Germany By Train

German trains are generally comfortable, convenient, and reasonably swift. Second-class compartments, which seat anywhere from two to six passengers, are great places to meet fellow travelers. Trains, however, are not always safe; for safety tips, For long trips, make sure you are on the correct car, as trains sometimes split at crossroads. Towns listed in parentheses on European train schedules require a train switch at the town listed immediately before the parenthesis.

You can either buy a railpass, which allows you unlimited travel within a region for a given period of time, or rely on buying individual point-to-point tickets. Almost all countries give students or youths (usually defined as anyone under 26) discounts on domestic rail tickets, and many also sell a student or youth card that provides 20-50% off all fares for up to a year.

Reservations. While seat reservations are required only for selected trains (usually on major lines), you are not guaranteed a seat without one (usually US$5-30). You should strongly consider reserving in advance during peak holiday and tourist seasons (a few hours ahead at the very latest). You will also have to purchase a supplement (US$10-50) or special fare for high-speed or nicer trains like Germany’s ICE. InterRail holders must also purchase supplements (US$3-20) for trains like EuroCity and InterCity. Supplements are often unnecessary for Eurailpass and Europass holders.

Overnight Trains. On night trains, you won’t waste valuable daylight hours traveling and you can avoid the expense of staying at a hotel. However, the main drawbacks include discomfort, sleepless nights, and the lack of scenery. Passengers on overnight trains also face a greater vulnerability to theft and assault. Sleeping accommodations on trains differ from country to country, but typically you can either sleep upright in your seat for a supplement of about $2-10, or pay for a separate space. Couchettes (berths) typically have four to six seats per compartment (supplement about US$10-50 per person); sleepers (beds) in private sleeping cars offer more privacy and comfort, but are considerably more expensive (supplement US$40-150). If you are using a railpass that is valid only for a restricted number of days, inspect train schedules to maximize the use of your pass: an overnight train or boat journey often uses up only one of your travel days if it departs after 7pm.

Should You Buy A Railpass? Railpasses were conceived to allow you to jump on any train in Europe, go wherever you want whenever you want, and change your plans at will. In practice, it’s not so simple. You still must stand in line to validate your pass, pay for supplements, and fork over cash for seat and couchette reservations. More importantly, railpasses don’t always pay off. If you are planning to spend extensive time on trains, hopping between big cities, a railpass will probably be worth it. But in many cases, especially if you are under 26, point-to-point tickets may prove to be a cheaper option.

Eurail Passes. Eurail is valid in most of Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It is not valid in the UK. Standard Eurailpasses, valid for a given consecutive number of days, are best for those planning on spending extensive time on trains every few days. Eurailpass Flexi, valid for any 10 or 15 (not necessarily consecutive) days within a two-month period, is more cost-effective for those traveling longer distances less frequently. Eurailpass Saver provides travel for travelers in groups (prices are per person). Eurailpass Youth and Eurailpass Youth Flexi provide second-class perks for those under 26.

Eurailpasses	15 Days	21 Days	1 Month	2 Months	3 Months
1st class Eurailpass	US$796	US$1032	US$1281	US$1808	US$2232
Eurailpass Saver	US$673	US$876	US$1088	US$1537	US$1903
Eurailpass Youth	US$517	US$669	US$833	US$1177	US$1457

Eurailpass Flexi	10 Days In 2 Months	15 Days In 2 Months
1st class Eurailpass Flexi	US$939	US$1234
Eurailpass Saver Flexi	US$798	US$1050
Eurailpass Youth Flexi	US$612	US$803

Passholders receive a timetable for major routes and map with details on possible bike rental, hotel, and museum discounts. Passholders often also receive reduced fares or free passage on many boat, bus, and private rail lines.

The Eurail Selectpass is a slimmed-down version of the Eurailpass: it allows five to 15 days of unlimited travel in any two-month period within three, four, or five bordering countries. Eurail Selectpasses (for individuals) and Eurail Selectpass Savers (for people traveling in groups of 2 or more) range from US$383/325 per person (5 days) to US$850/723 (15 days). The Eurail Selectpass Youth, for those aged 12-25, costs US$249-553. Holders are entitled to the same freebies and discounts afforded by the Eurailpass, but only when the attractions are within or between countries valid on the railpass purchased.

Shopping Around For A Eurail. Eurailpasses are designed by the EU itself, and can be bought only by non-Europeans almost exclusively from non-European distributors. These passes must be sold at uniform prices determined by the EU. However, some travel agents tack on a US$10 handling fee, and others offer certain bonuses with purchase, so shop around. Also, keep in mind that pass prices usually go up each year, so if you’re planning to travel early in the year, you can save cash by purchasing before January 1 (you have three months from the purchase date to validate your pass in Europe).

It is best to buy your Eurail before leaving as only a few places in major European cities sell them, and do so at a marked-up price. You can get lost passes replaced only if you have purchased insurance under the Pass Security Plan (US$12). Eurailpasses are available through travel agents, Rail Europe (Canada ☎800-361-7245, US 888-382-7245; www.raileurope.com), Flight Centre (+1-866-967-5351; www.flightcentre.com), and student travel agencies like STA. You can also buy direct from Eurail’s website, www.eurail.com.

Inter Rail Passes. If you have lived for at least six months in one of the European countries where Inter Rail Passes are valid, they prove an economical option. The Inter Rail pass allows travel within 30 European countries (excluding the passholder’s home country), which are divided into eight zones. Passes may be purchased for one, two, or all eight zones. The one-zone pass (€286, under 26 €195) is good for 16 days of travel, the two-zone pass (€396, under 26 €275) is good for 22 days of travel, and the global pass (8 zones; €546, under 26 €385) is valid for a full month. Passholders receive free admission to many museums, as well as discounts on accommodations, food, and many ferries to Ireland, Scandinavia, and the rest of Europe. Passes are available at www.interrailnet.com, as well as from travel agents, at major train stations throughout Europe, and through online vendors (www.railpassdirect.co.uk).

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