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The Deutschland-Ticket is here

Travel conveniently throughout Germany with just one ticket. The Deutschland-Ticket (D-Ticket for short) lets you travel easily by all means of local public transport from for just 49 euros per month.

The benefits

• Unlimited travel for just 49 euros per month
• Valid throughout Germany on all local public transport (not valid in ICE, IC/EC)
• Cancel monthly

Please note that the Deutschland-Ticket is  only available by subscription .

Frequently asked questions

What is the deutschland-ticket.

The Deutschland-Ticket is the successor to the 9-Euro-Ticket, which was offered as a special measure in the summer months of 2022. The 9-Euro-Ticket was introduced by the German government to relieve the burden on people due to the sharp rise in costs for electricity, food, heating and mobility. It was a great success and also helped the environment by encouraging greater use of public transport. As a result, the Deutschland-Ticket is to be offered as a permanent season ticket as part of the third federal relief package in cooperation between the federal and state governments. As a flat rate for regional transport, the Deutschland-Ticket simplifies local transport fares by enabling travel across different states and tariff zones. It therefore makes it even easier to switch the car for more environmentally friendly means of transport.

How much will the Deutschland-Ticket cost?

The Deutschland-Ticket will cost 49 euros per month.

Where can I purchase the Deutschland-Ticket?

Customers can purchase the Deutschland-Ticket via DB sales channels such as bahn.com and the DB Navigator app, as well as at DB Travel Centres throughout Germany. Many other transport companies will also sell the Deutschland-Ticket in their sales channels.

Where is the Deutschland-Ticket valid in Germany?

The Deutschland-Ticket can be used throughout Germany in all regional and local trains. It is also valid for any number of journeys in all means of public transport of the participating regional ticketing systems, transport associations and transport companies according to their area of validity and conditions. This is true regardless of which transport company, association or regional ticketing system is indicated on the ticket. A Deutschland-Ticket purchased in Munich, for example, can therefore also be used for journeys in Frankfurt and the surrounding area.

Please note, however, that the Deutschland-Ticket is not valid on trains operated by DB Fernverkehr AG or other long-distance providers such as FlixTrain (e.g. IC, EC, ICE, as well as RE operated by DB Fernverkehr AG). DB Fernverkehr is currently in talks with the German state governments and authorities about exceptions on certain sections of line.

The Deutschland-Ticket is currently also permitted for long-distance trains (IC, EC, ICE) between Rostock Hbf and Stralsund Hbf.

Furthermore, the Deutschland-Ticket is not valid on means of transport that are operated predominantly for tourist or historical purposes.

Is the Deutschland-Ticket available as a monthly ticket?

No, you can only purchase the Deutschland-Ticket as a subscription.

I already have a subscription or a Jobticket. What should I do if I want the Deutschland-Ticket?

If you already have a season ticket or job ticket for local transport or your local transport association, your subscription team will inform you about what to do next. 

If necessary, please change your subscription in the subscription portal at bahn.de/aboportal Log in with your bahn.de account and follow the instructions for changing your subscription.  We will take care of everything else for you and you will automatically receive the Deutschland-Ticket as a mobile phone ticket, or on a chip card if your previous tariff provider offers a chip card system.

Please note that if you change to the Deutschland-Ticket, your previous subscription will automatically be terminated one day before the start of the new Deutschland-Ticket subscription. This also means that any additional benefits of your previous subscription (e.g. regulations on transport, transferability or first class) or contributions from your employer will no longer apply. All other subscriptions, e.g. additional cards, will remain valid. If you no longer need them, please cancel them yourself in the subscription portal.

• Aboportal (in German) Further information: Aboportal (in German)

Can children travel free of charge?

Children under 6 travel for free. They do not need a ticket. Children aged 6 and over need their own ticket, e.g. their own Deutschland-Ticket. They cannot travel free of charge. 

Can I take other people with me using the Deutschland-Ticket?

No, you cannot take any other persons with you on a Deutschland-Ticket. Your fellow passengers need their own ticket.

Any such rights from an existing subscription cannot be transferred to the Deutschland-Ticket.

Can dogs travel free of charge?

The Deutschland-Ticket does not include the carriage of dogs that are subject to fees. You cannot purchase a Deutschland-Ticket for a dog that is subject to a fee. You must purchase a valid ticket for dogs for the line you use or the tariff area through which you travel. In addition, the respective regulations of the regional ticketing systems, transport associations and transport companies apply to the carriage of dogs. Please check the rules for the relevant tariff area.

What if I want to take a bicycle with me?

Bicycle transport is subject to the respective tariff regulations of the nationwide ticketing system (Deutschlandtarif), the regional ticketing systems, transport associations and transport companies. If bicycles can be taken along free of charge at the time of travel on the line you use or in the tariff area through which you travel, you can also do so with the Deutschland-Ticket. If a bicycle ticket is required for a tariff area, this also applies to journeys with the Deutschland-Ticket. We have compiled all the relevant information on bicycle transport at www.bahn.de/fahrrad-nahverkehr (in German) and www.zugportal.de/fahrrad  (in German). Please also note any periods in which bicycle transport is not allowed in certain regions. Please be considerate towards other passengers. If a high volume of cyclists is expected from the outset, we will provide information about this in the travel information at www.bahn.de, and in the DB Navigator and line agent apps. 

From when is the Deutschland-Ticket valid?

It is valid from the first day of each calendar month until 3:00 am on the first day of the following month.

Can I also purchase the Deutschand-Ticket for first class?

No. The Deutschland-Ticket is only available for second class. 

Can customers with the Deutschland-Ticket and a first class surcharge use first class for a single journey?

An upgrade to first class is available in accordance with the tariff conditions of the nationwide ticketing system (Deutschlandtarif) as a single upgrade, or as a monthly upgrade for season tickets, or within the areas of validity of the transport associations and regional ticketing systems in accordance with their conditions. 

An upgrade to first class is available in accordance with the tariff conditions of the nationwide ticketing system (Deutschlandtarif) as a single upgrade, or within the areas of validity of the transport associations and regional ticketing systems in accordance with their conditions. Upgrade tickets are available for single journeys or on a monthly basis.

Can I use an ICE/IC train with the Deutschland-Ticket if I know I will reach the destination with a considerable delay?

In principle, this is not possible , as the Deutschlandticket is an offer with a significantly reduced fare in accordance with Section 3 of the Rail Transport Ordinance (EVO). This means that travellers with a Deutschlandticket must always buy a separate ticket to use a long distance train. In exceptional cases ,

• if a cancellation or train delay affects the last connection of the day with arrival by midnight a delay
• or cancellation occurs on a train connection with scheduled arrival between 0 a.m. and 5 a.m.
• and the delay at the destination is at least 60 minutes the use of an ICE or IC/EC train is also possible within the framework of the regulations of §11 Para. 2 of the Railway Traffic Ordinance (EVO).

The following also applies in this case: You must first purchase a separate ticket for the use of ICE or IC/EC trains, the fare for which will then be reimbursed up to an amount of 120 euros as part of the settlement of passenger rights.

How are train cancellations or delays compensated?

If you are travelling with your Deutschland-Ticket and arrive at your destination at least 60 minutes late due to a local train being delayed or cancelled, you are entitled to compensation of EUR 1.50 per case. Please note, however, that compensation amounts below EUR 4 will not be paid out due to a statutory de minimis threshold. However, you can submit several compensation requests together to the Deutsche Bahn passenger rights service centre or the passenger rights department of the rail transport company you use during the term of your Deutschland-Ticket, and receive compensation from them. A maximum of 25% of the value of your Deutschland-Ticket will be compensated.

Can I combine a Deutschland-Ticket with a long-distance ticket?

The Deutschland-Ticket can be used before and after a journey on a long-distance train. However, a separate ticket is always required for the long-distance journey. This may have implications for passenger rights. If you miss the long-distance train you have booked following your journey on a local/regional service, you are not entitled to travel on another train with the same ticket and cannot claim a refund.

Can the Deutschland-Ticket be exchanged or refunded?

Exchanges and refunds of the Deutschland-Ticket are possible free of charge before the first day of validity of the ticket and are excluded thereafter.

Can the Deutschland-Ticket be cancelled?

You can cancel the Deutschland-Ticket by the 10th of a month to the end of the calendar month.

The Man in Seat 61

A beginner's guide to

Train travel in germany.

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, inter-city train tickets from €12.90.

Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) high-speed IC and ICE trains are easily the best way to travel between major town & cities all over Germany, in comfort at ground level.  DB's ICE trains travel at up to 186 mph from city centre to city centre, and if you pre-book direct with the operator you can find some really cheap fares.

Train travel within Germany

International trains to & from Germany

Station guides, general train travel information, useful country information, how to check train times & buy tickets.

