Train Travel in Germany

Long-distance train travel (Fernverkehr)

These trains are always operated by the Deutsche Bahn (DB) and include ICE / IC / CityNightLine trains.
Ticket prices depend on the train type you use. If you travel one section of your journey with an ICE train, your ticket will be more expensive.

• ICE trains are the fastest trains, but also the most expensive to travel with. They are fairly convenient and connect major cities in Germany on a frequent schedule.
• IC / EC trains are the slightly cheaper fast train connections between major city centres.
• Regional Express Trains (RE) are the most economical way to travel. Depending on the route you probably have to change trains more often, and it takes longer to reach your destination. For people who love train travel this is the way to go.

Long-distance train tickets & tariffs

Prices for long-distance trains vary in both the savings fare (Sparpreis) and standard fare (Normalpreis) categories.
Fares depend on the route, the train type, demand for a certain train and perhaps other facts.

• Standard fares are much more flexible. Decide today where you want to go, buy the ticket online, or at a ticket machine, and off you go. However, it can be rather expensive, especially for trips over several hundreds of kilometre.
• There a different savings fare tariffs, some are only valid for travelling on weekends or return journeys. All savings fare tickets are only valid on the train booked, regardless if you bought additional seat reservation, or not. Tickets must be purchased at least three days before you travel. However, on many routes you need to book much earlier to get the best price.
• Travelling with children: Kids up to the age of 5 always travel for free on German trains. Register them when you buy your ticket if you want a seat reservation for the youngsters as well.
  Children from the age of 6 to 14 travel free if they are accompanied by their parents or grandparents. You need to register them when you buy your train ticket. Your own children also travel free when you use a Sparpreis, but you have to include them on the ticket.
  Kids in the age group 6 to 14 years get a 50 % reduction when they travel alone or with adult friends.
• Seat reservation is not included in a train ticket, you always have to pay for seat reservation separately. Although reservation is not required on most ICE trains, I really recommend seat reservation, as the long distance trains can be very crowded. You can book your seats online or at the train station.
  If you have a rail pass, be careful that you only purchase the reservation ticket. As a pass holder you never need to buy train tickets, the pass is your ticket.
• When you book train tickets, always buy the ticket for the entire route, even if you have to change trains. You can even add an overnight stop en route to your destination using a regular (Normalpreis) ticket.
• When you buy train tickets at a DB counter they cost slightly more than buying them online or from a ticket machine. However, if you are in doubt about your best choice, better ask at a counter and get the right ticket. Advice from the DB staff could save you money.

One-way tickets, return tickets, German rail pass, BahnCard
- Which is the best option?

I am sorry, I cannot answer this question for you!

Before you make a decision you need to know how often, and how far you want to travel by train in Germany. Decide if you want to be flexible, or want to check out savings fares and book a few weeks in advance.
Use the search tool on the left to check the ticket price for your route. If a Sparpreis ticket is still available, you'll see both fares.

Evaluate how many travel days you would need, and the cost per travel day when you consider to travel with a rail pass, and then check what single train tickets would cost you.

Travellers from around the world can buy tickets and search for connections at the Deutsche Bahn website. Just select your country / language on top of the web page.

Local Transport (Nahverkehr)

Transportation means include regional trains and S-Bahnen operated by the DB. Underground railways (U-Bahn), trams (Straßenbahn) and busses are operated by private companies and / or local city government.

Most cities and towns in Germany are members of a local tariff & transport association (Verkehrsverbund) with different tariff zones. Some associations cover large areas of a German state, not only just a city. The Rhein-Main-Verkehrverbund (RMV), for example, is the second largest in Germany. It covers the entire Rhine-Main-area and much of central Hessen.

Means of transport within these associations include

• DB regional trains
• S-Bahn
• U-Bahn & trams
• most buses

This is where the confusion for international travellers begins. You can use a rail pass on the DB regional trains and S-Bahnen, but not on U-Bahnen and most buses. Some busses are also operated by the DB, they probably would accept a rail pass well.

Important things to know when you use local transport (there might be differences between the associations)

• Tickets (Fahrschein/Fahrkarte) for local transport cannot be bought online in advance. You buy the tickets at ticket machines (Fahrscheinautomat) or at the counter at train stations. S-Bahn & U-Bahn stations only have ticket machines. In a bus you can buy tickets from the bus driver.
• You need to buy the tickets before you go on a train or tram, otherwise you risk a fine when a controller wants to see your ticket. You often see it written on trains or signs: "Einstieg nur mit gültigem Fahrausweis" which means "enter the train, tram only with a valid ticket".
• In some cities you have to validate the Fahrschein in a box on the bus, or tram. Just watch what other people are doing.
• Ticket machines have either a numbered list with towns, or a modern touch screen where you can type in your destination. The machines usually have instructions in English as well.
• You can buy point-to-point tickets which allow you to change from S-bahn to U-Bahn or bus if needed. However, you can't interrupt your journey for long, you are required to catch the next train.
• Special offers for regional trains include the Schönes Wochenende ticket (valid one day on a weekend), the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket (valid one day during the week within Germany) and the Länderticket (valid in one day in one German state). These tickets are a real bargain if you travel in a group or as a family because the second adult and your kids travel for free, or pay a reduced tariff. These special tickets are not valid on ICE / IC trains.
• If you want to explore a city with multiple trips included, you better purchase a day-ticket. It is less expensive than several single tickets.
• To find the best options you can play around at the ticket machines. Test the offers, one-way ticket, day-ticket, group-ticket, Länderticket to find the one that gives you the best value.