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rail frankfurt to Offenburg and Offenburg to Paris

Greetings!!!! As I continue to plan for my August trip, two questions:

  1. Is is best to order tickets on line for the rail Frankfurt-Offenburg, or purchase at the Frankfurt HBF???

  2. Clarify please best course to go from Offenburg to Paris. Also, best to purchase tickets in advance???

Thank you

Posted by
6231 posts

I'm assuming you are using a €9 ticket so it really doesn't matter. I like purchasing the tickets ahead of time (online) so that it's done, I can save it in the DB Navigator phone app and don't have to worry about a paper ticket. You can purchase using this link - https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en - just make sure you check the box that says "only local transport" so the €9 option will show up.

For the Paris route, you would want to to book it online as soon as possible, as ticket prices rise the closer you get to your travel date. However, instead of booking from Offenburg, it might be cheaper to book it from Strasbourg. If you are staying Offenburg, you will get a KONUS card, which entitles you to free public transport anywhere in that region. So you can use that to take the train from Offenburg to Strasbourg (you would need to add a simple fare called the Euro mini pass to get from the border to Strasbourg), and then book your long distance ticket from Strasbourg to Paris using SNF-connect.

Posted by
321 posts

Hi Gary-
I don't know if this applies to you, but If you are just trying to minimize rail costs from Frankfurt to Paris, check the advance ticket purchase prices for direct trains from Frankfurt to Paris on the Bahn website. It might be cheaper (and much simpler and take less time) than using the routing proposed by Mardee.

Have a great trip!!!

Posted by
210 posts

Thanks but I think taking the ICE is worth the time vs. local transport. That's why I wondered about the two routes in question

Posted by
210 posts

As you likely know, Offenburg is kind of a hub for rail in the area. I will be in Wolfach Aug 25-28. However, I discovered another challenge. It appears that local transport from Wolfach to Offenburg (for connections to Stasbourg) have a reduced Sunday schedule. It appears the first train to Offenburg is 8:35. Not a great misfortune, but how to get on the road to Paris earlier.
The second issue is Strasbourg to Paris. It lookes like only available train is 12:47 and gets to Paris by 3:17, thereby losing time in Paris. So those are the issues I am sorting through at this time.

Any insights would be appreciated

Posted by
19659 posts

Mardee, all the other trains show "fully booked" at SNCF-Connect. Last Sunday in August and everyone is headed home from their August vacation.

Posted by
6591 posts

I discovered another challenge. It appears that local transport from
Wolfach to Offenburg (for connections to Stasbourg) have a reduced
Sunday schedule. It appears the first train to Offenburg is 8:35. Not
a great misfortune, but how to get on the road to Paris earlier.

In fact there's no train at all to Offenburg, not at 8:35, and no bus at that time either. There are no trains at all from Wolfach that morning. Normally there is a Sunday train at 8:01. But for 8/28, the first transport option is at 8:56 - with bus F13. Why that? Well, a week ago when you posted your intention to stay in Wolfach, Azra cautioned you on rail line closure and the transport difficulties you ought to expect using a Wolfach base; maybe you didn't see his follow-up note:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/friesenheim-germany

If you've not done so already, I think you should look into some of the other base town options that were provided on that thread.

Posted by
210 posts

Hey ya’ll. I got a new thought. Wanted to share because you were all so helpful. I went to DB and it appears that it will work better to go to Karlsruhe then paris by DB rather than French rail. Need to verify one more time. Thank you

Posted by
6591 posts

I'm not seeing what you hope to find. Nothing out of Wolfach prior to 8:56 on 8/28. Nothing here either: https://www.efa-bw.de/

Perhaps, after spending most of Saturday the 27th in the Black Forest, you could head to Offenburg or Strasbourg in the evening for one night, then early Sunday am step directly onto the Paris-bound train.

Posted by
210 posts

for those following my search, thank you for your help. Given the latest information and challenges, I have found a gasthaus in Triberg. My search indicates that the rail access and such make it possible to keep my agenda intact and be able to transition from the Black Forest to Stassbourg to continue on to Paris. Thanks for your help and if you feel I've missed something, feel free to comment. Thanks to all again.