe and trustworthy because we know safety is a top priority when traveling.

Is Omio legit?

First things first, let’s get to the question many of you are wondering, is Omio legit? Yes, Omio is a safe and reliable company.

Founded in 2013 in Berlin, Omio (formerly GoEuro) saw the need for multi-mode travel in Europe and sought to fill the gap. They are now one of the largest aggregators of transportation tickets, and work with over 1,000 travel providers in Europe, Canada, and the US.

How’s this for reliable — Omio actually sells enough tickets to fill 30 trains and 300 buses every day!

As for travel, you’ll find tickets for carriers like Eurolines, SNCF, Renfe, easyJet, Air France, and Amtrak. All of these brands partner with Omio to help sell tickets and make travel easier for everyone.

One thing to remember is that Omio is not a travel carrier. It’s a booking engine. Think Booking.com but for transportation! It finds all the best options and shows them to you so that you can make a good decision. Just like you won’t find a booking.com branded hotel, you won’t find any Omio-branded flights, trains, or buses! Thus, it’s still up to the transport companies to honor your tickets and provide good service.

What is Omio?

Simply stated, Omio is a website (and add) that you can use to search for, compare, and book transportation on your next trip to Europe.

Why is this important? Well, you might think the whole of Europe has the same train and bus system (like we have Amtrak and Greyhound in the US). But, each country has its own systems in place.

Booking separate tickets can become incredibly confusing.

Omio will save you time and hassle by aggregating routes across multiple travel companies. With just a few clicks, it shows the most direct routes and cheapest options. (This includes transferring between different country’s train systems.)

Even better, you can access Omio customer service in English, pay, and get your tickets sent to you by email!

On Omio, you can book the following types of transport.

• trains
• buses
• flights
• ferries
• rental cars
• airport transfers

One last thing. Although you can book these other types of transport, Omio has worked best for train tickets in Europe in my experience.

✔ If you need a rental car for your trip, we use Discover Cars. You can compare and book the best car rentals, worldwide! See our full Discover Cars review.

How does Omio work?

Omio is a third-party booking site that uses advanced mapping technology to locate all the forms of transport near your search location. It then determines what routes are available, the cost of each option, and total travel time.

What makes it unique is that Omio can compare and combine different modes of transport. This can be incredibly convenient.

To explain, if you search for transport between Barcelona to Paris, Omio will show you all of your options including air, bus, ferry, rail, and car. It will show how much each route costs, the travel time, number of transport, etc.

It can also combine transport companies on one itinerary. For example, if you choose to travel from Barcelona to Paris via train, you’ll use both the Spanish rail system Renfe and SNCF in France. Omio will automatically find and combine these journeys into one itinerary, show you where to transfer from Renfe to SNCF, and issue tickets for each company all at once! 

Best of all, Omio gives you a high level of control. You can see all the options, filter and sort them, and decide which route is best for you and your budget.

Why Use Omio?

The main reason to use Omio is convenience and clarity. Instead of having to figure out how to navigate each country’s rail and bus services — which can be archaic, poorly translated to English, reject foreign bank cards, and include terms you don’t understand — Omio will do the work for you.

If you’re thinking, “But I like figuring that kind of stuff out,” I understand. I do too, especially when it gives me a chance to flex my second language skills!

However, there are so many options for transport, it would be practically impossible to piece it all together yourself. To emphasize, Omio pulls information from over 1,000 trusted travel providers! You can rest assured that Omio technology has scoured every last option so that you can make an informed choice.

Booking through a site like Omio also offers peace of mind when it comes to Customer Service, which is offered 24/7 in English, credit card safety, and keeping all your tickets in one place.

By the way, sometimes you can find discounts and deals on Omio, too! If budget is a consideration, add that to the list of why to use Omio!

What does Omio cost?

The Omio website and Omio app are free to search and download.

However, you’ll see a small service fee (a few euros) on some bookings. This covers exactly what we’ve covered above in this Omio review — the work done on Omio’s part to find the route and provide customer service. 

