Train or plane in Germany

[RAM]

With 5 adults to one baby then from our experience (initially 3 under 7yrs) the train would be the clear winner for most of those journeys mentioned.

If 4 adults then I'd have suggested possibly rethinking itinerary slightly and driving some while setting GPS to avoid tolls - that way you find some great villages, sights, food. % adults and baby = train.

Some extra info (&/or reinforcement) that you have probably absorbed from elsewhere but just in case:

• You can book trains to/from Germany as well as within Germany using the DBahn site.
• Create an account with DBahn asap and then it saves your searches to make life easier ongoing, also you get sent special offers (Eur 29 to other European capitals for example).
• 13 weeks to the day is the max in advance you can book - so try some dummy bookings on same day of week a few months earlier (if needs be) to see what the availability/connections are like.
• Paying an extra Eur10 each for Munich/Paris to get 1st class recently meant we not only had reserved seating in our own compartment (so no baggage wars) BUT even better we got access to the 1st class lounge at Munich Hauptbahnhof. The air temp was 33 degrees, not the slightest breeze and in the lounge it was 21. Comfortable armchairs, or window couches/benches with waitress service. barista coffees, teas we had never heard of, steins of beer, made-to-order sandwiches (6 to 8 varieties I think it was), soups, entrees, mains, and DESERTS. Best Eur 10 we've ever spent for a comfortable 2 hour stay (traffic was light, hire car return took 90 seconds & was 2 minute walk from the station). In winter it is warm - the station is -6 to zero!
• Factoring cost of getting to/from airports as well as time saving needs to be done.
• Nearly every train has a dining car or two - so can provide a diversion (sanctuary) if needed.
• Only way to see the real Germany/Czech Republic etc.
• To/from airport in Prague in car or taxi was Eur 50 or so.
• Sometimes it is better to book a journey as two returns rather than one (better prices and times). For example breaking a trip from Frankfurt/Innsbruck rtn to Frankfurt/Rosenheim and Rosenheim/Innsbruck saved Eur 95 for the five of us and was 45 minutes faster than booking it as one. The algorithm does not seem to like breaking an ICE journey other than at its end.

The longer the train journey the more risk that every seat will become reserved at some time along the route. For example, one year we travelled on NY day from Munich to Austria. We traveled 2nd class, no reserved seats. The train was so full by the 3rd stop that bags were piled 3 high in the corridors, there was not one seat in the 28 carriages NOT reserved, so we got to stand, and move out of the way every time someone wanted to go to the toilet/dining car for the 2 hour journey.

June 2017 Munich/Paris saw first leg having our own 6 person compartment for the entire leg, the 2nd saw about 8 empty 1st class seats and the rest reserved from ICE start. At first stop, more people got on with 1st tickets than empty seats and 4 or 5 had bought them at that station so no reserved seating. 4 had to stand for the next 90 minutes until one family got off. Then They had to get up at next stop as people got on with those seats reserved....

Enough said.

 

[RAM]

Prague-Munich: Trains are a disgrace, very slow. But the ride is scenic as well. You may prefer the long-distance bus.

Stopover: You may stop in Regensburg (the place where I live). UNESCO World Heritage. 2000 years old, town form 14th century, saved in WWII.
Nice place to stay a day or two. Must see: Cathedral and historic (Stone) bridge over the Danube river.
Regensburg-Munich can be done by train.

What a coincidence.

Visited Regensburg in early June 17 and had a great time with three days there.

Only (slight) negative is the restoration (so-called) of the stone bridge seems to be being done with a 21st century style so it does not look like the photos we had seen nor the unrenovated piece still visible.

BEST EVER strawberry picking at Tegernheim just 4 km away at the base of a mountain/forest (with nightmare mountain-bike & walking trail that takes you to within 2.5m of 80m+ sheer drop - another story).

Brilliant place to walk around, along the river to see the ruins etc etc.

 

[Chicken]

Flights Budapest to Venice are around $180 with Alitalia (if the are still flying?)

Travel Service is cheaper at €94.55 or €114.55 one way depends on the day of the week.

Easyjet as low €46.49

 

[tyrolean]

What a coincidence.

Visited Regensburg in early June 17 and had a great time with three days there.

Only (slight) negative is the restoration (so-called) of the stone bridge seems to be being done with a 21st century style so it does not look like the photos we had seen nor the unrenovated piece still visible.

