weekend train travel to small towns in Germany-?

They do definitely have scheduled trains on the weekends. Usually the schedule isn't much different than on weekdays. Did you really use the Bahn schedule page?

I just looked up "Rothenburg ob der Tauber Bahnhof" to "Steinach (b Rothenb)" on Su Feb 21, and it showed hourly trains (7 min after the hour) leaving Rothenburg for Steinach, the station on the main line from Würzburg to Munich.

Maybe you weren't using the correct names?

I think so.

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?rt=1&

This was the link to look at departures/arrival times. Is this the correct place to look? I can't seem to figure out another way to check the schedule.

Thanks for your help.

I agree with Lee: when I search bahn.de for this sunday (Feb, 14 2010) I find hourly connections between Würzburg and Rothenburg o. d. T. from 05:31 until 21:46.
And hourly connections between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald from 06:29 to 23:00.

I may be starting to figure this out. Sorry for the confusion.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Is this correct label on the Bahn for Rothenburg (the walled city)? I just may have had the wrong city. :-|

Thanks,
Amy :-)

Oh, and the Mittenwald you want is "Post/Bahnhof Mittenwald".

Thank you!! :-)

Small towns are serviced by the regional bahn (local trains), you can get great deals on tickets for multiple passengers travelling outside of rush hour. I wouldn't book tickets ahead. Instead take advantage of the Laender (state) or Schoenes Wochende (happy weekend) passes when you are there.

I'm not sure what the rate is this year (Lee is the expert), something around 30 Euro for a day pass that covers up to five passengers (for us self, spouse with three kids - perfect).

The Bayern-Ticket (the Länder-Ticket for the state (Land) of Bavaria currently costs €28. A Bayern-Ticket actually covers up to five adults, or 1 or both parents and all of their own children under 15.

The Bahn calls the station "Rothenburg ob der Tauber Bahnhof" or just "Rothenburg ob der Tauber". If you enter just "Rothenburg" (there are several Rothenburgs in Germany), it will allow you to select from a list, which includes the two names mentioned above. If you enter "Rothenburg odT, it will change it for you to "Rothenburg ob der Tauber Bahnhof".

Those €29 (and up) specials that Steve mentions are called Sparpreis (savings price, formerly Dauer-Spezial) fares. That price is per person. The Sparpreis fares are available online from the Bahn website. They are for advance purchase (at least three days), are date and train specific, and only limitedly refundable. The ticketed journey must include at least one segment on an express train (ICE/IC/EC). They start at €29 (€19 for short trips) and are limited in number at that price. The price increases in €10 increments as the lower priced tickets sell out. Up to four Mitfährer (co-travelers) are €20 ea; children under 15, if noted on the ticket, are free.

SparPreis tickets are not limited to a single Land and more suitable for longer journeys. There are no Sparpreis-eligible connections from Munich to Oberammergau, and eligible connections from Rothenburg to Munich tend to have more changes and don't save much time vs. regional connections.