5 affordable train trips in Germany with top views and experiences

The Star

04-06-2025

In Germany, a country with one of the world's most extensive public transportation systems, travelling has gotten a whole lot simpler.
That's thanks to the Deutschland-Ticket, or Germany-Ticket, a new type of (almost) all-inclusive travel pass. Priced at €58 (RM278) for a month of travel, it lets you criss-cross the country using Germany's vast network of regional trains. You don't even need to organise tickets for your journeys; you can just show up at the train station and board.
(The faster, longer-distance trains, like the Intercity or InterCity Express, are not included in the pass).
Once you've arrived at your destination, the Deutschland-Ticket lets you bypass the byzantine local German transportation ticketing systems that can stymie even locals. Instead, no matter where you are, you can hop on any type of local public transportation, from buses to trams to underground systems, 19th-century steam locomotives and ferries.
Since its introduction in 2023, the Deutschland-Ticket has sparked something of a post- pandemic renaissance in local travel. A raft of Deutschland-Ticket-themed travel books and websites have appeared, as cardholders use the opportunity to explore corners of the country using climate-friendly transportation, at a fixed price.
'This ticket is an innovation,' said Allister Loder, professor of mobility policy at the Technical University Munich in Germany.
'It changes how we use public transportation.'
Especially beloved by retirees, families and students, the Deutschland-Ticket is also great for tourists. You can book your monthly pass from abroad, using an app. Just be sure to cancel it before it renews.
Here are some of the most scenic trips you can take with the Deutschland-Ticket:
Konstanz is beautiful in all seasons.
Stuttgart to Konstanz
Regine Heue, author of On The Road With The Deutschland-Ticket guide, loved all the early 40 trips she took to write it.
But if she had to pick one, it might be travelling from Stuttgart, home of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, to the beautiful medieval city of Konstanz, on the shores of Lake Constance.
After a ride along the stunning clear blue lake, you can stop in Konstanz to admire the Alpine scenery that forms the city's backdrop, eat, drink or go shopping. Or you can keep going – via bus to the wine town of Meersburg; to Friedrichshafen, home of the Zeppelin; or to the garden island of Mainau, with its 150-year-old arboretum.
If you plan to travel around Germany for an extended period, get the Deutschland-Ticket to ride the trains instead of taking the bus or driving.
From Cologne, along the Rhine and Moselle rivers
Starting from Cologne, with its magnificent Gothic cathedral and carnival spirit, you can catch a train that winds along the bank of the Rhine River, toward Mainz. Described by Germany's Stern Magazine as 'perhaps the most beautiful and romantic rail route in the country', the trip takes you through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a Unesco World Heritage site, past castles, forests, vineyards and the famous Loreley cliff.
Alternatively, if you change trains in Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the Moselle, you can head toward Trier, Germany's oldest city. This route follows the Moselle, with plenty of opportunities to disembark for wine tastings at one of the area's many vineyards.
(One good place to stop: the town of Bernkastel-Kues).
Sylt is Germany's northernmost island.
Hamburg to Sylt, through the mud flats
There may be no better way to see the Hanseatic port city of Hamburg than from the water – and with the Deutschland-Ticket you can ride the city's ferry system at no extra cost, disembarking at places like the famous Fischmarkt, or fish market.
Once you've experienced Hamburg from the water, you can hop on the regional train to Germany's northernmost island of Sylt. This train travels through the spectacular natural landscape of North Frisia, with its large, Unesco-protected intertidal sand and mud flats known as the Wadden Sea.
For a surreally beautiful stretch, the train travels along an embankment right through the sea. On arrival in Sylt, travellers can use the local bus to get around, rent bikes (not included in the Deutschland-Ticket) or just walk to the beach.
Don't miss the region's famous fischbrotchen, or fish rolls.
The historic town of Zittau is not (yet) on many travellers' list of places to visit in Germany.
Berlin to Zittau, into the mountains
Klaus Scheddel, author of the guidebook With The Deutschland-Ticket From Berlin, travelled 32 routes from the German capital to write his eco-friendly travel guide. But the Deutschland-Ticket discovery that most delighted the long-time Berliner was a trip to the charming, largely undiscovered historic city of Zittau, about three hours to the south, near the Czech and Polish borders.
The city is nestled at the foot of the Zittau mountains, which are remarkable for their striking sandstone rock formations, named for the forms they resemble: praying nuns, a beehive, a brooding hen, a crocodile.
From Zittau, you can travel into these mountains to Oybin on a small-gauge steam train that dates from the 19th century.
Part of the public transportation system, this train requires additional payment of an 'historical surcharge' of €10 (RM48) per person, per day.
Munich to Fussen, and Cinderella's castle
From Munich, with its beer gardens and one of the world's largest museums for science and technology, the Deutsches Museum, you can board a train to the historic city of Fussen.
About a two-hour ride through the foothills of the Alps, this route brings you to an area known for its mountains, lakes and castles, and features spectacular views of the peaks of the Ammergau and Allgau Alps.
In Fussen, which calls itself 'the highest town in Bavaria', you might want to stop to eat local Allgau specialties such as Kasspatzen (homemade noodles mixed with regional cheese), or the local Sissi Torte, created in honour of the Austrian empress' 19th-century visit to the city.
From Fussen, a short bus ride will take you to Neuschwanstein Castle, Walt Disney's inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle. – SALLY MCGRANE/©2025 The New York Times Company
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.