To check times & prices and to buy tickets in advance go to the German Railways website int.bahn.de ( on a mobile device, use this link ).

Anyone from any country can use bahn.de, all international credit cards accepted, you print your own ticket or can simply show it on your laptop or phone.

Tip:   I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in, check all your bookings and re-print your tickets at any time.

Do you need to book in advance?

When does booking open.

Booking now opens up to 6 months ahead for German domestic tickets.

It was increased to 6 months from the previous 92 days in 2016.  However, the booking period is often less than this for dates immediately after the timetable changes at midnight on the 2nd Saturday in December.  Bookings for dates after the mid-December timetable change, including the Christmas period, usually open in mid-October.

Flexpreis or Sparpreis?

If you use int.bahn.de to book a long-distance train it initially shows the cheapest fare available against each train.

If you click on that fare, you'll then see a range of fares, Super Sparpreis , Sparpreis & Flexpreis .

Flexpreis is the full-price flexible fare.  A Flexpreis ticket can be bought online or at the station on the day of travel, the price in fact varies slightly on different dates, but not by a huge amount.  They are refundable, good for any train that day, just hop on and find any empty unreserved seat, seat reservation on long distance IC, ICE & EC trains is optional for a small extra charge, €4.90 in 2nd class, €5.90 in 1st class.

Sparpreis & Super Sparpreis fares are limited-availability advance-purchase fares, from €12.90, €19.90, €29.90, €39.90 and so on, the price varies significantly depending how far ahead you book and how popular that date, day and train is.  Spar is German for save .  Sparpreis & Super Sparpreis fares only allow travel on the specific train you book, although if your journey involves a connecting regional train you can use any regional train on the regional part of the route.  Prices vary like air fares, rising as departure approaches and the cheaper tickets are sold.  They disappear a few days before departure, leaving only the Flexpreis fare.

Super Sparpreis = no refunds, no changes.   Sparpreis fares are refundable (although for a DB credit voucher, not cash) up to the day before departure with a small fee deducted, no changes or refunds allowed from the day of departure onwards.

• Children go free!   On DB trains, children under 6 go free, no ticket needed.  Children over 6 but aged under 15 also go free if they travel accompanied by a fare-paying adult, a great offer.  Book your tickets at int.bahn.de and it will work all this out for you.

Only one passenger name is needed

Only one name is necessary as I.D. to support a print-at-home ticket, even if that ticket covers several passengers.

If you buy hard copy tickets at a station, no name at all is needed.

Incidentally, until 2016 you had to show the credit/debit card used for the booking when using print-at-home tickets. I'm glad to say that this changed in October 2016, all you now need is a passport or other recognised ID to support a print-at-home online ticket.  You may or may not be asked for it by the conductor.

Tips for using int.bahn.de

Stopovers .  If you'd like a stopover en route, but still want a cheap saver fare from end to end, no problem.  Go to int.bahn.de and enter your start and end point, simply click Stopover , enter the place where you want to stop off, enter the number of hours stopover and off you go.  Maximum 2 days validity with a Sparpreis fare.

Alternatives to using bahn.de:   Bahn.de is one of the best train operator sites, but if for any reason you want an alternative site which can also book DB trains at DB prices, try these two:

Raileurope.com has a direct connection to DB's ticketing system so it sells the same trains, same prices, same print-at-home tickets at Bahn.de, but with a small booking fee.  It accepts all international credit cards so can be used by anyone from any country.  Raileurope.com also connects to the French, Italian & Spanish ticketing systems so can easily book multi-operator journeys such as Munich to Naples (which involves DB and Trenitalia) or Frankfurt to Bordeaux (which involves DB and SNCF).  Raileurope.com is also capable of splitting the booking to book some cross-Germany journeys (for example, Brussels to Poland) for which you'd have to manually split the booking at some logical point within Germany if you wanted to use bahn.de.

Thetrainline.com also has a connection to DB's system, so can sell print-at-home tickets (but not those which need to be posted) for DB train at the same prices as DB, but with a small booking fee.

Competing lo-cost operator:  Flixtrain

Almost all long-distance trains in Germany are operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), the State-owned German Federal Railways.  But there is now one other long-distance operator worth mentioning.

Buy tickets by phone in the UK

If you live in the UK you can buy German train tickets direct from Deutsche Bahn on their English-speaking telesales line, 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 .  Lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings.

Custom-made tours of Germany by train

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour of Germany for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & breaks which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They now have offices in the UK, USA & Australia.

Tailor Made Rail can arrange tours of Germany by train, they have suggested itineraries or they can organise a trip based on your own requirements, they welcome complex itineraries!  As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens on one part of the trip, for example, a national strike.  They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.

Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/germany .

Back to top

DB's discount card:  Bahncard

What are bahncards.

You get the discount on German domestic journeys, and on international journeys to, from or across Germany.

However, for international journeys the discount will not normally be the full 25% or 50% as the reduction is not necessarily applied to the part outside Germany (test it before buying a Bahncard to see what actual effect a Bahncard has - see my top tip below).

Man in Seat 61's top tip:   Before buying a Bahncard, run an enquiry for the journeys you actually plan to make, using int.bahn.de (a) as normal and (b) with a Bahncard 25 or Bahncard 50 discount added.  See what it does to prices.  If you see no difference, the discount may not apply to your particular journey.  If you see a difference, do the savings justify the cost of the card?

Types of Bahncard

Each type of Bahncard can be bought for either 2nd class or 1st class.

Check prices & buy a Bahncard

Special regional tickets.

These one-day unlimited travel passes are well worth knowing about, even though they're not valid on fast long-distance trains, only on slower regional trains.  If you want a railpass valid on all trains, including high-speed and long-distance ones, see the German Rail Pass section below .

Deutschland ticket

Unlimited travel on regional transport nationwide for €49 a month

From 1 May 2023 Germany offers unlimited travel on regional transport nationwide for €49 per month.  This is the successor to the popular (but temporary) €9 ticket created after the pandemic to address the cost-of-living crisis.  Unlike the €9 ticket, the Deutschlandticket will be a permanent product.

The Deutschland ticket is good for all regional trains run by DB and by other operators across the whole of Germany ()marked R, RE, RB, IRE or S-Bahn in the timetable) and other types of local & regional transport including local buses, city buses, trams & U-Bahn.

It's even valid on the famous Harz Railway , including steam-hauled trains, but not on the branch line up the Brocken.

It's not valid on long-distance ICE & IC trains or similar long-distance trains classified EuroCity, Eurostar, TGV, Railjet, Westbahn, Flixtrain or Snälltåget.  So yes, you could cross Germany with it if you wanted, but only using slower regional trains.

The Deutschland ticket covers journeys wholly within Germany, with a few exceptions:  For example, it's valid on cross-border regional trains to/from Salzburg in Austria, to/from Venlo, Arnhem, Hengelo & Enschede in the Netherlands, to/from Basel Bad Bf & Basel SBB in Switzerland, and to/from Zgorzelec in Poland.  But remember, only on the regional trains (marked R, RE, RB, BRB and so on), not EC, RJ, RJX, IC or ICE long-distance trains or privately-run Westbahn (WB) trains.

It's valid from the 1st of the month to the end of the month :  Unlike normal passes or season ticket which can start on any date you choose, each month's Deutschland ticket is valid from the 1st of the month to the last day of the month.  So if you bought one on 30 May, that would be a 'May' Deutschland ticket valid from 1 to 31 May and you'd only get 2 days use out of it, 30 & 31 May - but it would still cost €49!

Only sold as a rolling monthly subscription :  It's aimed at commuters not tourists, so the Deutschland ticket is only sold as a rolling monthly subscription or one-off annual payment.  However, you can cancel the monthly subscription it at any time, even after paying for only 1 month, just be aware that most vendors require you to cancel before the 10th of the month to avoid paying for the following month's €49 Deutschland ticket.  Most vendors require payment by direct debit, a few allow payment by credit card.

Children : As it's aimed at commuters, there's no child version and no provision to add children to your account.  However, a child can travel on an adult ticket (just not the other way around).  If you want to buy Deutschland tickets for yourself and your children, use RMVgo app at sites.rmv.de/en/deutschlandticket , the Rhein-Main Lander, because this (unlike other Landers' apps) allows one person to open an account and buy Deutschland tickets for multiple people including children, with a credit card in one transaction.  The catch?  It may not accept non-German addresses, my correspondent had to use the address of his German hotel but successfully bought tickets for himself and his kids.  Feedback would be appreciated .

If you only want a Deutschland ticket for one month to enjoy a one month's unlimited travel on regional trains across Germany, buy a Deutschland ticket before the 10th of that month by setting up a monthly credit card payment.  Then make sure you cancel the subscription before the 10th of that same month to avoid paying for the following month.

