Do you want to explore Germany by train and travel on a budget? It is totally doable.
Trains in Germany are (generally) on time and one of the best ways to travel around the country. You can board a train from the city center at Hauptbahnhof (central train station) and navigate anywhere in Germany and beyond at speeds of up to 300 km / h (186 m / hour). It’s comfortable and quiet at best, and with a little planning it can be very inexpensive.
All train tickets can be purchased online, at ticket vending machines at stations, or at the ticket counters of the German National Railway (called Deutsche Bahn ) found in most German train stations. Here’s a comprehensive guide to finding discount train tickets in Germany.
Buy train tickets in Germany in advance
Tickets are sold at discount prices ( sparpreise ) from 3 months to 3 days before the date of travel. Discounts can be up to 63 percent. Outside of those hours, or after all discounted tickets are sold, tickets are sold at normal prices (standard fare).
For this lower price, there are some restrictions. For example, they are zugbindung, which means you have to take the train printed on your ticket; It is not flexible.
Nice weekend ticket (Ticket de fin de semana feliz)
With the Schönes-Wochenende Ticket, the weekend is all yours: you can take the train as often as you like within a weekend (Saturday or Sunday and is valid from midnight to 3am the next morning), anywhere in Germany, and on any regional train (RB, IRE, RE) and S-Bahn (not high-speed Intercity Express). The ticket costs 44 euros plus only 6 euros per person for up to 5 people.
To give some perspective, you can travel from Munich to Berlin on this ticket with 4 of your friends. It’s crazy cheap but it will cost you in time. This trip usually takes only 4.5 hours, but can be extended up to 12 hours on regional trains. Plan your time versus money accordingly.
Boleto Länder (state boleto)
All German federal states offer a Länderticket , which allows you to explore their Bundesland by train for a whole day. Travel anywhere within Bavaria or Saxony or Berlin – Brandenburg.
With just one pass, you can travel with up to five people and explore a German state of your choice on a reduced budget starting at € 23 plus € 6 per additional traveler of up to five people.
Group trips
Group savings rates allow groups to travel within Germany for as little as € 19.90 per person. Groups can range from 6 to 30 people and tickets are available up to 12 months in advance. There is also a group savings rate in Europe that offers travel to more countries in Europe.
German rail pass
With the German Rail Pass, you can travel on all trains on the German railway, including the Intercity Express (also known as ICE) for 5 to 15 days within the period of one month. The German Rail Pass is available for first and second class travel (as well as youth options) and for consecutive or flexible days.
Prices start at 145 euros for 2 consecutive days up to 280 euros for 7 days in a month.
An important note : this offer only applies to people with permanent residence outside of Europe, Turkey and Russia. If you are European and live outside of Europe, you must have been gone for more than 6 months (indicated by the stamp in your passport).
BahnCard
The German railway offers frequent train travelers the opportunity to purchase a card that offers discounts on each train journey. There are three different options:
- Bahncard 25 : This card offers a 25 percent discount on flexpreis (flexible rates) and sparpreis for one year. The card costs only 62 euros for the second class.
- Bahncard 50 : This card offers a 50 percent discount on Flexpreis and a 25 percent discount on sparpreise within Germany. The card costs 255 euros for the second class. Students, seniors and children only pay half the purchase price.
- Bahncard 100 : for the constant traveler, this card offers all-inclusive travel for one year. The card costs 695.52 euros for private clients.
