After the success of the 9 Euro ticket, a successor has been finally introduced: the Deutschlandticket – a ticket for 49 euros that allows for unlimited travel across the country.
Every traveller in 2022 heard about the 9 Euro ticket. It was one of the boldest moves from the German government to make public transportation more affordable. Travelling across the country unlimited times for a month for just 9 Euros seemed more like a drunken discussion than a reality. However, the German government delivered, and after three months of testing, more than 52 million tickets were sold. The best part of it: anyone who got their hands on one of them loved it.
Of course, government critics spoke more about the overcrowded trains and how unsustainable this ticket was in the long run. However, nobody could deny that the ticket goals were successful. It boosted the economy by encouraging people to explore more of Germany, helped to reduce carbon emissions, and showed that Germans didn’t need to rely on cars to get around.
Now, almost a year later, there will finally be a successor to this ticket. The Deutschlandticket will allow travel under the same conditions as the 9 Euro ticket but at a slightly higher cost.
What is the Deutschlandticket?
Like the 9 Euro ticket, the Deutschlandticket aims to provide financial relief to citizens feeling the impact of rising energy prices. At the same time, it hopes to make public transportation more attractive and provide a stronger incentive for people to switch from cars to buses and trains, ultimately helping to achieve climate goals.
The Deutschlandticket costs 49 euros monthly and is valid from the first day of a month until the last one. While it is five times more expensive than the 9 Euro ticket, regular monthly tickets in Berlin alone cost 90 euros a month, making this a great offer.
It is worth noting that the 49 euro price tag is an introductory price. Transportation ministers from federal and state governments have already agreed that beginning in 2024, there will be price increases to make the ticket more sustainable for the long term.
NOTE: Once your Deutschlandticket is activated, you can travel on any bus, subway, tram, and regional or S-Bahn train in Germany. The ticket is not valid on long-distance trains, such as the ICE (InterCity Express), IC (InterCity), or EC (EuroCity) trains.
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How to get a Deutschlandticket?
The pre-sale for the Deutschlandticket has already started, and anyone can purchase their Deutschlandtickets online for May. The easiest option is downloading the BVG App for transportation in Berlin or the DB Bahn App. Of course, apps from other cities or regions would work similarly. Since I live in Berlin, I use the BVG app as it is the most straightforward choice.
One of the biggest concerns with the Deutschlandticket is that you must start a subscription to get your hands on one. This should be fine since the subscription can be cancelled monthly (just before the 20th of each month). However, remember that if you only want to use this ticket for one specific month, you must remind yourself to cancel it on time.
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How can you make the most of this offer?
If you are a traveller planning to visit Germany for a weekend or quickly stop in just one city, the Deutschlandticket might not be your best option. However, if you plan to travel in Germany for a month or by train across the country, this ticket is the best option to save some money.
If you plan to visit a large city for 5-7 days and expect to make one or two-day trips outside, that would barely cover the cost of the Deutschlandticket. Still, this is one of the best offers in Germany, and I already pre-booked mine. I was a massive fan of the 9 Euro ticket, and I’m sure the Deutschlandticket will be a total success too.
Read more: What was the 9 euro ticket in Germany?
