Why are you flying out of Munich?

The trains are easy enough to coordinate. Go to www.bahn.de.

It may be a good idea to consult a map. Leipzig is closer to Berlin and well, run this through google maps.

Hi Jaadain,

Trains are not costly if you buy your tickets in advance. The discounted fares go on sale about 90 days early, and they run around 29 Euro per person per trip. They do sell out, so it's worthwhile to get the tickets as soon as your itinerary is set.

You can buy your tickets at the German rail site

www.bahn.com

and print them on your own computer.

The disadvantage of buying the tickets in advance is that you will be committed to a specific train at a specific time.

Have fun as you plan!

s

If under 26 and doing everything by public transit - meaning trains in Germany between cities then by all means investigate getting a German Youth Railpass that allows you to hop any train anytime - just show up - such fully flexible tickets often cost a ton - a few long trips can make the pass pay off.

For loads of great info on German trains and passes I always spotlight these IMO Wunderbar sites - www.bahn.de - the official German Railways web site with schedules and actual fares; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id9.html; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Passes are also valid in full on K-D boats on The Rhine between Mainz and Koblenz - a very popular float that takes you thru the fabled Rhine Gorge - just flash you pass when boarding. (www.k-d.com for schedules - something a little different from trains.

Check the following sites for more-affordable lodging:

www.booking.com

www.hrs.com

and

www.berlin-pensionen.de

I came up wth several options on the outskirts of the city (okay, maybe you get a bus/trolly pass) for $160-$269 for the whole five days!
You already know that Hostels are a cheaper way to travel (EVO HOSTEL BERLIN) , Touristenhaus Grunau
or, that Pensionen are typically like a B&B, sometimes with a shared bath, sometimes with your own.
Of course look up Gasthauser or Gasthofe for less expensive lodgings..IMO much more personal tha a hotel anyway!

Trains are not costly if you buy your tickets in advance. The discounted fares go on sale about 90 days early, and they run around 29 Euro per person per trip>

Well it seems you have about five long distance train rides between cities like Berlin, hamburg, Cologne, Munich, etc.

In that case a German Railpass will be even cheaper than the 29 euro tickets - tickets which must be booked weeks in advance to get as, like swandaav says sell out early, and these tickets are also non-changeable (train-specific) and non-refundable - a railpass again lets you hop on any train anytime with very very few exceptions.

For example a German Twin pass in 2nd class for five days of unlimited travel throughout Germany to be used anytime you want over a one-month period (flexipass) costs $212 or about $42 a day - in euros that is about 30 euros a day - just about the same as the 29 euro tickets that are severely restricted and which must be booked in stone weeks in advance - to me for your kind of trip a German Railpass is a no-brainer - hop any train anytime and on days you use the pass it is also good on S-Bahns within cities.

For example use the pass to get to Munich and then for the rest of the day the pass is also valid on the S-bahn lines that lace downtown Munich - an added bonus the 29 euro fares do not give you.

Fodor's mantra is that railpasses are always a bad deal but this is simply not always true and is certainly not true when talking about Germany (folks who tout the 29 euro tickets for several train trips just do not know about the pass I think and automatically think the 29 euro discounts are the only way to go but this is simply not true if traveling on more than a few trains).

So IMO in your case a German Railpass is the ticket to ride, given what you say you will be likely doing and the best thing about a pass is that you have complete flexibility to chose which trains to hop once there - full flexibility and those type of tickets can easily cost 100 euros or more for long distance trains.

There are also overnight trains between several German cities - sleep on the train (railpasses valid for train fare but you must pay at least a few euros for a reclining seat or more for a regular berth or bed in a compartment - save on a hotel or hostel night's cost and travel time - possibles Berlin to Munich;
Cologne to Munich; Berlin to Cologne, etc.

After my almost 3 weeks in Germany last year in which I used a Railpass for day trips from Frankfurt, I can highly recommend such a pass. If you worked really hard and planned really well and ahead, you might be able to save a little by buying discount tickets ahead, but the total flexibility of the Railpass is worth every euro to me!

I found the German trains to be fairly easy to navigate/figure out (and I speak practically no German and never ride trains in the US) and found them about 90% reliable/on time. They were always comfortable and usually (but not always) not very crowded. But you may find trains traveling from city to city as you will need to be a bit more busy at certain times.

For the ease of use and the freedom and peace of mind, I'd figure out how many days you need train transport and buy Passes for that many. (If you need more, then you can buy a ticket there.)

The DB website is most helpful and pretty easy to navigate. And on-site the DB employees are helpful, and in larger stations speak English, always enough to help anyway.