How to buy a Deutschland ticket:

Don't bother trying to use the German Railways (DB) website www.bahn.com to buy a Deutschland ticket as it only accepts payment by direct debit and setting up a direct debit with a non-German bank account results in an error message.  #fail!

The easiest way for foreign visitors to buy a Deutschland ticket is to buy from Bremen area transit authority VBN using their FahrPlaner app because (a) it accepts payment by credit card, (b) it's in English, and (c) it has no problem with overseas users, overseas addresses or UK postcodes.  #result!

Step 1, download the FahrPlaner app for iPhone or MFahrPlaner app for Android (please let me know if those links stop working).

Step 2, the app should open in English.  Click the menu icon top left and go to Tickets .  Then select Deutschlandticket.

Step 3, click the red PROCEED TO LOGIN button at the bottom.  Then click Sign up for free and register, it lists most countries including United Kingdom and United States and has no problem with UK postcodes.

Step 4, select Credit Card and buy your Deutschland ticket.

This is a rolling subscription which you can cancel at any time.

You show the Deutschland Ticket as a QR code in the app on your phone.  Easy!

If you only want one Deutschland ticket for one month, buy it before the 10th of the month then cancel your subscription also before the 10th of the month.  That prevents payment being taken for the following month.

To cancel the subscription, you must open the order confirmation email they sent you when you bought it and click on the cancellation link.  You cannot cancel your subscription from the app.

If you have children, you'll need to use the RMVgo app instead, see the paragraph about children above.

Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket

Unlimited regional off-peak train travel, €46.

The Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket ( Day Ticket for Germany ) gives a day's unlimited travel from 09:00 weekdays or from 00:00 Saturdays & Sundays, until 03:00 the following morning on all regional & regional-express trains (RE, RB, IRE, S-Bahn) throughout the whole of Germany.

The first traveller pays €46, each additional passenger pays just €9 to be added to the same ticket, up to a maximum total of 5 passengers.

You can't use fast IC, ICE or EC trains, only slower regional trains, so a long-distance journey which could be made on a fast direct IC or ICE train could be very slow and involve several changes if made using purely regional trains.  But it can be a very cheap way to go, especially if you haven't been able to book a cheap advance-purchase ticket for an ICE or IC train.

For more information, see int.bahn.de/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-germany .

To buy a ticket online and print it out yourself, see int.bahn.de/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-germany .

Alternatively, these tickets can be bought on the day of travel from the self-service ticket machines at German stations, although it costs €2 more if you buy from a staffed counter.

Lander tickets

Bayern ticket, schönes-wochenende-ticket :  discontinued, railpasses for germany, interrail germany pass:  click to check prices & buy online, german rail pass, maps of the german rail network, what are german trains like , intercity express (ice).

InterCity Express high-speed trains, usually known as ICE, are German Railways' front-rank trains, travelling at up to 200 km/h (186 mph, ICE3), 280 km/h (175 mph, ICE1 & ICE2) or 250 km/h (155 mph, ICE4).  They have 1st & 2nd class, a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains .

InterCity trains (IC)

InterCity trains travel at up to 200 km/h (125 mph), usually using a locomotive and conventional carriages.  Some InterCity trains cross borders into neighbouring countries and these may be classified EuroCity (EC) rather than InterCity.  Power sockets at all seats, and usually some sort of refreshment service.  More about IC trains .

A German Intercity train at Amsterdam Centraal .

2nd class seating on an Intercity train.  Larger photo .

Regional trains

Regional trains are shown as R, RB, RE and so on, where RE is a faster regional express.  Some are operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB, German Railways), others are outsourced to private operators such as Abellio, Metronom, Erixx, but still run as part of the national network with tickets sold by DB at int.bahn.de .  They come in many different shapes and sizes, some single-deck, some double-deck.  No  catering, so bring your own food & drink.  No seat reservation necessary or possible, you sit where you like.

Sleeper trains

There are several German domestic routes where a sleeper is an option.  These are now run by ÖBB (Austrian Railways) and branded Nightjet:

Düsseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz < > Munich, see the Nightjet page .

Hamburg, Hannover < > Munich, see the Nightjet New Generation page .

Seat numbering plans : Click here

Travel tips.

Language problems?

First-time visitors often think this will be a problem, but it hardly ever is.  At stations, signs are usually in English as well as German, or they use easy-to-understand pictograms.  On-train announcements on long-distance trains are often made in English as well as German.

Food & drink on German trains

Most long-distance trains have at least a bistro car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer & snacks from a counter, with some tables nearby if you'd want to eat and drink in the bistro car rather than take it back to your seat.  See sample ICE bistro menu .  Many German long-distance trains have a proper sit-down waiter-service restaurant car.  In first class on ICE you'll often be asked if you want to order food or drink, and it will be brought and served at your seat.

Alternatively, feel free to bring your own food and drink (even a bottle of wine, if you like) onto the train, there's no rules against that on the rails.

Luggage on trains

There are no baggage fees or weight limits, and you don't check your bags in, you simply take them with you onto the train, placing them on the racks at the end of each car or amongst the seats, or above your head.  It's usually possible to keep all your bags in sight.  More about luggage on trains .

Should you reserve a seat or not?

Reserving a seat is optional on most German trains.  You can add a reserved seat to your booking for €4.90 in 2nd class, €5.90 in 1st class. 

If you don't reserve, you simply sit in any empty unreserved seat.  Small LED displays above each seat show which seats are reserved between which stations, and which seats are free.  Travelling alone, middle of the day, mid-week in February, you'll have plenty of seats to choose from.  But a family group, travelling on a Friday afternoon in July would be well advised to reserve seats.  And for any long journey it's best to be on the safe side and reserve. 

You can make a seat reservation separately (i.e. after buying your ticket) by going to int.bahn.de , clicking in the from or to field to open the parameters panel, set up an enquiry and run it by clicking Book seat only .

On the seat reservation display for each seat:

ggf. reserviert - this means the train's on-board reservation system hasn't been updated with the latest information from the main DB reservation system.  Usually all of the seats show this message if this happens.  Seat reservations are still valid, but cannot be shown on the LED displays, so you can sit in these seats but you could be asked to move if someone shows up with a reservation.

ggf. freigeben - this is a last-minute reservation seat.  You can sit in it if you like, but will have to move if someone shows up with a reservation.

bahn.comfort - travellers holding a frequent traveller BahnCard have priority for these seats. You can sit in these seats but someone with a BahnCard may show up and claim it.  Though how they'd know you didn't have a BahnCard and so ask you to move is another question!

Schwerbehinderte means that seat is reserved for people with disabilities.

First class lounges at stations

There are lounges for holders of certain types of first class ticket at Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt Main Airport, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart. Follow the signs to the DB Lounge .  They're typically open 07:00-21:00 daily, search int.bahn.de for details.  The lounges offer complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer & snacks.  Unfortunately, only holders of expensive 1st class Flexpreis tickets get lounge access, you don't get access with 1st class Sparpreis or Super Sparpreis fares or 1st class Interrail or Eurail passes.

Left luggage at stations

All German stations except the smallest have left-luggage lockers in various sizes, up to suitcase-sized.  More information on left luggage lockers & prices .

Bikes can be carried on all German trains if semi-dismantled & placed in a bike bag, they then travel as ordinary luggage. 

Undismantled bikes are carried on most suburban & regional trains, you need a Bicycle Day Ticket ( Fahrradtageskarte ) which you can buy online at int.bahn.de (use the site search to find it) or at stations for a few euros.

Undismantled bikes are also carried on most InterCity trains , ICE-T & ICE4 trains for a fee as these have been fitted with bike racks, prior reservation required.  Undismantled bicycles are not carried on high-speed ICE trains other than ICE-T & ICE4 .

To find a train that takes bikes, go to int.bahn.de , click in the from field to open the details panel and select Bicycle transport possible .

To book yourself and your bike on a train in Germany, go to int.bahn.de , click in the from field to open the details panel, click on Passenger, bicycles and add a bicycle to the booking.  For more information, see the bicycles by train page .

Dogs & pets

Dogs can be taken on all German trains, sometimes free, sometimes for a small fee.  For more information, see the dogs & pets page .

Places not served by the main rail network

Neuschwanstein, Germany's fairytale castle:   See details here .

Eagles's Nest:   See details here .

Take a good guidebook.  For independent travel, the best guidebook is either the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide an excellent level of practical information and historical and cultural background.  You won't regret buying one!

Buy in the UK from Amazon.co.uk

Or buy in the usa from amazon.com.

Or buy the Lonely Planets from the Lonely Planet website , with shipping worldwide.    Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Tours of Germany by train

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk.

