Public Transportation in Germany

Buses, underground trains, S-Bahn trains and trams (in some cities they are called "Straßenbahn") are part of "public transport". To use them, you have to buy a ticket.

Ticket machines may look different in every city. In many buses, drivers sell tickets directly, but only for cash. In many buses, you can only pay with coins or small notes (€5 or €10). With larger ones, it may happen that the bus drivers cannot give you change. Tickets are also sold at some kiosks or in select shops, which you can recognise by the symbol or logo of the transport company of the respective city. In some cities, you can also buy tickets using a specific mobile app.

There are different types of tickets. Some are valid for a few hours, either for a one-way trip or for return trips. Some others are valid for a day ("Tageskarte"), a week ("Wochekarte") or a whole month ("Monatkarte").  Furthermore, there are different "Tarif zones" which indicates how far you can travel with a ticket.

When you buy a ticket valid for a few hours or a day, in many cities, you will have to "validate" it at specific machines available on train platforms. You can also find these machines inside some buses or trams. If the date and time stamp already exist on a ticket, usually there is no need for validation. 

Children, pupils, students, senior citizens and people who receive benefits from the Social Welfare Office or Jobcentre, can profit from discounted public transport tickets. You can buy these discounted tickets at the machine or in the designated shops. There, you can also inquire about the document(s) you need to present to buy a discounted ticket.

If you live in a smaller town or village, it is always easy to move around without a car. Larger cities usually have a train station, from which you can take the train to other towns and cities, as well as bus stations. Smaller villages often only have a bus connection. Some even do not have any form of public transportation.

You can buy tickets for the train online in advance or directly at the station. There are ticket machines where you enter your destination and find out the price. As soon as you pay -in cash or with an EC card - your ticket will be printed out. There are usually conductors who check the tickets on trains. On some trains, you can buy a ticket AFTER boarding- but make sure to inquire beforehand whether it is possible. If the conductor catches you on the train without a ticket, you must pay the penalty. You can find out more in the section "What happens if I travel without a valid ticket?"

You can usually buy tickets on the bus directly from the bus driver. To do so, you just need to mention your destination and pay the indicated cost.

If there is neither a train station nor a bus connection in your area, unfortunately, you will not have too many options. If the nearest bus or train station is not far away, you can get there by bike. To read more about using bikes in Germany, check our chapter "Cycling".

For urgent appointments, you may be able to ask neighbours or acquaintances with a car to help you. In emergencies, you can also order a taxi - keep in mind that it will probably be quite expensive. You can find a taxi company by googling the word "taxi" and the name of your city.

All the means of public transport have a sort of ticket inspections. Sometimes inspectors wear uniforms and some other times they are dressed like regular passengers. The inspectors have to identify themselves and check the tickets of all passengers. They usually announce their presence, saying "Fahrscheinkontrolle" or "Die Fahrscheine bitte". If you do not have a valid ticket, you will need to show your ID, and the controller will pick up your name and address to issue you a fine notice. The amount of fine varies from city to city, but is currently somewhere between €40 and €80. Do not try to run away if you are caught without a ticket. The inspectors will quickly follow you and also contact the police. You may receive a fine notice per post - the subject of such a letter will contain the terms "Beförderungserschleichung" or "Erschleichung von Leistung", which means "riding without a valid ticket" or "illegal riding".

Each transportation company has its own regulations ("Beförderungsregeln").  These regulations indicate, for instance, where prams or bicycles can stand, which bus door people can use to board or whether drinks and food are allowed. Not all passengers take these rules very strictly. However, it is essential to know what is permitted and what is not.