Is travelling by plane within Germany more cost effective in the long run then getting an overnight train?

Question

Is travelling by plane within Germany more cost effective in the long run then getting an overnight train?

Answer 1

im not sure anymore, when i still lived over there we had the "weekend ticket" it cost 35 dollars and you could use it a whole day to anywhere in germany.

the thing is, when the ticket first came out, it was just 15 marks, which is about 7 dollars and lasted the whole weekend, it got more and more expensive so im not sure how it is now.

but train should still be more cheap than flying.

Answer 2

It is simply a factor of time.

If you know at least 2 weeks in advance when and where you want to fly, then it is cheaper. This includes transfer to and from airports. If you need flexibility, try a German Rail pass or one of the specials the Bahn offers (Like the Laenderpass for travel within one German state)

Also, planning for the Deutsche Bahn will save you money. Buy online, but the same principle applies. The true benefit of the train is the ability to relax, get work done, meet people, and arrive in the city center.

The problem with the Bahn is the time it take. It can be slow, compared to flights.

Answer 3

No, travelling by plane is cheaper, since there are airlines as easy-jet; Airberlin or RyanAir. Ok, it depends on how far you will travel, but in general, the train is very expensive!

Answer 4

This isn't what you asked but I vote for taking the train.  Of course your choice depends on lots of factors like if this is for business or pleasure and if you can sleep on trains and how much time you have, but I always found the German trains to be lovely and experience is far more unique than being on yet another airplane.

Answer 5

It might be... depends on where you want to go and wether you find a cheap flight.

If you wisch to travel between 2 big cities try www.hlx.de or ryanair. Those offer flights from 19,99€.

you may also find it cheaper to rent a car. weekend rates are often quite cheap. Try Hertz, Sixt or Europcar.

If your German is good you can try using www.Mitfahrzentrale.de they offer rides on other peoples cars.

I hope I could help,

Jörg Stefan

Answer 6

i would say not. the german train system is incredibly well run with decent ticket prices, comfortable and clean trains and a good timetable which is always stuck to! check out the deutsch bahn website to plan your journey but I would say always take the train - plus you get to check out some of the beautiful places you're going past!