If you want to tour Germany by train, with all your train reservations and hotels sorted for you, contact rail travel specialists Railbookers and they'll create the best rail holiday for you, hassle-free.  They take good care of their clients and get a lot of repeat business.  They have offices in the UK, USA & Australia.

Tailor Made Rail, tailormaderail.com

Tailor Made Rail can arrange tours of Germany by train based on your own requirements, they welcome complex itineraries.  As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens on one part of the trip, for example, a national strike.  They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.

Recommended hotels

Here are my suggested hotels conveniently located for arrival by train in key German cities, all with good or great reviews.  You are unlikely to be disappointed by any hotel scoring over 8.0 out of 10 on Booking.com .

In Frankfurt

If you walk out of Hamburg Hbf's main eastern exit, you'll find a row of good hotels lined up in front of you on the opposite side of the Kirchenallee.  The pick of these is the excellent 4-star Hotel Reichshof Hamburg , across the road and to the left with art deco-based design and great reviews.  It has its own restaurant for lunch or dinner, although I'd still be tempted to try the beer & traditional German food at Nagel's bar, 150m south along the Kircheallee, restaurant-kneipe-hamburg.de .

The Hotel Europaischer Hof is another good choice and directly in front of you across the road when you walk out of the station.  Other hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the 5-star Hotel Continental Novum (to the right of the Europaischer), Hotel Furst Bismarck (to the right of the Continental Novum), and the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski .

If you'd prefer a hotel right in the city centre, the Henri Hotel Hamburg Downtown is 5 minutes walk from the station on the city side, and gets really great reviews.

If you're on a budget, private rooms in the A&O Hotel start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com .  The A&O is an 11-minute 900m walk south of Hamburg Hbf, see walking map .  Also try the innovative Cab20 capsule hotel , a 550m 6-minute walk from the station, see walking map .

Affordable hotels right next to Munich Hbf with good or great reviews include the reliable Eden Hotel Wolff or the NH Collection München , both directly across the road from the station's north side exit, ideal for an overnight stop between trains.  I've used the Hotel Wolff myself.

Also consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian , Excelsior by Giesel or Mercure München City Center , all a stone's throw from the station with great reviews.

If you want to push the boat out, the luxurious 5-star Sofitel Munich Beyerpost is right outside the station's south side exit, located in the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building dating from 1896-1900.  It comes complete with a spa with massage service and sauna.

If you're on a budget, the Wombat's Hostel Munich is close to the station's south side exit with private rooms & dorm beds, with good reviews.

Booking.com for hotels

I generally use Booking.com for hotels for 3 reasons:

(1) It keeps all my hotel bookings together in one place;

(2) I've come to trust Booking.com 's review scores;

(3) Booking.com usually offers a clearly-marked Free cancellation option.

Free cancellation means you can secure hotels risk-free even before trains open for booking, and if necessary change those bookings if your plans evolve.

If I'm only staying a night or two, I look for a hotel near the station to make arrival & departure easy.  You can enter the station name (e.g. Berlin Hbf ) as search location.  If staying longer, I look for a hotel close to the sights, entering the name of a city attraction as the search location, then using map view.

AirBnB:  Airbnb.com

www.airbnb.com began in 2008 when two designers who had space to share hosted three travellers looking for a place to stay.  AirBnB is a platform which connects hosts with guests, so you can now book a room in people's homes, or an apartment, flat or house which people want to rent out.  It can be nicer than a hostel, cheaper than many hotels.

Backpacker hostels: Hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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The Eurail German Rail Pass is the best way to discover Germany's gigantic beer festivals, beautiful nature, impressive history, and many other highlights. With the Pass you can visit popular cities like Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Cologne, but you can also cross borders to go to some great destinations in Germany's neighbouring countries. 

What is a German Rail Pass?

Travel all over Germany

With a mobile German Rail Pass you can enjoy  unlimited rail travel throughout Germany . The Pass is accepted on all trains operated by the national railway company, Deutsche Bahn (DB), and many  private operators .

A big advantage of exploring Germany by rail is that most trains  do not require you to reserve seats . All you need to do is hop on and show your Pass on your mobile device and you're good to go. 

Find more information in this overview by  Deutsche Bahn .

The benefits of traveling with a German Rail Pass:

• Travel all over Germany and selected destinations outside of Germany with just one Pass.
• Available as 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 or 15 consecutive travel days, and 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 or 15 travel days within one month.
• Children can travel for free if they're 11 years old or younger on the date you choose to start your trip. 
• Youth discount if you're 27 or younger on the date you choose to start your trip. 

How to use the Pass

The German Rail Pass is only available as a mobile Pass. All you have to do you've purchased your German Rail Pass, is activate your Pass in our Rail Planner app when you're ready to start travelling. Everything you may need on your trip, from planning your trip to ticket inspection, is on your phone!

Reservations

Reservations for trains in Germany are usually no mandatory. If you want peace of mind and have a seat waiting for you, we recommend you to make a reservation a couple of weeks before you travel, but you can also book your reservation at the station right before traveling. Please note that for international trains reservations are mandatory.

There are several ways to make train reservations:

You can make reservations at a ticket office in the larger train stations in Germany. Tell the staff that you have a German Rail Pass and that you only need a seat reservation. You can usually make reservations starting from 3 months in advance.

You can make reservations online through the DB website . 

• Go to the Deutsche Bahn website.
• In the search tool on the homepage, click ' Seat only (no ticket) ', right under the date field.
• Follow the steps to make your seat reservation.

You can use the following credit cards for payment: American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Mastercard and Visa Card. You will receive your reservation as an e-ticket. You may be asked by the train staff to show the e-ticket together with the credit card that was used for booking.

You can make reservations online through the DB Navigator app

• Install the app on a mobile device and open it
• Fill in the Trip Planner and hit 'search' 
• Select the train you want to take.
• You'll get an overview of the train journey. Click 'Continue to booking'.
• Scroll down and select 'Only Reservation'.
• Log in or register and finalize the booking.

You can make your reservations through the call centre of the German railways UK booking center. They have English speaking staff and they can book all seat reservations in Germany.

You can contact the booking center by phone: (+49) 180 6 99 66 33 (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CET). You can make seat reservations up to 3 months in advance.

Can I go to other countries with a German Rail Pass?

See more of Europe

With a German Rail Pass, you can extend your trip to explore even more of Europe! Travel to exciting cities outside of Germany, such as Venice and Brussels. Check out the list of European countries below that you can add to your itinerary. With a German Rail Pass, the possibilities are endless!

Please note that for some international trains you may need a reservation. Check our timetable to find out.

Routes from Germany to Austria

The German Rail Pass is valid on trains from Germany to the Austrian border:

• Munich - Salzburg / Kufstein / Innsbruck
• Cologne (Köln Hbf) - Brussels (Bruxelles-Midi)
• Cologne (Köln Hbf) - Liège (Liège-Guillemins)
• Bolzano/Bozen

The German Rail Pass is valid to and from the following station:

• Basel Bad Bf 

Germany itineraries

Don't know where to start when it comes to planning your trip in Germany? We've got many example itineraries for you to get inspired by.

Get inspired by our Germany itineraries

Benefits in Germany

If you travel with a German Rail Pass you can get discounts on City Cards, tours, and many other activities. 

Find out more about benefits in Germany

Good to know

Keep this information close by on your trip:

• Validity of your Pass on non-DB trains
• Aid Offices 

Change of currency

You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.

24h ticket / day ticket

Make as many trips as you want within 24 hours.

• Saves you money as of your third trip.
• Buy as many tickets as you want and use them as you need.

More information

• Day tickets for the entire VBB network retain their old validity.
• Day tickets for the entire VBB network are non-transferable.
• You must validate the ticket before use.

Tickets are available at the following prices:

*Children aged 6-14 Children aged 0-5 travel for free. Details subject to change. This ticket is also available for Brandenburg an der Havel, Potsdam, Cottbus and Frankfurt an der Oder. Prices and information are available in the VBB tariff system .

Tickets are available from the followings:  

• Online-Shop  (tickets by mail, German)
• VBB app  (buy online tickets)
• Ticket machines  (incl. BVG)
• S-Bahn customers centers
• All sales points

Where and how long the ticket is valid:

• For all public transport services (S-Bahn, U-Bahn, regional train, tram, ferry and bus) in the selected zones.
• Unlimited number of journeys on day of validity.
• Valid after validation or from the beginning of validity printed on the ticket for a full 24 hours

Different conditions that apply to the day ticket for the entire VBB network:

• Valid Monday-Friday from 9am-3am on the following day; valid from 00h until 3am on the following day on Saturday, Sunday, 24 December, 31 December and on public holidays that cover all of Brandenburg and Berlin.
• Day tickets for the entire VBB network are non-transferable and are not available at a reduced fare.

