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An Easy Guide to Deutsche Bahn – Navigating German Train Travel

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Train travel in Germany is one of the easiest, fastest, and most comfortable ways to get around the country. When given the choice, I always try to go by train. I find it much more relaxing, quite scenic, and stress-free. However, navigating German train travel the first few times can be a bit confusing! There are multiple types of trains, varying ticket prices, and lots of secret hacks to make the process as smooth as possible. Here’s an easy guide to Deutsche Bahn – breaking down everything you need to know to be an expert on German train travel!

Deutsche Bahn is the official name of the German train system. You will also see it abbreviated a lot of the time as “DB” for short. It has a unique financial make-up as it is a private joint-stock company yet its only shareholder is the German government. As a transportation company, it is the most extensive in Europe with a wide array of operations and infrastructure. Additionally, by revenue, Deutsche Bahn is the largest in the world. It carries around 2 billion passengers annually.

It’s important to note that Deutsche Bahn owns all of its train tracks – meaning that its trains don’t have to stop and pull over for other freight or incoming trains. This is a big contrast to Amtrak in the United States, which rents most of its train tracks from freight and private companies.

Looking for train journeys to take in Germany? Check out these locations:

• A Weekend on Sylt, Germany’s Swankiest Island
• 6 Historical Things to Do on Rügen
• A Delightful Day Trip to Helgoland
• If you’re headed to Hamburg, make sure to check out these 25 Things to Know Before Visiting Hamburg and make a stop at Miniatur Wunderland .

Types of Train

As part of this guide to Deutsche Bahn, it’s important to know the difference between the different kinds of trains and connections offered by them. Knowing the type of train you’re taking dictates its speed, amenities, and costs. Here’s a brief overview of the most popular types of DB trains.

High-Speed Trains

ICE (Intercity-Express) – ICE trains are the fastest trains in Deutsche Bahn’s fleet! With a speed of almost 200 mph (320 km/h), ICE trains are high-speed long-distance trains used to connect major cities in and around Germany (these routes can also be international). Because there are only stops in major cities, trains can travel much more efficiently. ICE trains are also the most luxurious trains with air conditioning, wifi, in-seat charging, and food options (usually a restaurant and the BordBistro). The newest version of the ICE – ICE 4 – came into use in late 2017/early 2018. These ICE 4’s are modernized and offer more high-tech options. If possible, I always prefer to travel on an ICE train.

• There is also an ICE Sprinter classification. These routes only run a few times a day but they might only make one or two stops. For instance, on an ICE Sprinter, you can get from Berlin to Munich in less than 4 hours.

IC (InterCity) – IC trains are a step below ICE trains. They are considered semi-high-speed long-distance trains with a top speed of 135 mph (220 km/h). These trains tend to make more stops, especially in smaller cities. While they will have similar amenities as ICE trains, it is hit or miss whether they have wifi. Additionally, they usually only have a BordBistro and no restaurant option. While IC trains are perfectly fine, they do tend to be on the older side and not as modern as ICE trains.

EC (EuroCity) – EC trains are similar to IC trains but run between international borders. The type of carriages and amenities on EC trains varies depending on which rail company is operating the train. Because these are running between international borders, it’s not uncommon to get a train from the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, etc. Some of these trains will have additional amenities such as wifi.

• Train Tip: If you’re taking a train from Hamburg to Prague (or any other international route), make sure to check the train prices not just on the Deutsche Bahn website but also on the equivalent train website for the other country (in this case for the Czech Republic, make sure to check České dráhy). I’ve found cheaper train tickets offered on other train websites for the same route and time.

Local or Regional Trains

IRE (Interregio-Express) – These regional trains cover longer distances but at a much slower speed and with very few amenities. A step below the IC trains, IRE trains are rarely used these days. You can find them running the Hamburg-Berlin route as well as several different routes in Baden-Württemberg.

RE (Regional-Express) – RE trains are commonly confused with RB trains (see below). There are no amenities on these trains, including no seat reservations. Because these trains connect stations in a specific region, they’re commonly quite filled. Additionally, the tickets are quite cheap, making them accessible to all. Unlike RB trains, RE trains don’t necessarily stop at every station on a regional route. However, they’re still quite slow-moving trains.

RB (Regionalbahn) – Compared to RE trains that only stop at bigger stops along a regional route, RB trains stop at every stop along a route. They’re the most basic train service offered by Deutsche Bahn and have no amenities. Additionally, they’re the cheapest option with no seat reservations. During morning and evening rush hour, as well as on the weekends, these trains can be packed.

S-Bahn – The S-Bahn is a combination of a metro and train system. Similar to the London Underground, it’s usually just a city train that connects stations within a city. Most S-Bahns don’t operate that far beyond the city limits. They’re a high-frequency train that can go every 5 to 10 minutes, especially during morning and evening rush hour.

Night Trains

While Deutsche Bahn does offer overnight trains via their ICE and IC trains, they don’t have beds or any additional amenities. In this sense, they aren’t traditional overnight trains (and they’re not very common). However, Deutsche Bahn does offer overnight trains with sleepers and couchette coaches via some of their partner railway companies.

• From Hamburg , there are connections to/from Hannover, Freiburg, Basel, Zurich, Munich, Innsbruck, Passau, Linz, and Vienna. I’ve taken the overnight train a few times from Hamburg to Innsbruck. It leaves late in the evening and arrives around 9:00 the next morning.
• See all routes and ticket prices .
• See all routes.
• Please note that you’re unable to book this train online.

Partner Trains

As mentioned above, when DB trains are crossing international borders, it’s not uncommon for the train to be run by a different company. Similar to airline alliances, many train companies in Europe have partnerships along certain routes. Deutsche Bahn works with the following rail companies: ÖBB Railjet in Austria, DSB Train in Denmark, SNCF’s TGV in France, České dráhy in the Czech Republic, Trenitalia in Italy, and more.

Types of Deutsche Bahn Train Tickets

There are different categories of train tickets depending on the type of train you’re taking. As a basic principle, the earlier you book your ticket, the cheaper it is. ICE, IC, and EC trains run on a sliding scale – if you book any of these trains the day of, you’ll pay the maximum fare for the route. On the other hand, all local and regional trains can be booked the day of – they have set fares that don’t change. This makes it a bit confusing when trying to figure out if you should book in advance or not. Just to recap:

• High-speed trains (ICE, IC, and EC): you should book these tickets in advance as the fare gets more expensive the closer you get to the date
• Regional trains: you can book these tickets the day of as it is a set fare.

When it comes to booking IC, IC, EC tickets, there are several options including Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis, and Flexpreis.

• Please note : if you buy a Super Sparpreis ticket and part of the journey is on a regional train, you’re allowed to take any regional train (not just the one assigned to you on your ticket). However, you’re always bound to the ICE, IC, or EC on your ticket!
• Please note : if you buy a Sparpreis ticket and part of the journey is on a regional train, you’re allowed to take any regional train (not just the one assigned to you on your ticket). However, you’re always bound to the ICE, IC, or EC on your ticket!
• Flexpreis (Flexible Fare) : While this is the most expensive fare offered by Deutsche Bahn, this option offers the most flexibility and is particularly nice when you don’t know your exact departure time (a great example of this is arriving in Germany on an incoming flight). When you’re buying a Flexpreis ticket, you’re just buying the starting destination and the final destination – this means you can hop on/hop off and explore other cities along your route. You’re able to take any train on the day of your ticket’s validity. Additionally, refunds and exchanges can be done free of charge before the first day of validity. Lastly, this fare also includes a City-Ticket, allowing you to use the public transportation of your starting destination to get to the train station and allowing you to use the public transportation of your end destination to get to your hotel/house (as long as the trip is over 100 km). These fares can be booked up to 6 months in advance.

Each of the above tickets is offered as a 2nd class ticket option and a 1st class ticket option. Depending on your level of comfort and amenities required (and ultimately, the price you’re willing to spend!), you can choose which class you’d like to book. Here are some of the main differences for ICE trains (for regional trains, there isn’t that big of a difference):

• 2nd Class: Within 2nd class, there are 4 seats per row and no at-seat food and beverage service. However, there still is a trolley that comes around with bottled drinks, coffee, and small snacks to buy. Additionally, seat reservations are not included in the ticket price and you’re not able to access the DB lounges at train stations. However, I find 2nd class carriages still quite comfortable! There is free Wifi available (with a data limit) and outlets for charging your devices between the seats.
• 1st Class : Traveling 1st class on Deutsche Bahn is quite a luxury! However, if you’re savvy enough, you can find reasonably priced 1st class tickets. As most families tend to travel 2nd class, the 1st class carriages are always so quiet. Along with the lack of noise, there are only 3 seats per row, and your seat reservation is included in your ticket price. Additionally, there is in-seat food and beverage service from the Bordrestaurant along with free daily newspapers. Wifi in 1st class is unlimited and depending upon the type of ticket you buy (Super Saver vs. Saver vs. Flexible), you also get access to the DB Lounges located at select train stations.

