Train travel in germany

Given that one of the best things to do on a train in europe is to travel on the top deck, being able to sleep on it is the stuff of childhood dreams. Book now and enjoy the flexibility of traveling 17 months later in europe with our eurail pass. Travel along germanys romantic road to the university town of heidelberg and medieval rothenburg. Trains in germany the fastest and best value routes. Most incidents of street crime involve the theft of unattended items and pickpocketing. And kids under 6 ride free without a ticket whereas train travel in most.

Europe is home to some of the worlds most beloved cities and acclaimed travel locales. The train is the best way to travel in germany, hands down. Travelling by train in germany can be an incredible experience. How to travel by train from london to germany london to. Trains to germany book tickets in english trainline. Traveling by train in europe can be a lot more fun if you know some of the tricks of the tradeparticularly in austria, germany, and switzerland. Information, train tickets for germany and europa, onlinetickets, cheap offers for holidays and travelling. Train travel in germany, a beginners guide online tickets from 19. The top six things worth knowing about travelling by train in germ any. Heres your chance to join spinner and the rest of his coaster enthusiasts on their journey on the high speed german ice train from stuttgart to munich for oktoberfest.

A beginners guide to train travel in germany, including ice trains between berlin, hamburg, munich, the schonewockenende ticket and lander. The top six things worth knowing about travelling by train in germany. Brief history of railroads in europe the importance of rail transportation to the history of europe cannot be understated. If germany is your only destination in europe, consider purchasing a german rail pass, which allows 3 to 10 days of unlimited first or. The first highspeed rail lines in europe, built in the 1980s and 1990s, improved travel times on intranational corridors. The earliest form of railways, wagonways, were developed in germany in the 16th century. Train travel is an excellent way to get around in belgium and germany, as both countries have welldeveloped rail networks. Below well reveal some of the things travelers need to know in order to get the most out of rail travel in germany and europe. At all german stations you will find timetables showing departure times and platform listings. How to buy cheap european train tickets read this advice. All trains within germany, as well as the following extras. This will be the first time that scheduled railjet. Germany is one of the easiest european countries in which to make train reservations.

There are 11 ways to get from italy to germany by plane, bus, train, night train or car. The history of rail transport in the netherlands can be described in six eras. If a rail pass doesnt pencil out for your trip, you may be able to shave off the cost of your train tickets with some of these tips. Bbc travel top sites for booking european rail tickets. Rail europe rail travel planner europe train travel in. A beginners guide to train travel in germany, including ice trains between berlin, hamburg, munich, the schonewockenende ticket and lander tickets. Look around, and youll certainly find useful answers to your questions. Buying german train tickets is fairly painless since germanys rail systems website is logical and it accepts payments from international credit. Train germany trains map, pass, timetables and fares. Rail passes, best if youre traveling within a country or several countries and planning on a lot of travel, can be either consecutive valid for unlimited train travel or flexi valid for a. With a eurail pass valid in germany you can travel to the following train stations of countries that border germany. Travel by train in europe with rail europe, your travel planner.

Because we dont always have help at hand, in this video i give you. Jan 02, 2020 fares for longdistance rail travel in germany have dropped for the first time in 17 years, as climate protection measures aimed at making train travel more attractive came into effect with the. Germany rail passes and train tips from rick steves. German trains are clean, comfortable, reliable and fast. France germany travel by ice from frankfurt to paris 4hr, by tgv from munich 6hr to paris. Most popular train routes train companies in europe train travel in european countries trains. Germanys rail system is operated almost entirely by deutsche bahn, with a variety of train types serving just about every corner of the country. Italy to germany 10 ways to travel via train, plane, line.