Free travel, pets and transporting items:

If the holder buys a standard fare ticket and is at least 15 years old, they can take up to three children (aged 6-14) for free in Berlin AB, Berlin BC, Berlin ABC and in Potsdam AB. Please note: Tickets for the entire VBB network are excluded.

Children aged 0-5 travel for free. 

Anyone who wants to transport a bicycle must buy a bicycle ticket  that matches their ticket type.

Dogs do not need a ticket.

Animals the size of a domestic cat and smaller do not need a ticket.

The holder can transport luggage for free.

The holder can transport wheelchairs or prams/buggies for free.

This information is valid per ticket and person. Detailed information is available in the terms and conditions of carriage for the VBB tariff system.

The tariff area of the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg ( VBB ) includes the federal state of Berlin and the state of Brandenburg with its administrative districts and independent cities of Brandenburg, Cottbus, Frankfurt (Oder) and Potsdam.

Berlin and the surrounding regions are divided into fare zones a , b and c gegliedert.

Fare zone Berlin a includes the city center of Berlin, including the S-Bahn-Ring.

Fare zone Berlin b begins outside the S-Bahn ring and reaches to the city limits.

Fare zone Berlin c includes both the outskirts of Berlin and the city of Potsdam.

Similar Offers:

4-trip ticket.

Save money - buy one 4-journey ticket instead of four single tickets.

Single trip ticket

One journey within a 2-hour period

7-Day-Ticket

Your ticket for travel on 7 consecutive days.

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Ticket overview

Tickets for frequent travellers

German-wide ticket offers

Deutschlandticket.

• valid throughout Germany
• 49€ per month
• available in the VRR App

DeutschlandTicket Schule

• 29€ per month in subscription
• as many journeys as you like around the clock

DeutschlandTicket Sozial

• for entitled persons
• any number of journeys throughout Germany
• benefits can be extended with upgrade products

Occasional travellers

Single trips.

• Check in, Check out, and only pay for the distance you have travelled
• Ride in the VRR and anywhere in NRW 
• Available in the new VRR app 

EinzelTicket (single ticket)

• valid in the respective zone of validity until the desired stop
• change as many times as you like (but no circular trips or return trips)
• also available as as a short trip ticket

4erTicket (4 trip ticket)

• you can save up 14 per cent compared to an Einzel Ticket (single ticket)
• Valid for four individual journeys within the respectivezone of validity until the desired stop
• changeas many times as you like, but no circular trips or return trips
• No changes are allowed for short trips.

10erTicket (10 trip ticket)

• you can save up to 24 per cent compared to an EinzelTicket (single ticket)
•  valid in the respective zone of validity until the desired stop
• change as many times as you like, but circular trips or return trips are not allowed.  

SchöneFahrtTicket NRW (2 hour ticket)

With the SchöneFahrtTicket NRW, from the time of validation you can travel for two hours on public local transport buses, railways and trains anywhere in NRW (2nd class).

Any journeys in one day

24-stundenticket (24 hour pass).

• valid for 24 hours from ticket validation
• travel on your own or in a group of up to five persons

4-StundenTicket (4-hour-ticket)

• valid for 4 hours from ticket validation
• fare catorgories A1, A2 and Duisburg

HappyHourTicket

• valid between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• travel as many times as you like in fare category A
• available online  

SchönerTagTicket NRW Single (day pass)

Do you want to enjoy travelling for an entire day throughout NRW without restrictions? With the SchönerTagTicket NRW Single, you can travel on any buses, railways and trains (2nd class) that are on the public local transport networks of North Rhine-Westphalia.

SchönerTagTicket NRW für 5 Personen (day pass 5 persons)

If you would prefer to travel around NRW as part of a groupor with your family, the SchönerTagTicket 5 Person is the right choice for you. Up to five adults can travel for one day on public local transport networks throughout NRW.

Any journeys on several days

48-stundenticket (48 hour pass).

• valid for 48 hours from ticket validation

SchöneFerienTicket NRW (school holiday ticket)

Pupils and students who are under 21 years of age can explore all of NRW with the SchöneFerienTicket NRW (school holiday ticket).

Frequent travellers

Pupils, apprentices & students, schokoticket.

• validity througout the VRR operating area
• for school pupils of up to 25 years in age

YoungTicketPLUS

• for young people undergoimg apprenticeships
• validity throughout the VRR operating area
• around the clock bicycle transport
• around the clock in the selected zone of validity
• No extra charge for accompanying passenger at certain times
• travel around the clock in the selected zone of validity
• personal pass
• expansion with add-on ticket possible

30-day pass Ticket2000

• flexible starting date
• travel as many times as you like
• exclusive online available

30-day pass Ticket1000

Sozialticket / meinticket.

• for authorised persons only
• any number of trips within the defined validity area
• 50% discount for EinzelTickets
• flexible change of price level
• 25 % discount for EinzelTickets and FahrradTickets
• flexible change of price level 
• 35 % discount for EinzelTickets
• bicycle transport free of charge 

For those aged 60 or older

Bärenticket.

• 1st class travels

Special tickets

Kombiticket.

The KombiTicket combines admission to an event with a ticket for public transport in the VRR. For example, if you are attending any trade fairs, sports events, visiting a theme park, or doing similar activities, your ticket may already include a bus and train ticket as well.

Add-on ticket / ZusatzTicket

The ZusatzTicket expands the validity of your pass. You need one ZusatzTicket for each person, journey and supplemental use.

EinfachWeiterTicket NRW

The EinfachWeiterTicket NRW lets you travel simply and easily throughout NRW (VRR, AVV, VRS, WT). The prerequisite is a time ticket or network-wide KombiTicket of the VRR, AVV, VRS, or WT, or a time ticket of the NRW tariff.

The FahrradTicket

The FahrradTicket lets you carry your bicycle in bus and train anywhere in the VRR. The FahrradTicket is valid for 24 hours after validation.

Special Tickets

Automatically included in tickets (saver and flexible fares) for journeys of over 100 km.

FahrradTagesTicket NRW (bicycle day pass)

Would you like to take your bicycle with you as you travel in NRW?

WelcomeCard Ruhr

With the WelcomeCard Ruhr, you have free use of public transport and can visit a variety of attractions free of charge or at half price.

How I traveled using Germany’s €9 travel pass: my 48-hour itinerary

Aug 2, 2022 • 7 min read

Alex in front of the old town hall of Wernigerode © Alex Butler / Lonely Planet

With high fuel and flight prices, summer travel is proving much pricier than any of us would have liked.

Perhaps that’s why Germany’s announcement that it would offer country-wide public transport passes for just €9 a month this summer - for locals and visitors alike - made headlines around the world. 

I was particularly excited, as I had already been planning to spend July in Berlin . So far, the pass has been an unbeatable deal for exploring the city, but I also wanted to see how it could be used for a weekend adventure. In just over 48 hours, I was able to see half-timber homes, mountain views and art museums - all in parts of Germany I would have never thought to visit otherwise, and all for less than the cost of lunch. 

How does the €9 travel pass work? 

Passes can be bought online here and are valid for the calendar month. (This deal only runs until August 31, so there’s only one month left to make the most of it.) You’ll receive a digital pass with a QR code - keep it handy on your phone (or print a copy for good measure) as it will be checked fairly regularly. 

The pass can be used on all public transport, like buses, trams, S-bahns, U-bahns and regional trains. However, it does not apply to the fast intercity trains like ICE and IC. Because the pass doesn’t apply to the faster long-distance trains, expect journeys to take much longer and to sometimes include multiple transfers. 

Traveling to Germany? 6 questions you need to ask before you go

Planning a weekend away using the €9 travel pass

With roughly 48-hours free for a trip, I wanted to pack in as much as possible, without spending the entire weekend on trains. That meant not trying to pack in a cross-country journey and instead focusing on smaller communities that are closer to home. After a bit of research , I settled on a first stop. 

(Want to cut straight to Germany's best journeys? Check out our list of the top €9 itineraries ). 

Top 10 national parks in Germany

The quaint streets of Quedlinburg 

The nearly 2-hour journey from Berlin to Quedlinburg required transferring from the S-bahn to two different regional trains. With our first train delayed, my partner and I nearly missed our transfer - a definite hazard of connecting multiple regional trains. 

But once we arrived, it was more than worth racing through train stations. Quedlinburg offered a postcard view of Germany I’d yet to see in person. With limited time, we walked the streets to take in some of the more than 1300 half-timber buildings Quedlinburg is famous for. In fact, the entire Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site, described as being “ an exceptional example of a medieval European town ”. 

While the streets impressed from below, we headed to the Sternkeikerturm observation tower, where a €1 coin unlocks a revolving gate to climb above for a view. Not content with just one view, we walked up to the Stiftskirche St. Servatii (a church currently mostly under scaffolding) with grounds that look over the town below.  Lunch and a walk through the historic neighborhood of Münzenberg was all we had time for before heading to the train station for our next stop. 

