The Deutschlandticket is set to rise to 66.80 euros (€66.80) a month from 1 January 2027, up from €63 in 2026. The figure was reported by dpa on 30 September 2026 and still needs confirming on bahn.de. The ticket covers regional trains, S-Bahn, buses, trams and metros, but not ICE or IC trains. Conditions for buying from abroad are not confirmed.
Checked on against the official sources cited: the transport ministers’ conference (VMK) communiqué of 26 March 2026, CEC-ZEV (updated 18 June 2026), and the dpa report of 30 September 2026 as carried by deskmodder.de. The 2027 figure and the buying conditions still need confirming on bahn.de.
From 1 January 2027, the Deutschlandticket is due to go from €63 to €66.80 a month, according to the dpa report of 30 September 2026 (figure to be confirmed on bahn.de). The €3.80 increase, about 6%, is presented by the press as the first one based on a cost index. For visitors from abroad, the real question is not only the price. You need to know what the ticket covers, how the subscription works and the date to act by, so you don’t pay for a month you don’t need.
Points that are not confirmed are flagged in the text, with the source that reports them. Because the ticket is a monthly subscription, the cancellation date matters more than the headline price when it comes to the real cost of a short trip.
1. What the ticket covers in Germany
A subscription for everyday trains
The Deutschlandticket (the « Germany ticket ») lets you make unlimited trips on regional trains, S-Bahn, buses, trams and the metro, anywhere in Germany. It is a monthly subscription, not a single ticket. It is fully digital and in your name. You show it together with an official photo ID, which the inspector can ask for during the journey (CEC-ZEV, accessed 24 October 2026). Regional trains do not require a seat reservation: you board and travel (travel guides consulted 24 October 2026).
Bikes are not included. They need a separate Fahrradtageskarte (bike day ticket) (CEC-ZEV, same source).
What is covered in practice
- RB, RE and IRE regional trains in 2nd class, which link mid-sized towns and the countryside
- S-Bahn services in the big cities, for commuter routes and day trips
- City buses, trams and metros (U-Bahn), depending on the zone
The ticket suits a day trip away from the city where you’re staying, as long as the journey is by regional train. Some excursions already include transport, though. That is the case for the Dachau Memorial trip shown at the end of this section: its listing says the guide covers the train tickets from Munich. For that trip, you don’t need the ticket. The listing gives a minimum age of 13; check it before you book.
2. The 2027 price: a rise announced under an index
According to the dpa report of 30 September 2026, the Koordinierungsrat Deutschlandticket set the 2027 price on Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 66.80 euros (€66.80) a month from 1 January 2027 (deskmodder.de, reprinting dpa). Some press titles round it to €67, but the reported figure is €66.80.
The mechanism was agreed earlier. At the transport ministers’ conference held in Lindau on 25 and 26 March 2026, the Länder adopted a price index for the ticket. The VMK communiqué says personnel, energy and general costs are weighted 55%, 20% and 25%, and that the index is published by 30 September at the latest for the following year (VMK communiqué, read 24 October 2026). The value of the index itself does not appear in the sources consulted.
| Effective date | Monthly price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2023 (launch) | €49 | Launch, pre-sale from 3 April 2023 |
| 1 January 2025 | €58 | Increase applied |
| 1 January 2026 | €63 | Price in force |
| 1 January 2027 | €66.80 | Announced 30 September 2026, to be confirmed on bahn.de |
Source: Wikipedia (French) for 2023 and 2025 (page read), Bundesregierung for 2026 (extract), dpa report of 30 September 2026 for 2027; checked 24 October 2026. The 2027 figure is announced: to be confirmed on bahn.de.
The Jobticket goes to €63.46 in 2027, and the Semesterticket, reserved for students registered in Germany, to €40.08 (dpa, same report). A commercial page gives €37.80 for the 2026/27 winter semester, with no official source: that figure is not used here.
Funding comes down to two numbers. The federal government and the Länder each fund €1.5 billion a year, according to the federal transport ministry (teltarif.de, extract from the third interim evaluation report). The sources disagree on the time horizon: the Bundestag referred to funding until the end of 2030 (beck-aktuell, November 2025), while part of the September 2026 press refers to the end of 2029. We don’t settle the question.
