Germany by Train with the Deutschlandticket: All Our Guides in One Place

The Deutschlandticket is the reason most of this blog exists. For 63 euros a month in 2026 it covers every regional train (RE, RB and S-Bahn), every bus, tram and underground line in Germany, and it is sold as a monthly subscription that you can cancel month by month in the DB Navigator app or through any regional transport company. It does not cover ICE, IC and EC long-distance trains, so in the DB app untick those train types in the connection settings and the app will only show journeys your ticket covers.

Since the ticket launched we have used it for dozens of day trips and weekends from Munich and Frankfurt, and we have written up the best of them. This page is the starting point: pick a collection below if you want ideas for a free weekend, or go straight to a town guide if you already know where you are heading. Every guide tells you which regional train to take, how long it takes, how far the sights are from the station and how much time you need. Children under six travel free and children aged six to fourteen need their own ticket, which many states sell at a reduced price.

A few rules of thumb from our trips: regional trains are busiest on Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings, so leave early or travel on a Friday; a long journey such as Munich to Konstanz needs two or three changes, so plan a weekend rather than a day trip; and the ticket is also valid on a few local trains across the border, for example to Salzburg and to Basel Badischer Bahnhof, which we have used for two of the places below.

Day trip collections

• 20 best day trips from Frankfurt with the Deutschlandticket: our most-read guide, from the Rhine valley to Heidelberg and Strasbourg.

• Best day trips from Munich with the Deutschlandticket: lakes, mountains and towns within two hours of Munich.

• 50 places to visit with the Deutschlandticket: the full list, now with 13 ready-made weekend itineraries.

• 13 must-visit towns in Germany by train: the prettiest small towns, from Lindau to Rothenburg.

• 17 must-visit places in Germany with the ticket: our first round of trips, updated for 2026.

• 14 best lakes in Bavaria by train: Chiemsee, Ammersee, Königssee and more, all reachable without a car.

Town and city guides

• Heidelberg: 10 things for first-time visitors: the castle, the old bridge and the Philosophers' Walk.

• Würzburg travel guide: 10 must-do things: the Residenz, the Marienberg fortress and Franconian wine.

• 14 things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: the best-preserved medieval walled town in Germany.

• 5 must-do things in Nuremberg: the Imperial Castle and the rock-cut beer cellars.

• 3 days in Trier: Germany's oldest city and its Roman monuments.

• Tips for visiting Cochem on the Moselle: the Reichsburg, the chairlift and Moselle wine.

• Things to do in Bacharach am Rhein: the prettiest village on the Rhine.

• 6 best things to do in Rüdesheim: the Drosselgasse and the cable car over the vineyards.

• Top 9 things to do in Limburg: a half-timbered old town an hour from Frankfurt.

• Things to do in Munich: the base for most of our Bavarian day trips.

• 4-day Hamburg itinerary: the harbour city, reachable by regional train in a long day or an ICE in a few hours.

Castles, lakes and mountains

• Eltz Castle: the fairy-tale castle on the Moselle, by train to Hatzenport and the castle bus.

• Cochem Castle (Reichsburg): the imperial castle above the Moselle.

• A day trip to the Zugspitze: Germany's highest mountain by train from Munich.

• Garmisch-Partenkirchen: painted houses, the Partnach Gorge and the Eibsee.

• Hidden gems of Mittenwald: the violin-making town in the Karwendel Alps.

• Ammersee: the easiest lake day from Munich with the S8.

• Things to do in Chiemsee: the Bavarian Sea with Herrenchiemsee Palace.

Deutschlandticket: frequently asked questions

How much does the Deutschlandticket cost in 2026?

63 euros per month as a subscription that renews monthly and can be cancelled at any time for the following month. Students and apprentices get cheaper versions through their universities and employers, and some employers subsidise it as a Jobticket. There is no single-day version; for one day in one state a regional day ticket such as the Bayern Ticket can be cheaper.

What does the Deutschlandticket cover?

All regional and local public transport in Germany: RE and RB regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses, in second class. It also covers a few cross-border local routes, for example to Salzburg and to Basel Badischer Bahnhof. It does not cover ICE, IC, EC and FlixTrain, nor boats, cable cars and tourist mountain railways such as the Zugspitze train.

How do I avoid ICE trains in the DB app?

In the DB Navigator app open the connection search, tap the options and untick ICE, Intercity, Eurocity and Interregio under train types; you can save this as a default. The app then shows only regional connections, including the changes, and marks them as covered by the Deutschlandticket.

Where do I buy the Deutschlandticket?

In the DB Navigator app, on bahn.de or from any regional transport company such as MVV in Munich or RMV in Frankfurt. It is a digital ticket on your phone or a chip card; you need to subscribe before the start of the month you want to travel in, and cancel by the 10th of the month to stop the next one.

Can children use the Deutschlandticket?

Children under six travel free with an adult. Children from six need their own ticket; many states offer a reduced Deutschlandticket for pupils and some regions sell a cheaper youth version. Dogs and bicycles are not included and follow the local rules of each transport company.