How to get around in Germany

Off to Wernigerode in the Harz mountains

Making our second stop in the town of Wernigerode was an easy choice. With just one transfer on the half-hour journey, it seemed a simple trip for the pay-off: more beautiful half-timber buildings, amazing views of the Harz mountains  and a storybook castle overlooking the town. 

Since this would be where we’d spend the night, we dropped off our bags at the hotel and took in the lovely view of the red-roofed buildings nestled amongst the hills, before wandering into the town below to check out the sites (an incredible old town hall, Wernigerode’s smallest house) until the sky turned dark. 

I hadn’t yet planned where our adventure would take us the following day. While I’d originally thought we would continue on our small-town journey, I realized that having seen what we had, any more picturesque views were almost guaranteed to have diminishing returns. Instead, we started weighing the options for a city we could visit - without wasting the better part of our sightseeing time on the train. Hanover and Leipzig both seemed feasible, with Leipzig winning out because of its attractions and that it would bring us closer back to Berlin. 

With our plan settled, we awoke the following day to do a quick hike up to and tour of the Wernigerode Castle , which began as a medieval fortress and developed into a “ romantic residence castle ” through the centuries. After that it was down to the train for our next journey. 

Wine on the Rhine: three German wine regions off the beaten path

A night in Leipzig 

The 2-hour and 2-transfer journey was an easy one - we snagged seats immediately and settled in for a relaxing ride. Since it was already about 4pm when we arrived in Leipzig , we rushed to the Museen im Grassi , and, because we were short on time, opted to focus on the decorative arts museum - particularly to see the Art Deco and Art Nouveau collections. 

Leipzig, which is oft-dubbed the new Berlin as it becomes a hot spot for those leaving the German capital, is home to long ‘passageways’ owed to its past as a trading center. We wandered to the Mädlerpassage - a massive five-story covered hall home to bars, restaurants and shops - for a walk past the Auberbachs Keller restaurant , famous as a setting in Goethe’s Faust, and a quick cocktail at the aptly-named Mephisto. 

From there we scoped out the sites of the old town to see the incredible architecture. Exhausted after our travels, we then had to head to the hotel to crash before our journey home the next day. 

Top 12 things to do when you visit Germany

Back to Berlin 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the trains from Leipzig to Berlin were busy, as we were accompanied by many travelers on their way to the airport. However, our route home required us to switch from regional trains back to the S-bahn - meaning there was time for a quick final detour to Schlachtensee lake, where we had a swim and washed the travel off before heading home. 

As a one-way high-speed train from Berlin to Leipzig alone can cost more than €30, I couldn’t believe what value this travel pass provides for exploring Germany - if you’re willing to go slowly. 

Germany's best beaches

How to plan a route using the €9 euro travel pass 

While you may usually rely on apps like Google Maps for trip-planning, it won’t be of much help here: Google usually suggests the fastest route from point A to B - which often requires taking the exact high-speed trains the pass doesn’t cover. Instead, make your life easy and download the Deutsche Bahn app (or use the website ). Go into the options and under “means of transport” select “regional transport only”. That will immediately remove ICE and trains you can’t take with the pass from the options, so you’ll only see routes you can actually take. 

These top hikes in Germany show why walking is a way of life here

Are the trains busy? 

They can be. I traveled over the weekend, and some were quite packed, with lots of people standing in aisles or sitting on their bags. But on some regional routes, we just hopped on and grabbed seats. Since it can be hard to predict, I’d advise packing light and preparing to stand - and being pleasantly surprised if you happen to snag a seat. 

Top 10 reasons to visit Bavaria

The bottom line 

If you’re a short-on-time traveler trying to make a quick day trip to another city in Germany, shell out for an ICE ticket. But if you want to have a fun, slightly different journey that will push you to explore places you might not have done otherwise, get the DB app and start mapping a journey. Regardless of how long you’ll be spending in Germany, this pass is an incredible deal that is worth making the most of. 

Germany for first-timers

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One Day in a City

24 Hour Travel Itineraries to Make the Most of a Day in a Destination

Germany 1-Day Itineraries and Travel Tips

Germany 24-hour itineraries and other travel tips, including Berlin, Munich, and Bavaria 1-day travel guides. Plus, get other Germany vacation inspiration for day trips, hotels, restaurants, and more.

5 Best Day Trips From Munich, Germany

March 13, 2024 By Gina Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

International Cities, Charming Towns, & Historic Castles Can All Be Visited on a Day Trip From Munich Munich, Germany serves as an excellent hub for exploring the captivating destinations surrounding it. From picturesque castles to charming villages, the best day trips … [Read more...]

10 Best Day Trips from Berlin

November 2, 2020 By Gina Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

Travel Experts Share Their Tips for the Best Day Trips from Berlin When most people visit the northern part of Germany, they make Berlin the focal point. Even cruise lines that stop in the port cities of Rostock or Warnemunde often whisk visitors away to the city of Berlin. … [Read more...]

One Day in Berlin, Germany: What to Do for an Unforgettable 24 Hours in Berlin

June 28, 2023 By Gina Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

The Ultimate 1-Day Itinerary for Berlin Visiting Berlin, Germany is a can't-miss experience as the city has become a cultural and intellectual hub in Europe. Berlin is a city that pulses with a vibe of looking forward despite a tumultuous, often painful past. Today in … [Read more...]

One Day in Munich Itinerary: Top 10 + More Top Things to Do

A Detailed Itinerary for What to See in Munich in One Day Munich is the third largest city in Germany and the largest in Germany's Bavarian region, an area in southern Germany predominately known for scenic beauty, frescoed buildings, and lots of beer, which can make it hard … [Read more...]

One Day in Bavaria, Germany

One Day Itinerary: Bavaria, Germany What to See and Do When Short on Time in the Bavaria Region of Southern Germany... I didn’t have a ton of time to spend in Bavaria, Germany, but I was determined to experience as much of it as I could without spending all my time in the … [Read more...]

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• Journey Planner
• Timetable changes
• Mobile Services
• MVV Cycle Planner
• MVV Ticketshop
• All tickets, all prices
• Tickets & Day Tickets
• Offers for frequent travellers
• Online- and Mobileticket
• Tariff structure
• Buy tickets (alternatives)
• Service centres
• Mobility services
• MVV without barriers
• Visitors to Munich trade fairs
• Air travellers

MVV Tickets & Day Tickets

Single trips.

Single Ticket

One destination, one ticket, and off you go. It’s that simple. With the Single Ticket you get a ticket that is tailored to your precise journey.

Stripe Ticket

There are ten stripes at your disposal. Whether you are travelling today or next month, alone or with others, near or far: you are ready to go at any time with a stripe ticket in your pocket.

Day Tickets

Single Day Ticket

A whole day to do exactly as you please at one fixed price. Whether it’s shopping, visiting friends or going out to eat: you choose how far you want to go and the MVV will take you there.

Group Day Ticket

Whether it’s for your girlfriend or husband, your grandma or mother-in-law, the Group Day Ticket is designed for couples and families, as well as for groups and school trips.

Children’s Day Ticket

Lots of freedom for the kids: with a Children’s Day Ticket, 6 to 14-year-olds can really get around, throughout the entire MVV network.

Airport-City-Day-Ticket

Arriving by plane? Try the simple and straightforward Day Ticket: it is already validated and can be bought at the airport – you can even use a credit card, if you wish.

CityTourCard

A great offer for tourists and those who want to discover the city: free travel on the MVV – plus a discount at over 80 tourist attractions in the city and the surrounding area.

München Card

The München Card - the official guest card of the city of Munich with discounts at well-known museums and sights etc. in Munich.

Bicycle day pass

Uncomplicated bike ticket for rides on S-Bahn, U-Bahn and some regional trains - valid on the entire MVV network. Remember the blocking times during rush hour!

Children and young adults

Under 6 years of age.

Children under 6 years of age travel for free. If the child does not yet attend school, he or she must be accompanied by a person over the age of 6.

From 6 to 14 years of age

Children from 6 to 14 years of age have their own single tickets, a special stripe ticket rule and a children’s day ticket.

Aged between 15 and 20

Young people aged 15 to 20 years use the U21 offer with the U21 stripe ticket and pay considerably less than adults.

Only valid with a stamp

Your Single Trip Tickets, Stripe Tickets and Day Tickets must be stamped prior to the start of your journey. These tickets only become valid for travel once they have been validated in this way at the ticket machines provided for this purpose.

Regional transport

Using the regional transport, tickets have to be validated on the platform or at the entrance to the platform. A validation in the vehicle itself is not possible.