BEST EVER strawberry picking at Tegernheim just 4 km away at the base of a mountain/forest (with nightmare mountain-bike & walking trail that takes you to within 2.5m of 80m+ sheer drop - another story).

Brilliant place to walk around, along the river to see the ruins etc etc.

Strawberry picking ist quite common. My daughters have been invited to children's birthday in the strawberry fields. I grow my own in my back garden...
Tegernheim is left side of the river (rive gauche). Better places are on the right side - same as Paris .

The stone bridge has to be refurbished. It suffered from the 20 century traffic - especially the salt in winter times and the public busses and trams.
A good place to have lunch is to eat the special sausages and kraut directly at the "Wurstkuchl". That little restaurant started as a shed for the builders of the bridge.

The best season to visit southern Germany is the season of white asparagus (May-June). In most places you get it fresh from the farmers and it is delicious.

 

[daft009]

Have done trains in most of western Europe and loved it!
Definitely the best way!

Love the small towns in Germany, I go every year for work and still enjoy it!
All you Can eat schnitzel for €16 where I go every year, every Tuesday night.
Very close to Passau.

Would love to spend 2-3wks just driving around Germany.

 

[RAM]

The best season to visit southern Germany is the season of white asparagus (May-June). In most places you get it fresh from the farmers and it is delicious.

What a happy coincidence that was the duration of our visit!
​

 

[Mattg]

Just took the ICE train this morning from Hamburg to Berlin. It took 1 hour and 40 minutes to get between the two city centres - I think that's pretty hard to beat!

(Yet my regular Sydney-Canberra train trips take more than 4 hours, despite the distance being less...)

 

[daft009]

I've done that journey too, went to visit miniature wonderland in Hamburg (largest model train in the world!)

 

[Mattg]

I've done that journey too, went to visit miniature wonderland in Hamburg (largest model train in the world!)

Sorry to get OT but I went there yesterday. They also had a very impressive model airport! It was extremely quiet though - most of the city had been shut down due to the G20 summit and protests.

 

[daft009]

Yeah made a total kid out of me and I ended up spending 6hrs there!
The working airport with real landings and take offs is a sight to see!

I also took a train from Berlin to Wolfsburg to visit the vw factory and museum for the day! So effortless!

OP should also look at group tickets, weekend tickets and the bahncard 25 which gets you 25% off for 25€ and valid for 3 months, various offers are on from time to time. Just depends on how flexible you need your plans to be

 

[marki]

I also love the trains - travelling across Germany into Czech (and then Poland or Hungary) is a great way to watch the gradual change from Western to Eastern Europe. Experience the difference between the London-Paris supertrain with all the security of an airport and the 1950s Czech train, much more stark than the globally identical airorts. And you can observe locals of every social class commuting and holidaying. And maybe even start a conversation (babies are great for that).

Berlin to Prague by train is a great idea - because of the trip from Dresden (which is a fantastic city) to Prague along the river. Make sure you do it in the daytime. Look out for castles. If six hours seems long, stay a night somewhere along the way (Dresden is convenient, but any little town with a Unesco World Heritage tag is worth visiting). The train might be a bit old and clunky, but you get a proper dining car with doilies on the tables. Then step off the train right into the Prague old city.

But I agree that the trains can often be late. You'll probably have to change at least once - missing that connection is quite possible, and while your ticket will still get you on the next train it can mess up your plans. So it's worth planning some time off anywhere you have to change. If you're nervous about buying tickets (it can be really hard if you're buying a cross-border ticket in languages you don't know), +1 for Jeffrey Dobek's Polrail service Polrail Service-Rail travel in Poland and beyond.... And another +1 for the man in seat 61.

Great post totally agree except for the West East divide which is getting harder and harder to spot. Depends on the train you catch. You can old pre- historic trains running in the Old West too. BTW Geographically speaking Poland ( Capital -Warszawa) is smack in the centre of Europe.

East West divide is more a Political statement! And ever since Berlin Wall came down travel has been very free of those Politics! Ie the iron curtain.

The placement of the iron curtain was decided in at the Yalta conference. That conference in Yalta is located where Geographically ? Yes ....in Crimea ......Crimea until recently belongs to Ukraine. Surrounded by the beautiful Black Sea.

