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How to Get Around Germany by Train, Car & Bus

How to Get Around Germany by Train, Car & Bus

I’ve spent the better part of a month crisscrossing Germany by ICE train, regional rail, and a rented Volkswagen, and I’ll tell you flat out: the system works, but it has quirks. The high-speed trains are fast and clean, the autobahn is real, and the local transit in cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg is reliable — once you understand the ticket zones. This guide covers exactly how I moved between and inside these cities, what I’d do again, and what I’d skip.

Is the Deutsche Bahn train system reliable for long-distance travel?

Deutsche Bahn (DB) runs the show, and the ICE (InterCity Express) trains are the backbone of intercity travel. I took the ICE from Berlin to Hamburg in under two hours, and the ride was smooth, quiet, and had solid Wi-Fi. The problem? Delays. On a Munich-to-Berlin run, we sat outside Leipzig for 45 minutes due to track work. DB’s punctuality is a running joke among locals — plan a buffer if you have a connecting flight or tour.

  • ICE (InterCity Express): Fastest option. Book Sparpreis (saver fares) ahead on bahn.de for discounts.
  • IC/EC (InterCity/EuroCity): Slower, cheaper, stops at smaller cities like Nuremberg or Hanover.
  • Regional trains (RE/RB): Used for short hops, like Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Included with the Deutschlandticket (€49/month).

I’d recommend first-class on ICE if you’re working — it’s quieter and includes a seat reservation. Second-class is fine for shorter trips, but reserve a seat (€4.90) on busy routes like Frankfurt to Cologne.

What’s the best way to get around Berlin?

Berlin is sprawling, and walking everywhere will wreck your feet. The U-Bahn (underground) and S-Bahn (overground) cover the city well, but the system is zoned (A, B, C). Most tourists only need zones A and B. I bought a 7-day ticket from a BVG machine at Alexanderplatz — €41 for unlimited rides. Avoid buying single tickets if you’ll ride more than twice a day.

  • U-Bahn: Lines U1-U9. U1 runs east-west through Kreuzberg and Warschauer Straße.
  • S-Bahn: Ring line (S41/S42) circles the city. S7 goes from Alexanderplatz to Potsdam.
  • Tram: Mostly in former East Berlin. Line M10 runs from Hauptbahnhof to Warschauer Straße.
  • Bike: I used Nextbike (rent via app). Flat terrain, bike lanes everywhere.

One warning: validate your ticket in the little box on platforms. I saw a tourist get fined €60 at Friedrichstraße station because they forgot. BVG inspectors are everywhere.

Is driving on the autobahn worth it in Germany?

I rented a car from Sixt at Munich Airport for a week to explore Bavaria, and yes, it’s worth it if you’re hitting smaller towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber or the Romantic Road. The autobahn is real — I touched 160 km/h on the A9 near Ingolstadt — but you’ll hit traffic around Stuttgart and Frankfurt like any highway. Fuel costs about €1.80/liter (July 2024), so budget accordingly.

  • Rental agencies: Sixt and Europcar have the best fleets. I paid €320 for a week with unlimited mileage.
  • Tolls: No tolls for cars on regular roads, but some tunnels (like the Warnowtunnel in Rostock) charge €4–€6.
  • Vignettes: Not needed for cars, but mandatory for Austrian or Swiss travel (€9–€40).
  • Parking: Parkhaus (garages) in city centers cost €20–€30/day. Berlin’s Parkhaus am Checkpoint Charlie was €25.

Skip the car if you’re only doing Berlin-Munich-Hamburg. Trains are faster and cheaper. The car shines for rural Bavaria or the Black Forest.

How does public transit work in Munich?

Munich’s MVV system (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, buses) is efficient but expensive. A single trip in the inner zone (M) costs €3.90. I used the IsarCard weekly pass for €19.60 — worth it if you’re staying five days. The U-Bahn is clean and punctual, but the S-Bahn to the airport (S1 or S8) takes 40 minutes and costs €13.90 one-way.

