Taking the train into the city instead of flying: for many routes in Germany it's the more relaxed choice – no security check, no transfer, and you arrive right in the centre. Know a few rules and it's cheap too.
Long-distance tickets
- Super Sparpreis: the cheapest, tied to one train and with no exchange or refund.
- Sparpreis: also tied to one train, but can be exchanged or cancelled for a fee.
- Flexpreis: more expensive, but not tied to a train – take any train on your route.
- Book early: saver fares are limited and get pricier closer to the travel date. The best-price search in the DB Navigator app shows the cheapest train of the day.
Is a BahnCard worth it?
| Discount | Price from (2nd class) | For whom? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial BahnCard 25 | 25% on flexible and saver fares, 3 months | €19.90 | to try it out |
| BahnCard 25 | 25% on flexible and saver fares | €62.90 | a few long-distance trips a year |
| My BahnCard 25 | like BahnCard 25, under 27 | €39.90 | young travellers |
| BahnCard 50 | 50% on flexible, 25% on saver fares | €244 | frequent travellers with flexible tickets |
Rule of thumb: if you spend more than about four times the BahnCard price on tickets a year, the BahnCard 25 almost always pays off. It renews automatically – cancel in time if you no longer need it.
Deutschland-Ticket
- Price: €63 a month, €66.80 from 1 January 2027. Valid on buses, U-Bahn, trams, S-Bahn and regional trains across Germany – not on ICE, IC or EC.
- Subscription, cancel by the 10th: it's only sold as a subscription but can be cancelled monthly. If you only need it for one trip, cancel straight after buying.
- Important for existing subscribers: for 2027 you have to actively accept the new price and terms with Deutsche Bahn by 30 November 2026, or your subscription ends.
- Ideal for city breaks: from the airport into town and around by U-Bahn and tram – all on one ticket. In Berlin, Munich and many other cities it also covers the trip to the airport.
More relaxed on board
- Reserve a seat: ICE trains are full on Fridays, Sundays and during holidays. Reservations cost extra but save stress.
- Comfort check-in in DB Navigator: with a reserved seat you check yourself in on the train – no need to be woken up for the ticket check.
- Children travel free: children up to and including 14 travel free with parents or grandparents if they're entered on the ticket.
- Check the coach sequence: DB Navigator shows where your coach stops on the platform, so you're standing in the right place.
Delays: your rights
- From 20 minutes of expected delay at your destination, your ticket is no longer tied to one train – you may take another one (saver fares included).
- From 60 minutes you get 25% of the fare back, **from 120 minutes** 50%. Amounts under €4 aren't paid out.
- Taxi or bus on your own: up to €120 is refunded if you're scheduled to arrive between midnight and 5 am and a delay of at least 60 minutes is expected – try to contact the railway first.
- How to claim: easiest directly in DB Navigator or in your bahn.de account under “Passenger rights”.
Flight delays follow different rules – see our guide to air passenger rights.
Official information
Read more
- City breaks: make the most of a few days
- Berlin BER: from the airport into town
- Munich: from the airport into town
How Voynera helps
Forward your train booking to Voynera: the app shows your train live – with delays and platform – and the departure board at the station.
As of November 2026 · without guarantee · Quelle: Deutsche Bahn (bahn.de), Stand November 2026 – Angaben ohne Gewähr