The Deutschlandticket should not be regarded as a universal ticket valid on any train in Germany. Before planning your journey, check the category of each section, particularly if the route planner suggests a high-speed long-distance journey.
Regional and long-distance services
DB explains how the ticket works on local and regional services, including RB, RE and S-Bahn. The general rule does not cover long-distance ICE, IC, EC or FlixTrain services; specific exceptions should be checked using the official search tool. Do not base your conclusion solely on the colour of the train or the fact that it stops in your town.
Check the product and your journey
Read the current terms and conditions for purchasing, renewing and cancelling the product from the seller, as well as the validity period of your ticket. For a combined journey, pay separately for any sections not covered, if necessary. A longer regional journey may involve more changes, so compare the journey time and convenience with a separate long-distance ticket.
See also: České dráhy tickets: how to plan a journey through the Czech Republic; ÖBB tickets: Railjet, fares and seat reservations.
Official sources
Deutsche Bahn: scope of the Deutschlandticket. Please check current services, prices and conditions for your specific dates; the photographs illustrate rail travel and do not confirm the composition of a specific service.
Image details
- ICE 4 Spitzensignal Erloschen.jpg — Tobias Daubitzer; CC BY-SA 4.0. The image has been resized and converted to WebP. Licence terms can be found on the original page.
- Köln Messe-Deutz DB ICE 4 Berlin Ostbahnhof (52286967332).jpg — Rob Dammers; CC BY 2.0. The image has been resized and converted to WebP. Licence terms can be found on the original page.
Questions and answers
Can I travel on the ICE?
Under normal circumstances, the Deutschlandticket does not cover the ICE; a separate ticket check and a valid ticket are required.
Is the RE designation always sufficient?
Check the specific journey and any exceptions listed in the official timetable.
Should I use the fare from the old article?
No. Check the current product with the ticket seller.
What should you compare with a single ticket?
The total cost, the number of changes and the journey time.