3. What it doesn’t cover: ICE, IC, EC and long-distance buses
The rule is simple: anything running long distance is excluded
ICE, IC and EC trains are not covered, nor are private long-distance services such as FlixTrain and FlixBus (CEC-ZEV, updated 18 June 2026). In practice, a Munich to Berlin trip by ICE is paid for with a long-distance ticket, even if you have the regional ticket in your pocket. The ticket becomes useful as soon as the journey is by regional train.
To avoid booking a long-distance service by mistake, tick « Nur Nahverkehr » (regional transport only) in the DB timetable or in the DB Navigator app: only local connections appear. Some connections stay excluded even with that filter (Travelbook, accessed 24 October 2026), so check the details of each journey.
| Mode of transport | Covered | Details |
|---|---|---|
| RB, RE, IRE | Yes | Regional trains, 2nd class, no seat reservation |
| S-Bahn | Yes | Major cities |
| Bus, tram, metro (U-Bahn) | Yes | Urban and regional services, depending on the zone |
| ICE, IC, EC | No | DB Fernverkehr long-distance trains |
| FlixTrain, FlixBus | No | Private long-distance services |
| Cable cars | No | Outside the ticket, according to the Zugspitze |
| Zugspitze rack railway | Partial | Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Grainau only, if capacity allows |
Source: CEC-ZEV for the general scope (read 24 October 2026), zugspitze.de for the Zugspitze (read 24 October 2026).
4. A monthly subscription: cancelling sets the price
The point that surprises travellers most fits in one sentence: the Deutschlandticket is not a ticket, it is a subscription renewed every month. You buy it on bahn.de, in the DB Navigator app or from regional transport companies. There is no day rate for this ticket.
It is valid from the first day of the month, at 3 a.m., until the first day of the following month (profee.com, page read 24 October 2026). The cancellation rule used here: cancelling before the 10th of the month ends the contract at the end of the following month. CEC-ZEV gives the December example: to stop in December, you must cancel before 10 November (CEC-ZEV, read 24 October 2026). Cancellation is done through the online customer account or the form, with the subscription number and not the order number (CEC-ZEV, same source).
What this means for a short stay, to confirm on bahn.de: under this rule, a ticket you only use for a few days in January 2027, and cancel before 10 January, runs until the end of February. That is two monthly payments, €133.60 in 2027, if the period starts on 1 January. To pay for only one month, cancel before 10 December 2026. The activation date decides the final total, and it is not confirmed in the sources read.
Payment deserves the same caution. An Austrian FAQ from 2024 (wandernundmehr.at, extract) says that paying through bahn.de requires an account authorising SEPA direct debit, and another FAQ states that only direct debit is accepted online. Check the buying conditions from abroad on bahn.de before you subscribe. The ticket remains a personal subscription.
5. DB subscribers: confirm the increase before 30 November 2026
If you already subscribe through Deutsche Bahn, the 2027 increase does not apply automatically. For contracts signed before 15 October 2026, you must accept the new terms by 30 November 2026 at the latest, through the Abo-Portal on bahn.de or the « Vertragsänderungen zustimmen » menu in DB Navigator (DB FAQ, extract read 24 October 2026; date to be confirmed on bahn.de, page not opened in full). Without a reply, the contract ends on 31 December 2026, and reactivation remains possible until that date (same source).
Only the original buyer can give this consent. Orders placed from 15 October 2026 do not need confirmation, according to the same FAQ. The table below lists the dates to keep in mind; the FAQ dates still need confirming on bahn.de.
| Date | What happens | Who is affected |
|---|---|---|
| 15 October 2026 | Orders placed from this date do not need confirmation | New buyers |
| 10th of each month | Cancellation deadline for stopping at the end of the following month | All subscribers |
| 30 November 2026 | Deadline to accept the increase | DB subscribers with contracts signed before 15 October 2026 |
| 31 December 2026 | End of contract for unconfirmed subscribers, reactivation deadline | DB subscribers without a reply |
| 1 January 2027 | New announced price of €66.80 a month | All subscribers |
| 30 September 2027 | Latest publication of the index for 2028 | All subscribers |
Source: DB FAQ (extract read 24 October 2026, to be confirmed on bahn.de) and VMK communiqué (read 24 October 2026).
