Difference between revisions of "Germany/Travel"

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(→‎Trains: Add Bahncard.)
 
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Travel in Germany}}
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{{Head
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The most popular travel means of travel between cities in Germany are:
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|Travel in Germany
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|Means, Operators, Saver Fares
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* trains: fastest on mid-distance, cheap if bought early
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|Here are the most popular means of travel between cities in Germany.}}
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* on roads:
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* by '''train''': fastest on short- & mid-distance, cheap if bought early
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* by '''bus & car''':
 
** car rental: expensive but most flexible
 
** car rental: expensive but most flexible
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** carpools: cheap but reliability varies
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** rideshares: cheap but reliability varies
 
** long-distance buses: cheapest but slowest
 
** long-distance buses: cheapest but slowest
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* plane: expensive but fastest for distances over ~400km
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* by '''plane''': most expensive but fastest for distances over ~400km
  
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== Trains ==
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== By Train ==
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* The vast majority of trains is operated by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Bahn Deutsche Bahn], Germany's national railway company.
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* The vast majority of trains are operated by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Bahn Deutsche Bahn], Germany's national railway company.
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** You can travel all their trains for 1, 2 or 3 months with a "flat rate" ticket:
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***  {{AffLink|Interrail|interrail}} if you a citizen or resident of an European country
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***  {{Link|Eurail|eurail}} otherwise
 
* Their biggest private competitor is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flixtrain Flixtrain].
 
* Their biggest private competitor is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flixtrain Flixtrain].
  
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* Get the best price with their {{AffLink|Best price finder|bahn.best-price-finder}}.
 
* Get the best price with their {{AffLink|Best price finder|bahn.best-price-finder}}.
 
** Ticket prices start from €17.90, even for very long connections.
 
** Ticket prices start from €17.90, even for very long connections.
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** A calendar view of best prices for a connection gives you [https://bahn.guru/ Bahn.guru] (inofficial).
 
* With a {{AffLink|Bahncard|bahn.bahncard}}, you can get a 25% or 50% discount on nearly any ticket.  
 
* With a {{AffLink|Bahncard|bahn.bahncard}}, you can get a 25% or 50% discount on nearly any ticket.  
 
** A Bahncard 25 costs €56,90, a Bahncard 50 €234 per year (2nd class).
 
** A Bahncard 25 costs €56,90, a Bahncard 50 €234 per year (2nd class).
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** There is a 3-month trial version for €17.90 / €72,90.
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** There is a 3-month trial version (''Probe-Bahncard'') for €17.90 / €72,90.
  
 
=== Flixtrain ===
 
=== Flixtrain ===
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* Prices are very cheap, starting from €3.
 
* Prices are very cheap, starting from €3.
 
* Trips can be booked together with Flixbus busses, so you can get one ticket for the whole trip (bus & train).  
 
* Trips can be booked together with Flixbus busses, so you can get one ticket for the whole trip (bus & train).  
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* The {{AffLink|Flixtrain connection search|fixtrain}} shows both Flixtrain and Flixbus connections.
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* The {{AffLink|Flixtrain connection search|flixtrain}} shows both Flixtrain and Flixbus connections.
  
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=== Regional trains (IRE, RE, RB)===
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=== Regional trains (IRE, RE, RB, S-Bahn)===
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* Regional / local trains are mostly operated by ''Deutsche Bahn''.
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* Regional/local trains are mostly operated by ''Deutsche Bahn''.
 
* They connect close cities or cross / go around big cities.
 
