Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy this week’s guide to German train travel! Believe it or not, there are MANY additional considerations and tips I left out of the video for time sake, so be sure to read the written version for the full scoop: happytowander.com/how-to-take-trains-in-germany/ PS: The titles for steps 6 & 7 went missing for some reason - oops! I've included them in the time stamps though for your reference.
Thank you for the video! We are planning a trip to Oktoberfest and are hoping you can help with two questions. If we fly into Frankfurt, can we take a train to Augsburg from the Frankfurt airport? Also, for travel between Augsburg/Munich, should we purchase advance tickets or is it ok to buy group tickets when we arrive at the hbf? Thank you!
A very clear and concise guide for non-German travellers! The video quality is also good (editing, matching scenes to the explanations, no loud music, ...). Greetings from Leipzig.
We used your amazing tips on a recent trip to Germany and I wanted to say thank you so much for making your channel and blog. It really made our planning so much easier and we had such a good trip.
Another wonderful video Christina. Full of pertinent and reliable information, and done in a friendly and open manner. Loved it. (Also....I see what you did with slowing down your cadence when narrating. It was never a concern of mine, but i know some of your viewers who wished it was slower, will be overjoyed at your effort. Such a class act.)
Thanks as usual for your kind comments :) I’m definitely hoping the change in pace will make my videos more inclusive. It can be a lot of info to take in!
Thanks for the advice on DB. I am a retired Canadian living in Strasbourg, so I often take DB. Oh, and you are absolutely correct about the Canadian train system: there are NO high-speed trains in Canada.
You are a superstar! Your channel has been my favourite thing in the planning phase of my trip!! Any recommendations for things to do around Christmas time in Stuggart & Munich?
You are so sweet!!! Yes, I actually do. I used to live in Munich so here's my full guide to the Christmas markets there: - Video version: ruclips.net/video/LNWhz3B8nbc/видео.html - Written version: happytowander.com/munich-christmas-markets-guide/ And here's a guide I wrote for Stuttgart: happytowander.com/stuttgart-christmas-market-guide/ Hope those help! Safe travels :)
I recently did a trip through Germany by train and the tip I would give people is get both a Interrail pass for the long distance trips (make sure to calculate how many days you'll be using ICE to get the best deal) and subscribe for a Deutschlandticket which gives you free range on all local and regional transit for just €49, just make sure you unsubscribe because it is a membership rather than a one month ticket. Note that reserving a seat with Interrail/Eurail isn't really convenient, but in my (short) experience I didn't had any issues even though I didn't reserve. Although I was alone and sometimes I had to search for a single spot, so if you're with a family or a large group, I would recommend it either way.
This might be a dumb question but, it works in all regions? im doing a month long trip in germany next year…so lets say i buy this subscription, it would work while im in Munich, and in Berlin? (to make day trips to & from those cities which are in different regions)
@@samanatharobinson The Deutschlandticket works on all trains and buses within Germany that are NOT ICE, IC or EC trains. This means you can use all RE (regional express), RB (regional train), all local buses (NOT long distance buses) and all local trams, light rails, U Bahn or S Bahn trains. I wouldn't recommend travelling from Munich to Berlin only with regional trains as it obviously would take a LOT of time (but not impossible). A small tip if you are in Munich: With the Deutschlandticket, you can use one regional train travelling to Salzburg in Austria and back, about 2 hours per trip. Sometimes it makes sense to check if an ICE/IC connection is much faster than regional trains as there are many fast RE trains travelling with up to 200 km/h. For example, if you travel within the Rhein-Ruhr are, riding a regional train takes often just a tiny bit more time than an ICE but you don't have to pay for an ICE ticket. This can save you a lot of money. For booking tickets I recommend the app "DB Navigator" which you can view in English. There you can see all informations and book tickets as well as save trips. If something changes on the route you get a notification (for example a platform change or a delay). DB navigator also shows different colors for different train types so it is even easier to see which train you can take and which not. Don't be confused with additions of letters to train lines, for example HLB RE80. Here, the HLB stands for the train operator and might not be shown all the time. It's just relevant for you that it's an RE which means you can take it with your Deutschlandticket. I hope I could help you a bit, if you have any questions, feel free to ask :)
your detailed explaination of travel sounds like a complex skill not many have . if someone wanna walk into unknown its more exciting and surprising . in eu travel seems costly experience . so most just travel digitally these days thru youtube without moving physically😁
Exactly😢 I love and hate Europe. I was fascinated by the stunning scenery and rich history, but I was overwhelmed by the high cost. I think trainpal's discount coupon saved me.
A very tiny correction: the complaints about Deutsche Bahn are not made by Germans that don't know how bad railway systems can be in other countries but by Germans that experienced in neighboring countries how good railway systems can be.
It doesn't take a comparison to complain when my train gets cancelled 1 h before I wanna take it , I wait 20 min for my now or never bus train combo option that never shows up and I just don't get to a place. Ate the fish. Puked. Dunno how bad the fish elsewhere is but. This isn't good.
Some notes on your videos: Fares and delays: You have four types of trains in germany: Privately run companies with their own fare systems like Flixtrain. Then you have the DB fare system (which is used on almost all trains in germany): ICE/ECE trains (highest category) IC/EC trains and literally anything else (lowest category) The fare class is printed on your ticket or below the 2D-barcode on your app, but it always corresponds with an actual train on your itinerary. In case of missed connections or cancellations, lower fare trains can be used with higher fare class tickets but not vice-versa. You need to buy a new ticket to choose an alternative on a higher fare class, but you may be able to be reimbursed if it was due to delay or cancellation (but there is no such reimbursement for highly subsidized tickets like the Deutschland-Ticket). On higher fare classes (IC, ICE), the cheaper tickets are bound to your itinerary. In case of an expected delay exceeding 20 min (at the destination) or a cancellation, your cheap ticket converts to "a take any train on to get there"-tickets. As an aside: The U-Bahn legally is a tram, which is legally not a train, so they have their own independent fare systems. On your long-distance ticket, you might see a "+City", in which case a one-way ticket to your destination of choice using local public transport is included.