Who held fake elections and basically overtook everything for Mother Russia? Putin and who also shot down MH-17.

So the East or the iron curtain is now located at the Crimean Peninsula!

Look at Estonia they don't want history repeating its self and especially being called a suburb of Saint Petersburg or the prospect of new fake elections conceding the whole country to Russia. This is the modus operandi of Tyranny. How many western leaders have changed out and yet this KGB agent is still there.

Hey completely off Topic ....... if travelling to these iron curtain locations train train train train .

Flying is not terribly safe over rebel held areas

 

[RB]

Depending on how various hops are planned in the Op's trip, bus can also be an option. In the Czech Republic we were very impressed by the bus system-in 2011 the bus stations were impressive & comfortable, the timetables reliable & good internet during the journey.

 

[Anna]

I have bought a Deutsche Bahn "German Rail Pass Flexi" which is for non-EU residents only and comes with the following promises:

Flexi

• Travel 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10, 15 days spread out over one month
  
• Postal delivery
• For as little as EUR 200

Flexi Passes are sent to you by post and should be purchased around two weeks before travel begins.

I have chosen 5 days in 1st class and it cost 310 euros. The DB website says there is a flat rate postage charge of 4.90 euros, but I wasn't charged for that. On my calculations for my planned routes, 310 euros will work out cheaper than I would have paid if I just turned up at the station on the day and bought a ticket.

I ordered the pass on 8 June and my credit card was charged 310 euros the same day (A$482). The pass arrived in Australia more than a month later on 9 July. The postmark shows it was posted in Germany on 20 June.

So my point is - do not believe the Deutsche Bahn website that you should purchase the pass around 2 weeks before travel begins It takes them nearly 2 weeks to even put the pass in an envelope and put it in the post. Then you have to wait for the post to deliver it.

It is a terrible system that they have to post something to you anyway, in this day and age So much for German efficiency

Worse, if you don't receive the pass before you leave Australia (perhaps because you believed them when they said to book the pass 2 weeks before travel ), the only solution that DB will offer you is that once you return home and find the pass in your mail, you can mail it back to them unused and they will refund your money. Apparently they have no system for reissuing you with a pass at all

I am really hoping that the 1st class DB train experience will be good because the experience with buying the pass has been atrocious!

 

[RAM]

I have bought a Deutsche Bahn "German Rail Pass Flexi" which is for non-EU residents only and comes with the following promises:

Flexi

• Travel 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10, 15 days spread out over one month
  
• Postal delivery
• For as little as EUR 200

Flexi Passes are sent to you by post and should be purchased around two weeks before travel begins.

I have chosen 5 days in 1st class and it cost 310 euros. The DB website says there is a flat rate postage charge of 4.90 euros, but I wasn't charged for that. On my calculations for my planned routes, 310 euros will work out cheaper than I would have paid if I just turned up at the station on the day and bought a ticket.

I ordered the pass on 8 June and my credit card was charged 310 euros the same day (A$482). The pass arrived in Australia more than a month later on 9 July. The postmark shows it was posted in Germany on 20 June.

So my point is - do not believe the Deutsche Bahn website that you should purchase the pass around 2 weeks before travel begins It takes them nearly 2 weeks to even put the pass in an envelope and put it in the post. Then you have to wait for the post to deliver it.

It is a terrible system that they have to post something to you anyway, in this day and age So much for German efficiency

Worse, if you don't receive the pass before you leave Australia (perhaps because you believed them when they said to book the pass 2 weeks before travel ), the only solution that DB will offer you is that once you return home and find the pass in your mail, you can mail it back to them unused and they will refund your money. Apparently they have no system for reissuing you with a pass at all

I am really hoping that the 1st class DB train experience will be good because the experience with buying the pass has been atrocious!

Your experience sounds odd unfortunately, and the 'English language' pages can leave something to be desired. What I do, if unsure, is to copy the text from the German language page into Google translate and compare what the result says vs the DBahn 'English' page. Sometimes proves to be invaluable.

I have always noted the 'post' option for the tickets we purchase but go for the e-ticket instead.
Perhaps as it is a 'pass' they do not offer the electronic option. This year I've purchased group travel and individual travel tickets (while in Australia) and gone for the e-ticket option which allows you to simply hold up your phone for the conductor to scan the barcode.

One benefit with travelling 1st class DBahn is you get free entry into their 1st class lounges.

