Deutsche -Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Germany's ICE, EC/IC and regional network, plus the DB IC Bus.
Overview
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany's national rail operator, running ICE high-speed, EC/IC intercity and regional services, plus the DB IC Bus long-distance coach network.
Luggage
- ICE trains: up to 2 pieces of luggage plus 1 hand-luggage item per passenger. No stated weight limit, but you must handle your own bags. All luggage must be labelled.
- DB IC Bus: 2 pieces max, each up to 70×50×30cm; luggage can't be brought into the seating area. Foldable buggies allowed if space permits.
Bicycles
- ICE 4 (Hamburg–Munich): reservation required. Other ICE trains: folded/dismantled bikes in a bag travel free as luggage, no reservation.
- EC/IC trains: reservation required (book directly with DB); folding bikes in a bag don't need one.
Traveling with pets
- Small dogs in a carrier: free, one per passenger. Guide/assistance dogs: free, no muzzle required.
- Large dogs: must be muzzled and leashed onboard, and need a half-price ticket. On cross-border journeys, buy a child's 2nd class ticket for the dog.
Food & Drinks on board
Deutsche Bahn offers onboard food and drinks on many long-distance ICE and IC services. Depending on the train, passengers can use the BordRestaurant for freshly prepared hot meals or the BordBistro for snacks and drinks.
The onboard selection can include hot meals, snacks, drinks, beer, wine and regional specialties. Availability can vary depending on the train and service.
Passengers travelling in First Class on ICE trains may also have access to at-seat food and drink service where available.
If you have a specific food preference or dietary requirement, we recommend checking the available catering options for your particular train before travelling, as not all services offer the same food and drink selection.
Boarding, check-in & station transfers
- Arrive 15–20 minutes before departure — no check-in and no security screening; tickets are checked onboard.
- Seat reservations are optional. The "Wagenstandanzeige" (coach-sequence display) on the platform shows which section each coach stops at. Photo ID is required for digital tickets. On international routes, book early and allow extra time — cross-border reservations are often compulsory and free, and Federal Police may conduct Schengen spot checks adding 5–15 minutes.
- Station transfers at major hubs: Munich Hbf (11–15 min to the S-Bahn level via the green "S" signs), Berlin Hbf (10–15 min between the upper/lower levels), Frankfurt Hbf (8–12 min to underground S-Bahn), Hamburg Hbf (7–10 min), Cologne Hbf (5–10 min, all ground level). Useful signage: Gleis = platform, Aufzug = lift.
- Assistance: pre-book DB's Mobility Service online (German-language) or call +030 65212888 at least one working day ahead. Nearly all long-distance stations have hoists or ramps; staffed assistance is available at ~300 stations.
Tickets, fares & the BahnCard
Fare types: Super Sparpreis (from €19.90/€29.90, train-specific, non-exchangeable/non-refundable), Sparpreis (from €23.90/€35.90, up to 60% off, refundable as a 3-year voucher), Sparpreis Aktion (promo pricing), Flexpreis (full flexibility) and Flexpreis Plus (valid 1 day before to 2 days after travel, free seat reservation, local transit included in many cities). City Ticket bundles free local transport with Sparpreis/Flexpreis fares over 100km. International Sparpreis fares to neighbouring countries start around €19–€39. Under-6s travel free; under-15s travel free with an accompanying adult (up to 4 children).
BahnCard 25 (€62/€125 per year): 25% off flexible & saver fares. BahnCard 50 (€255/€515): 50% off flexible fares, 25% off saver fares (half-price for under-27s, students, over-60s). To add one when booking: click "Add railcard" → select Germany → choose the card type/class matching your ticket class → assign to each passenger. The card isn't validated at booking, so you must carry the physical/digital BahnCard when travelling.
Bayern Ticket (regional day pass): unlimited travel across Bavaria (plus some cross-border routes) for up to 5 travellers. Weekday validity: 9am–3am next day; weekends/holidays: midnight–3am. A night version runs 6pm–6am (Sun–Thu) or 6pm–7am (Fri/Sat/holidays). Covers regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and most buses. Under-6s free; up to 3 children aged 6–14 travel free per adult.
Booking for someone else: only the first-entered passenger's name appears on a DB ticket, and that person must carry valid ID matching it — the ticket can't be amended afterward, only cancelled per fare conditions.
Reading your ticket
Only the lead passenger's name prints on the ticket; other passengers are encoded in the QR code. Tickets include: printing instructions, train/class/fare/validity details, barcode handling, a payment/VAT breakdown, validity & ID requirements, coach/seat numbers, terms, and inspection cross-reference data. Since 1 October 2016, a passport, government ID or Bahn Card must be shown alongside the ticket. Key glossary: Reisende = passenger, Fahrkarte = ticket, Gleis = platform, Wagen = coach, Zug = train, Sitzplätze = seat numbers.
Refunds & claims
If you receive a DB cancellation email, don't panic first — there's a link at the bottom to check the train's real status, since it may just have been reclassified (e.g. one ICE generation swapped for another) rather than truly cancelled. Contact Rail Europe support if questions remain after checking.