The Deutschlandticket: Germany's National Public Transport Pass
The Deutschlandticket is a monthly subscription that unlocks unlimited travel on local and regional public transport across all of Germany for a flat fee. Since its introduction in May 2023, it has become one of the most significant changes to German transport in decades.
What Is the Deutschlandticket?
The Deutschlandticket (also called the 49-Euro-Ticket, though the price has increased since launch) is a nationwide transport subscription. For a monthly fee — €58/month as of 2025, following a price increase from the original €49 — it covers:
S-Bahn (suburban rail)
U-Bahn (metro/underground)
Straßenbahn (trams)
Stadtbus / Regionalbuss (city and regional buses)
Regional trains (RE, RB, and IRE services operated by DB and other companies)
This means a single ticket works on Munich's U-Bahn, Hamburg's S-Bahn, Berlin's trams, a regional train across Bavaria, and the bus in a small town in Saxony — all included.
What It Does NOT Cover
The Deutschlandticket is explicitly for local and regional transport only. It does not cover:
ICE (high-speed intercity trains)
IC and EC trains (intercity and Eurocity services)
First class on any service
Night trains (ÖBB Nightjet and similar)
Cross-border services outside Germany
Seat reservations (these are separate, even on covered services)
If a route is operated by a regional train (RE, RB), it is covered. If it is an ICE or IC, a separate ticket is required for that leg. Many journey planners now clearly label whether a specific service is included.
How to Get One
The Deutschlandticket is available as a monthly digital subscription — there is no annual commitment. It can be purchased from:
Local transport association apps and websites: BVG App (Berlin), MVV (Munich), HVV (Hamburg), VRS (Cologne/Bonn), VVS (Stuttgart), and all others
The DB Navigator app (Deutsche Bahn)
Most transport association customer centres and, in some cities, ticket machines
Third-party apps like Moovit (varies by availability)
The subscription auto-renews monthly. To cancel, the deadline is the last day of the preceding month — so to avoid being charged for October, cancellation must be submitted by 30 September. Most providers allow cancellation through the app with a few taps.
Digital by Default
The Deutschlandticket was designed as a digital product. In most cases, no physical card is issued — it is displayed via an app barcode or QR code that can be scanned by ticket inspectors. Some providers offer a chip card version (Chipkarte) for those who prefer a physical format, sometimes at a small additional cost.
Discounted and Special Versions
Several groups may be eligible for reduced pricing:
Students at many German universities receive the Deutschlandticket at a reduced rate through their institution (often as a Semesterticket replacement)
Employers in Germany can subsidise the ticket as a Jobticket — if an employer contributes at least 25%, the employee receives a 5% discount on top of that. This is an increasingly common workplace benefit
Children: Rules vary by transport association — many allow children under 6 to travel free; older children may need their own ticket
Who Benefits Most
The Deutschlandticket offers the best value to:
City residents who use public transport daily and would otherwise buy a monthly pass (which often cost €80–120+ in major cities)
People who travel regularly between cities using regional trains
Travellers who want to explore Germany without renting a car
For infrequent users or those in rural areas with limited public transport, the value calculation is less straightforward — though even occasional multi-city regional train journeys can justify the cost.
Key Takeaways
The Deutschlandticket (€58/month as of 2025) covers all local and regional public transport across Germany on a single monthly subscription
It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC long-distance trains, or first class
Available via any regional transport association app, DB Navigator, or customer centres
Cancellation must be submitted by the last day of the month prior to the unwanted month
Employer subsidies (Jobticket) and student rates are available in many cases
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