Hey all.. Thank you for the responses! We have decided to fly into Munich, I want to visit the area and especially the Welt Museum. Then we are going to Colonge, Hamburg and leave from Berlin. The site you all have listed are now book marked.. I don't mind preplanning the trains, as that will keep us on a schedule and allow us to see what we can in the time we have! Of course, as things go.. we may change.. Again, I thank you for your input!!

http://www.bmw-welt.com/en/

For others like me who did not know what the Welt Museum was - here is what it is - and I'm putting it on my bucket list as well. Thanks for posting about that.

Also, are the trains easy enough to coordinate.. I've read yes and no.. and they can be extremely costly..>

Yes but only if you walk up and buy a ticket - then those fully flexible tickets that can be used on any of the same type of trains (ICEs for example with the same fares - other trains may be cheaper) can cost a ton of money. But 29 euro fares can be had if you book way in advance. And again the Germany Railpass for 4 days of train travel in a 1-month period would be about 30 euros a day - the same practically as 29 euro fares and you could hop any train anytime - I have rarely seen any German train that was too full to board and if so there are 2-4 trains an hour between many key cities like you are going to.

So, as things happen.. We were looking at some things to do preplanned.. I know that Germany in May can be either nice or rainy.. Depending on the day.. We do not want to stay strictly in the cities all the time.. Say, for instance, when we visit Munich.. We are only going to be there for a few days- I would like to visit the surrounding areas.. but am unfamiliar with towns and possible hotels to stay in.. So, any recommendation would be welcomed.. We are flying into Munich on the 10th(well, land the 10th) and I know we will probably spend that day catching up on zzz's and jetlag.. So, the following day.. which is Saturday we'd like to visit Welt museum.. then the next day we would like to visit Neuschwanstein and stay a night or two..
So, a hotel recommendation in that area would be lovely. Would we need to book a tour for this or would we be fine taking some sort of public transportation? We'd spend a day and night there and be on our way to Cologne afterwards.

Once in Cologne, we would like to visit some of the churches and what not.. I do have a friend that lives here and we will be visiting just for a day or two.. A hotel recommendation would also be nice..

So, as of now. we have 2 cities down.. and a castle.. with spattering of churches.. On the 15th.. we are planning to leave Cologne and head to Hamburg where we will spend until Sunday 19th... We have a few friends in this city that we will be seeing and hotels for this area .. we are good on.. We will be staying at the Park Hyatt Hamburg.. as my cousin is a manager here in the US and gets a very nice discount. We will be on our own during most of the days as our friends work.. So recommendations would be great in the city... We weren't going for a history lesson.. but... things change...

Then on the 19th, we will head to Berlin where we will spend the remainder of our time until we go home on the 23rd.. So, Berlin.. we know now one.. so will be nice to have some ideas..


Ok, so.. From what I have been reading in other post.. some say it is a good idea to wait until arrival to buy tickets for the rail.. others say book ahead.. I am confused on what we should do..

Ok, so.. From what I have been reading in other post.. some say it is a good idea to wait until arrival to buy tickets for the rail.. others say book ahead.. I am confused on what we should do..>

No you pay top dollar if you wait until buying at stations in Germany - if you are traveling three times or less try to get the 29 euro online discounted tickets - they are non-changeable non-refundable however - and if taking 4 longish train trips then as I have been showing above a 4-day German Twin Railpass would be about 30 euros a day - about the same as 29 euros a day and you can hop on any train anytime once there - if taking 4 longish train rides the German Railpass is a no-brainer and then you can decide which trains to take when there. For three or less you will save some money by doing the 29 euro fares (they are not always available however) but must book weeks in advance. If you wait to buy tickets once there you will pay a few hundred bucks from what your plans are more than the railpass or discounted tickets.

Germany has several overnight trains that you could hop - Berlin and Munich; Berlin and Frankfurt, etc. - save a night cost in a hotel or hostel and arrive bright and early the next morning - young folk especially can have a great time in a couchette with other young folk - often mainly younger folks doing the couchette or reclining chair way - if you have a railpass the pass pays for the train fare but not the optional sleeping accommodations - from a few euros for a reclining seat.

We will be on our own during most of the days as our friends work.. So recommendations would be great in the city... We weren't going for a history lesson.. but... things change.>

The Reeperbahn (a k a Reeferbahn to some) is a totally unique entertainment center in Europe - both for its red-light district and active nightlife for younger folk. Something to see anyway.

http://english.hamburg.de/museums-attractions-hamburg-en/294386/reeperbahn-hamburg-st-pauli-nightclub-english.html

Thank you PalenQ ! We will purchase the tickets before arrival, about 90 days...