Additional Deutsche Bahn Ticket Prices

City mobil : If your fare doesn’t include the City-Ticket, you can pay extra to get the City mobil ticket (fares depending on the destination). This allows you to use the public transportation of your starting destination to get to the train station and allows you to use the public transportation of your end destination to get to your hotel/house.

Seat Reservation : While 1st class tickets include a seat reservation, 2nd class fares don’t. However, I highly recommend booking a seat reservation, especially on longer routes or busier routes. All ICE, IC, and EC trains have seat reservations and some regional trains in Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Schleswig-Holstein offer it. A seat reservation costs 4.00 Euros and can be booked either during your initial ticket booking or at a later date as a separate purchase.

Bikes : Bikes are only allowed on certain train connections. All IC and EC trains can accommodate bikes but only certain ICE trains allow it (it will be noted at the initial stages of reserving the fare whether a bike is allowed or not). Additionally, the bike must be stored in a bike space on the train. The bike fare can cost up to 9 Euros, depending on whether it is an international trip or just locally within Germany. Bikes are permitted on all regional trains – pricing differs depending on the state.

Dogs : There is an extensive list of rules for traveling with dogs. Depending on the size of the dog, how it travels (with or without a crate), and the type of train (high-speed trains vs. regional trains), the pricing and regulations differ. Here are the full guidelines (only in German).

Children : As a general rule, children under the age of 15 ride for free. Children from 0 to 5 years old travel for free and don’t need their own ticket. Children between the ages of 6 and 14 who are traveling with parents or grandparents travel free of charge. However, they must be noted on the reservation at the time of booking. If they are traveling with other individuals or alone, they must pay 50% of the ticket price. Anyone who is 15 or older must pay full price for their ticket.

Deutsche Bahn Train Passes

There are several passes or annual options that can help decrease the cost of individual fares. While the annual options only make sense for individuals either living in Germany or traveling in Germany frequently, short-term travel passes can make sense when traveling on the weekends or with a group.

Deutsche Bahn Card

If you live in Germany and/or plan on using Deutsche Bahn at least once or twice a month, it makes sense to look into buying a Deutsche Bahn Card. There are three main options for each class:

• Bahn 25 : This card gives you 25% off super saver fares, saver fares, and flexible fares. If you’re not so spontaneous with your travels, book in advance, and/or don’t use Deutsche Bahn a lot, this is a great option for you! It is 55.70 Euros for 2nd class and 112 Euros for 1st class. The card is valid for a year. You can book the Bahn 25 card here .
• Bahn 50 : This card gives you 50% of flexible fares and 25% of super saver fares and saver fares. If you tend to book your travels more spontaneous (and thus have flexible fares), this is the perfect card option for you! It is 229 Euros for 2nd class and 463 Euros for 1st class. The card is valid for a year. You can book the Bahn 50 card here .
• Bahn 100 : This is the card for the seasoned Deutsche Bahn traveler! It covers the cost of all Deutsche Bahn fares as well as other private train companies and bus companies. Additionally, it includes a City-Ticket for all locations where it is offered. You can either pay a flat rate of 4,027 Euros for 2nd class and 6,812 Euros for 1st class, or you can pay a monthly subscription of 372 Euros for 2nd class and 632 Euros for 1st class. You can book the Bahn 100 card here .

There are also special Bahn card offers for youth travelers between the ages of 6 and 18, travelers between the ages of 19 and 26, travelers over the age of 65, and business travels. You can see all the specific offers here .

Deutsche Bahn Passes

Depending on when, where, and how you plan to travel on Deutsche Bahn, they offer an extensive list of passes to decrease costs. It’s important to note that the Bahn card 25 and 50 can not be applied to these passes.

• Germany Day Ticket (Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket) – starting at 42 Euros : With the German Day Ticket, you’re able to travel on all Deutsche Bahn 2nd class regional trains (and some other partner trains). This ticket is valid Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 3 am the next day or on weekends and public holidays all day until 3 am the next day. Up to 5 people can travel on this ticket. The base price for the first person is 42 Euros with each additional person costing 7 Euros. You can take as many journeys as you’d like during this time period, provided it is only on regional trains. This is a great option for groups of up to 5 individuals and/or individuals wanting to travel by regional training and requiring flexibility or spontaneity. You can find out all the specifics here .
• Regional Day Ticket (Länder-Ticket) – starting at 22 Euros : Each German state offers its own version of a day ticket that can be used within its borders on all Deutsche Bahn 2nd class regional trains. Some states, especially city-states such as Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin, include the bordering states. The specific base price and price increase per person varies from state to state but the rules are the same – the ticket is valid Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 3 am the next day or on weekends and public holidays all day until 3 am the next day. You can take as many journeys as you’d like during this time period, provided it is only on regional trains. Once again, this is the ideal option for groups of up to 5 individuals that plan on spontaneously traveling through just one German state. You can find out the specifics of each regional day ticket here .
• German Rail Pass – starting at 156 Euros : This pass allows you to take as many journeys as you’d like within a certain time period. You can either choose 5, 10, or 15 consecutive days of travel or 5, 10, or 15 days of travel within a one-month period (but the days don’t have to be consecutive). This pass is only valid for travelers who live outside the EU, Turkey, and Russia. Unlike the German Day Ticket, this rail pass allows you to use all types of Deutsche Bahn trains, including ICE trains! Additionally, this rail pass is valid on a few routes outside of Germany in Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy. If you’re coming from overseas and looking for an economical way to book all of your transportation, definitely check out the German Rail Pass .
• Group Passes : If you’re traveling with 6 or more people (up to 30 people), Deutsche Bahn offers group travel prices that include a seat reservation. Unlike the Germany Day Ticket, the group passes are valid on high-speed trains as well as regional trains. There’s an option to book group passes in Germany or within Europe (if your train goes beyond Germany’s borders). You can book group passes up to 6 months in advance and, depending on the type of pass you buy, you can change your reservation up to 21 days in advance. Find out more about group travel passes .

Europe-Wide Rail Passes

There are two Europe Rail Passes offered – one for residents of the EU, Turkey, and Russia and one for individuals living outside the EU. This allows you to travel around Europe affordably while seeing as many places as possible.

• Interrail – starting at 51 Euros : With the Interrail pass, you can either buy a one-country pass or a global pass (allowing you to travel to up to 33 countries). This pass is only available to residents of the EU, Turkey, and Russia. Travel periods vary from 3 days to 3 months. You can find out more information about Interrail here .
• Eurail : Similar to the Interrail pass, you can either buy a one country pass or a global pass (for travel to 5 countries or more) with the Eurail pass. This pass is only available to those individuals living outside the EU. Depending on the fare you select, travel either has to be taken within a certain time period (flexible) or on consecutive days. You can find out more information about Eurail here .

Buying a Deutsche Bahn Ticket

There are multiple options to buying a Deutsche Bahn ticket – online, at a ticket machine in a train station, or at a Deutsche Bahn Travel Center in a train station. I prefer booking all of my tickets online as it is quick and easy. The online system accepts all major credit cards as well as Paypal – making it easy to pay even if you live abroad. Additionally, the Deutsche Bahn website is available in not only German and English but an array of other languages. The English version of the website is a slimmed-down version of the German website. However, it still has everything you need!

• Here’s a step-by-step guide to buying your ticket online
• Hint: If you’re trying to travel on a specific day but you’re not tied to a certain time, you can also search for the cheapest option by clicking on “Saver fare finder”. This will sort the fares of all the trains from that day from cheapest to most expensive.

The advantage of buying a ticket at a Deutsche Bahn Travel Center is the can help you find a more empty train, optimize your train connection, etc. However, the Deutsche Bahn website does such a great job presenting all of your travel options that I only use the Deutsche Bahn Travel Center when I’ve had a delayed or canceled train.

DB Navigator App

I highly recommend downloading the DB Navigator App . It’s available in multiple languages in app stores around the world. Not only can you buy tickets on the DB Navigator App (which are automatically downloaded and saved to your phone) but you can also check connections, see if your train is on time, get alternative connections, etc. Additionally, you see whether your specific train route is busy depending on the time of day. I always rely on my DB Navigator App when traveling by train.

Not Buying a Train Ticket

There are heavy fines for riding the train without a ticket. It varies depending on the route, type of train, and the exact situation but riding a regional train without a ticket can occur a fine of 60 Euros. I will admit that it is hit or miss whether they check tickets on a regional train. However, it isn’t worth the hassle of paying the fine – just buy yourself a ticket!

When it comes to an ICE, IC, or EC train, the fines can be hundreds of Euros depending on the route. They check tickets on these high-speed trains 99% of the time so don’t be caught without a ticket. Not only will they fine you but you’ll also be kicked off the train at the next stop. Instead of a fine, they might make you pay for a ticket right on the spot. As the ticket is a day-of ticket, you will be charged the maximum amount for that route.

Deutsche Bahn Seat Reservations

As mentioned above, seat reservations can be made on all high-speed trains as well as select regional trains in Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Schleswig-Holstein. If purchasing a 2nd class ticket, a seat reservation is an additional 4.00 Euros at the time of booking. If purchasing a 1st class ticket, a seat reservation is included in the fare price if you select it at the time of booking. To reserve a seat in 1st class at a later time, it costs 5.30 Euros. Regional train seat reservations, if offered, are usually only an additional Euro. Deutsche Bahn also has special seat reservation offers.