S-Bahn (urban rail)

Using the S-Bahn, tickets have to be validated on the platform or at the entrance to the platform. A validation in the vehicle itself is not possible.

Validation Regulation for buying MVV tickets at ticket machines located at S-Bahn (urban rail) stations At ticket machines of Deutsche Bahn at S-Bahn stations, you can now choose between already validated tickets or tickets which have to be validated separately. If you like to buy tickets in advance, please select "not validated" at the ticket machine.

U-Bahn (underground)

Using the U-Bahn (underground), tickets have to be validated on the platform or at the entrance to the platform. A validation in the vehicle itself is not possible.

Using the bus, tickets have to be validated in the vehicle. A validation at the platform is not possible.

Using the tram, tickets have to be validated in the vehicle. A validation at the platform is not possible.

These types of tickets are already validated automatically by the ticket machine

You can buy most tickets in advance so that you have a ready supply. However, please note that some tickets are already validated at the time of purchase:

• Single Trip and Day Tickets bought at ticket machines in trams, metro buses and city buses in Munich
• Single Trip and Day Tickets bought from the electronic ticket printers in MVV regional buses
• Airport-City Day Tickets

In case the validator does not work

For travelling on public transport in the MVV network you must have a valid ticket. Some of our tickets need a validation stamp when you start your journey.

In case the validator at station does not work please have a look on other validators at the station. At many of the train stations in the MVV network are more than one validator available. Are all validators at a stop out of service you can start your journey without a validation stamp.

Please be in mind:

• Take a photo of the validator and note the number of the machine
• Contact the operator and inform them about the disfunction
• You can find the phone number near the machine number
• In case you meet our ticket inspectors, please tell them about the disfunction. You may get a "Erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt", a bill in the amount of 60,00€. On this bill is a special code number which allows the company to prove the disfuntion.
• With the bill you can contact the operator during two weeks so they can check. Were the validators out of service you don't have to pay the 60,00€. You only pay the regular fee.

It is the same procedure for ticket machines as well.

Tickets for organizer

Mvv-congress-ticket.

MVV-Congress-Tickets enable participants of meetings, seminars and other business events to travel within the chosen area of validity as much as they like. This means are free to move around the city, without having to deal with the ticket details themselves.

Munich Card & City Pass

Simply discover munich: with munich card and city pass.

There are two official guest cards for a relaxed and uncomplicated discovery of the diverse range of art, culture and leisure activities in Munich: the München Card and the München City Pass. All benefits at a glance.

Guest cards for Munich in comparison: Which card is worthwhile?

World-class museums and stages , famous palaces , many diverse attractions , supplemented by a large range of leisure activities , shopping and excellent cuisine : Munich offers everything that appeals to city travellers. With the guest cards, you can now experience Munich in all its facets and save big at the same time.

Guest cards at a glance

The Munich Card

Reduced admission from 8,90€.

The München Card offers a wide range of reductions and discounts on entrance fees to museums, exhibitions, sights and attractions. City tours can also be booked at a reduced price. Supplementary shopping and gastronomy offers complement the Munich Card. Another optional highlight is the included ticket for local public transport, which allows you to easily explore the city by metro, tram, bus and suburban train.

Now new: Enjoy all discounts even without a public transport ticket! You already have an annual ticket for Munich's public transport system or prefer to explore the city on foot? Then this option is just right for you.

Buy a Munich Card now!

Tip: The Munich Card is ideal for individuals and small groups / families who want to explore the city and save money at the same time!

The Munich City Pass

All inclusive from 24,90€.

With the Munich City Pass, everything is already included: the public transport ticket for Munich (optional), free admission to museums, exhibitions, tours and sights, and in some cases even priority admission without annoying waiting times. Supplementary offers for shopping and restaurants help to complement a fabulous visit to Munich.

Now new: Munich City Pass without a public transport ticket! Ideal for anyone who already has a monthly or annual public transport ticket or simply prefers to discover the city on foot.

Buy a City Pass now!

Tip: The Munich City Pass is ideal for visitors who make their plans in a price-conscious way and who want to see as much as possible of the city and its cultural attractions!

What does the Munich Card cost? What does the Munich City Pass cost?

What does the Munich Card cost?

What does the Munich City Pass cost?

Adults (18+ years)

Children (6-14 years), youths (15-17 years), city area m, zone m-6 (including the airport) or without public transport, free use of local public transport.

Depending on the choice, holders of both the München Card and the München City Pass can use the Munich public transport system (MVV) free of charge.

Or now new: Both guest cards are now also available without a public transport ticket.

Of course, Card and Pass can still be booked either with the entire network (Zone M-6) or with Zone M only. If you book a card to cover the whole of the Munich public transport area, suburban railway travel to and from Munich Airport is included in the price. The validity can be individually adapted to your needs.

Frequently asked questions about the Munich guest cards

Where can I buy the Munich Card and the Munich City Pass?

Both tickets can be purchased online and at the tourist information offices at Marienplatz and Hauptbahnhof. The validity is already stated on the guest cards when they are purchased via the website or at the tourist information offices. In addition, the Munich Card is also available at the ticket machines of the Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG).

Does the Munich Card/Munich City Pass have to be validated?

Only the Munich City Card , which is purchased at the ticket machines of the MVG (Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft), must be validated before first use. On the guest cards, which can be purchased online or at the tourist information offices at Marienplatz or Hauptbahnhof, the valid period is already printed on the card.

The Munich Card is available from €5.90, the Munich City Pass from €39.90.

What are the benefits of the Munich Card and the Munich City Pass?

The Munich Card offers discounts on over 100 offers. In most cases, discounts of 10 to 30 per cent can be obtained, but in some cases the discounts are even higher. The Munich Card is also available as a group ticket for up to five people and can be booked flexibly for a length of stay of 24 hours to five days. Here you can find all the benefits as a PDF .

The Munich City Pass allows free entry or discounts at 45 top attractions and tours. In some cases, Munich City Pass holders are given priority admission and do not have to queue. The Munich City Pass can also be booked flexibly for 24 hours up to five days. Here you can find all the benefits as a PDF .

What is the difference between the Munich Card and the Munich City Pass?

The Munich Card offers discounts and reductions on museums, exhibitions and attractions. With the Munich City Pass , you pay no admission fee at many participating institutions and in some cases even get priority admission without waiting.

From when and for how long is the Munich Card/Munich City Pass valid?

The Munich Card and Munich City Pass are valid from midnight on the first day of validity until 6 a.m. the next day after expiry. The Munich Card 24h is an exception. Here, the validity of 24 hours can be determined individually, e.g. 7.30 a.m. until 7.30 a.m. on the following day.

Who is the Munich Card suitable for? Who is the Munich City Pass for?

The Munich Card is ideal for flexible singles or groups who want to explore the city and save money at the same time! The Munich City Pass is ideal for all those interested in culture who want to plan their stay in Munich well and take in as much of the city and its cultural offerings as possible.

How do I receive my guest card?

You will receive the guest cards as an attachment to your booking confirmation by email. Please note: If your purchase date is more than three months in the future, there will be no attachment - you will receive the guest cards directly from our partner Turbopass shortly before your trip.

Can the Munich Card / Munich City Pass be cancelled free of charge?

Both guest cards can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of validity.

Is it possible to give the Munich Card/Munich City Pass as a gift?

Yes, vouchers for the Munich Card Group 3 days Zone M or the Munich City Pass 1 day Zone M are available online.

The Munich Card ( all benefits in a PDF file ) and the Munich City Pass ( all benefits in a PDF file ) are distributed by Turbopass in cooperation with München Tourismus and the City of Munich. Both cards can be ordered online and at the Tourist Information at Marienplatz and Hauptbahnhof (central station).

Here you will find an overview of all our maps and brochures ready to download.

Photo: Turbopass; Graphics: Turbopass

Local Love Munich

Munich's districts are diverse, contrasting and worth exploring. Immerse yourself!

Frauenkirche: Visit of the South Tower

Book a visit to the observation deck of Munich's Frauenkirche and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Viktualienmarkt Tasting Tour

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting facts about Munich's most famous food market.

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting historical facts about Munich's most famous food market.

Justizpalast Tour

During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

Romantic Road: Rothenburg and Harburg

Hop on and be whisked away by one of the world's most beautiful stretches of street: the Romantic Road to Rothenburg and Harburg.

New Town Hall Tour

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Magistrates, Monachia and magnificent celebrations: explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Dream castles Neuschwanstein & Linderhof

Immerse yourself in the world of the fairytale king!

Visit of the Law Library: Juristische Bibliothek

Impressive architecture and unique ambience: discover the Law Library in the New Town Hall.

Pedicab tour through the old town and nature

Enjoy this special tour and pedicap ride past all the famous sights of Munich's old town and into the Englischer Garten.