Definitely some help needed on linking the train needed to the platform number. I arrived at Berlin hbf on Tuesday and quickly found a map that told me I needed the purple line to get to my destination. But there was no key on the map that gave the purple line a name. So I looked for signs for the purple line. There weren't any. Only platform numbers. There was no information linking the colour of the lines to the platform numbers. So I wandered around for an hour, going up and down stairs (fully laden with luggage) trying every single platform just to see if there was a train heading towards my stop. It wasn't until the 4th member of staff I asked before I got an answer. All this took an hour, by the end of which I looked and felt like I'd just run a marathon.
In my experience, DB offers SOOO many deals and savings programs that anyone just trying to buy a single ticket is left utterly confused. I’m not opposed to deals, but DB could do much simplifying their program.
What railway or where should we get out ticket planning to travel Munich then number, Berlin Hamburg Frankfurt and others cities in Germany can I buy all tickets in different cities with 1 companie or raill station
Can you make a video explaining how to go seat-hunting in a long distance train like IC or ICE if you haven't reserved a seat with your ticket? I heard there is an LCD on the seats that indicate which journey has that seat booked for. Cheers
I realize you focus on German trains. However, can you recommend a video from a colleague or vlogger you find reputable for the ins and outs of French or Belgian trains, traveling with Eurail Pass? Most Eurail Passer vloggers don't focus on specific nations, as you do. I am looking for a French rail and Belgian rail expert, who knows more information than simply the use of the pass itself...so nation specific details. Thank you for your helpful advice and tips.
Hi there! Enjoying your videos as I plan for my upcoming trip! Wondering which app I should use to book the train. You mentioned Omio and Deutsche Bahn in a video, and someone else recommended Trainline. All had more negative reviews than good. I wasn’t sure how to parse out user error and frustration from actual app issues. I kind of lost confidence in the one I set out to use. Any advice? TIA! 😊
Hi! Is this just for trains within Germany? If so, book direct with Deutsche Bahn for sure. Generally, I would say booking direct with the train operator (e.g Deutsche Bahn) is the best way to go when you know you’ll be taking the train for sure, and the booking interface of that company is simple (like with DB). The main benefit of Omio is it can search buses, trains AND flights at once, so if you are flexible re: type of transport or intend to use a mix, then searching and booking with Omio is great because it keeps all those tickets in one place. It can also be good if you’re booking lots of tickets from various operators (e.g Deutsche Bahn but also companies in other countries) because again, all the tickets can be held in one app. The other benefit of 3rd parties is they provide a simple and familiar experience which is nice when direct sites aren’t easy to use (I’ve had issues booking direct in Spain for instance). I exclusively use Trainline in the UK because it compares all the many train operators at once and has lots of helpful features I like. I’ve used both Omio and Trainline loads and never had issues. They do take a small service fee but I think it’s worth it for the convenience. In any case, Omio can be a really helpful search/comparison tool. You can always use it to search then book with the operators directly to save the service fee! Sorry for rambling but I hope that helps!
@@HappytoWander Thank you so much for all the info! We’re only needing train tickets this time around, but will be booking in a few countries. Sounds like Omio is a good starting point to check rates at the very least. I appreciate your thoughtful response and have been really enjoying your content. I’m so glad I found your channel! Thanks again! Cheers!
Just stumbled across your channel and good, helpful content aside, I just wanted to say that the production quality of your videos is really nice. Good footage, nice editing, great lighting in the narration section, overall just great audio-visual presentation.
Hello! Great video, I have some questions if I might ask here. Monschau - Aachen(one day) - Luxemberg is part of my itinerary, at first I checked the prices seperately on DB app, Monschau - Aachen costs me and my 14 y/o son 6.9+3 euros, then about 35 euros for the train to Luxemberg, it seems free for my son. I also saw a trick online that I could make a stopover, so I checked Monschau-Luxemburg with a 24h stopover at Aachen. The price is around 35euros. 1, if I take the train, then my bus ride is free? Also my son's bus ride becomes free too? I just use this e-ticket to take the bus and train? 2, the bus options on DB app doesn't fit me very well, to the hotel I have booked in Aachen actually just needs one direct bus SB66 instead 2-3 changes it offers. Can I take the bus that I want? I have been studying about Germany's transpotation for many days, it is really complicated. Thanks! 🙏
hello! this has been very helpful for first timers. thank you for the effort you've put in to make this video. Just a quick question. I need to get to Geneva from Munich. It has a transfer in Zurich Hbf but the transfer time is only 5 minutes. Will this work? In case I don't make it on time for the transfer, can I wait for the next train? Or will I have to buy another ticket for that? Thank you!
Great video, thanks for making this. I wonder if you could answer a couple of questions I have? I intend to travel from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Friedrichshafen, Germany this November. Can you recommend which booking service I should use for an international journey such as this? Secondly, I will have a large piece of luggage with me - what happens if your luggage won't fit in the standard luggage racks?
Thanks for your video. I'm planning a trip to Dusseldorf, Germany in July. We are renting a car to drive to the Taylor Swift concert. I'll return the car at airport and we will be traveling by train to Bacharach. How will we get from car rental (Avis) to train station at airport? I'm also having a hard time getting train tickets for an overnight trip to Bruges from Dusseldorf. Can you help me?
