Transportation

Transportation in Germany

Germany is famous for efficient, reliable public transportation. Trains run on time (mostly!), cities have excellent transit, and cycling infrastructure is widespread.

Public Transportation by City

Game-changer: Deutschland-Ticket (D-Ticket)

• €49/month (as of 2026)
• Unlimited travel on ALL regional trains, buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn nationwide
• Does NOT include IC/ICE (intercity high-speed trains)
• Incredible value for exploring Germany

German Rail (Deutsche Bahn)

Train types:

• ICE (InterCity Express): High-speed, major cities (Munich-Berlin 4hrs)
• IC (InterCity): Long distance, slightly slower
• RE (Regional Express): Regional connections
• S-Bahn: Urban/suburban rail

Costs:

• ICE Berlin-Munich: €60-130 (book early for deals)
• BahnCard 25/50: 25% or 50% discount on all tickets
• Deutschland-Ticket: Unlimited regional (not ICE/IC)

Booking:

• DB Navigator app (essential!)
• Book early for cheap "Sparpreis" fares
• Flexible tickets expensive

City Transportation

Ticketing systems:

• Single journey: €2.90-3.50
• Day pass: €7-9
• Monthly: €49 (Deutschland-Ticket) or city-specific
• Zones: Most cities use zone systems (more zones = higher cost)

How to use:

• Buy ticket at machine or app
• Validate before boarding (stamp it!)
• Random inspections with €60 fine for no ticket
• Honor system but heavily enforced

Bicycling

Infrastructure:

• Dedicated bike lanes widespread
• Germans cycle year-round
• Bike parking at most stations
• Respect bike lanes - pedestrians get yelled at!

Bike ownership:

• New bike: €300-1,500
• Used: €100-500 (eBay Kleinanzeigen, FB Marketplace)
• Bike rental: €10-20/day
• Bike-sharing: Nextbike, Call a Bike (€1-3/30min)

E-bikes & E-scooters:

• E-bike purchase: €1,500-3,000
• E-scooter rental: Lime, Tier, Voi (€1 + €0.15-0.25/min)

Car Ownership

When you might need a car:

• Living in rural areas
• Regular travel outside cities
• Family with children
• Weekend trips to nature

Costs of ownership:

Additional costs:

• Parking: €50-150/month in cities
• TÜV inspection: €100-150 every 2 years

Buying a car:

• Used market excellent (mobile.de, autoscout24.de)
• New cars expensive (higher taxes than US)
• Leasing popular

Driver's License

EU/EEA licenses:

• Valid in Germany indefinitely
• Just exchange for German license

Non-EU licenses:

• Valid for 6 months
• Must convert to German license
• May need to take theory and/or practical test
• Varies by country (US varies by state)

Getting German license:

• Driving school (Fahrschule): €1,500-2,500
• Theory test (German, some in English)
• Practical test
• Process takes 3-6 months

Taxis & Ride-Sharing

Traditional taxis:

• Regulated, metered
• €3-5 base + €2-3/km
• More expensive than ride-sharing
• Can hail on street or call

Ride-sharing:

• Uber (limited cities, expensive)
• FreeNow (taxi app, widespread)
• Bolt (growing)

Long-Distance Travel

FlixBus:

• Budget intercity buses
• €5-30 typical fares
• Slower than train but cheap

BlaBlaCar:

• Carpooling platform
• Share rides between cities
• €10-30 typical

Tips for Getting Around

1. Get Deutschland-Ticket - €49 for unlimited regional travel is incredible value
2. DB Navigator app - Essential for all train travel
3. Validate tickets - €60 fine for "schwarzfahren" (fare dodging)
4. Buy bike early - Most practical daily transport
5. Book trains early - Sparpreis fares 50% cheaper
6. Respect bike lanes - Germans take this seriously!