Do some investigation about where they are etc.

The one in Munich isupstairs right opposite the main platforms, offers a choice of made to order sandwiches, hot food and desserts as well as beer and spirits with very comfortable chairs and couches to sit in. Worth paying for to get into the air-con on a hot summer's day (or into the warm as the wind howls through the vaults of the train stations).

Big fan of the Munich one and well worth the extra 5 Euro cost of our tickets for the chairs alone.

 

[Anna]

Perhaps as it is a 'pass' they do not offer the electronic option.

Correct, there is no electronic option for the non-EU "German Rail Pass Flexi". If there was I would have chosen e-delivery for sure.

Thanks for the info about the lounges

 

[Melburnian1]

Correct, there is no electronic option for the non-EU "German Rail Pass Flexi". If there was I would have chosen e-delivery for sure.

Thanks for the info about the lounges

You should have a great experience travelling on DB or indeed elsewhere in Europe by rail.

Someone above suggested a bus. Train is far superior in comfort, the ability to see scenery, often restaurant cars on board, better seats and far cleaner (and larger) toilets (which aren't where the bus engine is!) Plus you can walk around, unlike on a bus.

Who wants to be stuck behind a truck's tail lights? Yuk.

 

[jase05]

Correct, there is no electronic option for the non-EU "German Rail Pass Flexi". If there was I would have chosen e-delivery for sure.

Thanks for the info about the lounges

That’s a bit of a downer.
Had a similar experience with our Swiss Rail passes last time, took nearly 4 weeks to arrive. This time we had the passes sent to our phones in the SBB app.
Worked it out we should save a packet by choosing the pass over individual tickets

 

[Anna]

Had a similar experience with our Swiss Rail passes last time, took nearly 4 weeks to arrive.

it's agonising waiting for it isn't it. I went round Switzerland on trains 2 years ago, had a fantastic time, with a pass that Swiss Rail emailed to me and I printed out and presented it with my passport when asked. I'm really surprised that DB don't offer an e-option with the German Rail Pass Flexi, as they seem to have e-options for pretty much everything else.

It's basically 3 strikes for Germany from me so far - loads of difficulty getting major hotel chains like IC, Hilton, Sofitel and Mercure to guarantee me non-smoking rooms, loads of difficulty getting online hotel reservations to go through because Germany doesn't use the CVV for electronic credit card transactions but my bank here won't accept online transactions without the CVV, and then this debacle with Deutsche Bahn. It had really better be absolutely gorgeous scenery to make up for all this (seeing I'm not expecting the food to be up to much, except maybe the cakes, which may have to be my sole diet while I'm there ). Yes Germany fans, I am kidding. Well mostly

 

[offshore171]

Someone above suggested a bus. Train is far superior in comfort, the ability to see scenery, often restaurant cars on board, better seats and far cleaner (and larger) toilets (which aren't where the bus engine is!) Plus you can walk around, unlike on a bus.

Who wants to be stuck behind a truck's tail lights? Yuk.

Agree with this. Plus there's the actual motion of the bus. They tend to lurch and jerk around, and stop/start suddenly. For a longer journey this is pretty unpleasant.

The motion of a train is extremely smooth in comparison. Plus there's those other factors you mention, such as the ability to get up and walk around, decent loos, etc.

For me, inter city bus travel is the last resort option. Happy to use urban busses though.

Love the trains in Europe and Japan.

 

[coriander]

Another suggestion.

We did MUC-ZRH by train last year. We chose to go via Schaffhausen - a bit circuitous as we had one train change at Ulm but then train runs along the Boden Sea (also could check out Zeppelin museum at Freidrichshafen).

At Schaffhausen we had booked a three hour stopover there (you can change length of stopover in DB booking app). This gave us time to dump our cases at the station (Swiss coins only in baggage lockers) and take a local train (S33) - about 8 minutes - to Neuhausen, Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall station and visit the spectacular Rheinfall, or Rhine River waterfall, the largest in Europe. You can cross the Rhine by boat (even visit the island in the middle of the falls but jam-packed when we were there) and then take a local train back to Schaffhausen from Neuhausen Rheinfall station.



EDIT: The trains from Schaffhausen to Zurich pass by the falls after passing through Neuhausen Rheinfall station, so sit on left for a wonderful high level view of the falls as it swings around the bend in the river.