A trip to Neuschwanstein does not require an overnight there. It's a typical day trip from Munich.
You don't waste time to pack/unpack, check in and out of hotels. And I assume that many rail connections from Füssen (which is the next railway station for Neuschwanstein) to Cologne will route you through Munich anyway.
You can see the castle with a cheap day pass for all regional trains and local public transport in Bavaria, i.e. the Bayern Ticket.

The BMW Welt is not exactly a museum but more like a big showroom which you can visit for free. The BMW Museum has an entrance fee and is right next door to the BMW Welt. The museum is quite nice, but IMO nothing that will leave you in awe - unless you are into somewhat seriously into cars and that brand. If you are more into transport history in general, the transport branch of the Deutsches Museum will show more - from cars to trains and trams and subways.

Pentecost weekend (May 18-20) is usually quite busy as also Monday 20th is a public holiday. So you can expect more crowds at the sights you want to see in Berlin. Or avoid the big ones like Pergamon museum or Reichstag cupola those days.

And I assume that many rail connections from Füssen (which is the next railway station for Neuschwanstein) to Cologne will route you through Munich anyway.>

No - you go up to Augsburg from Fussen to join the main train line to Cologne via Stuttgart - Munich would be a way backtrack and you'd come back thru Augsburg - use www.bahn.de to see the best routing.

From Fussen the quickest route to Frankfurt and Colgone goes via either a change of train in Buchloe or Augsburg - then direct to Cologne from there. To go via Munich would take about an extra hour so no need to backtrack to Munich. (Schedules from www.bahn.de).

Hey all.. as time is getting closer.. We are now booking our rail passes.. I am confused though.. So, as of right now for the next 10 days, http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/germany.cfm has a spring special and it is a discounted price. With our travel plans being Munich-Cologne-Hamburg-Berlin... The 5 day pass is a great deal.. but does that include the ICE as well? I can not tell. I am trying to figure out.. if we should leave Munich early enough to get into Cologne before it gets late.. or take an overnight train.. if available with reservation. We have decided to only do a day trip to Fussen while we stay in Munich instead of training it to there and then to Cologne.

the special is not unique to ricksteves.com but for any German railpass sold anywhere as rick works thru RailEurope who I believe actually does the transaction and gives steves a commission, etc. And uyes a German Railpass is valid on any German train with the sole exceptions of InterCitySprinter trains - designed for business types making early commutes and rush hour returns between mainly Frankfurt-Cologne and Hamburg I believe - trains you will never be taking and Thalys trains from Cologne to Belgium and of course overnight trains. If you have any questions about German Railpasses like that I'd advise calling Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - I have used him for years for various passes and he is an expert on questions like that - and there can be sudden changes that I may not know about - I say valid on all ICEs because that is my experience but things can change. Once you get the pass the conditions of use will outline everything that is valid - including such obscure things as a railpass valid in Germany is good on Berlin's S-Bahns but only on lines linking mainline train stations, etc.

Hi Jaadain - We bought the discounted 5-day German Rail Pass for our 4 days in Germany. Sale ends 3/29/13 and is good for travel through the end of May. We got an extra discount by getting a Twin Saver (two people are named on one pass). Byron at budgeteuropetravel.com can explain that additional discount in more detail.

I really struggled with the decision to purchase a rail pass. We've traveled to Europe enough times not to be intimidated by purchasing tickets ala carte. But given our itinerary and the fact that both my sons and 74-yr. old father will be travelling with us (a total of 5 people), I decided that it made more sense and had less of a head tax (i.e. worry) to just get the rail passes. Plus, with family in Germany, I don't want to have to worry now about scheduling dinners and lunches so that I can buy cheap tickets in advance.

We're buying point-to-point tickets in Italy, though, cuz their rail pass isn't worth it.

Have a great trip and maybe we'll see you on the rails!

Forgot one more thing: we're staying in a rental apartment in Cologne just 5 minute walk from the Dom through airbnb.com. The nightly rates at these apartments were comparable or less expensive than hotels. You can use their google map to identify the precise location of where you want to be located. We're staying 3 nights in Cologne at $150USD/night for an apartment that sleeps 4. You can get lower nightly rates if you need room only for 1-2.

Jaadain
I rode a few ICE trains with my RailPass in Germany last summer, so unless something has changed, yes in general. HOWEVER, some (many? during some peak hours) of the ICE routes require a reservation. So 1check the fine print of pass and 2 DEFINITELY check the DBBAhn website and look at the possible itineraries and see if any of the trains you might take needs a reservation. I know mine did Frankfurt to Nurnburg, but the one I took to and from Koln did not at the hours I rode it. I loved my RailPass travel in Germany!

