Getting Around Germany: Trains, Buses, and the Deutschlandticket

Public transport in Germany is extensive, reliable (mostly), and cheaper than you think. Many expats ditch their cars entirely after discovering how well the system works, especially in cities. The Deutschlandticket changed the game in 2023, and if you use public transport even a few times a week, it is almost certainly worth it.

The Deutschlandticket

The Deutschlandticket costs 58 EUR per month (as of 2026) and gives you unlimited travel on all local and regional public transport across the entire country. Buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and regional trains (RE and RB). It does not cover long-distance ICE or IC trains, but for daily commuting and weekend trips to nearby cities, it is incredible value.

You buy it as a monthly subscription through your local transport app (BVG in Berlin, MVV in Munich, etc.) or at the Deutsche Bahn website. It auto-renews monthly, and you can cancel before the 10th of the month for the following month.

Pro Tip: Many employers offer a subsidized Deutschlandticket as a benefit, sometimes called a Jobticket. Ask your HR department. Some companies cover 25-50% of the cost, bringing it down to 29-44 EUR per month. If your employer offers it, always take it.

Long-Distance Trains

For travel between cities, Deutsche Bahn (DB) runs the ICE (high-speed, up to 300 km/h) and IC/EC (intercity, slightly slower) trains. Berlin to Munich takes about 4 hours on the ICE. Frankfurt to Cologne is just over an hour.

How to Save on Train Tickets

Book early - Sparpreis tickets are available from 17.90 EUR for trips booked 2-3 months ahead. The same trip bought on the day can cost 100+ EUR
Use the DB Navigator app - shows real-time schedules, delays, and platform changes. Essential for German train travel
BahnCard 25 or 50 - the BahnCard 25 costs 62.90 EUR per year and gives 25% off all flexible tickets. The BahnCard 50 costs 244 EUR and gives 50% off. If you take 4+ long-distance trips per year, the BahnCard 25 pays for itself
Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket - 44 EUR for unlimited regional train travel in a single day across all of Germany. Each additional person costs only 8 EUR more. Great for group day trips

City Transport Systems

Every major German city has an integrated transport system combining U-Bahn (underground/subway), S-Bahn (suburban rail), trams, and buses. The Deutschlandticket covers all of these.

Berlin (BVG + S-Bahn)

One of Europe best public transport networks. U-Bahn runs until about 1 AM on weekdays, 24 hours on weekends. Buses cover areas the trains miss. The city is divided into zones A, B, and C, but the Deutschlandticket covers A and B.

Munich (MVV)

Clean, punctual, and efficient. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn cover the city well. The system runs roughly 4:30 AM to 1:00 AM. Night buses and trams fill the gaps.

Hamburg (HVV)

Excellent ferry system along the Elbe (included in your ticket!), plus U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and buses. Hamburg also has one of the best cycling infrastructure networks in Germany.

Important: Always validate your ticket if it is a paper ticket. Ticket inspectors (Kontrolleure) appear without warning on trains and buses. Fines for riding without a valid ticket are 60 EUR. The Deutschlandticket on your phone counts as valid, but make sure your phone is charged.

Cycling

Germany is a cycling country. Most cities have dedicated bike lanes (Radwege), and drivers are generally respectful of cyclists. In flat cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, cycling is often faster than public transport for short trips.

Buy a used bike on eBay Kleinanzeigen for 50-200 EUR, or use bike-sharing services like Nextbike (available in most cities, about 1-2 EUR per ride). Invest in a good lock since bike theft is common, especially in Berlin.

Driving

You can drive in Germany with your foreign license for 6 months after establishing residence. After that, you need a German license. Some countries (USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and most EU countries) allow a direct conversion. Others require taking the German driving test, which costs 2,000-3,000 EUR including mandatory lessons.

The Autobahn has no general speed limit on many stretches (though about 30% do have limits). In cities, the standard limit is 50 km/h, and in residential areas it is 30 km/h. Speed cameras are everywhere and fines are expensive.

Our Recommendation

Get the Deutschlandticket on your first day. It covers 95% of your transport needs for less than the cost of a tank of gas. Add a bicycle for short trips, and use Deutsche Bahn Sparpreis tickets for occasional long-distance travel. You probably do not need a car unless you live in a rural area or commute to an industrial park outside the city.