Whether youre just after a quick bit of info about trains in germany, or you want to know absolutely everything there is to know about travelling by rail in the land of frankfurters, bier gartens and wanderlust, weve got you covered. Trains between munich and salzburg as salzburg is officially the austrian border station on this. Its valid for one year from the date of purchase and gives you discounts on all standard tickets. The simplest way is to ask at the ticket window at any of germanys 5,000plus train stations, many of which now have new, selfservice ticket machines at which you can also easily make reservations. I have already written a few pages to help you get around by public transport. For more information on train travel in germany, visit our trains in germany page. Embark on a germany vacation and visit the capital city of berlin. Traveling between germany s major cities on a highspeed ice intercity express train is easy, comfortable and enjoyable, and a comprehensive regional network ensures that virtually any destination in the country can be reached by train. Germany seems to have very good deals on regional tickets, and i think the second person often pays less than the first when two travel together. You can step on a train right from the center of town in the hauptbahnhof central train station and cruise to anywhere in germany and beyond at speeds up to 300kmh 186mhour. Club members have a discount off every listed journey, plus other benefits and gifts that c. Germany cuts fares for longdistance rail travel in response.

Discover trains, routes, and the best places to visit in germany. There are 2 scenic train routes that run in germany. The history of rail transport in germany can be traced back to the 16th century. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner. Since then, several countries have built extensive highspeed networks, and there are now several crossborder highspeed rail. Intercity trains in the uk, germany, austria, denmark and much of eastern europe work the. Independent train tours in europe vacations by rail. However, we recommend you to buy a reservation for these trains, especially if youre traveling in a group. And kids under 6 ride free without a ticket whereas train travel in most neighboring countries is free only for kids. Train travel gets you to your destination quickly, safely and conveniently with a firstclass view of the countrys diverse landscapes. The german railway system is very well developed and reliable, and you can reach almost every city in germany by train. If you travel without a reservation, you might get asked to leave your seat because someone else reserved it. Italy germany travel from munich to venice 9hr or rome 12hr on the obb nightjet night train, or travel by day on eurocity ec between munich and venice. The best new european rail journeys for 2020 travel.

Train travel in germany, a beginners guide online tickets. There are several options for both passes, depending on how many countries you want to visit. Germanys privatized national railway, the deutsche bahn, features the superfast intercity express ice trains. Me and my younger sister will be traveling to germany on january 22nd, probably arriving in bremen or hamburg. Trains in germany are usually punctual and one of the best ways to travel the country. Trains in germany book germany train tickets trainline. Between the downtown areas of most german cities the travel time by train is as fast or faster than the travel time by plane, when you calculate in the time it takes to get to and from the airport. How to travel by train in germany show me the journey.

Longdistance buses operated by the railways intercity. Since all big or mediumsized cities, as well as many smaller communities in germanspeaking europe have a train station or two or three, train travel is convenient and efficient. Trains in germany the fastest and best value routes omio. Belgiums rail network, started in the 1830s, was the first in. Theres spectacular scenery the jagged alps, flowerfilled meadows, rolling hills of forests and farms, and mighty rivers dotted all over with castles and churches of every variety. Traveling by train is an excellent way to explore germany. Theres an abundance of places worth a visit, including berlin, munich, hamburg, cologne, and frankfurt. The highquality rail network has made trains in germany one of the most popular ways to travel. The db website has detailed information in english and other languages, as well as a ticketpurchasing function with detailed instructions.

Europe train vacation packages european rail tours. Regionalexpress travelling at 7090kmh on average, re feed into to the longdistance train. Trains in europe are a fast, safe and efficient way of traveling around countries and across the continent. Violent crime is rare in germany, but can occur, especially in larger cities or highrisk areas such as on large metropolitan subway systems and in train stations, primarily during late night or early morning hours.

Types of trains in germany intercityexpress capable of travelling at eyepopping speeds of over 300kmh. German rail passes unlimited train travel with the german. The intercity express ice is the highspeed train operated by deutsche bahn the german railway company. Deutsche bahn ag, or german railway, operates more than 25,000 miles of the rail networks in germany. The german rail pass lets you travel by train in germany and beyond. Your dream may be to stroll the champselysees in paris, to make a wish in the trevi fountain in. Prices for a secondclass german rail pass for travel on any 5 days in a month. We have several people on the forum who are experts on german rail travel. Onsale dates vary by country, route, and time of year, with most starting two to four months in advance of travel, and six months ahead for germany and the eurostar chunnel train.