If you’re reserving a train on an ICE via Deutsche Bahn’s online reservation system, you can pull up the train plan and decide whether you want a window seat, aisle seat, compartment seat (compartments are for 6 people – perfect if you’re traveling in a group), etc. Also, if you’re prone to motion sickness, they’ll sometimes even tell you the direction the train is going!

Quiet Carriages

Within 1st class and 2nd classes, there are specific carriages marked as “Quiet Carriages” (German: Ruhebereich). If you choose to sit in one of these carriages, please note that you’re not allowed to have loud conversations, talk on the phone, listen to loud music, or make any other loud noises. These are especially for travelers who want a quiet atmosphere on their journey.

Family Areas and Toddler Compartments

Deutsche Bahn has a lot of fun opportunities and programs for families and children! They have specific Family Areas and Toddler Compartments on ICE trains and select IC/EC trains. Additionally, childcare is also offered in German on select ICE routes on Saturdays and Sundays. No reservation is needed beforehand. Unfortunately, this service is currently suspended.

• Family Areas: These areas are suitable for families with kindergarten children or children in elementary school. You’ll be around other families as well so no need to be concerned about noise levels!
• Toddler Compartments: These special toddler compartments are the ideal situation for children up to 3 years old. They fit up to 5 people total and offer enough space for toddlers and babies to crawl around and play. Additionally, there are parking areas for strollers nearby, childproof sockets, a specific place to plug in a bottle warmer, and a changing table. #

Luggage Storage

Along with a seat reservation, luggage storage is another question that comes to mind! If you book either the first row or last row in a carriage, you’re usually able to store your suitcase behind your seat (there is a bit of a crack between the seat and the glass – a perfect storage space for luggage!). Each carriage also has a luggage rack for large pieces of luggage and storage space above each seat for smaller pieces of luggage.

I’ve never had any issues storing my luggage on a Deutsche Bahn train. However, I wouldn’t recommend bringing 2-3 large suitcases and expecting to be able to easily manage them. Just like on a plane, only bring what you’re able to manage (and be respectful of the other people in your carriage!).

While I’ve never had any theft happen to me on Deutsche Bahn, it does happen! I always keep my luggage within my eyesight. Additionally, when a train is pulling into a station, I never leave then to go get food or go the bathroom. You never know who could just snatch your suitcase and leave the train. If I do happen to leave to go the bathroom or to go get food, I might ask someone near me to watch my luggage. I also never leave my purse and/or wallet at my seat! It’s all about using common sense and being smart about the situation.

No Seat Reservation

If you decide not to make a seat reservation (living life on the edge!), you might still be able to find a seat – especially if the train is during an off-peak time or on a low-traveled route. Above every seat and/or located on the side of every seat, it will tell you whether the seat is reserved. If it says nothing on it, then the seat is free. If it says “Hamburg – Frankfurt”, then the seat is reserved from Hamburg to Frankfurt. However, if you get on in Frankfurt and are headed to Stuttgart, you can still sit in that seat because it is no longer reserved.

Quite often, people will just sit down in seats, even if they say they are reserved. If someone is sitting in your reserved seat, don’t feel bad kicking them out – you paid for it! It’s important to note that if you don’t claim your seat within 15 minutes of boarding, then anyone can take the seat. However, I’ve never really seen this happen and most people are respectful of the reservation system.

Reading the Deutsche Bahn Timetables

Being able to properly read the Deutsche Bahn timetables is critical to booking the correct train. The timetable information is listed both online and at the train stations. As I mentioned above, I mostly book and reserve all my tickets online. However, it’s still important to be familiar with the signage at the train stations and know how to properly read the in-person timetables.

The above timetables show every train departing and arriving through the entire day. It’s important to note that Deutsche Bahn updates these timetables every 6 months depending on which routes are/aren’t heavily frequented. If you take an up-close look at the timetables, they look like this:

All ICE, IC, and EC trains are labeled in red to make it easier to distinguish long-distance trains from the regional trains. The trains are all in chronological order. Here’s an example of how to read the timetable correctly:

• At 20:00, ICE 524 is departing from platform 6. It will make stops in Würzburg at 20:52, Aschaffenburg at 21:32, Frankfurt/M (Frankfurt am Main – there are multiple Frankfurts in Germany) at 22:04, Köln Messe/Deutz at 23:37, and Düsseldorf at 23:58 with its final destination Dortmund at 0:49 the next morning.

Below some of the times are Mo. – Fr. or Sa., So. – this just means that this train only operates either Monday through Friday or only on Saturday and Sunday. A great example is the train at 20:08. It’s the same train (RB 58531) but from Monday through Friday, it departs from platform 19 and on Saturday and Sunday, it departs from platform 20.

Reading an arrival timetable is the same as reading a departure timetable, just in reserve! It’s important to note that I took this photo at the Nürnberg main train station. Here’s an example of how to read the timetable correctly:

• At 20:54, ICE 522 arrives at the Nürnberg main train station at platform 7. This train started in München Hbf at 19:48 and made a stop in Ingolstadt at 20:25 before arriving in Nürnberg.

Being able to read the timetable is especially helpful if you’re going on a day trip and trying to coordinate the best time to come back. These timetables are located on every platform. Additionally, you can find them at the Deutsche Bahn Information Center.

When booking a Deutsche Bahn ticket online through their website, they show you all the train options for your route. This makes it easier to see the time that trains are arriving and departing. Here’s an example:

Looking at the online timetable above, it’s showing me the Hamburg to Frankfurt connections at 9:00 am on April 30th. Here’s how to read the timetable:

• Journey 1: There’s a train that leaves Hamburg at 9:28 and arrives in Frankfurt at 14:00. The duration of the journey is 4 hours and 32 minutes with 0 transfers (meaning you’re on the same train the entire time). It’s an ICE train and the demand for this route is expected to be low, meaning that the train should be quite empty. The Saver Fare is 38.90 Euros and the Flexible Fare is 95.40 Euros.
• Journey 2: Below the above example is a train that leaves Hamburg at 10:01 and arrives in Frankfurt at 14:44. The duration of the journey is 4 hours and 43 minutes with 1 transfer. I’ve opened up the reservation so you can see the transfer route. This not only gives more information about the transfer but gives additional information about each train including the specific train number, whether bikes are allowed on the train, whether there is a Bordrestaurant, and any other specific details or regulations (such as having to wear a mask). The train transfer happens in Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe and there is 15 minutes between the arriving train and the departing train. Luckily the 1st train arrives on platform 4 and the 2nd train departs from platform 4 (pure luck!). Both trains are ICEs and the demand for both train routes is expected to be low. The Saver Fare is 59.90 Euros and the Flexible Fare is 95.40 Euros.

In the above case, I would always choose Journey 1 – the duration of the journey is shorter and I wouldn’t have to switch trains, making it less likely that something goes wrong. Additionally, Journey 1 is cheaper and arrives in Frankfurt earlier than Journey 2.

Navigating the Deutsche Bahn Train Station

The final step to navigating German train travel is figuring out where to go and what to do in the train station! Especially if you’re traveling through a larger station, it can be confusing to find the right platform or even the right section of the platform!

Announcements

Almost all announcements at the train stations are done in German and English. If you’re unsure about something, either ask a Deutsche Bahn employee (all over the station) or ask a fellow traveler near you. I find that people are really helpful and willing to assist you.

Each train is announced on the platform two times before it arrives at the station – the first time is a few minutes before it arrives and the second time is when it is about to pull into the station. It’s not common to have a platform change but it also isn’t uncommon. This usually happens if another train is running late (and platforms need to be switched around) or if your train is running late. If there is a platform changing, it will announce it. Additionally, on the platform’s electronic board, it will show a platform change. If you don’t catch the announcement, your first clue to a platform change will be the mass exodus of people – this is usually a pretty good clue that something’s up!

Main Departure Board

The first thing you’ll see when you get to the train station is the massive Departure Board near the entrance. I always stop to read this and orientate myself. Not only will it show your train’s platform but it will also indicate any delays, train changes, etc.

It’s important to note that the Departure Board will only show the upcoming trains for the next 30 minutes to an hour. If your train leaves later than that, don’t be worried if you don’t immediately see it on the board! While the headers above are in English, I find that the notes on the far right are not always translated.

• Example: the first train route shown leaves at 12:50 and is ICE 1521. The train’s final destination is München with a stop in Ingolstadt. It is leaving from platform 9 and has no additional notes.
• Example: if you go down to the sixth train route that leaves at 13:05, you see it is a regional train (RE 58218). The train’s final destination is Würzburg with stops in Fürth, Neustadt, and Kitzingen. It departs from platform 13 and there are additional notes. Because it is a regional train, it won’t take up the entire length of the platform. The notes are probably telling you what section of the platform to find the train.

The Main Departure Board is usually above a Deutsche Bahn Information Center so if you have any issues with your train or any questions, they should be able to help you!