6. Border: Lauterbourg yes, Strasbourg no
A German ticket, not a passport to France
The ticket is often presented as a way into France. That is too broad a view. It is valid to the Alsace stations of Lauterbourg and Wissembourg, in Bas-Rhin, which are part of the VRN network. For a trip to Paris or inland France, you need a French or cross-border ticket instead.
Strasbourg is not covered. For tram D from Kehl to Strasbourg, a weekend exception with a duration-based ticket is mentioned, but no official source read confirms it: check with the operator before any trip.
| Destination | Valid | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lauterbourg (Bas-Rhin) | Yes | Alsace station, VRN network |
| Wissembourg (Bas-Rhin) | Yes | Alsace station, VRN network |
| Strasbourg | No | Tram D Kehl exception not confirmed by a source read |
| Salzburg (Austria) | Yes | According to CEC-ZEV, to be confirmed on bahn.de |
| Kufstein (Austria) | Yes | According to CEC-ZEV, to be confirmed on bahn.de |
| Schaffhausen (Switzerland) | Yes | According to CEC-ZEV, to be confirmed on bahn.de |
Source: CEC-ZEV (unofficial body, page updated 18 June 2026), checked 24 October 2026.
On the Alsace and Lorraine side, other options exist. Flexfahrt offers a discount of up to 60% between Lorraine and the Saarland, and Saar-Lor-Lux offers a day ticket valid at weekends and on public holidays (frontaliers-grandest.eu, updated July 2026, extract).
7. The maths: from how many days the ticket pays off
In Berlin, the break-even point is the sixth day
The day ticket most often cited is the Berlin Tageskarte AB: €11.20 in 2026, valid for 24 hours after validation, with unlimited trips (BVG, page read 24 October 2026). In Hamburg, the Tageskarte AB costs €8.20 in 2026, and €7.63 online according to the city’s website (hamburg.de, extract checked 24 October 2026).
The calculation compares the two options for one person, in the Berlin AB zone only. It does not include the 2027 Berlin transport fares, which are not confirmed in the sources read, nor a possible more expensive ABC zone.
| Scenario | Deutschlandticket 2027 | Berlin AB Tageskarte (€11.20) | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €66.80 | €11.20 | Tageskarte |
| 3 days | €66.80 | €33.60 | Tageskarte |
| 6 days | €66.80 | €67.20 | Deutschlandticket, by €0.40 |
| 10 days | €66.80 | €112.00 | Deutschlandticket |
Source: Tageskarte price, BVG (page read 24 October 2026); 2027 Deutschlandticket price, announced by dpa on 30 September 2026 (deskmodder.de); calculation by Pixidia.
The calculation only holds if you use the monthly ticket for its whole validity. For a stay of a few days spread over two months, the cancellation date changes everything (see section 4).
8. Four profiles, four answers
A few days in one city
For a weekend or a three- or four-day stay in one city, the Tageskarte is almost always cheaper. It saves you managing a monthly subscription, and its 24-hour validity after validation covers a full day of sightseeing. In the Berlin AB zone alone, the monthly ticket only pays off beyond five or six days of travel.
The traveller on a multi-week trip
For a month in Germany with regional trips between several cities, the Deutschlandticket can work out cheaper than a string of day tickets. That assumes two things: you can buy it from abroad, which the sources read do not confirm and must be checked on bahn.de, and you cancel at the right time. To combine this trip with an overnight journey, see our guide to the four new night train routes in Europe 2026, including Paris to Berlin.
The student and the employee
A student registered in Germany can opt for the Semesterticket, announced at €40.08 in 2027 (dpa). An employee whose employer contributes can take the Jobticket, announced at €63.46 in 2027. A student on a short stay without German registration is not eligible for the Semesterticket (sprachschule.org, page read 24 October 2026).
