Travel on the German Rail Pass
Cheap Railway Travel and Savings on Deutsche Bahn Trains in Germany
The German Rail Pass is a good deal for cheap train travel on Deutsche Bahn trains. Germany can be explored on this fare saving ticket on four to ten days in a month.
The German Rail Pass can be a very good deal for international travelers exploring Germany. It allows for unlimited travel on all Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) trains, including high-speed Inter-City-Express (ICE) trains.
The German Rail Pass is a flexi-pass valid for any four to ten days in a given four-week period. It is available in five versions:
- First Class adults
- Second Class adults
- First Class twin
- Second Class twin
- Youth Pass
The twin pass can be used by two adults traveling together while the youth pass is available only to young persons between 12 and 25 traveling in second class. Children between 6 and 11 pay half the adult fee for either first or second class, while children under 6 always travel for free on Deutsche Bahn trains.
- The German Rail Pass is not transferable – names are entered on the pass and inspectors frequently check passports when controlling tickets.
Where Can German Rail Passes Be Bought?
The German Rail Pass is only available to non-German residents. It is best bought overseas from travel agents – traditional or on the internet – selling railway tickets. It is possible to buy the German Rail Pass in Germany itself but only at major railway stations.
The German Rail Pass must be validated at any major German railway station prior to first use. On subsequent days, the date must be entered in ink prior to commencement of railway journeys.
Is the German Rail Pass a Good Deal?
The German Rail Pass can be a very good deal but it depends totally on the distances and routes covered during a holiday. The pass works best when a few days of one-way, long-distance travel are planned. Standard German rail discounts are available only on return trips while many tourists will plot a circular or triangular route through Germany.
An adult traveling solo in second class will pay at 2008 prices for the following journey:
- Frankfurt to Cologne - €58
- Cologne to Berlin - €102
- Berlin to Munich - €109
- Munich to Frankfurt - €85
The total of €354 is significantly higher than the €174 for a four-day second-class pass (or even the €225 for a four-day first class pass).
- The longer the train ride, the better deal the German Rail Pass becomes.
Validity of the German Rail Pass
The German Rail Pass is valid on all Deutsche Bahn trains and many countryside buses operated by or on behalf of Deutsche Bahn (look for the red DB signs). It also allows free day cruises on the K-D line on the Rhine River, discounts for the Europabus on the Romantic Road route, and discounts for ascending Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.
Seat reservations are generally not required on German trains but a good idea on longer journeys and especially at busy times such as Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are currently €4 per seat (€5 in first class).
- Children under 6 always travel free on German trains – clever parents pay €4 and reserve for the child an own seat.
For German residents, who do not qualify for the German Rail Pass, and all foreign travelers a wide range of further discounts are available to save when buying tickets for travel on Deutsche Bahn trains.
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