If your train fare allows access to the DB Lounge at the train station, I’d highly recommend taking advantage of it. Only the bigger train stations have DB Lounges. I’ve been in them a few times and they’re a great way to relax from the hustle and bustle, especially if you’re quite early to the station. They’re very similar to an airport lounge with sofas, coffee, newspapers, and food.

Finding Your Platform and Seat

This is the most important part – making sure you find your platform, the correct train, and your seat on the train (if you’ve reserved one). After checking the Main Departure Board, head to the platform that is indicated next to your train.

Each platform is divided in half with a train arriving on each side. However, each side is given a different number so there’s no confusion. In the background, I can see the signs pointing to platforms 1 and 2 as well as 5 and 6 so I can infer that the electronic board on the right is for platform 3 and the electronic board on the left is for platform 4. There are also numbers above the platform that have been cut out of this photo!

So how exactly do you read these electronic boards!? It’s important to note that the next train arriving/departing will always be at the top of the board. Here are a few examples below to help you:

• Underneath all the information for the Frankfurt train are two more trains – these are the next two trains to arrive/depart after the train to Frankfurt. The first train is ICE 801 that is headed to München at 14:24. However, the note next to it indicates that it has been canceled (“Zug fällt aus”). At 17:22, ICE 1020 is arriving (Ankunft) from Regensburg Hbf. This is an arriving train, not a departing train – you’re unable to board this train!

This is another electronic board on a platform in Nürnberg. The layout is slightly different but gives the same information.

• Example: In the above example, the train is leaving Nürnberg at 13:09 and it’s final destination in Hamburg-Altona station. It’s ICE 788 with stops in Würzburg, Fulda, and Hannover (remember, not all stops are listed so it’s best to go by the train number if unsure!). 1st class is located in section A, the Bordrestaurant / Bordbistro is located in section B, and 2nd class is located in sections C through F. After this train departs, there is a regional train (RE 4022) arriving at 14:49 from Ingolstadt and another regional train (RE 4027) departing for Ingolstadt at 15:09.

When in doubt, the German train stations have good signage and present most information in English and German. At bigger train stations, there are Deutsche Bahn employees stationed on almost every platform willing to help. As I’ve explained multiple times, I’ve always found other passengers to be super helpful and willing to help when I’m unsure where to go or which train to board.

Typically, the same trains arrive and depart from the same platform. Thus, Deutsche Bahn has carriage plans on every platform indicating the arrangement of the carriages (usually in numerical order), the direction of the train, the setup between 1st class and 2nd class, and where to stand on the platform to be closest to your carriage.

It’s really easy to use this chart – find your train and departure time, find your carriage number, and then scroll up or down to see what letter it best aligns with on the platform. Green carriages indicate 2nd class, red carriages indicate the Bordrestaurant or Bordbistro, and yellow carriages indicate 1st class. In the above photo, there is a red vertical line going through all the trains. This red line signals where you’re standing at the moment (in this instance, somewhere between letters C and D). The purpose of this is just to help you orientate yourself.

Finding your seat and carriage is pretty straightforward. On the side of the carriage, it will always indicate with a big number whether the carriage is for 1st class or 2nd class. Depending on the type of train you have, the specific carriage number whether either be written on the side directly or will be shown on an electronic monitor.

• Example: In the photo on the left, it is a 1st-class carriage and the carriage number is 14. Additionally, it shows a seat with the numbers 11-76. This means that anyone who has a seat reservation in carriage 14 and their seat is number 11 through 76 should enter at this door. Lastly, it has a cell phone visual (hard to see!) – this means that this carriage can be used for phone calls, surfing the internet, etc. Pretty much, it’s the opposite of a quiet carriage!
• Example: In the photo on the right, it’s a second-class carriage and the carriage number is 21 (on the electronic board on the left). Anyone with a seat reservation in carriage 21 and a seat between 11 and 88, should enter at the door right outside the frame on this photo.

This carriage is similar to the one on the left above. However, this is a quiet carriage, indicated by the “shhh” symbol and the cell phone with the line through it. Remember – if you’ve booked a seat reservation in one of these carriages, you should not be making noise in them!

When it comes to finding your seat on board the train, it’s quite simple. The numbers are denoted either above the seats or on the seat sides, depending on the type of train that you’re taking. The two photos above are taken from regional trains in Schleswig-Holstein. Each regional train looks slightly different depending on the German state and whether the train is updated or not.

The above photo is from the 1st class section of an ICE train. When booking, I specifically like getting the single seats on the right as it gives me room to stretch out. A 2nd class carriage looks very similar to this. The main difference is the number of seats. There are 2 seats on each side of the aisle, meaning that the seats are closer together.

German Terms to Know for Navigating Deutsche Bahn

While there is an English version of Deutsche Bahn’s website as well as English signage at train stations and on the trains, here are some German words to know that will help make navigating Deutsche Bahn a bit easier!

• Hauptbahnhof: Main Train Station
• Bahnhof: Train Station
• Über: Via. In terms of Deutsche Bahn, this means “Via” – these are the destinations between the starting point and end destination.
• Ziel: Destination. In terms of Deutsche Bahn, this means “Destination”. This is the final destination of the train
• Gleis: Platform
• Verspätung: Delay. This is usually followed by a number indicating how late the train is going to be.
• Minuten: Minutes. This usually followed a “Verspätung” message indicating how late the train is going to be.
• Wagenreihnung: Wagon Order or Carriage Order. Usually, you will see this word when the carriage order is different than what is indicated at the train station or online (maybe it’s missing a carriage or there are different carriage numbers).
• Ankunft: Arrival
• Anreise: Departure
• Folgezüge: Next Train. This is usually on the individual platform boards to indicate which train will be coming to the platform after the current train.
• Von: From. This will be on a ticket and indicates where you’re catching the train.
• Nach: To. This will be on a ticket and indicates where you’re getting off the train.

• Sitzplatz: Seat. If you’ve reserved a seat, this is where you can find it.
• Klasse or Kl.: Class. This indicates whether it is a 1st or 2nd class ticket.
• Zugtyp: Type of Train. This indicates whether it is an ICE, IC, EC, etc.
• Zug: Train Number . This indicates the train number. It’s important to make sure you’re getting on the correct train because sometimes you’ll have trains to the same destination leaving around the same time (especially if one train is delayed).
• Wagen: Carriage number. This is usually about your seat reservation and indicates which carriage to find it.
• Fahrplan: Timetable
• Gültigkeit: Validity
• Hinfahrt: Outward Journey
• Rückfahrt: Return Journey
• Auftragsnummer: Order Number. This is what Deutsche Bahn considers your reservation number.
• Umsteigezeit: Transfer Time. If you have to switch trains, this is the amount of time you have between your first train arriving and your second train departing.
• Abfahren (or fährt ab): To Depart (verb)
• Einsteigen: To Board (verb). A lot of times, you’ll see “Bitte nicht einsteigen” or “Bitte nicht mehr einsteigen” – this means you’re not allowed to board the train or you’re not allowed to board the train anymore. This usually flashes on the screen right before the train is departing the station.
• Ausfallen (or fällt aus): To Be Canceled (verb). You’ll mostly see this written as “Zug fällt aus” meaning that your train has been canceled.
• Hinweis: Please Note. This is to give you a heads up about a unique situation (maybe the train schedule is off, the carriages are in a different arrangement, etc.)

Deutsche Bahn Delays, Missed Connections, and Cancelations

It’s a running joke in Germany that Deutsche Bahn is always delayed. However, after using Deutsche Bahn considerably over the past 5 years (including almost 50 long-distance trains one year), I can only count on one hand severe delays on cancelations I encountered. In those instances, it was out of Deutsche Bahn’s control – bad weather, a WWII bomb was found near the train station (very common in Germany!), or someone was on the tracks (unfortunately, this is usually due to someone committing suicide). However, if you do face a delay, missed connection, or cancelation, it’s important to know your rights and what you’re entitled to going forward.

If your train is delayed, you might be eligible to receive compensation. For a train delayed more than 60 minutes, you’re entitled to receive a 25% refund of the fare paid for a single journey. For a train delayed more than 120 minutes, you’re entitled to receive a 50% refund of the fare paid for a single journey. You can claim your refund here as well as free postage here . I’ve always found the refunds to be paid out quickly and promptly. Additionally, you can get this form from the conductor (if the train is severely delayed, they’ll usually pass them out to all passengers) or from a Deutsche Bahn Travel Center.

If your train has more than a 20-minute delay, you have a few options according to Deutsche Bahn’s website:

• continue driving on the same route or another route at the earliest opportunity, or
• continue the journey at a later point in time if this can reduce the arrival delay at the destination station or
• use another train that does not require a reservation.

If you’re booked on a regional train that’s more than 20 minutes delayed, you can switch and take a high-speed train. However, you must buy a new ticket for the high-speed train and then retroactively apply to claim back the money ( through this form ). You can always go from a high-speed train to a regional train for no additional cost.

Lastly, if your train is delayed more than 60 minutes, you can cancel the trip and have the full fare reimbursed. Once again, you’ll need to fill out the above form to get your money back.

