4 must-have tips for cheap travelers to save a lot of money on your free trip to Germany!

When it comes to Europe, the baroque architecture and the rich history of the country always bring a light romantic feeling to the heart. Europe is also the birthplace of many of today’s trendy brands and is definitely a must-visit pilgrimage destination for shopping. However, the expensive and luxurious impression of Europe has deterred many cheapskates, especially when it comes to transport costs. The cost of transportation is a pain in the neck, as it costs thousands of dollars for a round trip to several cities alone, not including air tickets.

In fact, Europe is not as expensive as you might think! Today we’re going to show you how to save money on your travel to Germany, in addition to the essential airfare comparison method, and what other money-saving tricks you can use to save a lot of money on transport!

A must for cheap travelers! Save even more on your self-guided travel in Germany

1. Make the most of your Deutsche Bahn pass

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is the most convenient and quickest way to travel in Germany, with the fastest trains, the ICE (above), connecting all major cities, as well as the IC, EC, S and U trains. The DB trains are much more expensive than the high-speed trains and the city’s MRT.

A round-trip ICE ticket from Frankfurt to Cologne, for example, can cost between €7 or €80 and €100 (even more if you order first class). If you need to travel to and from many cities, the cost of transport can be staggering, but with a DB Pass, you can travel on all DB-operated trains within a specified time frame. There is also a 20% discount for young people under 28 years old with the pass. This is a must-have ticket for those who want to visit the major cities in Germany!

2. Plan your trip in advance and save even more by booking in advance

In addition to using your German rail pass, you can also save a lot of money on transport if you book your tickets in advance of your trip. Generally speaking, early bird tickets for European countries are usually available three months in advance, and for Deutsche Bahn, you can get up to 50% off the price. If you combine this with DB’s BahnCard offer, you can save even more. When arranging your journey, you can download the DB app, which not only stores your tickets in the app, but also provides detailed information on interchanges and train information. The only thing you should be aware of is that if you want to return or change your ticket after booking, you will have to pay an additional price, while some early bird tickets are not refundable.

In addition, German railways are subject to frequent delays, ranging from a few minutes to several hours, and may change platforms at short notice. It is advisable not to schedule your connections too closely to avoid missing trains. Be sure to keep an eye on the latest train information on the app and station timetables, otherwise you may be delayed by half an hour to an hour if you get on the wrong train, which can be very damaging for travellers in a hurry!

3. Save money on transport costs with a day pass for city trams/buses

Apart from the DB railways, short journeys within the city require a road tram, which costs at least €2.50 per journey. If you are travelling to a different area, you will need to buy a cross-area ticket, which will cost you even more. Although you don’t need a card or ticket to board the train (nor does DB Rail), the cost of being caught evading a ticket can be staggering, so don’t be tempted!

Most European cities have a city bus pass and Germany certainly has one. It is advisable to buy a one-day or multi-day ticket on the website, at a ticket machine or at the ticket counter. You can take any bus within the city as many times as you like, regardless of the time of day or area, to make your travels more enjoyable.

4. Make use of your City Travel Card to enjoy the city’s major attractions

In addition to the tram/bus day pass mentioned above, many major cities in Germany offer a city travel card. The benefits vary from city to city, with some including discounts on transport and museum admissions, while others only offer discounts on admission to major attractions, and a day pass for transport must be purchased separately. But in general, if you expect to spend more than 24 hours in a city and plan to visit many museums (after all, Germany has many museums full of character), you can save even more by buying a city card. With entrance fees and transport included, you’ll save tens of euros a day and get another great meal!

In fact, travelling to Germany or Europe is not as expensive as you might think! Just plan and arrange your trip in advance and compare prices on various websites to get the cheapest airfare. You can save a lot of money on your travel expenses by combining various transport vouchers and making the most of them!