A comparison of the types of transport available to travel across Germany

When travelling to/from or across Germany, you can choose between various options such as, by plane, bus, train or personal vehicle. Despite each method of transport has its benefits and limitations, the variety of options available make Germany one of the most accessible countries on the globe. In this article, you can find a comparison of the four methods of transport.

Airplane

‍Travelling by plane the plane, is undeniably the fastest way to travel long distances. Even though, the purchasing of the tickets might be relatively expensive, it might still be cheaper than to travel by train, especially distances over 500km and more. When travelling by plane, you have the option to book your tickets well in advance, which is usually less expensive. One of the main disadvantages is that, most of the time, after you arrive to the airport, you still need to catch a taxi or bus to your final destination.

With regards to convenience, if you are travelling with a luggage, it is recommended that you are at the airport at least an hour and a half or two in advance. You will also have to go through airport security, which can be time consuming.

Train

‍This might be one of the most expensive ways to travel in Germany, especially over long distances. With that being said, it is also one of the most convenient ways to travel, as most of the time you will find a train station close to the final location. Similar to purchasing plane tickets, when buying train tickets in advance, there is the possibility of finding them cheaper. Apart from that, unlike the plane, you get to really see and experience all the beautiful scenery in Germany. Another advantage when travelling by train is that you do not have to go through security or go at the station hours before, but simply be there around ten minutes before your train arrives.

Bus

‍Travelling by bus is possibly the cheapest way to travel. You get to travel across Germany at extremely low rates and usually gets you within minutes of your desired destination. There are many bus stops scattered across Germany. As with regards to disadvantages, travelling by bus is much more time consuming and may be liable to accidents and to get stuck in traffic. Due to the long travelling period, it might get quite uncomfortable after a couple of hours. However, nowadays busses and coaches are improving their travel experiences by stopping in between destinations as a break and equipping the busses with toilets, comfortable seats and screens.

Personal Vehicle

‍If you have your own car/motorbike or decide to rent, travelling by car in Germany can be an amazing experience. The country is renowned for its high-quality roads and un restricted speed limits.  The cost of such journey can depend on various things such as, where you re-fuel, roads chosen and the amount of people travelling. The best advantage with this method of transport is that you are completely at liberty with regards to, what you do, when to stop and how to get there. When compared to the plane or train, this usually much more time consuming and might cost you even more, however, it rewards you with a unique experience.