Commuting in Germany

The Deutschland Ticket

Relevance:
All Students

Moving around in Germany was (before the Deutschland Ticket) and can still be can be a costly affair. Especially if you are a student on a tight budget. But lucky enough for you, there are a lot of tips that can save you a lot of money. So lets get right to the bottom of it.

The Deutschland Ticket (Germany Ticket)

The Deutschlandticket is a nationwide public transport pass introduced to provide a simplified and affordable travel option across Germany. It allows unlimited access to local and regional trains, buses, and trams throughout the country for a flat rate of 58 Euros per month  (this increased from 49 EUR since 31st Dec 2024). This ticket is ideal for anyone who regularly uses public transport, offering a hassle-free way to travel across various regions without additional costs. The Deutschlandticket is valid for all local and regional services, making it a convenient and budget-friendly option for those who need to travel frequently.

In addition to the regular Deutschlandticket, there are also discounted tickets available for students. Students can benefit from a reduced fare on the Deutschlandticket or other local transport options. Typically, students pay a lower monthly rate of 38 euros for the Deutschlandticket, allowing them to travel affordably across the country. To qualify for this discount, students must provide proof of their status, and the discounted tickets are available through various regional transit companies. This initiative is part of Germany’s effort to make public transportation more accessible for young people while encouraging sustainable travel

Once you receive your student admission, you can obtain the discounted Deutschland Ticket with this discount. 
This saves you >500 euros per year asumming you bought equivalent single tickets to travel every week day in local routes!It’s not worth buying single tickets at all if you plan on commuting regularly. 

Also keep in mind that free riding in the public transport will cost you 60 euros in fines if you are caught. If they catch you at least once, you’d rather just have bought the ticket.

Before there was a Semesterticket that costed just under 300 EUR per semester but this has now been slowly phased out in favour of the Deutschland ticket

 

2. Get a bike

If you don’t want to buy the semester ticket and don’t move around a lot, getting a bike can be a good alternative. In winter however, biking may not exactly be the best idea. On the other hand, over summer, it can be a worthwhile alternative and a great way to keep fit 🙂 You might still need the train or bus once in a while, so it’s not exactly a perfect substitute.