Will be in Germany this sept/oct for about 8 days. Trying to use the DB app to get from city to city. Munich> Frankfurt> cologne> Hamburg. Just type in the city and date? That simple?
I am going to be flying into Frankfurt next month and I want to get to Lucerne Switzerland. I will be staying in Lucerne for three days and then going to Baden Baden Germany for 5 days then returning to Frankfurt the day before I leave. I would love to travel by train, but the more I look into it the more I think renting a car would be easier and would probably cost around the same money as it would cost for those three train traveling days. I still haven’t found a video that tells me how to get a train from Frankfurt to Lucerne. I’m sure there would be multiple trains. I would have to take, but I can’t find one site that can accomplish it for me. Any thoughts? Advice?
I´m looking for the same information! I´m coming into Berlin in December and I need to get to Prague and then back again on the 14th. So far, I can only find a Global Pass on Eurail and it´s about $288!
All your information is so helpful and organized. However, we are trying to find someone who can give a tutorial on how to make a seat reservation without buying a ticket, using the DB kiosks. Unfortunately our cell phones from the USA may be limited in Germany, especially with data, so reserving on the app can be problematic. We have both tried, and both failed. I have tried on the website as well, but my credit card company blocked my card usage from an international vendor. They reported my credit card as compromised, rendering my card useless. I now have to go to the bank in person to obtain a new credit card. We shall have Eurail Passes and only need the reservations for the IC, ICE and EC trains, just in case. Can you please show us step-by-step which buttons to press in order to reserve the seats without having to purchase the ticket as well? You can do it in German or English, as I speak/read both.
I assume you mean congested hours. Mostly it's Monday to Friday from 6 to 9 am, and from 4 to 6 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no peak hours. There can be some regional lines who have issues with capacity in General but it's rare
How much is "a few days" or "a while"? Im only staying for a week. Mostly traveling within the city of Munich. Doing 3 day trips (salzburg, Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Dachau) Which train pass would be best for me??
The best option depends on some factors: I guess your travelling to Munich by plane? Do you want to stay in the core city area or do you also want to explore the area surrounding Munich? Is this week in a single month or is it in two different months? By the way: are you sure that you want to make a day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber? That's 3 to 4 hours by train one way. You have to switch trains several times which means chances are you miss one of these trains because of delays and it takes even longer.
@@Flo-vn9ty good points! Im staying one full week. Exploring the city center and museums the first day so the all day ticket or the Munich Card seems the best option? Since its unlimited and has discounts. I saw that round trip to Salzburg by DB train is like €50 and i saw that the Bayern Ticket is €29 and it covers unlimited train rides in Bavaria including Salzburg as an extra so i might do that instead. 🤔 I might also use the Bayern Ticket for when I travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber because its still cheaper than the actual one-way train ride. Plus its unlimited even on all regional trains so even if i miss a connection, ill be okay. im also spending the night at Rothenberg ob der Tauber to make the long trip worth while. Does it sound good? 🤔
@smoaktree To travel to Salzburg, the Bayern-Ticket is probably a good option. When traveling to Rothenburg, please be aware that the Bayern-Ticket is only valid on regional trains, this means no ICE, IC or EC trains. I don't know much about the discounts the munich card offers you. If they're worth it for you, go for it. If it's mainly for transportation, I think it's too expensive. A cheaper option that covers the same area would be the Isar Card. It's valid, either a week or a month. Please be aware that in both cases, the cheapest option only covers the city area. This means to travel from and to the airport or to Dachau, you would need to buy extra tickets or you would need to buy the more expensive versions of this cards that don't cover only the city area. Another affordable option that covers most of your travels (except for Salzburg as it is in Austria) would be the Deutschland-Ticket that's mentioned in the video. For 49 EUR, you can travel on all local trains and buses in Germany the whole month. The catch is: you can't buy it at the ticket machine. You have to create a subscription. But you can cancel it anytime. Also, it's only available as a digital ticket that you have to install on your phone. So it's probably more affordable than the other options, but it can be a hassle to buy and cancel it. Also, if the week your staying starts in one month and ends in another month, you would have to pay for two months.
There are attendants frequently going around but it's mostly easy to find your seat. Just get into the right train car and the seats you booked should have an electronic signage for the part of the journey you booked them for
@@mrpuddles7272Hello, I would like to ask help from you, of what kind of Train Pass should we purchase on our travel to Germany. 1st leg of our train journey will be : 1st day Offenburg to Colmar then back to Offenburg 2nd day Offenburg to Strasbourg back to Offenburg at night. 3rd day Offenburg to Gengenbach and Freiburg, back to Offenburg 4th day Offenburg to Heidelberg 5th day Heidelberg to Mannheim and Speyer 6th day travel to Cologne 7th day Heidelberg to Stuttgart and Essengen 8th day Heidelberg to Bern Switzerland ( stay there for 4days) 9th Travel from Bern to Munich ( as our base) 10th Munich to Regensburg back to Munich 11th day Munich to Nuremberg and Rothenburg Ob Der, then back yo Munich 12th day travel from Munich to Neushwanstein back to Munich 13th day Munich to Prague Stay for 3 days 14th day Prague to Dresden 15th day Dresden to Berlin Stay for 3days 16th Berlin to Hamburg Hoping that you can help us decide which pass should we get in Germany. Thank you so much. 😇
@@Vernskie104 The Deutschlandticket will be worthy and save you several hundred euros. E. G. From Trip 1 to 6 you would save 250€ using it. For some trips you need to pay money because you cross the border into France or Switzerland, where the Deutschlandticket is not valid. For some trips (e. g. Hamburg to Berlin) I would recommend booking an ICE early, which costs around 20 € but you have 2 hours travel and 0 changes insted of 5 hours and 3 to 4. My recommendation would also be to limit your destinations a bit more if you can as you have sometimes several citys per day which can be stressful, especially as your trips will probably not work out as they should
@@mrpuddles7272 don’t worry for our travel days, we are traveling for a month, and will stay 4-5 days, 6 days is max in each cities other cities we will take it as a day trip from where we are staying. Thank you so much. God bless you more for your kindness. 🙏
I bought the cheapest version of an ICE train from Frankfurt airport to Dusseldorf (ICE 820). The ticket says: "You can use all trains that are listed on your ticket. There is no train restriction for local trains (e.g. RE, RB, S)" What does that mean? If I missed my train, which next train can I take?
