28 Transportation

Public Transportation

Like most German cities, Freiburg has an excellent system of streetcars and buses. For the month of September, the AYF program will purchase a RegioKarte on your behalf, which allows you to use all public transportation, including local trains, not just in Freiburg but in the surrounding region.

After September, you can purchase a semester ticket valid from October to March (April to September for the second semester) for a very modest €96 or a Student Germany Ticket for €35,75 per month. After 7pm, students (with a valid Uni ID) can use public transportation within Freiburg for free. You will receive additional information about the public transportation system upon arrival.

Bicycles

Traveling by bike is quick and easy and is often the most practical means of transportation. Keep in mind though, that bicycles sometimes need repairs and are also prone to theft. Used bikes (Gebrauchträder) are best bought from other students (see notices hung on bulletin boards, the classifieds, or the AYF flea market). There are also used bike stores in Freiburg, and some will actually make an agreement with you to buy your bike back at a set price when you leave. You should check the bikes’ condition carefully before buying. With some luck, you may be able to bargain down the price a bit. Make sure that you get a receipt and a Fahrradpass for any bike you buy. This bike pass is proof that the bike was not stolen. If you do not have a bike pass, you may have problems when you try to sell your bike at the end of the year. Bike helmets are highly recommended, but they are quite expensive in Germany, so if you plan to bike, bring your helmet from home.

It is German law that all bikes have working dynamo- or battery-powered front and back lights. Also, bicyclists are held responsible for obeying the same traffic laws as motorists. You can be ticketed for running red lights, not stopping at stop signs, going the wrong way on one-way streets, riding without lights at night, etc., or taken to court in case of an accident. Get acquainted with German traffic laws before riding your bike on public streets. Right-of-way and passing, for example, are handled differently than in the U.S.! See this website to learn more about traffic rules in Germany: www.adfc.de.

Trains

For national train transportation, any student under 27 years of age can buy a BahnCard, which entitles you to a 25% or 50% discount on all regular fares, depending on the type of BahnCard you purchase. The BahnCard is normally valid for one year and is automatically renewed for a second year unless cancelled on time. However, Deutsche Bahn has recently been experimenting with different models such as a three-month subscription called Probe BahnCard. Whether this particular offer or others will be available to you in September 2025 is not entirely clear. You may want to visit the Internet homepage of the Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) for up-to-date BahnCard pricing and subscription models, conditions, routes, times, connections, and special offers at www.bahn.de. Generally, a BahnCard pays for itself quickly and is a good investment; many former AYF participants have noted that a BahnCard 50 worked out quite well for them. Both BahnCards can be combined with other reduced prices (Sparpreise). If you are the kind of person who likes to finalize plans early (which will give you the broadest selection of Sparpreistickets), then you might be better off with the BahnCard 25 in combination with Sparpreise since the reduction on a Sparpreis offered for BahnCard 50 holders is also 25%. In either case, you can start saving with it right after your arrival in Germany. It is easiest to purchase the BahnCard directly in the DB Navigator App and download an online version on your smart phone. As with all online purchases from the DB, however, it is important to bring an official form of ID on board the train as well (i.e., your passport or, later, residence permit). Even without a BahnCard, it is highly recommended that you install the DB Navigator app on your phone. With this app you can purchase tickets, make reservations, check yourself in electronically on a given train instead of having to wait for a controller, among other functions. If you plan on train travel, it is well worth familiarizing yourself with the DB Navigator.

Begin exploring your transportation options well before you leave for Germany. A Eurail pass is not necessarily the cheapest mode of transportation, but it may be the most convenient and suitable for your plans. Remember that you cannot buy a Eurail pass in Freiburg. Instead, Eurail passes are available in the U.S. and at certain major German train stations, such as Frankfurt. Travel must be initiated within six months of purchase.

Other transportation options include InterRail, the equivalent of Eurail for German students. The rules for eligibility require that students have been resident in Germany for six months, so for you this will become an option in March, in time for the semester break. The AYF Program Director will be able to provide you with official proof of residency required to purchase an InterRail pass.

In general, an InterRail ticket works just like the Eurail Pass. However, much like the RegioKarte or Germany Ticket, it is very important to pay attention to what type of train you are boarding. To give just a few examples, in France and Italy there are trains that require reservations, regardless of what class you are sitting in. Riding on night trains and high-speed trains will also require a reservation as well as an extra charge. The InterRail Ticket also provides a discount for certain ferries, such as between Greece and Italy (assuming both countries are included in the Pass you have purchased).

However, by watching closely the specials offered by the Deutsche Bahn and combining a Sparpreis with a BahnCard, it is possible to find fabulous deals as well riding an ICE train from Freiburg to Hamburg or Berlin for less than €15, for instance. The trick is to plan ahead and book very early (six to eight weeks in advance).

Ride sharing

You can also look into Mitfahrgelegenheit, ridesharing. This is quite inexpensive, and it is generally reliable when booked through a ride-sharing agency. A number of websites like blablacar.de provide listings – just do a search for “Mitfahrgelegenheit”. How safe it is depends on the skill and experience of the driver offering the ride – and no one can give any guarantees.

Long-Distance Bus Service

For many decades, the Deutsche Bahn enjoyed a legally guaranteed, virtual monopoly on long-distance passenger travel. Wherever DB offered service, no-one was granted a license to operate a long-distance bus line. This is now changing. Several companies have started offering long-distance bus service. Especially when booked early, prices can be very competitive. A one-way ticket from Freiburg to Munich can be had for €15, if booked well in advance. For more information, see: FlixBus or specialized search engines such as www.busliniensuche.de.

European Budget Airlines

Several budget airlines offer affordable flights through many European destinations. For more distant destinations, a flight can be a meaningful option as well. There are meta-search engines for air travel, but some of the cheaper airlines do not participate in these searches such as Ryan Air which operates out of Baden-Baden, north of Freiburg. Possible starting places for locating cheap flights are: www.kayak.de, www.billiger-fliegen.de, www.billigfluege.de, https://www.airline-direct.de/, or www.expedia.de/p/billigfluege. Among the most relevant company websites are www.ryanair.com/de, www.eurowings.com, and www.easyjet.com/de. Google Flights is a great service for finding and comparing flights. As always, make sure to read the fine print to avoid surprise surcharges.