Hi, everyone. We're renting a car from Munich for a week, planning to return it to Nurnberg, and then catch the DB/CD Express Bus to Prague. Just looking for some confirmation on where I would return the car at the Nurnberg station, and where we would board the bus. I've looked at Google Street view and see there are 2 loop roads into the station area, one seems to be just for taxis, and the other seems to have parked cars in it. I'm renting from Sixt, does anyone know where the return would be? (I'm not counting on the agent at Munich knowing exactly.) I'm thinking it might be in the loop area that contains the parked cars, right in front of the station? Also, since we're catching the Express Bus, where do we get that? I also see buses across the street from the station, can I assume that's where? We'll already have our tickets, so do we need to check-in inside, or just go outside to find the bus? Are the stops marked, so we'll know where to wait? One more thing, it sounds like the buses have reserved seating, and on-board bathrooms (WCs as they say), can anyone confirm that, too? Thanks for your assistance. This is our fourth trip to Europe, so we understand the basics by now, but it's our first trip into Eastern (ok Central) Europe, so I'm trying to be as prepared as possible. Thanks!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19109 posts
No check-in; this isn't an airplane. Your ticket should show your reserved seat numbers. The bus has a bathroom, snack bar, and an attendant. The bus stop is just to the right as you come out the main entrance (Hauptausgang) to the Bahnhof.
Posted by
OP
McKees Rocks, PA, USA
38 posts
Thanks for the great answer regarding the bus, including the link to the map! That certainly clears that up, thanks for finding it. They seem to run their buses with the same attention to detail as their trains (and way better than US buses), I should have known! Does anyone know about rental car return at the Nurnberg station?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19109 posts
Again, this isn't an airport. You are not likely to find rental car counters in the station. The Bayern-Takt layout of the station (www.stationsdatenbank.bayern-takt.de/StationsdatenbankBEG/Steckbrief.html?lang=de&efz=8000284) doesn't show any. But the station is a hub for local transportation (U-Bahn, trams, buses, taxis). The rental car offices are probably scattered throughout the area. Check the website for the rental car company. But there is probably public transportation from near them to the Bahnhof. If nothing else, you can probably return the car to the Nürnberg airport and get to the station by U-Bahn.
Posted by
OP
McKees Rocks, PA, USA
38 posts
ok, thanks. Their website seems to show it right inside the station (the address listed is Bahnhofplatz 9), which I thought was odd, too. So I was wondering it anyone had any first-hand experience with rentals there. Guess we'll pull into the first lot and see if we can find them. Also, I'll take their phone number so I can call if I can't find them, thanks, again for your replies.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19109 posts
The only rental car company that the Bahn shows as being at the Hbf is Sixt, so I assume that's what you are using. The Sixt website says it's rental desk is inside the Hbf, in the Reisezentrum. The Bahn's Stationsplan shows the Reisezentrum to be on the right inside the main entrance, and it does show a rental car symbol. But you will be coming in with a rental car to return. I looked at the Sixt website and found some information in German, but couldn't find it in English. It said, "Sixt-Parkplätze befinden sich in der Nähe im Untergeschoss des anschließenden Parkhauses am Hauptbahnhof.". I think it says, "You will find Sixt parking places nearby in the underground floors of the parking garages attached to the Hauptbahnhof." Hopefully there are signs. Note: on the Sixt site, under reviews, "Das Sixt-Büro im HBF Nürnberg war etwas schwer zu finden. Ich musste mich durchfragen, da ich im Bahnhof keine Hinweisschilder gesehen habe..." The Sixt office in the Nürnberg station was somewhat difficult to find. I had to ask for directions because I saw no directions in the station. Good luck.
Posted by
OP
McKees Rocks, PA, USA
38 posts
Thanks a bunch! Yes, we are renting from Sixt. Using the information you found, I used Google Street view to look at the area around the station. Sure enough, I found the entrance to the underground Parkhaus, and I can just make out a small sign for Sixt just above the entrance to the garage! I would never have found that without your help. So thanks, it's a lot easier driving in a new area if you know where you are going! And I'm definitely going to print off the map of the station, too.