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Generally speaking, there is more than enough to keep a tourist busy in a major city. Sometimes though, it’s nice to get out of the big smoke and see the smaller towns and sites in another country.
This can be tough when you’ve just flown straight in, don’t have a car (nor want to shell out for the rental and petrol prices) and the trains seem to be just that bit too pricey. Which is why it’s great that the German train system (Deutsche Bahn) have the Happy Weekend Ticket (Schönes-Wochenende Ticket).
Berlin Hauptbahnhof by Matthias M
For 35€ up to five people can travel anywhere on the regional train network. The ticket is valid from midnight to 3am the following day, but only available for Saturday or Sunday hence the happiness of the weekend. It also covers the S-bahns within those cities that have them. You don’t have to reserve seats and you can use it as many times as you want anywhere in the country for the entire day.
There are a few important points though:
-This ticket can only be used on the regional trains, ones designated by an RB, IRE or RE. These are generally the red ones. Don’t get on an ICE (Inter City Express)! Those are prettier and faster, but the conductor is not going to let you get away with a happy weekend if you do that.
-If you want to be a bit more adventurous you can get to Poland on this ticket via a few routes: Grambow – (Grambow Grenze(Border)) – Szczecin Gl; Tantow – (Tantow Grenze) – Szczecin Gl; Forst Grenze – Zasieki; Frankfurt (Oder) Grenze – Slubice; Görlitz – (Zgorzelec Grenze) – Zgorzelec
-These are the slow trains. They stop a lot at very small towns, go in somewhat circuitous routes and can take a long time to get somewhere. Make sure your destination is achievable.
German Train by dayvidday
You can buy the ticket directly from the website, but the web-shop itself is, unfortunately, in German and there is a 3.50€ charge for postage. Otherwise it can be purchased at train stations, either from the travel center (DB ReiseZentrum), or from the DB ticket machines. You can also buy them on the trains, directly from the conductor, but you will be charged an extra 10% and you cannot purchase it on S-bahn trains.
The Happy Weekend is a great way to get out of the large cities and into the smaller towns. It is even a very inexpensive way of getting between major cities, but it can take twice as long as the fast trains. But for 7€ per person if travelling in a group, I don’t think you’ll find a cheaper way.
Tags: cheap rail tickets germany, cheap trains germany, Happy Weekend rail offer
Jacinta, 35 euro for 5 people that is amazing value for money.
It is indeed. Even for just one person it can save money – a normal one way fare from Berlin to Hamburg, for example, costs 65€ on the fast ICE trains and 42€ on the slower regional trains. It really is a fantastic offer.
The cheaper Länder Tickets may offer a better value for small groups making local rather than interregional trips. It pays to compare DB offers before purchase.
I’ve outlined the best ways to save on German train travel in my post Getting Across Germany Cheaply, Part One.
Thank for the tip, poetloverrebelspy.
[...] your needs aren’t that extensive, there are other discount offers on the German rail network: Happy Weekend Tickets and Länder-tickets (~27€ for five people for one day in a single German state) offer cheap group [...]
I never really used much of the Deutsche Bahn because the only 2 times I was in Germany was for business. I would fly in and immediately have a hired car waiting to take me to the hotel. Whenever I would go to the job site, they would have a car waiting for me in the morning; another one to take me back at night. If my clients ever took me out, it would always be in a car already provided. In essence, it’s good to see other methods of travel because to me that’s the real reason to travel to countries like Germany. I read up on the link for the happy weekend ticket and It’s really a great bargain. You can go pretty much everywhere the train goes: Hopping on and off different trains so you can explore different parts of the country. I really want to try this: It looks like a great way to spend lazy days during your holiday. I would definitely go on the slow train though: What’s the use of taking the Express if you want to see the small towns? Excellent information here: I’ve bookmarked this entire blog because it’s extremely useful to us to travel abroad from time to time. Thank you.
Classy Lady – Thanks for your comment. The Happy Weekend Ticket is really good value. I agree that it’s better to take the slow train to see more of the country which you are visiting. I prefer to see more of a smaller region that to whizz around a few countries in a week.
Hi, I need to know one thing. With this ticket I cant take an ICE but what about IC?
I guess taking a IC is also not allowed !! Please let me know.
Lita – thanks for your comment. I think that the Happy Weekend Ticket is only valid on regional trains but you should confirm this with D Bahn.
Do you know if the Happy Weekend ticket can take me from Frankfurt to Munich? (I’m arriving at the Frankfurt airport).