Transit & logisticsBy Clever Tourists · Published
The Deutschlandticket costs €63 (≈ $70) per month in 2026, rising to €66.80 (≈ $75) from 1 January 2027. It gives unlimited travel on regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses across Germany, but not on ICE, IC or EC long-distance trains. Tourists can buy it in the DB Navigator app with a foreign credit card. It is a monthly subscription, so cancel by the 10th of the month or it renews.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.The ticket launched at €49 (≈ $55) in May 2023, went up to €58 (≈ $65) in January 2025, and costs €63 (≈ $70) per month from 1 January 2026. In September 2026 the federal-state coordination council confirmed it will rise to €66.80 (≈ $75) per month from 1 January 2027. From 2027 the price is set by a cost index each year, not by political negotiation.
The ticket is valid for a calendar month, from the 1st to the last day of the month, not for 30 days from purchase. Most sellers no longer offer a pro-rated price, so if you start on the 20th you still pay the full month.
• Valid: all regional trains (RE, RB) and S-Bahn in 2nd class, plus U-Bahn, trams and city buses in every German city.
• Not valid: ICE, IC and EC long-distance trains, FlixTrain and FlixBus, and most tourist or heritage services such as steam trains and some cable cars.
• Not included: 1st class, bicycles (usually a separate bike ticket) and other people. It is personal and non-transferable, so each adult needs their own.
You can combine it with long-distance trains: ride the S-Bahn to the main station on the Deutschlandticket, then buy a separate ICE ticket for the long leg. Regional trains are slower but cover the whole country. Munich to Würzburg or Frankfurt to Heidelberg, for example, both work on regional trains alone.
No German address or bank account is needed with Deutsche Bahn. The most reliable way for tourists:
• Download DB Navigator (the Deutsche Bahn app), create an account and buy the Deutschland-Ticket subscription. Payment options include credit card, PayPal and Apple Pay as well as SEPA direct debit.
• Or order on the DB subscription portal (abo.bahn.de) and add the ticket to the app with the number from your activation email.
• The ticket is digital, a QR code in the app (or a chip card from some local operators). Show it with ID when inspectors ask.
Many regional and city transit apps also sell it, but some only accept SEPA direct debit from a European bank account, which is why DB Navigator is the easier choice for non-EU visitors.
This catches tourists most often. The Deutschlandticket is a subscription that renews automatically every month.
• Cancel by the 10th of a month, and it ends at the end of that month.
• Cancel after the 10th, and it runs, and charges you, for the following month too.
In DB Navigator, use "Cancel subscription", or cancel in the DB subscription portal. If you buy it for a single month, it is safest to cancel straight after purchase. You can still use it until the end of that month.
The Deutschlandticket pays off if you're in Germany for most of a calendar month and use public transport every day, or take several regional day trips. Two or three regional return trips plus city transit usually cover €63 (≈ $70).
For a short stay in Bavaria, compare the Bayern-Ticket: unlimited regional trains and most local transit in Bavaria for one day, at €34 (≈ $38) for one person, plus €10 (≈ $11.2) per extra traveler up to five (€74 (≈ $83) for five), bought online or at machines. It is valid from 9:00 on weekdays and all day at weekends, until 3:00 the next morning. Two people on two day trips from Munich pay €88 (≈ $98) with Bayern-Tickets, versus €126 (≈ $141) for two Deutschlandtickets. Over a week of daily travel, the Deutschlandticket wins.
Rule of thumb: under about four travel days, or travel straddling two calendar months, price out day tickets first. For a month-long stay, buy the Deutschlandticket. Our Munich guide, Würzburg guide and Heidelberg guide all work on regional trains. Check the Germany entry rules before you book.
€63 (≈ $70) per month in 2026. It rises to €66.80 (≈ $75) per month from 1 January 2027.
Yes. Non-residents can buy it in the DB Navigator app or on the DB subscription portal with a credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay. No German address or bank account is needed.
Use "Cancel subscription" in DB Navigator or the DB subscription portal. Cancel by the 10th and it ends that month; cancel later and you pay for the next month too.
No. It is not valid on ICE, IC or EC long-distance trains, or on FlixTrain and FlixBus. It covers regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses in 2nd class.
No. It is valid for a calendar month, from the 1st to the last day, and buying mid-month still costs the full monthly price.
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