If any ICE train requires reservations then that is a very new policy as none have ever IME - I will check bahn.de to see what ones do require them - easy to get anyway and there are plenty that do not require them.

I looked at just about every Frankfurt to Nurnburg ICE for one day and can see none that mention anything about reservations being required - none - maybe you were on an ICE Sprinter - a special type of ICE that does require reservations - just a few of these for business types mainly but it could have been that type of train.

Thank you all! I will phone Byron and speak with him. It would probably be better for me..I loathe surprises! I am getting excited as the trip is drawing nearer!

Thank you all!

We got an extra discount by getting a Twin Saver (two people are named on one pass). Byron at budgeteuropetravel.com can explain that additional discount in more detail.>

Well a Saver Pass is for two or more people who want to put their names all on one pass - but in Germany with German Passes it is only the German Twin Pass - only two names on each pass max - saver passes can often have several names on them and an odd number whereas in Germany the max is 2 names - so a party of 3 folks traveling together would need one Twin Pass and one regular solo pass - for Twin Passes there is about a 20% discount per person over buying two individual passes. About the same with Saver Passes for Eurail Passes.

PalenQ is correct. We have two (2) German twin passes (mine and my husband's name on one; the other with the names of my 13-yr. old son and my father). The 11-yr. has a 1/2 price German Pass. Now my 11-yr. old has complete freedom to roam the German rail lines by his lonesome, while the rest of us remained tethered together....

Now my 11-yr. old has complete freedom to roam the German rail lines by his lonesome, while the rest of us remained tethered together>

well not really as one of the two people on a Twin Pass could use the pass by themselves if situations dictated it - like if one member did not feel up to doing some day trip or boat ride one person could use the pass without the other being present - makes sense as the railways do not lose any money on that but actually gain an extra empty seat!

Like I've seen writ on German train station walls: Have "a Gut Fahrten" or good journey I guess they mean!

A trip to Neuschwanstein does not require an overnight there. It's a typical day trip from Munich.>

just about two hours each way to Fussen itself then a few-mile walk or taxi or minibus or bus ride to the castle complex - and yes the Bavarai Pass passes on most if not all trains on this route since they are mainly or are all regional trains.

ok Pal don't want to get into any sort of "match" with you but I just checked the DBBahn site and I COULD find a very very few ICE (don't know how to tell if it's a Sprinter--I don't think that's what I'm talking about) that DID require a reservation. It was always at peak times and was not everyday of the week. So as I said in my post some (I now drop the ?many?) very few ICE trains may require reservation. It's not a problem--the OP just needs to pay attention to the DBBahn site, plug in any and all possible routes to use with a pass, and if any show that little reservation symbol, then avoid that time/train or make the reservation. I must have been traveling at a peak time on a busy day and I'm glad I noticed I'd need the reservation before I got on the train. I was just sharing my experience. I needed a reservation for one ICE trip.

and if any show that little reservation symbol, then avoid that time/train or make the reservation.>

I'll have to check but a R can also mean Reservations are advised and this would make sense at rush hours. It should say Reservation obligatory like it does say for French TGVs - anyway yes do not worry about reservations though in 2nd class you may want to make them for a few euros to guaranteeably get two seats together or a window seat, etc.

5 days for the price of 4 on a German Twin - that makes five days of unlimited travel in a month period $233 or about $47/day p.p. and that is about 33 euros a day - just four euros more than the deepest discounted ticket at 29 euros for inter-city and InterLander travel.

all that for fully flexible travel - hop on any train anytime and people ending up for the day in say Berlin or Munich or Frankfurt will find their passes valid that day on S-Bahn trains that lace city centres - another few euros benefit. such full-fare tickets for a few-hour ride often cost $100 or more themselves.

A great deal without the free extra day and an even greater deal with it - thanks jaedin and MKECityMom for alerting me and others to this special - good for sales thru Mar 29, 2013.

Hello again! Ok, so I ordered the rail passes and received them today.. but they are "Control vouchers". Says that this is not valid for transportation.. Do we, when we arrive in Germany, give them to an attendant? No information came inclosed with them! Thanks!!

Sounds like that yes is something to give to the rail clerk when you validate your pass in Germany by taking it up with your passports to any ticket window - they will stamp the one-month validity period to 'activate' the pass - then you fill in a date in the blank boxes anytime you want to use it - never having to go to a ticket window again.