How to Book a Trip on Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn, or German Railways, is the primary railway operator in Germany. It is divided into two passenger lines. One focuses on short-distance travel, including regional and commuter trains, while DB Fernverkehr runs long-distance trains throughout Germany and parts of Europe. Book a trip on Deutsche Bahn and expect to find state-of-the-art technology in passenger rail transport.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access for making reservations
• Valid passport

Take a Trip on Deutsche Bahn

1. Book travel on Deutsche Bahn by getting in touch with Rail Europe at [phone], or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Buy a Bahn card to get discounts on rail travel for up to a year at a time. You can buy cards for different discount levels (25, 50 and 100 percent off most fares) and for regular and first-class travel.

3. Buy tickets for the Deutsche Bahn online, at the station, by dialing their 24-hour customer service number or on board (expect to pay at least a 10 percent premium when you purchase directly from the conductor).

4. Buy a German Rail Pass or a Eurail Pass before you arrive to get the best value in train travel. Most DB trains honor the pass, which is good for travel on select days.

5. Book a Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket or Lovely Weekend ticket for unlimited regional travel on either Saturdays or Sundays. This pass is ideal for a group trip, and as many as five passengers can use it.

6. Take a EuroCity train from a neighboring country, or book a seat on one of the high-speed trains that operate between Germany and other European nations, including Italy and France.

Know Your Destination

7. Ask the locals if they speak English. Courtesy demands that you never assume fluency, but most Germans understand English.

8. Look for a bank that will exchange your currency for euros in Germany. You will not find many currency exchanges, nor are many vendors willing to accept foreign currency of any kind.

9. Visit Berlin, and find a city no longer divided. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, commerce and cultural tourism have increased, making it one of the most popular destinations in Germany.

10. Put Munich, Leipzig and Frankfurt on your itinerary to get the most from your German experience. Plan a day trip to many of the sights, but keep in mind that Germany is the largest country in central Europe.

Tips & Warnings

• You won't need a visa to visit Germany if you will be spending for less than 90 days there.