Whether you just want a little information about Germany train Ticket you want to know everything about traveling by rail in the land of Frankfurters, Bier Garten and sightseeing enthusiasts, we are here to help.
Our guide to traveling by train in Germany is designed for everyone – not just rail enthusiasts! Are you thinking of a family holiday? Visit our German Destinations section. Are you a student going for an Erasmus year? Then take a look at our Loyalty Cards section. Perhaps you are a business traveler? Find out all about traveling in business class on German trains. If you already know which German train tickets you want, use our Journey Planner above to book now!
Of course, the best way to learn about Germany train Ticket is to get there and try them out yourself, but by reading this page you will set yourself up for a successful trip, journey or year!
A brief summary of each section is provided on this page, simply select the topic that interests you the most and you will be directed to the relevant section.
Länder-tickets
Use cheap Länder-tickets to save on local public transport (bus, train, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, metro, tram) in German cities and on Deutsche Bahn (German Railways).
Cheap Länder-tickets (state tickets) are often the best savings deal when touring a particular area of ​​rural Germany. These cheap tickets are valid on local buses and regional trains of Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) and only for limited geographical areas. Fast intercity and other long-distance trains and buses cannot be used. Generally, the trip is restricted to one Länd (or federal state), but if that limitation is not an issue, the savings over standard German train fares and tickets can be substantial. The Deutschland-Ticket (Germany Ticket) is somewhat similar to the Länder-Ticket, but it is valid for the whole of Germany, however, it is a commuter subscription season ticket, so study the fine print before signing up.
There are 16 federal states (Länder) in Germany, but since some states are very small, only 13 different Länder- Germany train Ticket Tickets are sold, as the smaller states do not have their own Länder-Tickets. It is worth travelling and checking prices on German railways – sometimes cheaper tickets covering a smaller geographical area will be suggested.
Save with cheap Länder train tickets in Germany
Länder-Tickets are much cheaper than standard German railway fares, so it is not surprising that they come with severe restrictions.
Can only be used on German local and regional trains (Nahverkehr). Local buses, trams and U-Bahn trains are usually, but not always, included. Only second-class wagons can be used, although in some states there are now first-class tickets as well.
Local trains have the letters IRE, RE, RB or S in their names and numbers. In most cities U-Bahn trains are also covered by this.
Länder-Tickets have punctuality restrictions. On weekdays, Länder-Tickets can be used from 9 am to 3 am the next day, on weekends and holidays from midnight to 3 am the next day. For journeys starting earlier, buy a ticket for the first station you reach after 9 am and use the Länder-Ticket from there.
Even cheaper night tickets (Nacht-Tickets) are valid from 6 pm to 6 am the next morning (7 am on weekends).
Up to five people can travel on a Länder-Ticket. Some states have single tickets or the ticket price is set according to the number of passengers. Generally, for two people traveling together, a standard Länder-Ticket is cheaper than two single tickets.
The names of all group members must be written before the start of any journey – in ink on a paper ticket or online for mobile/internet tickets. The composition of the group cannot change and, in the case of a mobile ticket, the phone with the ticket must be present during all journeys. (Drained battery is not an excuse.) Länder-Tickets are usually valid until the last station in the state, but sometimes also the first station in the bordering state. Similarly, when traveling through a bordering state, an additional ticket needs to be bought from/to the first station where the Länder-Ticket is valid. A pet dog larger than a cat is considered a passenger – enter “Hund” instead of the animal’s name. Dogs cannot be considered “your children”. Some states require separate bicycle tickets. Länder-tickets are usually available for single travellers or groups of up to five people travelling together. The base price is for a single traveller and then add a fixed amount, such as €10 in Bavaria, for each additional traveller up to five. Prices vary slightly, but are usually around €29 (€42) for a single traveller and €70 (€130) for a group of five in second class (first class).
Children and families on LänderGermany train Ticket
Calculating children’s fares when using Länder-tickets has become simpler in recent years, but it’s important to double-check each state’s rules and regulations. Study these thoroughly beforehand as the ticket controller will know the rules and issue fines ruthlessly.
In all states, children under six travel free and do not need to be counted when specifying the number of people travelling on the ticket. (In Hessen only three children are allowed per adult.)
In most states, but with the notable exception of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hessen, up to three children aged 6 to 14 travel free per Länder ticket and do not need to be included in the calculation of the number of persons on the ticket. The fourth child is considered a regular passenger and must get a ticket. No family relationship is required. For example, an adult with three children can travel on a Bayern-Ticket single, while an adult with four children will need a two-person Bayern ticket. Exceptions include, for example: In Hessen and North Rhine-Westphalia: all children aged 6–14 must be counted as passengers and no discounts are given.