On other bookings, you won’t find any added fees. It really just depends on the provider.

In any case, Omio has saved you time (and possibly money), so it’s worth it to pay a few euros service fee if you ask me.

Paying on Omio

All payments are secure when using the Omio website or Omio travel app. They accept a variety of payment methods including all the major credit card companies, digital wallets, and even some direct bank transfers.

Here are just a few of the secure payment options Omio accepts. (Do note that to process some payments, Omio will charge a convenience fee.)

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Discover / Diners Club
• American Express
• Paypal
• Google Pay
• Apple Pay

Payment can be processed in multiple currencies including USD, CAD, GBP, AUD, and EUR. If you encounter any glitches when trying to pay, reach out to customer service to resolve it.

Changing or canceling Omio tickets

If your plans change, your ability to change or cancel your ticket depends on what type of ticket you booked. Similar to airline tickets, the cheapest option is usually non-refundable. When you buy tickets, your options for getting a more flexible ticket are displayed. Consider choosing a modifiable/refundable ticket when you book to avoid any issues.

In the case of an Omio refund, you will be refunded to your original payment method. Contact customer service if you don’t get your refund within the specified time frame.

How to book a ticket using Omio

Omio is very easy to use and easy to navigate. Check out the full details of each process below.

Go to Omio.com

Enter your departing city and destination city.

Choose the date(s) for your trip.

Unclick “find my accommodation.” (If you leave it checked, Omio will open a second tab with an accommodation search done through Booking.com.)

On some platforms, you’ll see additional options pop up for stations. There’s no need to know the stations ahead of time. Simply put in the city, and Omio will show the best routes.

Review travel options

Omio will pull all of your results and display them.

On the left-hand side, you can sort your results by fastest, cheapest, or departure time.

You can also easily toggle the results between transportation modes. Along the top, you’ll see options for Trains, Buses, and Flights only.

If you click “Show all filters,” you can filter by times of day, train/bus stations/airport, price, duration, and carrier.

If there is a transfer, you can click the toggle and find out about your transfer.

In some cases, there are only a few minutes between trains. That’s cutting it pretty close. Although trains run on time, if you’re not familiar with the station, you may want to allow more time. (If it’s less than 10 minutes, I might consider a different route).

You’ll also want to be sure those transfers occur in the same station. Sometimes, your transfers require walking or taking a bus/taxi to another station.

Choose your ticket on Omio

Once you’ve decided which route is best for you, click select this journey.

Click “Edit ticket” for each leg of your journey to review your options. (You may not have this option, and instead be taken directly to the next screen.)

Next, you can choose your options. These will vary depending on what type of transportation and company you use.

In this example, you see that you can choose seat class and fare type. Note, that there’s not always a way to choose your seats. Sometimes you are allowed to put in seat preferences. An example of a seat preference is choosing to have a seat that faces forward rather than backwards.

Be sure to review the terms of your fare so there are no surprises should you need to change or cancel your ticket.

Click “Go to passenger details.”

Enter your passenger details

On the next screen, you’ll enter your passenger details.

Enter your address, name, phone number, id, and country of residents. Americans and other non-Europeans will enter their passport number where it asks for ID.

We do recommend you create an account where you can store all your details and manage your bookings. You can click the toggle towards the bottom to do so.

Select “Review journey details.”

Pay for your tickets

Before you pay, you’ll want to review your tickets to make sure there are no mistakes. Even the most seasoned travelers select the wrong date or change their mind about a fare class, for example. Select “See your ticket details” for the last chance to review tickets.

Now, you’re at the final payment screen.

As you can see, Omio offers cancellation and travel protection. Review the options, and decide if you’d like to add them on to your tickets.

Next, enter your payment details and credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay.

Click, “Pay” to complete your purchase!

By the way, you’ll notice that throughout the process your ticket information and price is displayed. Here, you’ll also see the Service fee added.

Check your email

After you book, check your email. You will receive a confirmation email with an itemized receipt. Your tickets will be issued and sent to you as well. They will also be stored in your account for easy access.

