Germany is vast and has many attractive cities and regions worth visiting. Even if you do not have a car, there are still many alternative ways to travel within Germany to see new places or visit old friends.
The German transportation company "Deutsche Bahn" connects almost all cities and towns in Germany by railroad. There are express trains (ICE and IC) which move between major cities and regional trains which are slower but stop in smaller towns as well. In different regions, there are often additional regional train companies, which usually connect small towns and villages in Germany. The train schedules are available online and on big yellow posters on display at train stations. You can buy the tickets online, at the ticket counter (in the train station) or the ticket machine. The sooner you book a trip, the higher the chances of finding affordable tickets. In addition, there are group tickets ("Gruppenticket"), State tickets ("Länderticket"), weekend tickets ("Wochenendticket") and the so-called “Deutschland Ticket”, which are often cheaper than regular tickets. If you use the train regularly, it may be worthwhile to buy a so-called BahnCard, so that you pay less. Generally speaking, children under the age of six can ride trains free of charge.
A long-distance bus can be a cheap alternative to train or plane. Long-distance buses connect most of the big cities in Germany. The stops are often called "Busbahnhof" or "Zenteraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB)". The best way to buy a ticket is via the website of the long-distance bus company. You can search for affordable connections and long-distance bus lines on websites like busradar.com or fernbusse.de.
The so-called ride-sharing or "Mitfahrgelegenheiten" is an economical alternative; i.e. sharing a ride with a driver who is heading the same way and has vacant seats in his/her vehicle. There are several Internet portals and apps that mediate such trips between passengers and drivers, e.g. BlaBlaCar. There are also many Facebook groups where drivers offer carpooling for certain routes.
Germany has many biker friendly accommodations from farms to castle hotels ("Burghotel"). You can explore many German cities and provinces via more than 70,000 kilometres of bike routes. With so many opportunities available, you just cannot stay home! But please keep in mind to ensure your bike is well-maintained and safe. Read more about cycling in our chapter "Cycling in Germany".
Asylum seekers with a tolerated stay permit ("Duldung") and those whose asylum procedure is ongoing are not allowed to leave their city or district within the first three months. This is called "Residenzpflicht"- you can find out more about it in our “Temporary Stay Permit” (Aufenthaltsgestattung) chapter.
Public Transportation in Germany
To travel around in Germany, you do not necessarily need a car. You can comfortably move within a city or between cities by buses and trains.
Important: Since May 2023, you can travel throughout Germany with the “Deutschland-Ticket”, also known as the “€49 Ticket”. You can find more information in the “’Deutschland-Ticket’/ €49 Ticket” section below.
Obtaining a Driving Licence in Germany
Having a driving licence can be very useful. For those who live in a village or a small remote city without proper access to public transport, in particular, obtaining a driving licence and often purchasing a car is necessary. In this chapter, you can learn how to get a German driving licence or convert (“Umschreiben”) the driving licence you have obtained from your home country. There will also be some tips on how to avoid losing your driving licence.
Cycling in Germany
Cycling is healthy, good for the environment and -of course- lots of fun. In most German streets, there are specific pathways where you can safely ride your bike. Cycling is also a favourite, convenient means of transport in the German countrysides.
Travelling Abroad for Refugees
Do you wish to pack your bags and go away for a while? Whether you want to travel for work- or family-related reasons or would like to have a holiday abroad, it is not always clear which countries you are permitted to go to as a refugee. Here, we try to clarify which countries you are allowed to travel to with your residence status and travel document as a refugee.
In principle, Foreign citizens in Germany are required to have a valid passport or a substitute passport. The issuing and renewal of foreign citizens' passports is usually the responsibility of the embassy or consulate of their country of origin.
However, certain groups of people are exempt from this regulation, for whom a passport substitute could be issued:
- Persons entitled to asylum and recognised “refugees” according to the Geneva Refugee Convention
- Stateless persons
- People who have subsidiary protection
- People for whom a national ban on deportation has been established and who have no reasonable opportunity to obtain a passport from their home country.
The mentioned groups are often issued a passport replacement document ("Passersatzpapier") in Germany, which exists in three forms:
- The travel document for refugees (Known as "Blauer Pass" or "Blue Passport")
- The travel document for stateless persons
- The travel document for foreigners
In principle, you will be handed the travel document for refugees together with your residence permit at the Immigration Office. Learn more about the travel document for refugees in our chapter "Blue Passport". As a stateless person or someone who is residing in Germany under subsidiary protection or due to a national ban on deportation, you must apply for the travel document for foreigners and stateless persons ("Grey Passport" or "Grauer Pass") at the relevant Immigration Office. You will need to prove to the authorities that it is not likely or feasible for you to obtain a passport from your home country. You can find the relevant Immigration Office at bamf.de.
On study-in-germany.de, you can find an overview of public transportation in Germany.