This is a good video, but I am having a heart attack since it all sounds very complicated. lol We want to go by train from Milan to Heidelberg to see the scenery. They all stop in Mannheim and you have only six minutes to change trains. How is it possible?? Got any suggestions? Thanks
As a German I can tell you how this is possible: run! Also prepare yourself that you might miss your next train. Mannheim is in one of these areas that are a real nightmare when it comes to delays. So chances are that your train to Mannheim is delayed and your next train already departed before you even arrived in Mannheim. Sometimes your lucky and the next train is delayed as well.
Plan an extra hour of time in. If you don't make the change because of a delay of your first train you are allowed to take another train heading to your final destination, so don't worry
I think it's in all ICE and IC trains as well as most RE trains. Even if not, it's mostly easy to understand and you can ask someone if you get confused. Most people will be eager to help
DON'T. Try anything else. Be creative. I did go places by train and cycled back 60km. If i had an e bike to help I'd do it both ways but instead im sitting here waiting for the next train. DB sucks.
Deutsche Bahn is crazy. My experiences have never been good. The U Bahn and Trams are great. And, no, you are wrong @14:18. That’s not where you find the information about the platform (Gleis).
Bad in Canada? Come on, I m a Canadian and live in Vancouver. Our train system is excellent. Please don't feed others with wrong information just to get viral.
Travelled across Canada last year from Vancouver to Halifax with multiple stops. What an awesome trip and highly recommend. Very useful video for this years trip to Europe thanks 19:33
You don't go viral with information everyone already knows about. I lived in Vancouver too and compared to the German city I grew up in the train system in Vancouver is in its absolute infancy, but it's better than other Canadian cities, which isn't saying much. Sorry.
![PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION in Germany [Explained] 🚍🚊](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WVVDK3u0quU/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy this week’s guide to German train travel! Believe it or not, there are MANY additional considerations and tips I left out of the video for time sake, so be sure to read the written version for the full scoop: happytowander.com/how-to-take-trains-in-germany/
PS: The titles for steps 6 & 7 went missing for some reason - oops! I've included them in the time stamps though for your reference.
Thank you for the video! We are planning a trip to Oktoberfest and are hoping you can help with two questions. If we fly into Frankfurt, can we take a train to Augsburg from the Frankfurt airport? Also, for travel between Augsburg/Munich, should we purchase advance tickets or is it ok to buy group tickets when we arrive at the hbf? Thank you!
Detailed and clear expression🙏 Thx for ur devotion😘 I tried the app mentioned by comments section, amazingly it is 💥super save🤩
I think this is one of the most comprehensive guide that I came across.... Awesome!
A very clear and concise guide for non-German travellers! The video quality is also good (editing, matching scenes to the explanations, no loud music, ...).
Greetings from Leipzig.
as a chronic overthinker i very much appreciate how much you go into detail. thank you!!
We used your amazing tips on a recent trip to Germany and I wanted to say thank you so much for making your channel and blog. It really made our planning so much easier and we had such a good trip.
This comment makes me so happy!!! Thank you so much for watching and I’m really happy to hear you had a great trip :)
Yessss! That is very elaborate👍 A tip is that some platforms have discount for Eu rails😂
Thank you so much I'm traveling to german in 2 weeks and trying to understand how to get from one city to another. It helped a lot
i plan to have a rail trip too, because last time, my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips
Helpful but still seems chaotic
Trying to book from stuttgart to berlin...any help would be appreciated
About that 49 Euro Ticket. It also includes local bus services and the use of subways and trams. Just one Ticket for everything.
Another wonderful video Christina. Full of pertinent and reliable information, and done in a friendly and open manner. Loved it. (Also....I see what you did with slowing down your cadence when narrating. It was never a concern of mine, but i know some of your viewers who wished it was slower, will be overjoyed at your effort. Such a class act.)
Thanks as usual for your kind comments :) I’m definitely hoping the change in pace will make my videos more inclusive. It can be a lot of info to take in!
@@HappytoWander - I hope so as well. You have a lot of amazing content here, and I wish more people will keep discovering it.
Thank you so much for explaining the railway system😉🇺🇸
You’re very welcome!!! Thanks so much for watching and commenting so quickly haha
Love your channel, using trains for Christmas markets this December, great tips, fellow b.c.er
Yay, hi fellow BCer! Hope this video helps make your trip as smooth as possible. Safe travels!
I will travel for the first time to Germany in a few days, and this video is amazing. Thank you!
So happy you found it helpful! Safe travels :)
Metoo, i plan to have a rail trip too, because last time, my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips
Fantastic information, great video. We love traveling by rail, your tips are a blessing.😊
Thanks for the advice on DB. I am a retired Canadian living in Strasbourg, so I often take DB. Oh, and you are absolutely correct about the Canadian train system: there are NO high-speed trains in Canada.