Want to start your search on Omio? Give it a try, below.

Pros of using Omio

Here are several reasons why Omio is a website you need to book your transport in Europe.

1. Fast and easy booking experience

Omio aims to create a seamless booking experience, where anyone can easily book tickets without the hassle of navigating multiple booking sites. In this regard, they really excel.

The Omio interface is fast and easy. You simply follow the steps they provide. They show all sorts of search filters and ticket options, so be sure to click through all the different options and confirm your details. You can then book a ticket in a matter of minutes.

Once the booking is complete, check your email because your ticket will be sent to you within minutes.

The speed of the transaction comes in handy when you’re booking tickets last minute. Plus, you know that you’ve found the absolutely best tickets for the best price, and you didn’t have to spend hours researching.

2. Multi-mode travel comparison

The founder of Omio actually got the idea for the site after seeing how difficult and inefficient booking tickets for his own backpacking trip was. So, he set out to make something different: a multi-mode booking engine. This means that you can book several transport types during the journey.

For example, countries in Europe don’t simply have one bus or train company. If you’re traveling between a few small towns in Spain, for instance, you might use a regional bus. But, if you’re traveling between Paris and Amsterdam, you’ll use an entirely different bus company or a combination of bus and train.

Omio shows every single transportation option available. You’ll see the cheapest and fastest way to get to your destination so that you can choose the tickets that you prefer.

3. Great Customer Service + FAQ

Omio prides itself on having good customer service. Currently, they offer reliable client services in 21 languages, so no matter where you are or what language you speak, you can get help when you need it. They also offer 24/7 help in English.

Remember, in order to access Omio’s fast and friendly customer service, you must book through them. If you book a ticket on a partner’s website, you will have to contact them directly if you have any questions.

They also have a very helpful FAQ section, where you can find answers to just about everything.

If you need any help or have questions, contact Omio directly.

4. Convenience of all your tickets in one place

If you’re traveling for any length of time, you’ll quickly see how important it is to keep all your itineraries and booking details organized.

A nice thing about Omio is that it lets you keep all of your tickets in one place. You don’t have to jump from platform to platform to schedule your tickets. Instead, book on the website, and receive tickets in your email.

There is also an Omio mobile app that you can download. Your tickets/boarding passes will be accessible under “My Bookings” in the app.

Omio Cons

Of course, no website is perfect. Here are some of the things that Omio could improve on.

1. Little to no trip updates via Omio

For the most part, trains and buses run on time. But, sometimes there are mechanical issues, holidays, strikes, delays, platform changes, and more that disrupt your trip. Omio isn’t fully integrated with all of its carriers’ systems.

Honestly, some carriers’ systems are pretty archaic, so it’s not necessarily the fault of Omio. (Think about how many times you’ve arrived at the airport to find out your flight was delayed only to wish you’d been contacted earlier so you could spend more time at home.)

Omio does work directly with SNCF, Italo, trains in Great Britain, and National Express buses to keep passengers abreast of any pertinent travel information.

In any case, we always recommend you get to any transport hubs early, and try to check their websites for any updates. On the plus side, if you are owed compensation for a delay, Omio will advise you on how to contact each operator to collect it.

2. Search Limitations

When you’re searching on Omio, there isn’t a lot of flexibility. Here are some things Omio could do to improve.

Add a way to find cities/towns/stations within a certain radius of your selected departure/arrival location. Sometimes, it’s actually easier to depart from a nearby town or city (but you need to know what those places are).

There’s no way to search openly for where to go. An “everywhere” destination search would be helpful when planning. For example, if you’re in Bilbao and want to know where you can go via bus, there’s no way to tell.

There are no multi-stop booking options, only one-way or returns. There are also no open returns, at least in the search. (We like that their competitor Trainline has these options. We’ve used Trainline with success, too!)

You can’t search for flexible dates. When you’re trying to save money, it would be useful to put in a range of dates and compare.

3. App can be glitchy

The Omio app can be glitchy from time to time. Try to use it when you have strong data or wifi to avoid any issues your service may cause. Or better, yet, book on the website. On the upside, their Customer Service is responsive and can help you resolve any issues.

