My husband and I will be traveling from Bruges, Belgium to Rothenburg ob ter Tauber, Germany by train on Good Friday this year. We will be using a rail pass that we purchased for flexibility and spontaneity during our trip. I am curious, however, if I should be making seat reservations on this travel day since it is Easter weekend. I would rather not, but I'm unsure how busy travel is during Easter in Europe. We are also planning on traveling between Rothenburg and Munich on Easter Monday. Any advice or recommendations you may have for smooth travels is greatly appreciated! PS: none of the trains on these routes REQUIRE reservations......
Posted by
Green Bay
20087 posts
Some trains, like German regional trains, have no reservations. At least some of the travel to and from Rothenburg will be on regional trains. You can get reservations of ICE trains from Brussels to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Wuerzburg.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I would recommend reservations on all trains on which you can reserve (German IC and ICE trains). Easter can be very busy on all transport, rail and road. Belgian trains, including the IC from Brugge to Brussels, do not have reservations.
The usual rule for a public holiday (Good Friday and Easter Monday) is that the Sunday timetable applies, but there could be some variations, so double-check.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32750 posts
Sam has identified that there are two parallel threads going here, with answers on both.
The other one is in the Belgium Forum at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/belgium/traveling-by-train-from-belgium-to-germany-during-easter
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you for your replies. Trying to gather as many perspectives as possible so yes, I posted an identical thread on the Belgium forum. Sounds like it's going to be a shit show regardless so I'll brace myself for a long day and soak in the experience. Good thing I pack light.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Chris, would the DB website show the correct timetable for that specific date, or do I need to look up a separate Sunday timetable? Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
20087 posts
The Deutsche Bahn timetable will show the actual trains running that day. They've already accounted for the holiday schedule.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thanks Sam
Posted by
Green Bay
20087 posts
Another thing, I don't think Belgium gives any reservations on the IC train from Brugge to Brussels Midi, but you will be boarding on the 1st stop after the train originates at Blankenberge, so there should still be plenty of seats available.
Blankenberge is a beach resort and somehow, I don't think there will be a lot of people at the beach on March 30.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thanks Sam. Which website do you think would be best to book seat reservations in advance? (Seat reservations only, I already have a eurail pass)
Posted by
Green Bay
20087 posts
You may have to use Rail Europe. Because the ICE train from Brussels to Frankfurt Airport is an international train, you apparently can't use the Deutsche Bahn website to buy a seat reservation. At least I can't. I can get a seat reservation on the Frankfurt Airport to Wuerzburg ICE train, but since the reservation fee includes all the legs in the itinerary for which a reservation is available, there is no point in doing that if you go to Rail Europe. You should ask them for a reservation from Brussels Midi to Wuerzburg.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you so much!