Thank you, we're going to Germany in 3 weeks. These instructions will be a big help!!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Hope you have an amazing trip!
Very well-done and presented!
I’ve been getting cheap tickets on an app. Want a share?
You are a superstar! Your channel has been my favourite thing in the planning phase of my trip!! Any recommendations for things to do around Christmas time in Stuggart & Munich?
You are so sweet!!! Yes, I actually do.
I used to live in Munich so here's my full guide to the Christmas markets there:
- Video version: ruclips.net/video/LNWhz3B8nbc/видео.html
- Written version: happytowander.com/munich-christmas-markets-guide/
And here's a guide I wrote for Stuttgart: happytowander.com/stuttgart-christmas-market-guide/
Hope those help! Safe travels :)
I recently did a trip through Germany by train and the tip I would give people is get both a Interrail pass for the long distance trips (make sure to calculate how many days you'll be using ICE to get the best deal) and subscribe for a Deutschlandticket which gives you free range on all local and regional transit for just €49, just make sure you unsubscribe because it is a membership rather than a one month ticket. Note that reserving a seat with Interrail/Eurail isn't really convenient, but in my (short) experience I didn't had any issues even though I didn't reserve. Although I was alone and sometimes I had to search for a single spot, so if you're with a family or a large group, I would recommend it either way.
This might be a dumb question but, it works in all regions? im doing a month long trip in germany next year…so lets say i buy this subscription, it would work while im in Munich, and in Berlin? (to make day trips to & from those cities which are in different regions)
i guess what im asking is if it works throughout the country for inter region & local travel or just for a selected designated region
Oh really? I have already bought tickets on trainpal which gives me a discount😮
@@samanatharobinson The Deutschlandticket works on all trains and buses within Germany that are NOT ICE, IC or EC trains. This means you can use all RE (regional express), RB (regional train), all local buses (NOT long distance buses) and all local trams, light rails, U Bahn or S Bahn trains. I wouldn't recommend travelling from Munich to Berlin only with regional trains as it obviously would take a LOT of time (but not impossible). A small tip if you are in Munich: With the Deutschlandticket, you can use one regional train travelling to Salzburg in Austria and back, about 2 hours per trip.
Sometimes it makes sense to check if an ICE/IC connection is much faster than regional trains as there are many fast RE trains travelling with up to 200 km/h. For example, if you travel within the Rhein-Ruhr are, riding a regional train takes often just a tiny bit more time than an ICE but you don't have to pay for an ICE ticket. This can save you a lot of money.
For booking tickets I recommend the app "DB Navigator" which you can view in English. There you can see all informations and book tickets as well as save trips. If something changes on the route you get a notification (for example a platform change or a delay). DB navigator also shows different colors for different train types so it is even easier to see which train you can take and which not.
Don't be confused with additions of letters to train lines, for example HLB RE80. Here, the HLB stands for the train operator and might not be shown all the time. It's just relevant for you that it's an RE which means you can take it with your Deutschlandticket.
I hope I could help you a bit, if you have any questions, feel free to ask :)
@@samanatharobinson it works for all regions inside Germany and it doesn't matter if you cross any region borders
your detailed explaination of travel sounds like a complex skill not many have . if someone wanna walk into unknown its more exciting and surprising . in eu travel seems costly experience . so most just travel digitally these days thru youtube without moving physically😁
Exactly😢 I love and hate Europe. I was fascinated by the stunning scenery and rich history, but I was overwhelmed by the high cost. I think trainpal's discount coupon saved me.
This is so helpful to my future trip thank you!
Wow, so much useful information! Thank you!
I’ve been getting cheap tickets on an app. Want a share?
A very tiny correction: the complaints about Deutsche Bahn are not made by Germans that don't know how bad railway systems can be in other countries but by Germans that experienced in neighboring countries how good railway systems can be.
It doesn't take a comparison to complain when my train gets cancelled 1 h before I wanna take it , I wait 20 min for my now or never bus train combo option that never shows up and I just don't get to a place. Ate the fish. Puked. Dunno how bad the fish elsewhere is but. This isn't good.
Some notes on your videos:
Fares and delays:
You have four types of trains in germany:
Privately run companies with their own fare systems like Flixtrain.
Then you have the DB fare system (which is used on almost all trains in germany):
ICE/ECE trains (highest category)
IC/EC trains
and literally anything else (lowest category)
The fare class is printed on your ticket or below the 2D-barcode on your app, but it always corresponds with an actual train on your itinerary.
In case of missed connections or cancellations, lower fare trains can be used with higher fare class tickets but not vice-versa. You need to buy a new ticket to choose an alternative on a higher fare class, but you may be able to be reimbursed if it was due to delay or cancellation (but there is no such reimbursement for highly subsidized tickets like the Deutschland-Ticket).
On higher fare classes (IC, ICE), the cheaper tickets are bound to your itinerary. In case of an expected delay exceeding 20 min (at the destination) or a cancellation, your cheap ticket converts to "a take any train on to get there"-tickets.
As an aside: The U-Bahn legally is a tram, which is legally not a train, so they have their own independent fare systems. On your long-distance ticket, you might see a "+City", in which case a one-way ticket to your destination of choice using local public transport is included.
Great information!
Super helpful- thanks!
Definitely some help needed on linking the train needed to the platform number. I arrived at Berlin hbf on Tuesday and quickly found a map that told me I needed the purple line to get to my destination. But there was no key on the map that gave the purple line a name. So I looked for signs for the purple line. There weren't any. Only platform numbers. There was no information linking the colour of the lines to the platform numbers. So I wandered around for an hour, going up and down stairs (fully laden with luggage) trying every single platform just to see if there was a train heading towards my stop. It wasn't until the 4th member of staff I asked before I got an answer. All this took an hour, by the end of which I looked and felt like I'd just run a marathon.
