Public transport and travel in Germany
German cities have excellent public transit. The Deutschlandticket gives unlimited regional and city travel anywhere in Germany for one monthly price. Intercity rail is dominated by Deutsche Bahn — fast, sometimes punctual, occasionally infuriating. Driving is on the right; foreign licences are valid for 6 months for residents from most non-EU countries.
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- City + regional travel
- Deutschlandticket — €58/month, unlimited
- High-speed rail
- Deutsche Bahn ICE network
- Long-distance coach
- FlixBus dominant
- Driving
- Right-hand side; metric (km/h, liters)
The Deutschlandticket — one ticket, every German city
The Deutschlandticket (also called D-Ticket) is the most newcomer-friendly transport product in Europe: €58/month (2025 rate, sometimes higher in 2026) for unlimited use of every city subway (U-Bahn), tram (Strassenbahn), bus, S-Bahn, and regional train (RB / RE) anywhere in Germany. It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC long-distance trains.
Buy it via the DB Navigator app, the local transit operator (BVG in Berlin, MVG in Munich, HVV in Hamburg, RMV in Frankfurt), or directly through your employer — many companies offer it as a tax-advantaged benefit, sometimes at a discount.
Deutsche Bahn for intercity travel
Deutsche Bahn (DB) operates ICE (Intercity-Express, high-speed up to 320 km/h), IC (Intercity, slower long-distance), and Regionalzug services connecting all major cities. Berlin to Munich runs in about 4 hours; Frankfurt to Cologne in about 1 hour. Punctuality is famously inconsistent — about 65% of long-distance trains were on-time within 6 minutes in 2024 — so build slack into connections.
Sparpreis (saver) tickets booked weeks ahead can be 50–70% cheaper than the Flexpreis walk-up fare. The BahnCard 25 (€59.90/year) gives 25% off most fares; the BahnCard 50 (€244/year) gives 50%. The BahnCard 100 (€4,899/year) is unlimited DB travel — typically only worth it for heavy weekly commuters.
Driving licence — convert or sit a German test
EU/EEA licences are valid in Germany indefinitely. Non-EU/EEA licences are valid for 6 months after your Anmeldung; after that you must convert at the local Führerscheinstelle. Some countries qualify for direct exchange: most US states (varies by state-of-issue), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Israel, and some others — see the ADAC table.
For licences that do not qualify for direct exchange, you must pass both the German theory and practical tests, which together cost €1,500–2,500 if you start from zero (theory school + practical lessons + test fees). Foreign-language theory tests are available in 11 languages. Plan ahead — driving schools (Fahrschulen) often have multi-month waiting lists in big cities.
Cycling is a primary mode in many cities
Germany has some of Europe's best cycling infrastructure. Most cities have segregated bike lanes; many have dedicated cycle highways. Helmets are recommended but not legally required for adults; lights are mandatory after dark; bicycles must have working brakes, a bell, and reflectors.
Public bike-share schemes operate in most major cities — Call a Bike (DB), Nextbike, Lidl-Bike (Berlin), and operator-specific schemes. E-bike and e-scooter rentals from Tier, Lime, Bolt, and Voi cover most metros at per-minute pricing. The Fahrradverband ADFC publishes regional cycling network maps.
Long-distance coach — FlixBus dominates
FlixBus is the dominant long-distance coach operator in Germany after the 2013 deregulation of the long-distance bus market. It connects every major city with frequent service, typically half to a third of the rail price for the same route, with journeys 1.5–2x as long as the train. Booking 1–2 weeks ahead gets the cheapest fares.
FlixBus also runs FlixTrain — a low-cost intercity rail competitor on a few major routes (Hamburg–Berlin, Munich–Berlin, Cologne–Hamburg) at significantly lower prices than DB. Worth checking on those corridors.
The Autobahn and driving culture
The Autobahn is famous for unlimited-speed sections — about 30% of the network has no general speed limit, with a recommended 130 km/h "Richtgeschwindigkeit". Other sections are limited to 100, 120, or 130 km/h. About 70% of fatal Autobahn accidents happen at limited-speed sections; speed alone is not the main risk.
German driving conventions: stay right except to overtake (the left lane is strictly for passing), do not undertake on the right (illegal), and signal lane changes always. Tailgating is common in unlimited sections; keep a long following distance and check mirrors before pulling out.
Ride-hailing and car-sharing
Uber operates in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and a handful of other cities, but coverage is uneven. Bolt has a similar footprint. FreeNow (formerly mytaxi) connects to regulated taxis. For airport runs, dedicated airport-shuttle services and the local rail link (where one exists) are typically cheaper than rideshare.
Car-sharing — Share Now (a BMW/Mercedes joint venture), Miles, and Sixt Share — covers most large cities by the minute or hour. Useful for the occasional IKEA run if you do not own a car. The Mietwagen (rental car) market is competitive; book through Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, or aggregators like Holidaycars.
Further reading
Other guides for this country
Frequently asked questions
Is the Deutschlandticket really worth it for everyone?
For commuters and anyone who uses public transit a few times a week, yes — €58/month is below the cost of a single zone monthly pass in most cities (Berlin's zone AB monthly is €107). For occasional users, individual tickets may be cheaper. Many employers subsidise it, making it almost free.
Is car ownership necessary?
In Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, and most cities with a U-Bahn or strong S-Bahn, no — many residents skip a car entirely. Outside cities, especially in rural Bavaria, Brandenburg, or the western Eifel region, owning a car is the norm.
How early should I book Deutsche Bahn tickets?
6 months in advance is when fares first open and Sparpreis tickets are cheapest. Booking 1–2 months ahead still saves significantly vs walk-up. Walk-up Flexpreis fares can be 2–3x the Sparpreis price for the same train.