Apart from the pricey high-speed trains like IC, and ICE, Germany also offers regional and interregional trains that connect all parts of the country. The Regional day tickets (RDT) in Germany allow you to have unlimited travel in that particular region/state for an entire day.
RDT is classified according to 14 states like Baden-Württemberg (BW), Bavaria, and Hessen, to name a few. The full list of regions and the ticket prices can be found on the DB official website.
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Regional day tickets in Germany
This day ticket allows access to all Regional Express (RE), Regional Bahn (RB), Interregional Express (IRE), and all local trains and buses in that particular region.
Tip: There are a few exceptions while using the RDT in local trains and buses. Please make sure to confirm the validity before you board.
Unlike high-speed trains, there is no necessity to book the tickets in advance. The price of RDT is fixed on every single day of the year.
Upon reaching the train station, locate a vending machine/ticket counter, buy a ticket, and board the train. It is as simple as that. All the stations have an info point to clarify all your queries.
There is also a DB Navigator app that helps you to plan your train travel as well as buy tickets online. One can get live updates about train status.
Additionally, you are allowed to have unlimited transit/connections between your origin and destination points.
Note: The prices of these RDTs increase every few years. So check the Regional offer before your trip
Baden-Württemberg ticket (BWT)
The BWT is a type of RDT, valid only in the state of Baden-Württemberg. You can have unlimited travel in this region for an entire day.
BWT is valid only from 9.00 am on weekdays until 3.00 am the following day. But on weekends, it is valid for the whole day starting from 12.00 am until 3.00 am the following day.
However, verify the validity on the official website before you travel. Day trips in Germany are suggested on weekends as you can maximize the use of these RDTs.
Price of BWT
With BWT, we recommend you travel as a group as it is economical. The price for one person is 24 € and for every additional traveler, it is 6€.
A maximum of five travelers is allowed with a single BWT. In the end, the price seems economical with 9.6 €/pp.
In case of an emergency, if you are not able to buy the ticket before boarding, you can inform the ticket collector about the same and purchase a ticket from him at a higher price. But this decision solely depends on the ticket collector.
Tip: If you are a group of 6 members, then you will have to buy 2 BWT. The combination can be anything; for example 3 members on one BWT and other 3 on another BWT or 2+3 or 4+2 or 5+1. Figure out which combination works out to be the cheapest.
Remember that you can’t buy a group ticket and travel individually. All the members of the group should be together or else you will be fined.
Boarding with a BWT
Board the train anywhere written as ‘second class’. The price of a first-class ticket is high, but the functionality and validity are the same as that of second-class.
Most people opt for a second-class as they are on par with first-class coaches.
During peak hours, first-class coaches are less crowded. Other than that we couldn’t find a greater advantage to travel in a first-class. All RE, RB as well as IRE are equipped with toilets. Guide yourself to the nearest toilet with the symbol ‘WC’.
Some of the IREs also have a charging point and free wifi.
Tip: RDT also has the option of youth tickets, night tickets, etc. They depend on the particular region you travel to.
Check the official site, enter your desired region, and find out all the options. They may save you some bucks.
Bayern ticket (BT)
BT is valid only in the state of Bayern(Bavaria). This works exactly like the BWT in terms of price and its validity on weekdays and weekends.
The best part of this RDT is that it sometimes allows you to enter another country as well.
Border cities like Salzburg in Austria and Basel in Switzerland can be reached through Bavaria ticket (BT) and BWT respectively.
I used this service to do day trips to Austria (Werfen ice caves), France (Strasbourg) using Baden-Württemberg
Deutschland ticket (An RDT alternative)
Since May 2023, Germany introduced a country ticket, the Deutschland ticket for just 49€ per month per month. If you travel often, you no longer need to worry about the RDTs (state tickets)
You can travel through the entire country, ride on any local trains like RE, RB, IRE, etc, and every single local bus, or tram. You aren’t allowed to board an IC, ICE, or EC train similar to RDT
Until the RDTs, this is a subscription service, meaning you link a bank account and the amount is deducted every month until you terminate (one-month notice period).
Disadvantage – No grouping allowed, each person has to have one.
If you are a fan of train travel, check out my blog on the Moroccan train experiences.
”No place is ever as bad as they tell you it’s going to be” – Chuck Thompson