Compare Train Ticket Costs: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Source: Deutsche Bahn.
Best Value: German train service is comprehensive, fast, and frequent, but buying train tickets as you go is expensive. The German Rail Pass is a great value, often saving money while allowing you to hop trains at your convenience. For about the cost of a Munich-Frankfurt roundtrip ticket, the German Rail Pass gives you four days of transport anywhere in the country. Two people traveling together each save 25% with a Twin discount. Second class is comfortable enough for most leisure travelers. While point-to-point train ticket discounts (below) work for kids, roundtrips, or short, regional trains, the German Rail Pass is still a favorite.
Reservations: Most daytime routes, including fast InterCityExpress trains, do not need reservations. Some international or overnight routes (such as to Paris, Brussels, Venice, or Copenhagen), and the rare Berlin-Frankfurt ICE Sprinter do need train reservations before boarding, as indicated in train schedules.
Coverage: All rail passes for Germany also cover Salzburg, Austria (the official border town) on trips to/from Munich. All cover KD Line boats on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers (starts use of a travel day, same as a train trip). Buses are covered when operated by the railways. Bonuses include 20% off the private Romantic Road Bus (discounts do not use a flexipass travel day). Other bonuses are described in materials that come with the rail pass.
Two-Country Eurail Passes: Options later on this page work for those traveling between Germany and one neighbor: Austria, Benelux, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Poland, or Switzerland.
| German Rail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Twin | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Twin | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 3 days in a month | $318 | $246 | $243 | $179 | $194 | ||
| 4 days in a month | $340 | $257 | $260 | $195 | $208 | ||
| 5 days in a month | $371 | $286 | $280 | $208 | $222 | ||
| 6 days in a month | $416 | $314 | $308 | $230 | $239 | ||
| 7 days in a month | $457 | $343 | $337 | $251 | $251 | ||
| 8 days in a month | $498 | $372 | $363 | $275 | $264 | ||
| 9 days in a month | $549 | $401 | $396 | $297 | $281 | ||
| 10 days in a month | $593 | $431 | $424 | $317 | $295 | ||
| Twin price is per person for 2 traveling together. Odd-numbered groups must buy one individual adult, youth, or child pass. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 6–11 half of full adult (not Twin) fare. Kids 5 and under free. Also sold at main train stations in Germany. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Kids under 15 travel free when named on one train ticket with parents or grandparents. With Sparpreise discounts, you save 25 — 50 percent by buying a train ticket at least three days in advance for pre-selected dates and times (group discount available, seats are limited and refund restrictions apply). Full fares are shown on our map. Search for more local German fares at bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en (discounts are calculated if you add children or put in a return date). You can also order by phone at 011-49-1805-99-66-33.
Slow-train specials in Germany include a wild Schönes Wochenende (Happy Weekend) ticket for €40; it gives groups of up to five people unlimited second-class travel on non-express trains all day on Saturday or Sunday. The weekday version is called the Quer-durchs-Land Ticket, valid after 9:00 a.m., €42 for one traveler plus €6 for each co-traveler (max. 4), described online in German only. Länder-Tickets are a similar deal within a single region, such as Bavaria (€29 for up to five people after 9:00 a.m. on local trains). For more on these offers or Bahn Cards, follow the link above and click on "Fares & Offers." All offers subject to change. €1 = about $1.40.
Those staying longer in Germany can get discounts for a full year by purchasing one of several Bahn Cards (one person pays €59 for 25% discounts or €240 for 50% discounts, cheaper for seniors, youths, and children). The Bahn Card also gives you 25% discounts on trains in many other European countries.
While the German Rail Pass allows travel within one month, these Eurail passes offer a two-month window. Saverpass rates (below) offer discounts for two or more travelers together, while German Twin passes (above) work for pairs only.
| Austria - Germany Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $424 | $366 | $366 | $312 | $313 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $467 | $399 | $399 | $343 | $343 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $556 | $475 | $475 | $409 | $410 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $648 | $551 | $551 | $475 | $475 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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| Benelux - Germany Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $445 | $336 | $336 | $272 | $272 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $493 | $372 | $372 | $297 | $297 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $582 | $437 | $437 | $350 | $350 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $677 | $509 | $509 | $407 | $407 | ||
| Benelux = Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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If your only travel in Benelux is between Amsterdam and the German border at Emmerich ($20 2nd class), then it's cheaper to buy that train ticket locally before boarding.
| Czech Republic - Germany Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $415 | $340 | $342 | $293 | $293 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $463 | $378 | $380 | $324 | $324 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $537 | $445 | $447 | $388 | $388 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $618 | $515 | $517 | $450 | $450 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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If your pass doesn't cover the Czech Republic, it costs only about $20 to buy a train ticket from the German border to Prague before boarding. Still, the two-country rail pass is convenient and prices are reasonable.
| Denmark - Germany Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $364 | $297 | $297 | $229 | $228 | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $409 | $336 | $336 | $258 | $258 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $453 | $372 | $372 | $283 | $283 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $545 | $445 | $445 | $324 | $324 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $653 | $497 | $497 | $367 | $367 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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This Eurail pass covers both Germany and Denmark for little more than a plain German Rail Pass, making it a good value even if you just add Copenhagen to a Germany-focused trip.
| France-Germany Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $429 | $388 | $388 | $351 | $301 | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $475 | $428 | $428 | $386 | $332 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $520 | $469 | $469 | $416 | $367 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $609 | $550 | $550 | $478 | $429 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $699 | $631 | $631 | $550 | $496 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Before choosing a France-Germany pass, compare the three-country Selectpass at similar prices and see the note on that page about crossing Belgium.
| Germany - Poland Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $439 | $377 | $377 | $318 | $320 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $482 | $415 | $415 | $353 | $353 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $571 | $493 | $493 | $418 | $420 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $656 | $569 | $569 | $480 | $480 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Since Poland is not covered by Eurail Global or Select passes, the Germany-Poland Eurail pass is the only single rail pass that covers both countries. Separate rail passes for each region may be cheaper, but you use a day from each pass when you cross the border.
| Germany - Switzerland Eurail Pass | |||||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Adult | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||||||
| 5 days in 2 months | $453 | $386 | $318 | ||||||
| 6 days in 2 months | $499 | $424 | $351 | ||||||
| 8 days in 2 months | $588 | $504 | $415 | ||||||
| 10 days in 2 months | $680 | $582 | $478 | ||||||
| Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. See our Switzerland page for an outline of coverage. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||||
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Separate single-country rail passes may be cheaper, but you'll use a day of each pass when you cross the border.