Missed Connection

There’s no worse feeling than seeing your next train pull out of the station while your train is still pulling into the station! On an adventure to the Harz Mountains during the winter months, my train was caught in a heavy snowstorm, delaying its arrival at the next train station (where I had a connection). I ran to the other platform and got there just as the train was pulling out of the station. Because it was a small station with only a few platforms (and it was 9:00 pm), my next available train didn’t come until 11:00 pm. Thankfully, there was a McDonald’s open where I could sit for the next 2 hours. If that hadn’t been there, I would have been standing in the snowstorm for those 2 hours!

In instances of a missed connection, you’re allowed to take the next available train to your destination. Once again, if you’re scheduled to be on a regional train and the next available train is a high-speed train, you’ll need to buy a new ticket for the high-speed train and then retroactively apply to claim back the money ( through this form ). Additionally, if you miss your connection and it is the last train to that destination for the delay, you will be reimbursed for hotel costs through the form above.

Cancelation

In the unlikely event that your train is canceled, the steps forward are similar to a missed connection. You’re allowed to take the next available train to your destination. If you’re scheduled to be on a regional train and the next available train is a high-speed train, you’ll need to buy a new ticket for the high-speed train and then retroactively apply to claim back the money ( through this form ).

Passenger Rights

When in doubt or you’re not sure what you’re allowed/not allowed to do in the event of a delay, missed connection, or cancelation, I recommend talking to someone at Deutsche Bahn’s Travel Center or Information Desk. They tend to be helpful and have found me train connections that I didn’t realize existed.

Make sure to read this article from Deutsche Bahn so you know all your rights as a passenger.

Travel Tips for Deutsche Bahn

Besides the above information, here are some tips for making your train journey smooth and comfortable.

• Bring your own water and food, especially if your train doesn’t have a Bordbistro. If you do plan to buy food on the train, I highly recommend the Currywurst – so good!
• Try to get to the train station 20-30 minutes before departure, especially if you’re headed to a big train station like the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (it’s quite a few floors). If you’re not familiar with a larger train station, they can be a bit overwhelming and confusing.
• Most trains will announce the upcoming destination in both English and German. This will happen about 5-10 minutes before the train enters the station. Be prepared to leave the train right when it pulls into the station because most trains only stay at the platform for a few minutes. Usually, there is an electric board in each carriage showing the next destination. However, when in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask someone! I found the most passengers are really nice and helpful.
• Everything is done in military time so don’t get confused when you see times such as 15:24 (3:24 pm) or 18:36 (6:36 pm). Also, remember that dates are written differently in Germany versus the USA. If it’s March 6, 2021, the date will be written in Germany as 06.03.21 (date.month.year).
• The doors for trains close about 30 seconds to a minute before the train departs the station. If you’re cutting it close getting to the station, remember to get to the train a minute or two ahead of time so the doors don’t close on you.
• In terms of getting on and off of the train, make sure to let all the people get off the train before getting on it yourself. It’s seen as rude and impolite to immediately rush onto the train. Plus, it makes it more orderly getting a bunch of people on and off the train in a quick and timely manner.
• Download the DB App – it’s a great way to see if your train is on time, look at other connections, plan your trip, etc.

Further Reading...

21 Fairy Tale Towns in Germany

The Must-See UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany

Traditional German Food You Must Try When Visiting Germany

11 comments.

This was a super helpful overview of the trains. Thank you!

hamburgandbeyond

I’m just seeing this comment – so sorry! Thank you so much for the sweet comment :)

Hey, this was a super detailed and fantastic article. I mean this is the complete guide one should always refer to when looking for info. However, I couldn’t see one thing. And this is about trains split up at some stations. If you don’t know German and you are on the wrong side of the train, you may end up traveling somewhere else. Especially, the train splits up in the middle of the night and you are sleeping. This might be the worst case. I would be appreciated it if you have any suggestions or stories about such a case. Is there a way to know when it will split up beforehand? Thanks a lot again. Love from Bochum.

Hey Jordan, Thank you so much for this complete guide. This is a lot of work. I think Deutsche Bahn should share this article on their website. Do you have any suggestions or stories about trains splitting up at certain stations? I mean, especially, if it splits up in the middle of the night and you are sleeping. You may end up traveling to the wrong city. Is there any way to know when/where the train will split up? Love from Bochum

Witthaya Loetwiriyakul

We are 2 to buy tickets to Strasbourg from Frankfurt airport, when i go to DB app, register and problem is ? can I buy tickets for 2 travelers me and my friends in my account’ s name, or have to buy in separate account? Registration comes from the Input the county but my home country is not in the selected drop down , So how can i do ?

Anyway to change my seat reservations once they are made?

Hi Frank! You can change your seat reservation here: https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?start=1&existOptimizePrice-deactivated=1&S=&REQ0JourneyStopsSID=&Z=&REQ0JourneyStopsZID=&date=Di.%2C+15.11.2022&time=19%3A23&timesel=depart&returnDate=&returnTime=&optimize=0&auskunft_travelers_number=1&tariffTravellerType.1=E&tariffTravellerReductionClass.1=0&tariffClass=2&externRequest=yes&HWAI=JS%21js%3Dyes%21ajax%3Dyes%21&rit=1

Even on this site we can find ZERO “factual” information about the following: #1 – The HUGE price variation in Railjet tickets on German, Austrian & Hungarian State Railway sites, as well as Omio, Trainline & Rail Europe? #2 – ZERO information on HOW to reserve a seat on a Railjet train “IF” the ticket was purchased on one of the same rail sites listed above.

Hi Robert! Sorry, you’re unable to find the information you’re looking for online. I always recommend booking Railjet tickets (and anything with the ÖBB) directly through Austria’s ÖBB website! It tends to be much cheaper than booking through Germany’s Deutsche Bahn website. Unfortunately, I haven’t booked Hungarian train tickets in years so I don’t have experience. I also usually don’t ever book through third-party websites. If you need to reserve a Railjet seat, you can do that directly on the ÖBB website here: https://shop.oebbtickets.at/en/ticket (just enter your route, date/time, etc. and under “Find Services” click on “Seat reservation only (no ticket)”. Hope that helps!

Can you please assist me, I have booked DB ICE tickets online from Amsterdam to Stuttgart for travel in June. Since booking I have received an email from DB advising of a Timetable change from Amsterdam and advising “find alternative connection”. A link in the email takes me to Bahn website and showing a different ICE train departing at the same time as my booking with a slight variation in the route but arriving at the original time in Stuttgart. Can I travel on my original ticket or do I need to purchase another ticket and somehow claim the fare? I have tried to call DB ‘English’ helpline which does not answer promptly and also sent an email with no response to date?

Hi Philip! You can travel on your original ticket – no problem at all! I just had this happen to me as well :) They changed the departure time by 5 minutes, but everything else stayed the same. If DB changes the timetable on you, you’re allowed to take whichever other train you’d like that day!

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Laut Stiftung Warentest: Deutsche Bahn vs. Flixtrain – Wer schneidet besser ab?

Stiftung Warentest hat die Deutsche Bahn und Flixtrain getestet. Welcher Anbieter überzeugt in Pünktlichkeit, Komfort und Rückerstattung?

Preisanstieg bei der Deutschen Bahn // IMTEST

IMTEST verrät, was Bahnfahrende ab 2023 erwartet.

Zugreisen werden für viele Menschen in Deutschland immer attraktiver. Dabei steht oft die Frage im Raum: Ist die Deutsche Bahn oder Flixtrain die bessere Wahl? Stiftung Warentest hat sich diesem Thema angenommen und beide Anbieter unter die Lupe genommen.

Die Ergebnisse überraschen, besonders wenn es um Pünktlichkeit und Service geht. Bist du neugierig, wer die Nase vorn hat? Dann bleib dran, denn in diesem Artikel erfährst du, wie sich Deutsche Bahn und Flixtrain im direkten Vergleich schlagen.

Deutsche Bahn vs. Flixtrain: Wer ist pünktlicher?

Wer mit der Bahn reist, kennt das Problem: Wer pünktlich irgendwo ankommen will, der nimmt am besten eine oder zwei Verbindungen früher, denn mit Verspätungen muss immer gerechnet werden. Laut Stiftung Warentest zeigte sich das auch im aktuellen Test. Sowohl die Deutsche Bahn als auch Flixtrain wiesen viele Verspätungen auf.

Bei der Deutschen Bahn kamen von 40 getesteten Fernzügen ganze 24 Züge nicht rechtzeitig am Ziel an. Im Durchschnitt betrug die Verspätung dabei satte 35 Minuten. Flixtrain schnitt hier ein wenig besser ab: Von 10 getesteten Zügen kamen drei verspätet an – mit einer durchschnittlichen Verspätung von 27 Minuten.

Wer bietet besseren Service?

Doch nicht nur Bahn-Verspätungen sind ärgerlich, sondern auch die Art und Weise, wie damit umgegangen wird. Wenn dein Zug nicht rechtzeitig ankommt, wünschst du dir schnelle und klare Informationen. Hier ist laut Stiftung Warentest sowohl bei der Deutschen Bahn als auch bei Flixtrain Luft nach oben.