Purchase the service at least one day before travel. Germany enjoys one of europes most advanced, efficient and reliable rail networks. The simplest way is to ask at the ticket window at any of germany s 5,000plus train. This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series. Intercity runs on similar routes to the ice, just a little slower. Germany train travel train travel forum tripadvisor. It can boast some of the fastest and most fabulous trains in europe, has impressive and efficient stations and offers a multitude of spectacular journeys. You need to activate your pass at a train station in germany within 11 months of the issue date. Explore germany by highspeed ice train travel with germanys. A german rail pass is valid for travel with participating train companies. One of the best ways to discover germany is by train. At major stations in germany, computerized boards offer uptotheminute departure information. View luxury train travel trips which include travel through germany. See historic sites like the restored reichstag, charlottenburg palace and the brandenburg gate.

One of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel in germany is by train. Bahncard is a good choice, if you plan to travel by train a lot. Germany s geographya myriad of majestic mountains, rolling countrysides, and cosmopolitan citiesmakes rail travel highly convenientand captivating. In many cities, platforms are designed in such a way that the train you need to transfer to may be standing immediately across the platform from the train in which you arrive. Usually the quickest way to travel between european destinations, highspeed trains connect major cities throughout europe, with most countries offering a highspeed train service. There are 11 ways to get from paris to germany by plane, bus, train or car. The db website has detailed information in english and other.

This is advisable during peak travel periods in the summer or on popular trains. Germany train travel read about what is the peak tourist season in berlin, germany. The first time i took a train in germany i was lucky enough to have a friend explain where and when i had to go. If planning to go from frankfurt to southern germany by ice and local services and the trip is a week, is it cheaper to buy a return ticket or a youth rail pass. If you know which cities you will travel to or even just some of them, post a list.

Please read our daily advice to travellers concerned about the impacts of coronavirus. There are a number of types of trains and services that visitors may choose from when planning their trip to germany. Please read our daily advice to travellers concerned about the impacts. The ultimate train ticket for exploring germany, this rail pass gives you. Paris to germany 11 ways to travel via train, plane, line. The german high speed train, which reaches speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour, is a signature silver snout takes only 4 hours from berlin to frankfurt and 6 hours from munich to berlin. Koblenz mainz train stations of bordering countries. Travel across europe and discover 33 countries by train with eurail. Dbs ice trains travel at up to 186 mph from city centre to city centre, and if you prebook direct with the operator you can find some really cheap fares. If youre planning a long rail trip to germany, a great solution to buying lots of separate tickets is the interrail pass or eurail pass. Stereotypes about efficiency aside, this rail network is one of the most complete in europe have a.

How to travel germany by train the savvy backpacker. Germany enjoys one of europe s most advanced, efficient and reliable rail networks. Germany is blessed with some of europes most highpowered sights. Early may will see the launch of a new daily railjet train from graz, austrias arty second city, via vienna and prague, to dresden and berlin.

If you prefer to explore germany by train at your own pace, a german rail pass which is only available to noneuropean residents from rail europe allows for unlimited travel for a certain number. Independent train tours in europe offer wellplanned itineraries in the most popular destinations and include travel aboard europe s renowned trains, stays in centrallylocated hotels, comprehensive. Two adults travelling together can use the german rail twin pass, starting at 311 in 2nd class for three days of travel within one month. Germany started the highspeed train movement in europe, but the rollout stagnated for some years, which means that key routes such as berlin to munich dont yet exist. Travel throughout germany and to its neighbouring countries using the most convenient train pass. If germany is your only destination in europe, consider purchasing a german rail pass, which allows 3 to 10 days of unlimited first or secondclass travel within a onemonth period on any db. But despite the massive popularity of touring europe by rail, major online travel agencies such as expedia and hotwire dont sell european rail. Trains in germany general information about german rail. Yet, with standard operating speeds of nearly 200 mph, thats what the francegermany high speedalleo lines did with their expansion in 2010. Its not every day a train route is so revolutionary, it can change travel plans all over europe. Between the downtown areas of most german cities the travel time by train is as fast or faster than the travel time. Kids under 15 travel free when named on one train ticket with parents or grandparents. Travelling by train in germ any can be an incredible experience. Note that this only works when you travel into germany from another country, not the other way round.