Everyday lifeGermany

Public transport in Germany

Öffentlicher Nahverkehr in Deutschland

Bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and regional train take you almost anywhere. The Deutschlandticket is valid for local transport across the country, and travelling without a ticket costs at least 60 euros.

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Overview

German cities have good public transport networks, and many people here do not own a car. Public transport includes buses, trams and the underground within a city, suburban trains (S-Bahn) and regional trains (Regionalbahn) that connect nearby towns.

This guide helps you learn the types of ticket, how to buy them and what the rules of behaviour and fines are. Once you understand the ticket system, you can travel in any city, because the principles are similar even when the prices differ between regions.

1

Types of transport and networks

Within a city there are buses (Bus), trams (Straßenbahn) and the underground (U-Bahn).

  • Suburban trains (S-Bahn) link the city with its surroundings, and regional trains (RB and RE) connect nearby towns.
  • Fast long-distance trains such as ICE and IC count as long-distance travel with separate tickets and higher prices.
  • Each region has a company or association that runs transport, such as BVG in Berlin, MVV in Munich and HVV in Hamburg, each with its own app and fare zones.
2

Tickets and the Deutschlandticket

There are single-journey tickets, day tickets, weekly tickets and monthly subscriptions.

  • Since 2023 there is the Deutschlandticket, a monthly cancellable subscription valid on local and regional transport across the whole country, and it costs about sixty euros a month.
  • The federal government and the states set the price and it has been rising, so check it. The ticket is not valid on the fast ICE and IC trains.
  • You buy it through your transport company's app, the DB Navigator app or subscription offices.
  • Students get a semester ticket at a reduced price.
3

Ticket checks and fines

There are no gates at every station; the system relies mostly on trust and on inspectors who may wear ordinary clothes.

  • You must carry a valid ticket on every journey, and in some regions you must validate a paper ticket (entwerten) in a small machine before boarding.
  • Anyone caught without a ticket pays a fine of at least sixty euros (Erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt), and repeated cases may be reported to the police.
  • Forgetting your subscription at home does not excuse you at some companies, but it reduces the fine if you show it later.
  • Digital tickets on a phone are accepted, so keep your phone charged.
4

Delays and passenger rights

Trains in Germany are sometimes late, which is common.

  • You have clear passenger rights: with a delay of sixty minutes you can ask for a partial refund of the ticket price, with one hundred and twenty minutes you get more back, and in case of cancellation you may be allowed to use another train.
  • File the claim on your transport company's website or app with your ticket.
  • For night travel in big cities there are night buses and trains on special lines.
  • Plan your journey with flexibility and arrive half an hour before an important appointment.
5

Rules of behaviour

Let passengers get off before you get on. Stand on the right of escalators and leave the left for people in a hurry.

  • Avoid loud phone calls and music without headphones, and some trains have quiet carriages (Ruhebereich).
  • Give your seat to older people, pregnant women and people carrying a child, and put your bag on the floor rather than on a seat.
  • Bicycles are allowed at certain times and with a special ticket on many networks.
  • Boarding at the front door of some buses means showing your ticket to the driver.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Download your city's transport app and the DB Navigator app.

  2. 2

    Work out how many journeys you make each month and compare single tickets with the Deutschlandticket subscription.

  3. 3

    Buy the ticket before the journey and check the zone, duration and validity.

  4. 4

    Validate a paper ticket before boarding if it is required.

  5. 5

    Keep the ticket with you until the end of the journey and show it to the inspector when asked.

  6. 6

    For a delay, submit a refund claim on the official site within the deadline.

Documents checklist

  • A valid ticket for every journey, on paper or digital.
  • An ID with reduced subscriptions for students or people on low income.
  • A student card or university certificate for the semester ticket.
  • Payment details for the monthly subscription.
  • A charged phone with the ticket app.

Key vocabulary

  • dieFahrkarte
    ticket
  • dasDeutschlandticket
  • dieHaltestelle
    stop
  • derBahnhof
    station
  • derFahrplan
    timetable
  • Umsteigen
    to change, to transfer
  • dieVerspätung
    delay
  • derKontrolleur
    ticket inspector
  • Schwarzfahren
    fare dodging
  • entwerten
    to validate a ticket
  • dasGleis
    platform
  • derFahrgast
    passenger
  • dieMonatskarte
    monthly ticket

Useful phrases

  • Eine Fahrkarte zum Hauptbahnhof, bitte.One ticket to the main station, please.
  • Wo fährt der Bus nach Berlin ab?Where does the bus to Berlin leave from?
  • Muss ich umsteigen?Do I have to change?
  • Von welchem Gleis fährt der Zug?From which platform does the train leave?
  • Gilt mein Ticket in dieser Zone?Is my ticket valid in this zone?
  • Der Zug hat Verspätung.The train is delayed.
  • Ich habe mein Ticket auf dem Handy.I have my ticket on my phone.
  • Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz frei?Excuse me, is this seat free?

At the ticket machine

  • Sie

    Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen? Ich verstehe den Automaten nicht.Excuse me, can you help me? I do not understand the machine.

  • Passantin

    Natürlich. Wohin möchten Sie fahren?Of course. Where would you like to go?

  • Sie

    Zum Hauptbahnhof. Ich brauche nur eine einfache Fahrt.To the main station. I only need a single journey.

  • Passantin

    Dann drücken Sie hier auf Einzelfahrkarte und wählen die Zone A.Then press single ticket here and choose zone A.

  • Sie

    Danke. Und muss ich das Ticket stempeln?Thank you. And do I have to stamp the ticket?

  • Passantin

    Nein, hier nicht. Sie ist schon gültig, aber halten Sie sie für die Kontrolle bereit.No, not here. It is already valid, but keep it ready for inspection.

  • Sie

    Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe!Thank you very much for your help!

Common mistakes

  • Riding without a ticket in the hope that no inspector comes, when the fine is sixty euros and can repeat.
  • Buying a ticket for the wrong zone or one that has expired, which is treated as having no ticket.
  • Forgetting to validate a paper ticket where that is required.
  • Relying on a tight connection to reach an important appointment with no margin for delay.

Cultural tips

  • Use route planners that show delays in real time and check them before leaving.
  • If you will travel a lot between cities, compare the monthly subscription with long-distance buses or saver tickets.
  • For families, children under six usually travel free and older children get discounts, so ask your city's transport company about family offers before buying separate tickets.

Official links

Check yourself

Question 1 of 5

Where is the Deutschlandticket valid?

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