* They connect close cities or cross / go around big cities.
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** It is possible (but slow) to travel long-distances by using many regional trains in a row.
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** It is possible (but slow) to travel long distances by using many regional trains in a row.
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* In June, July and August 2022, a special ticket will be offered: the [[Germany/Travel/9-Euro-Ticket|9-Euro-Ticket]]:
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* There are {{Link|day passes|bahn.regional-day-tickets}} (''Länderticket'') valid in all regional transport in one ore even multiple German federal states, often also reaching into neighbouring states.
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** a flatrate pass for €9 / month for unlimited travel in all regional trains.
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== By Bus & Car ==
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=== Long-Distance Bus ===
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* Germany has a dense network of several long-distance busses (''Fernbus'').
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* Buses are mostly reliable but often slower than trains.
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* The main operator in Germany is {{AffLink|Flixbus|flixbus}}.
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* [https://www.busradar.com/ Busradar] is a search engine for many bus connections in Germany (and Europe).
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=== Rideshare ===
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* At organized ride shares (''Mitfahrgelegenheit''), people who travel by their passenger offer their free seats to other travelers.
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* Prices are similar to those for long-distance buses.
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* {{AffLink|BlaBlaCar|blablacar}} is the most popular ride-sharing platform.
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=== Hitchhiking ===
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* Hitchhiking is popular in Germany.
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* [https://hitchwiki.org/en/Germany Hitchwiki] gives more tips and lists convenient spots to start a hitchhike.
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=== Car Rental ===
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* Car rental for traveling between cities is rather unpopular in Germany. It is mostly done when moving to a new place, and a van is needed.
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* The biggest rental companies are {{AffLink|Sixt|sixt}} and {{AffLink|Europcar|europcar}}.
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== By Plane ==
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* Because of Germany's fast train network, plane travel within Germany only makes sense for very long distances, e.g. Hamburg-Munich.
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* Find all flight connections with [https://www.google.com/flights/ Google Flights].
  
 
{{Notes}}
 
{{Notes}}

Latest revision as of 15:35, 1 September 2022

Here are the most popular means of travel between cities in Germany.

  • by train: fastest on short- & mid-distance, cheap if bought early
  • by bus & car:
    • car rental: expensive but most flexible
    • rideshares: cheap but reliability varies
    • long-distance buses: cheapest but slowest
  • by plane: most expensive but fastest for distances over ~400km

By Train[edit]

  • The vast majority of trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway company.
    • You can travel all their trains for 1, 2 or 3 months with a "flat rate" ticket:
  • Their biggest private competitor is Flixtrain.

Fast trains (ICE, IC, EC)[edit]

  • These long-distance trains by Deutsche Bahn connect all larger Germany cities with frequent connections.
  • Find a connection with their Connection search[1].
  • Get the best price with their Best price finder[1].
    • Ticket prices start from €17.90, even for very long connections.
    • A calendar view of best prices for a connection gives you Bahn.guru (inofficial).
  • With a Bahncard[1], you can get a 25% or 50% discount on nearly any ticket.
    • A Bahncard 25 costs €56,90, a Bahncard 50 €234 per year (2nd class).
    • There is a 3-month trial version (Probe-Bahncard) for €17.90 / €72,90.

Flixtrain[edit]

  • Flixtrain is a brand of Flixbus, Germany's biggest operator of long-distance buses.
  • Their network connects many cities, but trains run only 1 to 4 times a day
  • Prices are very cheap, starting from €3.
  • Trips can be booked together with Flixbus busses, so you can get one ticket for the whole trip (bus & train).
  • The Flixtrain connection search[1] shows both Flixtrain and Flixbus connections.

Regional trains (IRE, RE, RB, S-Bahn)[edit]

  • Regional/local trains are mostly operated by Deutsche Bahn.
  • They connect close cities or cross / go around big cities.
    • It is possible (but slow) to travel long distances by using many regional trains in a row.
  • There are day passes (Länderticket) valid in all regional transport in one ore even multiple German federal states, often also reaching into neighbouring states.

By Bus & Car[edit]

Long-Distance Bus[edit]

  • Germany has a dense network of several long-distance busses (Fernbus).
  • Buses are mostly reliable but often slower than trains.
  • The main operator in Germany is Flixbus[1].
  • Busradar is a search engine for many bus connections in Germany (and Europe).

Rideshare[edit]

  • At organized ride shares (Mitfahrgelegenheit), people who travel by their passenger offer their free seats to other travelers.
  • Prices are similar to those for long-distance buses.
  • BlaBlaCar[1] is the most popular ride-sharing platform.

Hitchhiking[edit]

  • Hitchhiking is popular in Germany.
  • Hitchwiki gives more tips and lists convenient spots to start a hitchhike.

Car Rental[edit]

  • Car rental for traveling between cities is rather unpopular in Germany. It is mostly done when moving to a new place, and a van is needed.
  • The biggest rental companies are Sixt[1] and Europcar[1].

By Plane[edit]

  • Because of Germany's fast train network, plane travel within Germany only makes sense for very long distances, e.g. Hamburg-Munich.
  • Find all flight connections with Google Flights.

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 This is an affiliate link. If you click on it and then buy something or sign up for a service, we may earn a commission which covers our expenses. This does not change the price for you.

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