Eurail Germany Information

The German rail system is generally very efficient. Most all trains arrive on time, though of course you'll run into the odd delay. You usually have a choice of trains you can take as well. These range from slower trains that stop at every little town, and high-speed trains that can get you from one side of the country to the other in a matter of a few hours.

Deutsche Bahn means "German Rail" translated into English. It's commonly referred to as "the Bahn." Anytime you see a sign saying "DB" that's generally what it means - Deutsche Bahn. Follow those signs if you're looking for the local train station.

Over 350,000 uses the trains in Germany every day to travel to each corner of the country and to the rest of Europe. If you're heading to a larger city like Berlin or Munich, you should have almost hourly options to catch different trains.

As mentioned there are several classes of German trains (all covered by Eurail passes) :

ICE (Inter City Express) - The sleek white trains you'll see flying around. They're extremely fast and comfortable too. Almost all the major cities are connected via ICE. You need to pay a small supplement to use the ICE trains, even with a Eurail pass. It's worth it though to get to your destination quicker. The supplements are usually a few Euro.

Thalys - This trains runs from Cologne to cities in the Netherlands (Amstedam), Belgium (Brussels), and France (Paris). Possibly other cities as well.

IC and EC (Inter City and Euro City). These trains run very frequently as express trains between cities in Germany and some of the surrounding countries (Austria for example).

EN, ICN, NZ, CNL (EuroNight, InterCityNight, NachtZug, CityNightLine) - These are all various types of overnight trains which provide bunks in sleeping cars. Generally the bunks will cost the same as a hostel. It's not so bad, but if you're getting off in the middle of the night it might not be worth your money to pay for the bunk.

There's more, but the above trains will generally be the ones you're travelling on. Remember though, even with a Eurail pass some trains may require a supplement (like the ICE). Check with the info counter at the train station before leaving. Don't worry, they pretty much all speak English!

Eurail / Eurorail Passes for Germany

Germany Rail Pass - 4 days unlimited travel in Germany within a one month period. Also valid on certain buslines as well.

German Youth Rail Pass - Same as above, but discounted for people under 26 years of age.

Eurail Germany and Denmark Pass - Pass gives you unlimited travel in Germany and Denmark over 2 months.

Eurail Germany and Benelux Pass - 5, 6, 8, or 10 days of travel between Germany and the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg within 2 months.

German Rail and Drive - 2 days of train travel and 2 days of Hertz car rental in Germany.

German Rail Twin Pass - Discounted pass based on two people travelling any 4 days within a month around Germany.

Check out the Backpacking Europe section for more information about Eurail passes / train travel and backpacking in Europe.

Find Cheap Eurorail / Eurail Passes and Tickets

European Train Schedules
New! Eurail / Eurorail train schedules courtesy of Deutsche Bahn. Just pop in your destination and departure points and you'll get your itinerary. Check it out here:
Deutsche Bahn - European Rail Schedules

Directory of European Railway Websites
The link below will provide you with a full listing of European railways and their websites.
Directory of European Train Service Websites

Multiple Country Eurail / Eurorail Passes
Multiple Country Eurail Passes: create your own pass
Eurail Pass: The best way to get around Europe
Eurail Selectpass (3 countries), as low as $243
Europass� (5 countries), as low as $253
Eurostar - Breakfast in London and Lunch in Paris
Paris to Venice in your Pajamas. Sleeper trains from Rail Europe.

Country Specific Eurail / Eurorail Passes
Single Eurail Country Passes: choose your country in Europe
France Railpass: the best way to see France!
British Rail Products: BritRail, Freedom of Scotland & more
Swiss Pass: take the most spectacular rail trips in the World

Eurail also now offers many more passes and options to plan your European vacation. You can now purchase Eurail Saver Passes that include countries like Bulgaria, Serbia / Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and other Eastern European coutries that weren't included previously.