4. Little flexibility when searching for flights

Although Omio works with many airlines, their search features are comparable to some of their more popular competitors. The flight feature is useful for comparing prices and travel time to other modes of transport, however.

We recommend using Omio primarily for trains and possibly buses. Try Skyscanner for flights.

Sites Like Omio

Want to compare routes and prices? Here are some alternative sites to Omio.

• Busbud — Online bus-booking platform that has compiled the world’s largest selection of bus tickets.
• Trainline — Get the best available prices, times, and train/bus tickets for your journey. 
• Wanderu — Wanderu is the easiest way to find, compare and book buses, trains and flights across North America and Europe.
• Rome2Rio — Find the best way to get from A to B, anywhere in the world, all in one search.

FAQ on Omio

Is Omio trustworthy?

Yes, Omio is a safe, reliable, and legitimate company. With over a decade’s worth of experience and over 1000 travel partners, you can trust Omio to book your next train, bus, ferry, car rental, flight, or airport transfer. Your payment will be processed securely, and you’ll have access to Customer Service if you have any problems.

Can I buy tickets through Omio?

Yes, you can buy tickets for many of the major carriers on your travels. We recommend you create an account for faster booking and to store your mobile tickets.

Do I need to print Omio train tickets?

The requirement to print your Omio tickets depends on the type of ticket you book. When you book, Omio will let you know if the ticket is a Mobile ticket. If so, it will issue you a ticket you can show or scan on your phone. If you do not have a mobile ticket, it’s best to print your ticket at your home, hotel, or hostel. You can also stop by the train or bus station in advance and confirm if you need to print the ticket or not.

Does Omio work in the United States?

While Omio works best for Europe and the UK, you can now book tickets in the United States and Canada. Simply head to the website, and complete the search parameters. Available partners like Amtrak and Greyhound will show up. (It’s actually easier than searching Amtrak’s website, in our opinion.)

Can I get a refund for an Omio ticket?

You can get a refund for an Omio ticket if you purchase a refundable fare type. This information will be displayed when you book your ticket. If you think you need flexibility, go ahead and get a refundable ticket. Changes may incur a small feed. To cancel, go to your bookings on the website. Contact customer service if needed.

Does Omio charge a fee?

Some bookings made through Omio add a service fee. It will depend on the type of ticket and the carrier. The fee helps Omio to run the platform and provide you with customer service. The service fee and total cost of the ticket are clearly displayed before purchase.

Can I use Eurail on Omio?

Yes, you can use your Eurail pass to book train journeys using Omio. Fill in the travel diary section with your train route details prior to boarding the train. You can also save any discount cards for various rail companies inside your account.

Is there an Omio promo code?

As of the date of this blog post, there are no Omio promo codes available. We’ll update this page as we become aware of any Omio coupon codes or discount codes.

Are Omio and GoEuro the same?

Yes, GoEuro changed its name to Omio several years ago to represent its expanded presence outside of Europe.

Are there Omio buses?

Since Omio is a third-party ticket aggregator, there aren’t any branded Omio buses. However, you can use Omio to search for bus tickets in Europe. It pulls from almost all of the European bus lines you can imagine and shows you the best routes at the cheapest prices.

Are there Omio referral codes?

Yes, you can refer a friend to Omio from inside your account. For each new friend that signs up for Omio using your referral code, you’ll each receive an $11 credit to use when purchasing tickets!

Is Omio worth it?

From our perspective, it’s 100% worth using Omio. It’s a fast and efficient travel website that comes in handy from your initial planning stages to actually booking transport on the go.

To sum up this Omio travel review, whether you need to book a train, a bus, or even a ferry, utilizing Omio means cutting through all the noise, and conveniently booking and storing details of all your transport in one place.

You can also rest easy knowing Omio has combed through all the options and the booking process is transparent.

Ready to use Omio as a ticket finder for traveling in Europe? Search for your next trip now.

Pin it!