  • U-Bahn: Lines U1-U6. U3 and U6 run to the Olympiapark.
  • S-Bahn: S1 and S8 to the airport. S2 to Dachau (memorial site).
  • Tram: Line 19 goes from Hauptbahnhof to Ostbahnhof past the Deutsches Museum.
  • Bikes: MVG Rad (rental bikes) are €1 per 30 minutes. I used them to ride along the Isar River to the Flaucher beer garden.

Pro tip: buy the München City Tour Card (€14.90 for 3 days) if you want transit + museum discounts. Otherwise, just the IsarCard is fine.

What’s the best way to navigate Hamburg?

Hamburg’s HVV system is similar to Berlin’s but smaller. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn connect the Hauptbahnhof, St. Pauli, and the Speicherstadt district easily. I used the Hamburg Card (€11.90 for 24 hours) — covers transit and gives 50% off at Miniatur Wunderland and the Elbphilharmonie. The ferry line 62 (included with transit ticket) is the best cheap tour of the harbor.

  • U-Bahn: U1 runs from Hauptbahnhof to Jungfernstieg and the airport.
  • S-Bahn: S1 and S3 to St. Pauli and Landungsbrücken.
  • Ferry: Line 62 from Landungsbrücken to Finkenwerder — €3.60 with a transit ticket, no extra charge.
  • Walking: The Reeperbahn and Schanzenviertel are walkable. I walked from Hauptbahnhof to the Elbphilharmonie in 25 minutes.

One thing I learned: Hamburg’s bike-sharing system (StadtRAD) is integrated with the HVV app. First 30 minutes are free. I used it to ride from Altona to the Fischmarkt on Sunday morning.

Should I use FlixBus or BlaBlaCar for budget travel?

FlixBus is the budget king. I took a FlixBus from Berlin to Hamburg for €9.99 — took 3 hours vs. 1h45m by train, but the bus had power outlets and Wi-Fi. The downside: delays. My bus left 20 minutes late from Berlin’s ZOB (bus station). BlaBlaCar (ridesharing) is cheaper and faster if you’re flexible. I rode with a driver from Munich to Nuremberg for €12 — 90 minutes in a quiet Skoda.

  • FlixBus: Book early for €5–€15 fares. Routes cover every major city. Berlin ZOB to Munich central station is 7 hours.
  • BlaBlaCar: Best for medium distances (150–300 km). Drivers are rated; I only ride with “verified” profiles.
  • Comparison: Train is 2x the price but 1.5x the speed. Bus is fine for night trips (sleeper buses exist on Berlin-Paris).

I’d skip FlixBus for routes under 2 hours. The time savings of the train justify the extra €10–€20.

FAQ

How do I buy train tickets in Germany without a German bank account? Use the Deutsche Bahn app (DB Navigator) with a credit card or PayPal. I’ve used my US Visa card without issues. Avoid buying tickets from third-party resellers like Trainline — they charge service fees. The DB app also shows live platform changes, which saved me twice.

Is the Deutschlandticket worth it for tourists? Only if you’re staying a full month and only using regional trains. The €49/month pass covers all local and regional transit (buses, trams, RE trains) but not ICE/IC. I bought it for a 30-day trip and used it for day trips to Potsdam and Dachau. For a week-long trip, stick to point-to-point tickets.

Can I use Uber or taxis easily in German cities? Uber exists in Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, but it’s expensive — a 15-minute ride in Berlin cost me €18. Taxis are metered and reliable (€5 base fare + €2/km). I used the FREE NOW app for taxis in Munich; it works like Uber but with licensed drivers. For late-night S-Bahn closures (common in Hamburg), taxis are the fallback.

Conclusion

  • Trains (ICE) are the default for Berlin-Munich-Hamburg — book Sparpreis early and reserve a seat.
  • Rent a car only if you’re leaving cities for the Romantic Road or Bavarian Alps.
  • Use local transit passes (BVG, MVV, HVV) — validate your ticket or risk a €60 fine.
  • FlixBus and BlaBlaCar work for budget trips, but expect delays.
  • Download DB Navigator and HVV Switch apps — they handle tickets, schedules, and bike rentals.