Omggggg! You are a life saver. Just subscribe to your channel
Very informative and interesting vlog.I love Germany,travelled there a lot by train when I was young.Thank you for sharing!
0:40 is that landscape in Rüdesheim am Rhein?
Great sharing!
In my experience, DB offers SOOO many deals and savings programs that anyone just trying to buy a single ticket is left utterly confused. I’m not opposed to deals, but DB could do much simplifying their program.
What railway or where should we get out ticket planning to travel Munich then number, Berlin Hamburg Frankfurt and others cities in Germany can I buy all tickets in different cities with 1 companie or raill station
Very helpful. You did not talk about baby carriages and bicycles on board storage. I plan to travel by train and bicycle this summer.
great job
Thank you!
Can you make a video explaining how to go seat-hunting in a long distance train like IC or ICE if you haven't reserved a seat with your ticket?
I heard there is an LCD on the seats that indicate which journey has that seat booked for.
Cheers
Thank you for sharing. Your vedios are very informative 👌. Can you please recommend one (or two) tour companies in Germany? ❤
I realize you focus on German trains. However, can you recommend a video from a colleague or vlogger you find reputable for the ins and outs of French or Belgian trains, traveling with Eurail Pass? Most Eurail Passer vloggers don't focus on specific nations, as you do. I am looking for a French rail and Belgian rail expert, who knows more information than simply the use of the pass itself...so nation specific details. Thank you for your helpful advice and tips.
It is very❤️useful...
Thank you
Hi there! Enjoying your videos as I plan for my upcoming trip! Wondering which app I should use to book the train. You mentioned Omio and Deutsche Bahn in a video, and someone else recommended Trainline. All had more negative reviews than good. I wasn’t sure how to parse out user error and frustration from actual app issues. I kind of lost confidence in the one I set out to use. Any advice? TIA! 😊
Hi! Is this just for trains within Germany? If so, book direct with Deutsche Bahn for sure.
Generally, I would say booking direct with the train operator (e.g Deutsche Bahn) is the best way to go when you know you’ll be taking the train for sure, and the booking interface of that company is simple (like with DB).
The main benefit of Omio is it can search buses, trains AND flights at once, so if you are flexible re: type of transport or intend to use a mix, then searching and booking with Omio is great because it keeps all those tickets in one place. It can also be good if you’re booking lots of tickets from various operators (e.g Deutsche Bahn but also companies in other countries) because again, all the tickets can be held in one app.
The other benefit of 3rd parties is they provide a simple and familiar experience which is nice when direct sites aren’t easy to use (I’ve had issues booking direct in Spain for instance).
I exclusively use Trainline in the UK because it compares all the many train operators at once and has lots of helpful features I like.
I’ve used both Omio and Trainline loads and never had issues. They do take a small service fee but I think it’s worth it for the convenience.
In any case, Omio can be a really helpful search/comparison tool. You can always use it to search then book with the operators directly to save the service fee!
Sorry for rambling but I hope that helps!
@@HappytoWander Thank you so much for all the info! We’re only needing train tickets this time around, but will be booking in a few countries. Sounds like Omio is a good starting point to check rates at the very least. I appreciate your thoughtful response and have been really enjoying your content. I’m so glad I found your channel! Thanks again! Cheers!
Recommend trainpal 🎉 it really saves a lot!!!!
Should I buyeuropass im travelling to Munich from Zurich then to France and Switzerland ?
Hi can you advise on the best way for ys to go from hamburg Airport to warnemunde cruise port
Just stumbled across your channel and good, helpful content aside, I just wanted to say that the production quality of your videos is really nice. Good footage, nice editing, great lighting in the narration section, overall just great audio-visual presentation.
Wow that’s so kind of you to say!!! Thank you so much for watching :)
Hello! Great video, I have some questions if I might ask here.
Monschau - Aachen(one day) - Luxemberg is part of my itinerary, at first I checked the prices seperately on DB app, Monschau - Aachen costs me and my 14 y/o son 6.9+3 euros, then about 35 euros for the train to Luxemberg, it seems free for my son. I also saw a trick online that I could make a stopover, so I checked Monschau-Luxemburg with a 24h stopover at Aachen. The price is around 35euros.
1, if I take the train, then my bus ride is free? Also my son's bus ride becomes free too? I just use this e-ticket to take the bus and train?
2, the bus options on DB app doesn't fit me very well, to the hotel I have booked in Aachen actually just needs one direct bus SB66 instead 2-3 changes it offers. Can I take the bus that I want?
I have been studying about Germany's transpotation for many days, it is really complicated. Thanks! 🙏
can you guide me on which train is going from Nurnberg to Ingolstadt
so, if we are taking trains on deustche bahn ICE, are we allowed to take two small piece of luggage as well as a backpack?
hello! this has been very helpful for first timers. thank you for the effort you've put in to make this video.
Just a quick question.
I need to get to Geneva from Munich. It has a transfer in Zurich Hbf but the transfer time is only 5 minutes. Will this work?
In case I don't make it on time for the transfer, can I wait for the next train? Or will I have to buy another ticket for that?
Thank you!
Tip n+1: I just found out that buying train cards saves more!! There will be coupons available to drop😉
i plan to have a rail trip too, because last time, my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips
Great video, thanks for making this. I wonder if you could answer a couple of questions I have?
I intend to travel from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Friedrichshafen, Germany this November. Can you recommend which booking service I should use for an international journey such as this? Secondly, I will have a large piece of luggage with me - what happens if your luggage won't fit in the standard luggage racks?