Hofbräuhaus Tour

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

City trip incl. Munich Card and Tower Ascent

We look forward to seeing you again in Munich. Our tip: the exclusive travel package with Munich Card and Tower Ascent.

Old Town Tour

The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

Spaten Brewery Tour

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

Hop-On Hop-Off Grand Circle 24h

The hop-on hop-off Grand Circle tour of Gray Line will let you collect unforgettable impressions of Munich.

Buy now vouchers for your visit in Munich. The ideal gift! Guided tours, guest cards and more...

Private guided tour through Munich's Old Town

Exclusive and safe: Discover the most beautiful sights and corners of Munich's city centre with your official personal guide.

Berchtesgaden area and Eagle's Nest

The day trip takes you along the Alpine Road to Berchtesgaden area with its dreamlike scenery.

Salzburg and the Lake District

Visit the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

Visit the birthplace of composer extraordinaire Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, stroll through the Baroque old town and then relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

Oktoberfest Shop

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

Dream castles Neuschwanstein & Linderhof VIP

As VIP in the footsteps of King Ludwig II. On this day tour in the luxurious long-distance coach of Gray Line Sightseeing you can visit both dream castles of the fairytale king.

A day tour in the luxurious long-distance coach of Gray Line Sightseeing.

Rental bike 1 day

With a rental bike, you can experience Munich at your own personal pace. Discover hidden alleys and charming districts off the beaten track.

Discovery trip incl. City Pass

2 nights in your selected hotel and - thanks to the City Pass - free admission to 45 museums, sights and attractions: our travel package for explorers.

Guided Tours

Travel Packages

Accomodation

Give the gift of a special Munich voucher: we also offer vouchers for all our guided tours. Here you can book unique Munich experiences directly online, print them out and give them as a gift voucher to friends or family.

• Book excursions
• Book the Munich-Card
• Book guided tours

Find your hotel now

Travel date

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• Tickets and Prices

Tickets for single journeys

• EinzelTicket (single ticket)
• … one person
• … one journey with changes, not for return journeys or round-trips
• … all buses, trams and underground trains (U-Bahn) as well as local train services (S-Bahn, Regionalbahn and RegionalExpress) - the “Kurzstrecke” price category is not valid for S-Bahn, RB, RE or express bus services

Ticket validation Tickets purchased at retail outlets must be validated on board the respective transport service. Tickets purchased from ticket machines are already validated.

Validity period following validation

• Short trip (4 stops) = 20 minutes
• Price category 1 = 90 minutes
• Price category 2 = 120 minutes
• Price category 3/4 = 180 minutes
• Price category 5 = 360 minutes
• Price category 6/7 = 360 minutes

Transferability The ticket is not transferable to other people.

Other accompanying persons With the Single Ticket Adult, an unlimited number of children aged 5 years or under may accompany the ticket holder for free.

Bicycles taken on-board are not included.

• 4erTicket (4 journey ticket)
• … one person or several people. One field must be validated per journey and per person. One field is valid for one journey with changes, not for return journeys or round-trips.
• … all buses, trams and underground trains (U-Bahn) as well as local train services (S-Bahn, Regionalbahn and RegionalExpress) - the “Kurzstrecke” price category is not valid for S-Bahn, RB, RE or express bus services.

Other accompanying persons With the 4 Journey Ticket Adult, an unlimited number of children aged 5 years or under may accompany the ticket holder for free.

Holders of a Cologne Pass are able to obtain the 4 Journey Ticket as a MobilPassTicket at a reduced price.

24-hour tickets

• 24StundenTicket - 1 Person (24-hour ticket� 1 person)
• � one person
• � it can be used for an unlimited number of journeys during the 24 hours after it has been validated
• � unlimited journeys
• � all buses, trams and underground trains (U-Bahn) as well as local train services (S-Bahn, Regionalbahn and RegionalExpress)

Ticket validation Tickets purchased at retail outlets or Customer Centres must be validated on board the respective transport service. Tickets purchased from ticket machines and by mobile phone (HandyTicket) are already validated. Tickets from the VRS (Rhine-Sieg Transport Authority) ticket shop do not need to be validated because the date of the journey is predetermined.

Transferability The ticket is transferable to other people.

• 24StundenTicket - 5 Personen (24-hour ticket � 5 person)
• ...… journeys with up to 5 people in the chosen price category
• ...it can be used for an unlimited number of journeys during the 24 hours after it has been validated

Ticket validation Tickets that are purchased at retail outlets or Customer Centres must be validated on board the respective transport service. Tickets purchased from ticket machines and by mobile phone (HandyTicket) are already validated. Tickets from the VRS (Rhine-Sieg Transport Authority) ticket shop do not need to be validated because the date of the journey is predetermined.

Tickets for longer periods

• 10TageFlexTicket (10DaysFlexTicket)

Consists of 10 individual 24 hour tickets for one person from the same price category.

The ticket is non-transferable and only available as a mobile phone ticket in the KVB app, the VRS app and in apps from other transport organisations.

The 10 tickets must be retrieved/used within 30 days. The date of purchase is the first day of validity, which lasts for 30 days.

No reimbursement is available for tickets that are not used.

• WochenTicket (week ticket)

Valid for seven consecutive days for one person.

Its validity ends at 3 am on the following day (day 8).

The Week Ticket is valid for unlimited journeys in the chosen price category.

The ticket is transferable to other people (this does not apply to online or mobile phone tickets).

Attention! When purchasing the ticket, please check whether it has a flexible starting date (any calendar day – the FlexiTicket ) or if the starting date is restricted to the beginning of the calendar week (Monday).

• MonatsTicket (month ticket)

Valid for one person for one month. Its validity ends at 3 am on the following day. The Month Ticket is valid for unlimited journeys in the chosen price category.

Attention! When purchasing the ticket, please check whether it has a flexible starting date (any calendar day – the FlexiTicket ) or if the starting date is restricted to the first day of the month.

MobilpassTickets (tickets for owner of a Mobilpass)

Many people in the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (Rhine-Sieg Transport Authority) qualify for receiving a MobilPass from their JobCenter or welfare office and/or at the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (Rhineland Regional Council) – enabling them to buy 4 Journey Tickets and Month Tickets at reduced prices .

How it works:

1. Apply for the MobilPass:

• At the welfare office
• With the “BÜMA” asylum seeker certificate, a temporary residence permit or a permanent residence permit
• You will then get your MobilPass or Cologne Pass/Bonn Card

2. Where to buy tickets

• At the Customer Centres in the major railway stations
• At the ticket machines at the stops

Tickets which can be reduced in combination with the MobilPass

• 4erTicket MobilPass (4 Journey Ticket Mobile Pass)
• For single journeys
• Stamp one field per person (with MobilPass) and journey
• MonatsTicket MobilPass (month ticket MobilPass)
• For unlimited journeys
• For one calendar month and 1 person
• For certain towns/municipalities � selected on purchase
• Transferable to other persons with a MobilPass
• Weekdays from 3 pm onwards and all day on weekends: the ticket holder can be accompanied by 3 children (at the age of 6 - 14 years).
• Weekdays from 7 pm onwards and all day on weekends: the ticket holder can be accompanied by 1 adult (over 14 years of age) and one bicycle at no cost
• MonatsTicket MobilPass im Abo (month ticket MobilPass in subscription)
• Please refer to Month Ticket MobilPass
• Reduced price Month Ticket for a period of 12 months
• On weekdays from 7 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays all day until 3 a.m. the following day, the following applies: The ticket holder can take an adult person (over 14 years of age) and a bicycle with him/her free of charge. On weekdays from 3 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays throughout the day until 3 a.m. the following applies: The ticket holder can take 3 children (6 to 14 years of age) with him free of charge.

3. When you set off Please take the following things with you on every journey:

• MobilPass / Cologne Pass / Bonn Card
• ID card / passport / asylum-seeker documentation

KölnCard (24- or 48-hour ticket for visitors)

Visitors from all over the world can experience Cologne and save a lot!

• Unlimited travel on all means of public transport
• Discounts of up to 50% available with partners from the arts and cultural sector and gastronomy

Attention :

• The KölnCard is a paper ticket that must be validated before departure.
• The KölnCard is a personal ticket, therefore the passenger must enter the name, date and time in the appropriate field by hand at the start of the journey.

The KölnCard is offered as a 24- or 48-hour ticket, is valid for 1 or up to 5 persons in the city of Cologne and offers discounts of up to 50% with numerous partners.

KölnCard 24 hours

• 1 person 9,00 €
• up to 5 persons 19,00 €

KölnCard 48 hours

• 1 person 18,00 €
• up to 5 persons 38,00 €

You can buy a KölnCard in one of the following ways:

• KölnTourismus
• Ticket machines
• KVB Customer Centres
• KVB Retail outlets