Bei den Rückerstattungen fiel vor allem die Deutsche Bahn negativ auf: In vier von fünf Fällen zahlte sie das Geld nicht innerhalb der gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Frist von einem Monat aus. Die Bearbeitung von Rückerstattungen erfolgt zwar mittlerweile digital, doch auch das klappt nicht immer reibungslos. Flixtrain wurde in diesem Punkt von der Stiftung Warentest nicht bewertet, da nur ein Erstattungsfall auftrat.

Komfort: Deutsche Bahn schneidet besser ab

Komfort spielt bei Zugreisen natürlich auch eine große Rolle. Du willst während der Fahrt entspannen und die Zeit möglichst produktiv nutzen können. Hier liegt die Deutsche Bahn mit dem ICE klar vorne. Laut dem Test bietet die Bahn die gemütlicheren Sitze als Flixtrain, mehr Beinfreiheit und ein besseres WLAN.

Flixtrain hat hingegen den Preis als klaren Vorteil auf seiner Seite. Du kannst günstigere Tickets ergattern und oft ein wahres Schnäppchen machen. Allerdings musst du bei Flixtrain Abstriche beim Komfort in Kauf nehmen: Die Züge sind älter, die Sitze enger, und das WLAN ist nicht so stabil wie im ICE.

Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis: Flixtrain günstiger, aber eingeschränkter

Flixtrain punktet vor allem mit günstigeren Ticketpreisen. Das macht ihn attraktiv für preisbewusste Reisende, die bereit sind, auf ein wenig Komfort zu verzichten. Dafür ist das Angebot eingeschränkter: Flixtrain fährt auf deutlich weniger Strecken als die Deutsche Bahn.

Stiftung Warentest empfiehlt, Tickets für die Deutsche Bahn möglichst früh zu buchen. Wer acht Wochen im Voraus plant, kann erheblich sparen. Kurzfristige Buchungen sind oft deutlich teurer. Hier zeigt sich der große Vorteil von Flixtrain: Die günstigen Tickets sind in der Regel auch kurzfristig noch zu haben.

Digitalisierung: Analoge Reisende werden benachteiligt

Ein großer Kritikpunkt von Stiftung Warentest betrifft die zunehmende Digitalisierung bei beiden Anbietern. Während die digitale Ticketbuchung bei der Deutschen Bahn bequem ist, stellt dies vor allem ältere Reisende, die nicht so technikaffin sind, vor Probleme.

Besonders bei Spartickets und BahnCards, die immer mehr nur noch digital erhältlich sind, fühlen sich viele aufs Abstellgleis geschoben. Tickets für Flixtrain-Fahrten sind ausschließlich online erhältlich. Das schließt analoge Reisende komplett aus.

Auf diese Kleidung im Flugzeug solltest du unbedingt verzichten

Fazit der Stiftung Warentest: Kein klarer Sieger

Weder die Deutsche Bahn noch Flixtrain konnten im Test der Stiftung Warentest vollends überzeugen. Beide Anbieter schneiden im Service-Test nur „befriedigend“ ab. Die Deutsche Bahn punktet mit besserem Komfort, aber schwächelt bei der Pünktlichkeit und der Rückerstattungspraxis.

Flixtrain hingegen lockt mit günstigeren Preisen, hat aber ein begrenztes Streckennetz und weniger Komfort. Welcher Anbieter letztlich besser für dich geeignet ist, hängt also davon ab, was dir auf deiner Reise wichtiger ist: Komfort oder der Preis?

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Deutsche Bahn vs Flixbus: Germany’s Top Transit Faceoff

Key differences.

Service and Network: Choose Deutsche Bahn for their extensive rail network and frequent services, ideal for seamless connectivity across Germany.

Travel Experience: Opt for Flixbus if you’re seeking pocket-friendly fares without compromising on essentials like free Wi-Fi and onboard rest amenities.

Sustainability: Select Deutsche Bahn for a greener ride, thanks to their significant investment in eco-friendly electric trains.

Deutsche Bahn in Germany: Comfort and Efficiency in Travel

Deutsche Bahn, a leading trailblazer in the German rail travel market, is renowned for its passenger-focused approach and sprawling nationwide network. The distinctive red trains of Deutsche Bahn has made comfortable and efficient travel a staple. Salient features include:

• Comfortable Seating: Deutsche Bahn’s seating is ergonomic, stress-relieving and perfectly tailored for long journeys.
• Wi-Fi and Power Outlets: High-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets are standard across its fleet, making work or leisure seamless.
• Online Booking and Mobile App: Futuristic digital platform and mobile app ensure smooth and quick ticket booking and management.
• Extensive Network: Unites major cities and idyllic towns across Germany, facilitating diverse travel itineraries.
• Eco-Friendly Travel: Committed to sustainable travel; extensive electric rail fleet reduces its carbon footprint significantly.
• Competitive Pricing: Reasonably priced fares with frequent deals and discounted options add to its appeal.
• Luggage Policy: Deutsche Bahn’s generous luggage policy exceeds most travel standards, comforting for long-distance travelers.
• Onboard Amenities: Inclusive amenities on offer, from comfortable rest areas to onboard dining, cater to all passenger needs.
• Safety Measures: Puts a premium on passenger safety with a fleet that upholds stringent safety norms.
• Punctuality: Known for its punctuality, Deutsche Bahn’s adherence to schedules boosts its credibility among travelers.
• User Review: Deutsche Bahn scores high on user review for its service, comfort and extensive network; some critics may suggest room for improvement in pricing.
• Cancellation Policy: Provides a flexible cancellation policy, but it may involve certain conditions or fees.
• Accessibility for Special Needs: Empowers accessibility for passengers with special needs, with provisions made for various types of accommodations.

Deutsche Bahn in Germany presents itself as the practical choice for travelers looking for comfort, efficiency and comprehensive connectivity.

Flixbus Germany: Delivering Quality and Affordability

Taking a deep dive into Germany’s land transport scene, Flixbus stands out by fusing modernity with practicality in intercity bus services. Here are the notable aspects of their service:

• Comfortable Seating: Non-restricted legroom with reclining seats ensures travelers’ comfort during long-distance travel.
• Wi-Fi and Power Outlets: Relish unlimited internet surfing and keep your devices charged with free Wi-Fi and in-seat power outlets.
• Online Booking and Mobile App: Navigate through ticket booking effortlessly with an intuitive mobile app and simple to use website.
• Extensive Network: Flixbus covers numerous cities across Germany and Europe, providing vast connectivity options.
• Eco-Friendly Travel: The company is committed to “green” travel, actively trying to reduce the carbon footprint.
• Competitive Pricing: Robust and frequently upgraded pricing model ensures cost-effective travels every time.
• Luggage Policy: Their generous luggage policy accommodates both carry-on and checked-in luggage, hassle-free.
• Onboard Amenities: Relish a selection of snacks and beverages onboard, along with clean and functional restroom amenities.
• Safety Measures: Safety ranks high with Flixbus, made possible by a modern fleet and trained drivers.
• Punctuality: Known for its reliable service, Flixbus sticks strictly to the schedule, ensuring there are no unnecessary delays.
• User Review: Positive reviews often cite Flixbus’s extensive network and affordability, though scope for improvement in comfort is noted.
• Cancellation Policy: A relatively flexible cancellation policy aids passengers intending to tweak their travel plans, subject to conditions.
• Accessibility for Special Needs: Tireless efforts in meeting requirements of passengers with special needs make Flixbus an inclusive travel option.

Flixbus Germany, by blending affordability with quality, emerges as a pragmatic choice for travelers seeking a comprehensive transport solution within the country.

Deutsche Bahn vs Flixbus Germany: Your Ideal Travel Companion

After journeying through the details of both Deutsche Bahn and Flixbus, we reach a conclusion that caters to the diverse needs of the passenger. On the one hand, Deutsche Bahn stands as a monument to comfort and punctuality, with a robust infrastructure that makes it hard to overlook for rail enthusiasts. Its promise of seamless onboard services and nationwide coverage makes it a dependable choice, particularly for those who take pleasure in the romance of train travel.

Flixbus, on the flip side, marries affordability with a decent level of comfort. It excels in giving travelers a budget-friendly route across Germany and beyond. With its strong commitment to eco-friendly bus travel, Flixbus doesn’t just save your wallet but also cares for the environment.

Choices hinge on individual preferences. If your voyage is driven by the quest for exhaustive services and the delight of railway charm, Deutsche Bahn is your ticket. However, if your compass points towards saving and green travel, board a Flixbus and depart for your destination without strain on your purse or the planet.

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{Germany} Travelling on the ICE with Kids

In my travel guide to Wuppertal from the other week, I mentioned that we always took the ICE high speed train from Berlin to Wuppertal, so I thought I would tell you a bit more about travelling with the ICE in Germany. ICE is short for Intercity-Express, and is a system of high-speed trains running mostly in Germany, and it surrounding countries. The ICE offers some great services for families.