I would say trainpal! I used it for European trips and got cheap prices✌
Will Deutsche Bahn app charge a fee for using a non German debit card (mine is a Visa) when purchasing a ticket?
Thanks for your video. I'm planning a trip to Dusseldorf, Germany in July. We are renting a car to drive to the Taylor Swift concert. I'll return the car at airport and we will be traveling by train to Bacharach. How will we get from car rental (Avis) to train station at airport? I'm also having a hard time getting train tickets for an overnight trip to Bruges from Dusseldorf. Can you help me?
Will be in Germany this sept/oct for about 8 days. Trying to use the DB app to get from city to city. Munich> Frankfurt> cologne> Hamburg. Just type in the city and date? That simple?
Yes. It's also a good idea to book in advance for cheaper tickets
Hi. Can the tickets on the app be bought with a debit card? Thanks for the information.
If i purchase the eurail pass, do i purchase all my tickets on eurail or individual country train apps? And does eurail include ICE germany trains?
How about to validate the ticket before you hop on the train? Thanks
I am going to be flying into Frankfurt next month and I want to get to Lucerne Switzerland. I will be staying in Lucerne for three days and then going to Baden Baden Germany for 5 days then returning to Frankfurt the day before I leave. I would love to travel by train, but the more I look into it the more I think renting a car would be easier and would probably cost around the same money as it would cost for those three train traveling days. I still haven’t found a video that tells me how to get a train from Frankfurt to Lucerne. I’m sure there would be multiple trains. I would have to take, but I can’t find one site that can accomplish it for me. Any thoughts? Advice?
I´m looking for the same information! I´m coming into Berlin in December and I need to get to Prague and then back again on the 14th. So far, I can only find a Global Pass on Eurail and it´s about $288!
All your information is so helpful and organized. However, we are trying to find someone who can give a tutorial on how to make a seat reservation without buying a ticket, using the DB kiosks. Unfortunately our cell phones from the USA may be limited in Germany, especially with data, so reserving on the app can be problematic. We have both tried, and both failed. I have tried on the website as well, but my credit card company blocked my card usage from an international vendor. They reported my credit card as compromised, rendering my card useless. I now have to go to the bank in person to obtain a new credit card. We shall have Eurail Passes and only need the reservations for the IC, ICE and EC trains, just in case. Can you please show us step-by-step which buttons to press in order to reserve the seats without having to purchase the ticket as well? You can do it in German or English, as I speak/read both.
Trainpal does it all. No need to worry about ticket validities and random coupon drops. Hope this helps:))
Thanks!!
Im staying in Munich with a day trip to Nuremberg. Trip to and from airport. Which os the best option? Bavaria travel seems best.
From Munich to Nurember it's either a one hour ride per ICE or 1h 45 by regional trains which can be used with a Deutschlandticket
what's the best train to choose from frankfurt airport to mannheim city
Do you also have this kind of guide for buses?
Do you mean local buses?
Can you elaborate on what the peak times are?
I assume you mean congested hours. Mostly it's Monday to Friday from 6 to 9 am, and from 4 to 6 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no peak hours. There can be some regional lines who have issues with capacity in General but it's rare
Hi would you mind sharing the best train to travel from frankfurt to madrid?
Hey, I think it would be best if you take one or two stops in between as it can take between 15 and 25 hours from Frankfurt to Madrid by train
This video helps me a lot!! Last time, my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips.
How much is "a few days" or "a while"?
Im only staying for a week. Mostly traveling within the city of Munich. Doing 3 day trips (salzburg, Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Dachau)
Which train pass would be best for me??
The best option depends on some factors: I guess your travelling to Munich by plane? Do you want to stay in the core city area or do you also want to explore the area surrounding Munich? Is this week in a single month or is it in two different months? By the way: are you sure that you want to make a day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber? That's 3 to 4 hours by train one way. You have to switch trains several times which means chances are you miss one of these trains because of delays and it takes even longer.
@@Flo-vn9ty good points! Im staying one full week. Exploring the city center and museums the first day so the all day ticket or the Munich Card seems the best option? Since its unlimited and has discounts. I saw that round trip to Salzburg by DB train is like €50 and i saw that the Bayern Ticket is €29 and it covers unlimited train rides in Bavaria including Salzburg as an extra so i might do that instead. 🤔 I might also use the Bayern Ticket for when I travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber because its still cheaper than the actual one-way train ride. Plus its unlimited even on all regional trains so even if i miss a connection, ill be okay. im also spending the night at Rothenberg ob der Tauber to make the long trip worth while. Does it sound good? 🤔
@smoaktree To travel to Salzburg, the Bayern-Ticket is probably a good option. When traveling to Rothenburg, please be aware that the Bayern-Ticket is only valid on regional trains, this means no ICE, IC or EC trains.
I don't know much about the discounts the munich card offers you. If they're worth it for you, go for it. If it's mainly for transportation, I think it's too expensive. A cheaper option that covers the same area would be the Isar Card. It's valid, either a week or a month. Please be aware that in both cases, the cheapest option only covers the city area. This means to travel from and to the airport or to Dachau, you would need to buy extra tickets or you would need to buy the more expensive versions of this cards that don't cover only the city area.
Another affordable option that covers most of your travels (except for Salzburg as it is in Austria) would be the Deutschland-Ticket that's mentioned in the video. For 49 EUR, you can travel on all local trains and buses in Germany the whole month. The catch is: you can't buy it at the ticket machine. You have to create a subscription. But you can cancel it anytime. Also, it's only available as a digital ticket that you have to install on your phone. So it's probably more affordable than the other options, but it can be a hassle to buy and cancel it. Also, if the week your staying starts in one month and ends in another month, you would have to pay for two months.