When bought online or from ticket machines, you can take up to five passengers, adding 44 euros for the first passenger and then 6 euros for each additional passenger (68 euros). Additional passengers cannot be added after purchase and names must be entered in ink before the first journey begins.
At station ticket counters, the Happy Weekend ticket is usually 2 euros more expensive. Train tickets cannot normally be bought on local trains in Germany – failing to buy a ticket before boarding will result in a hefty fine per person.
Buy from Deutsche Bahn in German: Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, or buy from German Railways in English. (If the link has moved, see the Schöne Wochende or Weekend Ticket link (under Offers) on the German Railways English website.
In many regions, bicycles are transported free of charge on trains. In others, each bicycle requires a €5 Fahrradticket (bicycle ticket), which allows unlimited transport on all local trains for the day.
Small dogs travel free of charge if they are inside the transport container, otherwise the dog is counted as a person. Dogs are not eligible for free travel under the “own children” rule.
Schöne-Wochende-Germany train Ticket
When bought online or from ticket machines, you can take up to five passengers, adding 44 euros for the first passenger and then 6 euros for each additional passenger (68 euros). Additional passengers cannot be added after purchase and names must be entered in ink before the first journey begins.
At station ticket counters, the Happy Weekend ticket is usually 2 euros more expensive. Train tickets cannot normally be bought on local trains in Germany – failing to buy a ticket before boarding will result in a hefty fine per person.
Buy from Deutsche Bahn in German: Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, or buy from German Railways in English. (If the link has moved, see the Schöne Wochende or Weekend Ticket link (under Offers) on the German Railways English website.
In many regions, bicycles are transported free of charge on trains. In others, each bicycle requires a €5 Fahrradticket (bicycle ticket), which allows unlimited transport on all local trains for the day.
Small dogs travel free of charge if they are inside the transport container, otherwise the dog is counted as a person. Dogs are not eligible for free travel under the “own children” rule.
Schöne-Wochende-Tickets offer great savings on regular train fares, provided the passenger is on weekends and only on local trains. During the week, Quer-Durch-Land tickets offer similar savings while Länder-Tickets offer great savings on any day for travel in smaller regions. Deutsche Bahn has many more discounted fares available on high-speed, long-distance trains, while non-residents can also benefit greatly from German rail. Pass.
Sparpreis Germany train Ticket
Sparpress and Super Sparpress tickets are the cheapest ticket options offered by Germany’s main rail operator Deutsche Bahn. Just like advance tickets in the U.K., they only allow travel on the specific train you’ve booked, although if your journey includes a connecting regional train, you can take any regional train on that part of the route. Prices vary like airfares, meaning tickets are cheaper when you book in advance than if you buy them on the day.
You can get a refund for a Sparpress fare up to the day before departure, but you’ll have to pay an additional fee. No changes or refunds are allowed from the day of departure. Super Sparpress tickets are cheaper than Sparpress, they are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Flexpreis Germany train Ticket
Flexpris tickets usually cost more than Sparpress and can be used for any train on your chosen travel day – just hop on and find any empty unreserved seat. If you want to book your seat on a long-distance IC, ICE or EC train, you’ll have to pay a small extra fee.
Flexpris tickets are also refundable and can be changed for free, provided you make your request before your travel day.
Super Sparpreis Germany train Ticket
The attractive Sparpress and Super Sparpress Europa offers are available for those travelling to Germany and other countries via Germany. Space is limited and prices depend on the number of seats available on the train and are valid for travel in one direction. The Sparpress Europa offer is applicable for travel between Germany and Poland. For example, tickets between Warsaw and Berlin are available from €29.90 in second class and from €69.90 in first class. Other sample offers (prices given for second class):
Bydgoszcz-Berlin from €29.90
Torun-Hamburg from €39.90
Poznan-Munich from €39.90
Gdansk-Cologne from €39.90
Lublin-Berlin from €39.90
Radom-Düsseldorf from €39.90
Bialystok-Mannheim from €39.90
Poznan-Berlin from €19.90
With the fantastic Sparpress and Super Sparpress Europa offers, you can also use the train traveling with DB Bahn from Germany to neighboring European countries such as Belgium, Denmark, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Slovakia.
Children aged 6-14 travelling under the supervision of a parent, grandparent or legal guardian travel free on the Sparpress Europa offer (in seating accommodations; couchette or sleeping car berth charges apply). And if you plan to continue travelling by train in Germany with children, they will continue to travel free too.
Bahncard 25 holders get 25% off the normal ticket price for the German part of the journey.