Children age 0-5 always travel for free. Children age 6-14 travel for free if they are travelling with a parent or grandparent AND if you add them to your adult ticket at the time of booking! If they are travelling with someone else or on their own, they pay 50% of the full ticket price. There are also family tickets available for anyone travelling with 4 or more children. Kids age 15+ pay the regular full ticket price.

Most ICE trains have either a ‘Kleinkinderabteil’ (a compartment aimed at families with children up to 3 years, i.e. babies and toddlers) or a ‘Familienbereich’ (a family area aimed at families with children of pre-school and primary school age). The Kleinkinderabteil is usually a separate compartment with doors you can close, with table seats (the ones we have travelled in always had two tables i.e. 8 seats in total), space to park a couple of strollers, and extra floor space for playing. These are the type of seats we always reserve when we can – they book out quickly, and I’ve sometimes booked trains for a different time than intended so we can get the seats. Some people hate these seats, they find it too noisy with lots of kids in a confined space, or the floor too dirty to put their kids down. But I think it’s great that you can close the doors and your kids can’t run off down the length of the train, especially since my younger boy is a runner! The train aisle runs past the compartment, so no other passengers need to pass through. If you are worried about putting babies down on the floor, just bring a light blanket to put down. And we’ve always found it fun to meet other families to play with.

We’ve never travelled on an ICE so far that had a Familienbereich, but I have read that they have between 8 and 24 seats and are a bit more open space. Some ICE trains also have a ‘Familienbetreuer’ on board, who offers family activities such as crafts, drawing, storytelling or face painting. We’ve never managed to catch one of those trains, but we have met other families along the way who have. They run on weekends in selected trains, and you can check on the Deutsche Bahn website which routes offer this service.

Both types of family areas – Kleinkinderabteil and Familienbereich – are almost always near a train entrance and near a toilet. You can reserve seats – both the special ones and regular seats – at a cost of 9 Euros for a family of up to 5 people, which saves you some money as usually it’s 4.50 Euros per person/seat. That’s for 2nd class, by the way. For 1st class, it’s 11.80 Euros for families and 5.90 Euros for single seats, but we’ve never gone 1st class as the family compartments are in 2nd class.

Freebies for Kids

Undoubtedly, the thing my kids most look forward to when we travel with the ICE, is the freebies. If you go to the dining car – which is usually somewhere near the family compartment/area, you can collect a free  kids magazine with stories, games and colouring pages. The magazine changes a couple of times a year, so if you are a frequent traveller it won’t always be the same. On our last trip, the magazine had a pull out card game in the middle, so that was another extra to keep us occupied.

You can also ask for a free colouring activity book, which comes with coloured pencils. Again, this changes periodically and we’ve had several different versions over the past years. Finally, if you are lucky and they haven’t run out, you can collect a free little toy ICE. They’ve started bringing out different versions of this too, so we’ve had the Little ICE, the night train, and the girl train Ida.

At one point, we had accumulated over a dozen of these, as we’d have four at the end of each trip to visit the grandparents (two on the way there – one per kid – and two on the way back), but we recently had a clear out and now just have six – one of each train per kid. One time, they had run out of toy trains and we were given a Little ICE memory game instead, and on our last trip we lucked out and got the whole lot: magazine, colouring book and pencils, card game and toy train! And it was all free!

Finally, the little story book in the picture, about Oli riding the train, is not actually from the ICE, it’s from the S-Bahn which is a local railway that also runs out of Berlin. We got it at the information desk at Berlin Central Station – you can just go and ask for it.

So, you can see why we love riding the ICE! Maybe next time you are travelling around Germany, you will take your kids on the ICE too.

5 July 2017

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20 january 2020, comments: 11.

Wow I can’t believe you get all those freebies definitely a highlight for any child on a train trip like that!

Wow you can’t beat a freebie and these looks like the perfect way to keep children entertained :)

Jordanne | Thelifeofaglasgowgirl

This sounds fab, it’s great that it has do many services and it’s amazing they have stuff to keep the kids happy!

Jordanne || Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk

Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs

Those activity packs are an awesome idea to keep the kiddies entertained on a journey. I can see why you like traveling on the ICE.

Kerry Norris

Wow looks like a fantastic service unlike the rubbish we get here in the uk. X

Fashion and Style Police

Those are loads of freebies. So cool! My kids would love them.

Musings of a tired mummy...zzz...

Great that they have so much to keep the kids interested/occupied during a trip. Well thought through and helpful to parents

Wow, This is an amazing blog to read and also here I know the very interesting way to keep your children entertained.

Party and Event Planning Pretoria, Johannesburg

This is definitely going on the bucket list. Thanks for an informative post.

Do you know if you can bring a child’s car seat on the train and use it? We will be visiting Germany and have to bring a car seat for the rental car that we will have but will also likely be taking the ice.

www.fooddoz.com

Thanks for the post.

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Train Review: Deutsche Bahn Intercity Express (ICE) First Class

I’ve used DB ICE for years and never bothered to pay the supplement for first class. This time, however, it just made sense.

ICE First Class Booking

Deutsche Bahn has an excellent website, not only for booking for you train travel from checking train schedules across Continental Europe. The app for iPhone is also excellent and highly recommended.

As often happens when leaving Germany, I find it easier to take a train to Frankfurt to begin my journey then start from Basel (where prices are higher) or drive to Zurich. Train schedules to Zurich are less frequent and I prefer FRA over ZRH, since upgrades and award space is usually easier.

For this trip, I wanted to spend the entire Sunday with my family, then get up to Frankfurt in time for an early flight on Monday. That mean the dreaded overnight train. Germany offers many “Nachtzug” trains (trains specially intended or overnight service with sleepers). This was not one of those routes. Instead, this was a typical ICE train that has seats that are more akin to traveling economy class (i.e., not roomy like Amtrak in the USA).

But look at the price the day before:

I’ve never seen a ticket that cheap…and then I noticed the first class upgrade was only 10EUR.

It was an easy choice to book first class, if for nothing else than first class is generally not as crowded as second class.

First Class bookings come with a seat assignment included (you pay extra for one in second class) and I was able to pull up a seat map and choose my preferred seat. The cabin looked empty!

After confirming my seat, I was able to pay by credit card and issue the ticket immediately, then download a .pdf to my computer and a mobile ticket on the DB app.

ICE First Class Onboard Experience

My wife accompanied me to the Basel Bad Station and kissed me goodbye as I boarded the train. I smiled because I had the entire carriage to myself. That wouldn’t be the case the entire journey, as more passengers are picked up as the train travels north, but this was definitely already worth the extra 10EUR, just for the peace and quiet.

The seats are the same as in second class, but covered in faux leather instead of cloth and in a 1-2 configuration instead of a 2-2 configuration.

Complimentary newspapers and magazines were available.

I noticed that the six-seat compartments were empty and decided to spread out in one, creating a “poor man’s first class”. It was a cold night and I appreciated temperature and lighting controls to heat up the cabin and make it dark.

We departed on-time and soon a conductor entered my cabin and scanned my ticket. With that, I fell asleep and managed to get nearly four hours of sleep before arriving in Frankfurt (yes, I sent multiple alarms to ensure I would not sleep past my stop). The compartment stayed empty the entire journey.

While I don’t have experience traveling on a train in first class on regular basis, I’ve never been on a train so empty in second class. 10EUR for a short, albeit solid night’s rest? What a great deal!

If you are traveling with luggage, there are no checked bags, but plenty of space above seats and in between rows to store bags.

ICE First Class Dining

ICE trains feature a dining car onboard. While I slept through this journey, I wanted to share pictures from a meal I had on a previous journey.

First Class does not receive complimentary food ( except on ICE trains to France in cooperation with TGV ), but you can order food and drinks at your seat. If you are traveling in Second Class, you must visit the café or dining car to order food.

Here’s the current menu:

On a previous trip, my wife and I had lunch onboard, splitting maultaschen with salad. I’m a picky maultaschen (a Schwabish dish with an outer-layer of pasta dough and a filling of minced meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions) eater and this was very tasty.

I look forward to dining on ICE again on a future journey.

This was literally the best 10EUR I’ve ever spent. If you see an upgrade for that cheap, grab it. Overall, I’ve run into several delays over the years on DB…the train certainly does not always run on time. But I’ve come to appreciate DB and suddenly am a big fan of the first class product, even if the hard product isn’t that much different.

Have you traveled on DB ICE in first class?

> Read More: TGV First Class from Stuttgart to Paris Train Review

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About author.

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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16 comments.

On the trains in Germany do you have to be concerned about having luggage stolen from the overhead racks?

I’ve been told that in Europe it’s generally a bad idea to put your bags up there as their is a high probability of having them stolen. I even saw it happen once to a family on a train into Paris where when they went to get up and get off a bag they had placed on the overhead rack was gone. I didn’t see the bag being taken just the family frantically trying to figure out where it went.

It’s not Japan, but I’ve found it’s generally not an issue on ICE trains, especially in 1st. Still, common sense should prevail…don’t leave bags unattended, especially during stops.

So easy for cops to setup stings. Put GPS enabled bags. Then follow the thief and beat him up. Don’t bother with arrest and court cases. Just beat him up.