Are there attendants on the long distance trains to assist with finding a reserved seat if one runs into trouble trying to find it himself?
There are attendants frequently going around but it's mostly easy to find your seat. Just get into the right train car and the seats you booked should have an electronic signage for the part of the journey you booked them for
@@mrpuddles7272Hello, I would like to ask help from you, of what kind of Train Pass should we purchase on our travel to Germany.
1st leg of our train journey will be :
1st day Offenburg to Colmar then back to Offenburg
2nd day Offenburg to Strasbourg back to Offenburg at night.
3rd day Offenburg to Gengenbach and Freiburg, back to Offenburg
4th day Offenburg to Heidelberg
5th day Heidelberg to Mannheim and Speyer
6th day travel to Cologne
7th day Heidelberg to Stuttgart and Essengen
8th day Heidelberg to Bern Switzerland ( stay there for 4days)
9th Travel from Bern to Munich ( as our base)
10th Munich to Regensburg back to Munich
11th day Munich to Nuremberg
and Rothenburg Ob Der, then back yo Munich
12th day travel from Munich to Neushwanstein back to Munich
13th day Munich to Prague
Stay for 3 days
14th day Prague to Dresden
15th day Dresden to Berlin
Stay for 3days
16th Berlin to Hamburg
Hoping that you can help us decide which pass should we get in Germany.
Thank you so much. 😇
@@Vernskie104 The Deutschlandticket will be worthy and save you several hundred euros. E. G. From Trip 1 to 6 you would save 250€ using it. For some trips you need to pay money because you cross the border into France or Switzerland, where the Deutschlandticket is not valid. For some trips (e. g. Hamburg to Berlin) I would recommend booking an ICE early, which costs around 20 € but you have 2 hours travel and 0 changes insted of 5 hours and 3 to 4.
My recommendation would also be to limit your destinations a bit more if you can as you have sometimes several citys per day which can be stressful, especially as your trips will probably not work out as they should
@@mrpuddles7272 thank you so much. You are such a big help. We will purchase Deutschland ticket instead of German Rail pass which is so expensive. 😇
@@mrpuddles7272 don’t worry for our travel days, we are traveling for a month, and will stay 4-5 days, 6 days is max in each cities other cities we will take it as a day trip from where we are
staying.
Thank you so much. God bless you more for your kindness. 🙏
I bought the cheapest version of an ICE train from Frankfurt airport to Dusseldorf (ICE 820). The ticket says: "You can use all trains that are listed on your ticket. There is no train restriction for local trains (e.g. RE, RB, S)"
What does that mean? If I missed my train, which next train can I take?
Other than ICE/IC trains, with regional trains you are not bound to one specific train. Can you tell me which trains you will use on your journey?
@@mrpuddles7272 ICE 820
@@mrpuddles7272 My train is ICE 820
This is a good video, but I am having a heart attack since it all sounds very complicated. lol We want to go by train from Milan to Heidelberg to see the scenery. They all stop in Mannheim and you have only six minutes to change trains. How is it possible?? Got any suggestions? Thanks
As a German I can tell you how this is possible: run! Also prepare yourself that you might miss your next train. Mannheim is in one of these areas that are a real nightmare when it comes to delays. So chances are that your train to Mannheim is delayed and your next train already departed before you even arrived in Mannheim. Sometimes your lucky and the next train is delayed as well.
Plan an extra hour of time in. If you don't make the change because of a delay of your first train you are allowed to take another train heading to your final destination, so don't worry
Do the trains have their numbers listed on them?
They are listed on the top of the front and on several side boards. It's always train type and destination, e.g. RE9 Hamburg
Is the signage in English in the major transit systems?
I think it's in all ICE and IC trains as well as most RE trains. Even if not, it's mostly easy to understand and you can ask someone if you get confused. Most people will be eager to help
I’ve been getting awesome deals on tickets through an app lately due to a special offer. Let me know if you want me to share it with you!
Am I the only German who just hadn’t travelled by train alone here 😭
Chinese woman from Canada explaining the German train system in English! It cant get more cosmopolitan than that....
Wow this seems more confusing than before I started 😂😂
As a German I can confirm the different options and tariff systems are very confusing.
Well I just watched the whole thing and I'm still confused. I think I'll just buy tickets and pray 😂
Join me to buy trainpal ticket cards! Works and saves lol
The only recommendation is to not expect, trust, or use DB. Use only if there is no alternative.
Please make a video about woman safety in Europe...
Sprichst du noch Deutsch?
I honestly did not understand the way you explained everything..
DON'T. Try anything else. Be creative. I did go places by train and cycled back 60km. If i had an e bike to help I'd do it both ways but instead im sitting here waiting for the next train. DB sucks.
Deutsche Bahn is crazy. My experiences have never been good. The U Bahn and Trams are great. And, no, you are wrong @14:18. That’s not where you find the information about the platform (Gleis).
I Dont think its worse in Canada 🤣
Exactly 💯
I had not one single delay in Canada lmao
Thumbs down for using Canada as a bad example 👎👎👎
Omg so complicated
Sounds complicated. Too confusing & info overload
Bad in Canada? Come on, I m a Canadian and live in Vancouver. Our train system is excellent. Please don't feed others with wrong information just to get viral.
Travelled across Canada last year from Vancouver to Halifax with multiple stops. What an awesome trip and highly recommend. Very useful video for this years trip to Europe thanks 19:33
You don't go viral with information everyone already knows about. I lived in Vancouver too and compared to the German city I grew up in the train system in Vancouver is in its absolute infancy, but it's better than other Canadian cities, which isn't saying much. Sorry.