Getting

Around

Arriving by Air

Germany’s major airports are Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Berlin-Brandenburg and Düsseldorf. These airports are outside the city centres, but are well-connected by public transport or coaches that can take you from the airport right into the heart of the city centre.

The country’s national carrier, Lufthansa, operates regular, scheduled flights to most of the world’s major cities. Other airlines such as British Airways and Ryanair also offer regular flights to Germany from London as well as from a handful of regional airports in the United Kingdom. The US is well served, with flights to German cities, particularly to Frankfurt am Main, which is Germany’s largest airport and one of the busiest in Europe.

Train Travel

Train is the best way to get around Germany, which has an efficient high-speed network and a reliable local service.

International Train Travel

There are regular rail services into Germany from many European cities. A common route into Germany from the UK is to take the Eurostar to Brussels or Paris, where there are regular connecting services into Germany.

Domestic Train Travel

Deutsche Bahn (DB) operates the vast majority of services in Germany. The fastest trains – InterCity Express (ICE) – connect the largest cities, and can travel at more than 200 km/h (125 mph). This means that crossing almost the entire country on a journey from Hamburg to Munich takes only 6 hours.

Somewhat slower but less expensive are the InterCity (IC) trains. When travelling over shorter distances it is often quicker to take the Regional Express (RE) trains. Many other companies operate lines that connect the smaller or less-frequented towns.

DB

∑ www.bahn.de

Long-Distance Bus Travel

Flixbus operates a dense network of national bus services linking all major cities as well as many minor ones. Tickets are cheapest when bought in advance. Flixbus also runs many international services across Europe.

Other companies you might encounter are Eurolines, Ecolines and Student Agency Bus. Bus travel is cheaper than high-speed trains but journeys can be longer and less comfortable.

Ecolines

∑ ecolines.net

Eurolines

∑ eurolines.de

Flixbus

∑ flixbus.de

Student Agency Bus

∑ studentagencybus.com

Public Transport

Germany has some of the best public transport in the world, with every town and city operating an efficient and relatively inexpensive network of bus, tram, urban rail and metro lines. These are inevitably better than attempting to drive around German cities, where parking can be limited and expensive.

You can plan ahead by visiting the website of the transport company for the town or city in which you want to travel. Safety and hygiene measures, timetables, ticket information, transport maps and more can be obtained online from regional transport providers.

Berlin

∑ bvg.de

Frankfurt am Main

∑ rmv.de

Munich

∑ mvv-muenchen.de

Tickets

Large cities are generally divided into public transport zones; the cost of a ticket depends on which zones you are visiting. In addition to standard tickets, there are also cheaper tickets (Kurzstrecke) that limit you to short distances. In many cities you can buy tickets in the form of a strip, which is punched according to the length of your journey. Contactless payments are generally not accepted on public transport.

Children under 14 travel at a reduced rate, while those under the age of six go free. Other types of tickets include a one-day ticket (Tageskarte), a one-day group ticket (Gruppentageskarte) and a weekly ticket (7-Tage-Karte).

S-Bahn and U-Bahn

Most German cities have a network of fast connections by S-Bahn (commuter rail) and U-Bahn (underground railway). The S-Bahn offers services every 10–20 minutes and connects city centres with the suburbs. The U-Bahn offers a more frequent service – trains run every 3–5 minutes in peak hours – and individual stations are close to each other.

Generally, the S- and U-Bahn use the same tickets as buses and trams within a city. Tickets can be bought from machines at the entrance to stations or on platforms; the tickets often need to be validated in timestamp machines nearby. €40 fines are imposed on the spot for those not holding a valid ticket.

S-Bahn stations have round signs with a white “S” on a green background, while U-Bahn stations use square signs with a white “U” on a dark blue background.

On maps of the network, each line of the S- and U-Bahn is marked in a different colour and has its own number. The direction of the route is indicated by the name of the terminus station. On every platform a display shows the destination of the next incoming train. A white circle or oval on the map indicates an interchange station. Carriage doors on S- and U-Bahn trains are sometimes opened manually, but they close automatically. Passengers are not allowed to board the train after an operator’s call of “Zurückbleiben!” (“Stay back!”).

Tram

Trams can be seen in almost all large cities as well as countless smaller ones. They are comfortable, air-conditioned in summer and do not get stuck in traffic jams, making them a great option for travelling around busy cities. They run as frequently as buses and have similar operating hours and fares.

