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German train pass vs. point to point

Posted by on

Apologies if this gets asked a lot, but I'm planning my first trip to Europe and the more I read about transportation, the more I am confused about the value of a rail pass. I would only need a rail pass for inside Germany and my simplified rail plans are as follows (destinations are definite):

Day 1: Trier to Mainz;
Day 2: Mainz to Gottingen;
Day 3: no trains;
Day 4: no trains;
Day 5: Gottingen to Erfurt, stopping in Eisenach for most of the day;
Day 6: 1/2 day round trip to Weimar/Buchenwald;
Day 7: Erfurt to Berlin, stopping in Wittenburg for most of the day.

I originally thought of getting a 4 day rail pass (priced at about $250) since the Day 6 is just a 15 min. trip each way. However, the DB website advertises one way "saver" tickets for even the longer legs as low as 29euro, meaning that it's going to be cheaper with point-to-point, especially factoring in any mandatory seat reservations, by at least $50-75.

I understand that they are only good on the specific trains and non-refundable, but do I have to book these saver tickets in advance or can I get these cheaper tickets on that day? Can I buy them at the train station or do they have to be online? Does anyone have experience with these saver-fare tickets?

Or am I better off just spending extra to get a a rail pass? If so, the German Flexi-4 day pass would be my best option, right? (209 Euro on the DB website) Finally, after validating my pass on the 1st use, I don't have to print a "voucher" at the station for each train, right? I can just jump on anything and show my pass?

Thank you to anyone who can clear things up for me.

Posted by
21153 posts

How many are traveling together? Many of your trips can be done with "Laender" tickets. these go for about 25 EUR for the first person (depends on which "Land") and 5 or 6 EUR for each additional person for up to 5 traveling together and must use regional trains only, no ICE or ICE or EC trains. Travel must start after 9 am weekdays, but any time weekends.Longer journeys can be done with Saver Tickets, but they should be bought ASAP as the price increases as you get closer to your travel date. On your travel date, they are not available and you must pay the Flex Price (normal wlk up price. I have used Saver tickets many times in Germany, and I buy as soon as they are available for sale to get the lowest price,

Trier to Mainz is entirely within the German Land of Rheinland-Pfalz, so that can be done using a Laender ticket, in this case, the Rheinland-Pfalz Ticket. You can buy it out of a ticket kiosk or for 2 EUR more, the station ticket window. It is 24 EUR for the first person and 5 EUR for each additional person.

There is also something called a Quer-durchs-Land Ticket that crosses Land borders for 44 EUR plus 8 EUR for each additional passenger. Same restrictions as Laender tickets. On weekends, it is called the Schoenes Wochende Ticket and it is a flat 44 EUR for 1 to 5 people. Over medium distances, these are often just as fast as using the fast trains.

Read all about it here. https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/regional/index.shtml?dbkanal_007=L04_S02_D002_KIN0059_FLYOUT-ANGEBOTE-REGIONAL-ANGEBOTE_LZ01

Erfurt to Buchenwald is likely to be an inexpensive local Verkehrsverbund (Regional Transit District) ticket.

Posted by
21153 posts

I did some checking. Mainz to Goettingen can be done with a Saver ticket, midweek in late June is 29 EUR for one.
Goettingen to Erfurt with a stopover of any amount in Eisenach using regional trains is a Flexpreis of 28.50 EUR for one.
Erfurt to Berlin with a stopover of any amount in Wittenberg-Lutherstadt using regional trains is a Regio 120 Plus Luther ticket of 25 EUR for one.
Erfurt to Buchenwald Gedenkstaette (concentration camp memorial) is a local train to Weimar, then Bus No 6 to Buchenwald. It is indeed a local transport ticket which should not be very much. Certainly less than 20 EUR to and from.
So i get 107.50 EUR of train tickets, 3 of which are good for hop on-hop off, vs 209 EUR for a 4-day Flex Pass.

Edit. Looked at the Verkehrsverbund Mittelthueringen and it appears to be a 6.20 EUR ticket each way, but check at Erfurt Hauptbahnhof.

Posted by
28078 posts

I think trying to see Weimar and Buchenwald from Erfurt in a half-day may be a bit aggressive. It is absolutely doable as a day-trip, but you may be surprised at how much time you need at Buchenwald. That camp was used after the war to house enemies of the state, and there is substantial English-language material (ask attendant) about that period. I don't remember what time I arrived at the camp, but I remember feeling rushed as I read through the post-war material, which I had not realized was there.

I know I walked quite a way from the train station to the point at which I picked up the bus, but it's possible that wasn't necessary; I hadn't properly researched the transportation issues ahead of time. Buses to the camp don't run terribly frequently, so you'll need to allow time for that as well.

I mention this because Erfurt itself is lovely, and I hope you have time to see it, too. One of Rick's current shows covers that part of Germany and can be viewed on this website.

Posted by
19274 posts

especially factoring in any mandatory seat reservations,

There are no mandatory seat reservations on German Rail trains. Optional seat reservations are only 4,50 euro per seat and usually they will cover two trains in a connection.

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