This extra judicial justice needs to off the records through mutual trust between a group of cops that will never snitch on each other. That’s very hard. All type A rambos always snitch.

I think one information is wrong. The DB does not offer overnight trains with sleepers. This service was shut down in 2016. Now the only overnight trains are from the Austrian railway (öbb).

So clean. If this was the liberal california everything would be dirty and graffiti and people would defend the rights of the perpetrator.

Is someone else posting in debit’s name? Because this sounds like someone else…also, what trains in “liberal california” are these?

@Aaron, “credit/debit” isn’t an actual person. Someone has just been posting inflammatory and/or bizarre things under those handles for years in an attempt to sow chaos on this and a few other travel hacking blogs. Best just to ignore it.

I usually prefer to travel 1st on ICE if I’m booking the tickets myself and they are not too expensive (as is the case 60% of the time). I have however had several negative experiences with delays and have found the east-west routes to be really slow because the tracks are not rated for high speeds. I would also say that the service in first class is really inconsistent because the trains are understaffed. I have been on 5hr journeys where I was not once asked whether I wanted to order something from the menu. When there is someone to take your order, it may take them 20min to bring you a coffee and another 90min to finally get your cup after you drank it. Ryanair has better service than that. The seats and the quieter cabin are a nice plus though for paying marginally more.

I found that service in 1st, during a trip last Christmas, to be nothing special. Some attendants were fine, others cold. Having a train car that was almost empty was a nice bonus, but I hated how I was nickel and dimed for everything. They even returned after I paid my bill to tried to charge me for mayo and mustard packets!

The German railways sold their overnight sleeper trains to OBB who still run over night trains between Switzerland and Germany. If you had booked via OBB you would have been on the same service as the DB overnight train as both operators coaches make up the same train. Bless

10 eur is a standard upgrade price to 1st on DB. I usually pay it since the seat assignment in 2nd is 5 eur already. There are also first-class lounges, though they are super bare-bones even compared to a basic airline lounge.

That’s not standard based upon the Basel – Frankfurt routes I usually book. I’d always pay that. Usually it is 30-40EUR.

DB is Good But OBB is better!

I cannot imagine anything worse than arriving in Frankfurt ( or anywhere else..) at 0321, unless for a very early flight. I find the online booking system a bit confusing, but the staff at the stations have always been very helpful and obliging. One of the nice things about European trains is that the quality of the food in the stations is very good, not only eat-in but also the ‘fast’ options ‘to go’, and usually cheaper than the airports.

On my recent ICE first class mid-day trips in Germany from Hamburg to Berlin almost none of the menu food items were available– just candy and beverages. I would rate ICE first class a big step down from the French Thalys trains (which have a choice of tasty complimentary meals and snacks in first class, as well as a much more polished crew) and a huge step down from the Green cars (first class) on Japanese trains, which have LA-Z-BOY style seats.

First Class experience on ICE train from Zurich to Amsterdam was hugely disappointing. Constant changes announced mid-journey from original scheduled route. No airconditioning – very hot day. Very poor service of food and drinks to seat as advertised. German passengers were extremely noisy on the telephone and on Zoom calls so the promise of quieter travel was an empty one. And finally, all the footrests need to be oiled to stop the irritating squeaking everytime someone moves their feet.

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The super saver fare ticket for young people - for everyone under 27

Inexpensive and flexible travel within Germany is all yours for as little as EUR 12.99 on selected routes.

• 25% discount with the BahnCard 25 or BahnCard 50  (excluding City-Ticket)
• Children up to the age of 14 travel free of charge when accompanied by a person aged 15 or over
• Can be booked in the app

Frequently asked questions about the super saver fare ticket for young people

What is the ticket called in german.

Super Sparpreis Young

How can I purchase the ticket?

You can find the super saver fare ticket for young people in the regular travel information. This ticket is for customers up to and including 26 years of age.   The offering is available along with all of the other ticket types listed for passengers aged 15-26 . This also applies to the app.

Eligibility is based on the passenger's age on the first day of travel. Train attendants check the passenger's age.

Can children travel free of charge?

• Children up to 5 years of age always travel free of charge and do not need to be indicated when booking.
• Children aged 6-14 travel free of charge when accompanied by a person aged 15 or over. However, they must be indicated in the booking. The ticket holder can bring up to four children per ticket.
• Exception: When using a City-Ticket, children aged 6-14 pay the children's fare for a single journey in the respective transport association.

Can I rebook or cancel my ticket?

No. It is not possible to exchange or cancel this type of ticket.

Instant cancellation

You can cancel your digital ticket free of charge within a period of 3 hours (180 minutes) after purchase regardless of the specific offer's terms and conditions. You will receive a full refund of what you paid. 

• Further information on ticket cancellation Further information: Further information on ticket cancellation

Can I buy the ticket for my child who will be travelling alone?

Yes, the ticket is available for children and young adults aged 26 and under (eligibility is based on age on first day of travel).

How far in advance can I buy the ticket?

Within the constraints of the timetable changeovers in June and December, you can book tickets max. 6 months before you travel.

Which trains can I travel with?

If you have a (super) saver fare ticket, you can only travel on the service indicated on the ticket. Offers are available for ICE/IC/EC connections within Germany. You can use local transport (e.g. RE, RB, IRE and S-Bahn or non-DB trains) to get to/from a long-distance station if you include them in your booking. You are not restricted to travelling on a specific train when using local rail services. However, your journey must be completed by 10:00 am the following day.

Do I get a discount if I have a BahnCard?

BahnCard 25 and 50 holders get a 25% discount.

• Overview of BahnCard 25 and 50 Further information: Overview of BahnCard 25 and 50

When is a City-Ticket included?

Passengers who purchase a (super) saver fare can also use the City-Ticket. It is now issued as an add-on to the (super) saver fare, depending on your connection. When booking a (super) saver fare, the City-Ticket will be available separately for a fee depending on the specific departure or destination stop. This is subject to the following conditions:

• The departure or destination stop is in one of the approximately 130 City-Ticket towns and cities
• Your booking includes a journey to or from the long-distance service within the City-Ticket area using local transport

If you indicate in your booking enquiry that you only need DB long-distance trains (e.g. from Cologne Main Station to Berlin Central) and do not require a transfer within the City-Ticket area using local transport, the saver fare ticket will be issued without a City-Ticket.

The super saver fare promotion is only offered on long-distance trains (ICE, IC/EC) and is not available with a City-Ticket.

• Further information on City-Ticket Further information: Further information on City-Ticket

The New Silk Road is booming: New DB Cargo subsidiary to increase rail freight transport between China and Europe

Article:  The New Silk Road is booming: New DB Cargo subsidiary to increase rail freight transport between China and Europe

Db cargo transasia strengthens db's presence db in china · shanghai headquarters · proximity to customers and new products to boost growth in rail transport between europe and china · new management team.

Climate-friendly and reliable rail freight transport is becoming increasingly important for global supply chains. Demand is booming on the New Silk Road, the rail route connecting Europe and China. Europe's largest freight railroad has established DB Cargo Transasia, giving its services in Asia a major boost. That's because DB Cargo is the only provider able to connect traffic on the New Silk Road to the European DB Cargo network. This link means there are now direct train connections to 18 European countries. A variety of services in conjunction with the more than 10,000 kilometer supply chain can now be offered in China more quickly and from a single source thanks to DB Cargo Transasia. This will make rail freight an even more attractive option. Transport along the trans-Eurasian corridor is significantly faster than by container ship and costs only a tenth of comparable air freight services.

DB Cargo Eurasia expands its role as a strong partner

DB Cargo Eurasia has opened several new routes between China and Europe this year, most recently the new Shanghai – Hamburg – Shanghai connection at the end of September. DB Cargo Eurasia currently handles transport on more than ten routes.

China was Germany's most important trading partner in 2020 – for the fifth year in a row. According to industry estimates, more than 12,000 trains traveled on the Eurasian corridor in 2020. Recent growth rates put the increase at 3,000 trains per year. DB also wants to further increase its transport capacity, from over 200,000 containers (TEU) on the Eurasian corridor in 2020 to 500,000 containers by 2025. It makes good economic and environmental sense: Freight trains generate roughly 95% lower carbon emissions than airplanes and nearly 80% to 100% lower emissions than comparable road transport. 

DB Cargo Eurasia has made a few organizational changes to further explore this potential. Andreas Lübs has been at the helm of the company as its new CEO since September of this year. As of December 1, Tabea Klang will assume the role of Managing Director for Sales (CSO).

Andreas Lübs joined DB Cargo Eurasia in 2018 and has been instrumental in developing and expanding business on the Eurasian corridor. Prior to being appointed CEO, he served as the company's CFO.

Tabea Klang gained important professional experience with the OECD in Central Asia and through her studies in Moscow. She will contribute in-depth knowledge of the DB Group from her work as Executive Assistant to the Member of the Deutsche Bahn AG Management Board for Freight Transport/Chair of the Management Board of DB Cargo AG. In addition, she speaks five languages and is therefore in an excellent position to further advance DB Cargo AG's global network and international business as CSO.

Overview of current transport routes

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