Bus

Bus operating hours vary from city to city and are more limited in rural areas. Timetables can be found online or in ticket or tourist offices at your destination. In rural areas tickets can be purchased from the driver but this is not the case in large cities, where tickets must be purchased in advance of your journey.

On city buses a screen shows the next stop. Buses normally stop at every bus stop. They are a slower alternative to trams and U-Bahn, especially during rush hour, but can be a great way to experience the city if you’re not in a rush.

Ferry

Ferries form part of the public transport system in some areas, most notably on the Bodensee. Ferries are also a good way to get around the lakes of Bavaria.

Germany is linked to several other European countries by ferry, most notably Denmark, Sweden and Poland.

Taxis

Taxis are a comfortable though very expensive way of getting around. Even if several people share a cab it can still be more expensive than using the public transport system.

Most taxis are cream coloured and have a “TAXI” sign on the roof; this is illuminated if the taxi is free. Taxis can be booked by telephone or picked up at taxi ranks.

Ride sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft also operate in many German cities.

Driving

Driving licences issued by any of the European Union member states are valid throughout the EU. If visiting from outside the EU, you may need to apply for an International Driving Permit. Check with your local automobile association before you travel.

Motorways and regional roads are well-maintained and easy to navigate, but driving in large cities can be difficult. Watch out for bus lanes marked by round blue signs; these can only be used by buses, taxis and cyclists.

Many cities have introduced Environmental Green Zones (Umweltzonen) which only allow access to vehicles with an Umweltplakette (environmental badge). You will need to obtain this permit prior to travelling to these zones in your car. It can be bought online or from any participating garage in Germany.

Environmental Green Zones

∑ umwelt-plakette.de

Car Rental

Car-hire firms can be found at airports and railway stations. Drivers need to produce their passport, driving licence and a credit card with enough capacity to cover the excess. Most rental agencies require drivers to be over the age of 21 and to have an international licence.

Parking

Parking is normally free and easy in small towns and villages, but can be expensive and hard to find in big cities. The best option is to find a Parkhaus (car park) or metered parking spot. Cars left in a controlled parking zone must display a ticket bought from a machine nearby. Most hotels have some form of parking on offer, but this can come at an additional cost. Another alternative are the “park and ride” facilities which can be found near some S-Bahn stations.

Illegally parked cars can be towed; retrieving them is expensive and difficult.

Rules of the Road

Drive on the right. Unless otherwise signposted, vehicles coming from the right have priority.

At all times, drivers must carry a valid driver’s licence, registration and insurance documents. The wearing of seat belts is compulsory for drivers and passengers, lights must be used in tunnels and the use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with the exception of a hands-free system.

All drivers must have third-party insurance (Haftpflflichtversicherung) – it is the minimum insurance requirement in Germany. Drivers will be fined for speeding, tailgating and for committing parking offences. The drink-drive limit is strictly enforced.

Cycling

German cities are criss-crossed with cycle lanes, making it safe and quick to get around on two wheels. Pedestrians should always make sure they don’t wander onto high-speed cycle lanes.

Outside of the cities, cycle trails abound and these can be a convenient, fun and eco-friendly way of reaching out-of-the-way locations. Local tourist offices have the details of cycle trails in their respective areas.

Bicycle Hire

Bikes can be hired from a number of locations including railway stations, bike repair shops, tourist offices and hotels. Rates start at around €15-20 per day.

Bicycle Safety

Like drivers, cyclists must travel on the right. If you are unsure or unsteady, practise in one of the inner-city parks first. If in doubt, dismount: many novices cross busy junctions on foot; if you do so, switch to the pedestrian section of the crossing. Beware of tram tracks; cross them at an angle to avoid getting stuck. For your own safety do not walk with your bike in a bike lane or cycle on pavements, on the side of the road, in pedestrian zones or in the dark without lights. Wearing a helmet is recommended, but it is not a legal requirement.

Walking and Hiking

With a vast network of clearly way-marked footpaths, Germany is a fantastic destination for walkers and hikers. Rural areas are easy to reach but bad weather can strike at any time, so planning and good preparation are essential. Ensure you have good hiking boots, warm waterproof clothing, a map and a compass. Tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return.

Walking is also an enjoyable way to explore compact city centres such as Berlin, Frankfurt am Main and Munich, where most of the key sites are within walking distance of one another.

Need to know Getting Around

At a Glance

Need to know Getting Around

Need to know Getting Around

Need to know Getting Around