Ticket pre-sale period for the Sparpress Europa offer:
60 days-3 days before travel: trains from Poland to Germany/Netherlands
91 days-3 days before travel: trains from Germany/Netherlands to Poland
Super Sparpress Europa tickets cannot be changed, cancelled or refunded. Sparpresse Europa tickets can be changed and refunded up to 1 day before the travel date (a €10 fee applies, and the refund is issued as a DB voucher to be applied to a future journey).
Sparpresse and Super Sparpresse Europa tickets are only valid for the travel date and the selected train booked.
Deutschland Germany train Ticket
Tourists should get Deutschland Ticket from deutschland-ticket.store. This is the easiest option as it cancels automatically.5 Your ticket is a printable QR code. It takes a few days to process, so buy it well in advance.2
Another option is mo.pla, as it accepts credit cards and it’s easy to cancel. Their app is only on the German app store, but you can use their web app instead. You can get digital tickets or printable tickets in the app.
The other options require a European bank account or German credit card, and their Deutschland Ticket subscription is harder to cancel.
It may be easier to buy regular daily, weekly, or monthly tickets. You can buy them from the ticket machine at the train station. You can pay with cash or credit card.
Eurail Germany Pass
With Klook’s Germany train pass, travellers can travel on any high-speed train service or just regional trains that operate under Deutsche Bahn. When buying the pass, you have the option of buying either a first class ticket or a second class ticket, as well as choosing how many days you want to buy the ticket for. Buy your Germany rail pass with Klook and receive your pass within 1 working day. With the Eurail pass for Germany, get your seat reservation simply by planning your trip using the Rail Planner app. Germany train tickets are affordable, and you can choose to buy a local or Germany rail pass depending on your planned trip and how much you plan to travel.
Interrail Germany Pass
The Eurail or Interrail Germany Pass is the most comprehensive pass for traveling to Germany, one of Europe’s most popular destinations. Discover iconic cities such as Berlin, Munich, Leipzig and Frankfurt. Get even more benefits by traveling beyond Germany!
With the Eurail or Interrail Germany Pass you can also travel on DB trains at the following stations:
Basel Badischer Bahnhof (Switzerland)
Salzburg, Kufstein and Innsbruck (Austria)
Liège and Brussels (Belgium)
Bolzano, Trento, Verona, Bologna and Venice (Italy)
The Eurail or Interrail Germany Pass allows you unlimited travel, as well as the freedom to get on the tracks whenever and wherever you want! You can take as many trains as you want and there is no limit on the distance you can cover in one travel day. All this at a fixed price.
Get on and off the trains at any time according to your wishes and encounters. Simply arrive at the nearest railway station and get ready to discover a new destination. There is no surcharge for traveling on ICE high speed trains, InterCity (IC) and EuroCity (EC). For ICE Sprinter, International ICE to France and Berlin Warsaw Express trains, where reservations are required, Eurail or Interrail Germany Pass holders are entitled to special reduced fares.
The Eurail or Interrail Germany Pass is packed with bonuses to make your trip even more enjoyable. Hotel discounts, no surcharge when traveling on German high speed trains, discounts when traveling on coach and much more are included in your pass.
Whether you are an adventure-loving traveler or an avid planner, the Eurail or Interrail Germany Pass is your pass to freedom and the key to an unforgettable trip in Germany and beyond!
Bahncard
The Bahncard (German Bahn – rail) is a discount membership program offered by the German national railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB). Unlike airline loyalty programs, but similar to the UK Railcard, the Bahncard entitles the traveller to discounted pricing and must be purchased before travel. The Bahncard is offered in a non-business and a business version called Bahncard Business. Non-business Bahncard contracts are automatically renewed each year, unless they are cancelled with sufficient notice. Three types of Bahncard are sold by Deutsche Bahn: Bahncard 25, Bahncard 50 and Bahncard 100. The first two types allow travellers to receive 25% and 50% discounts respectively on standard long-distance rail fares, while the Mobility Bahncard 100 is a type of annual ticket which allows free unlimited travel on most of the German railway network at a fixed price.[1] The (non-commercial) BahnCard 25/50 is valid for one year and can only be purchased by subscription. If they are not cancelled six weeks before the expiry date, their validity is automatically extended for another year.[1] The BahnCard Business 25/50 is also valid for one year, but does not require cancellation.[2] Unlike the personal BahnCard, the BahnCard Business can be combined with a large number of discounts offered to business customers.[3][2]
In 2007 there were 4.01 million BahnCard holders in Germany (approximately 5% of Germany’s population).[4] More than half of DB Fernverkehr (long-distance) passenger revenues come from tickets sold to BahnCard holders.[4]
In addition to entitling the holder to discounts, the BahnCard also serves as an identity card for the validation of online tickets and mobile phone tickets and for purchasing tickets from vending machines. BanCard holders can also call a discount hotline printed on the card, and optional travel insurance may be included.