The cross-border commuter and Grand Est
For a regular trip between Bas-Rhin and Karlsruhe, the ticket has real value, as long as the journey is limited to Lauterbourg or Wissembourg. Beyond that, you need separate tickets, and the local discounts mentioned above are worth comparing before you subscribe.
What other guides don’t tell you
Several guides online repeat old figures or leave out the steps that decide the real cost of the ticket. Here are five points from the sources cited, with the date they were checked.
- The 2027 price comes from an index, not from a yearly decision taken case by case. The VMK communiqué sets a cost split of 55% personnel, 20% energy and 25% general costs, with publication by 30 September at the latest for the following year (VMK communiqué, read 24 October 2026).
- For DB subscribers, no reply ends the contract. Without confirmation by 30 November 2026, the contract ends on 31 December 2026 (DB FAQ, extract checked 24 October 2026, to be confirmed on bahn.de).
- Cable cars are excluded, and the Zugspitze only accepts the ticket on one section. The rack railway takes it only between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Grainau, if ridership allows (zugspitze.de, read 24 October 2026).
- The ticket does not reach Strasbourg, despite the proximity of Kehl. The valid stations are Lauterbourg and Wissembourg. No official source read confirms the tram D exception (CEC-ZEV, read 24 October 2026).
- The 2026 price is €63, not €49 or €58. Some sites still online show old amounts. The Bundesregierung gives €63 from 1 January 2026 (Bundesregierung, extract checked 24 October 2026).
Before you go: connection and insurance
As the ticket is fully digital, it helps to have a mobile connection during the journey, to check timetables and show the ticket on your phone, including if you miss a connection.
Travel insurance covers medical costs and some unexpected events during your stay. Check the cover before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Deutschlandticket cost?
The Deutschlandticket will cost €66.80 a month from 1 January 2027, up from €63 in 2026. The figure was announced on 30 September 2026 by the Koordinierungsrat (dpa) and still needs confirming on bahn.de. It follows a cost index published every year. The 2028 price is not known yet.
How do you cancel the Deutschlandticket?
Cancel before the 10th of the month, through the online customer account or the DB form, giving your subscription number and not the order number. A cancellation made before the 10th ends the contract at the end of the following month: to stop in December, cancel before 10 November (CEC-ZEV). A late cancellation means the following month is still charged (profee.com).
How does the Deutschlandticket work?
It is a digital, personal monthly subscription, valid for unlimited trips on regional trains, S-Bahn, buses, trams and the metro across Germany. It does not cover ICE, IC, EC or long-distance buses. An official photo ID must be shown during the journey (CEC-ZEV).
Where can you buy the Deutschlandticket?
You buy it on bahn.de, in the DB Navigator app or from regional transport companies. For a visitor without a German address, the conditions are not confirmed: one source (profee.com) says tourists can buy it, while another (sprachschule.org) mentions a German postal address and a SEPA account. Check on bahn.de before you subscribe.
Does the Deutschlandticket work in France?
Not in general. The ticket is valid as far as the Alsace stations of Lauterbourg and Wissembourg, but not to Strasbourg. For tram D from Kehl, no official source read confirms the exception mentioned (CEC-ZEV). For a trip to Paris or inland France, you need a separate ticket.
Do you need to confirm the increase if you already subscribe with DB?
Yes, for contracts signed before 15 October 2026. Confirmation must be given by 30 November 2026 at the latest, on bahn.de or in DB Navigator. Without a reply, the contract ends on 31 December 2026, and reactivation is possible until that date (DB FAQ, extract, to be confirmed on bahn.de).
Does the Deutschlandticket work on cable cars?
No. The ticket is not valid on the Zugspitze cable cars, which are outside its scope. The rack railway accepts it only between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Grainau, and only if ridership allows. For a trip to the summit, get a separate ticket and check fares directly with the operator (zugspitze.de).
Can a student use the Semesterticket on a short stay?
The Semesterticket is reserved for students registered in Germany, and it is announced at €40.08 in 2027 (dpa). A student on a short stay without German registration is not eligible and should compare the Deutschlandticket or a Tageskarte, depending on how many days they travel (sprachschule.org).
Sources
- Communiqué of the transport ministers’ conference, Lindau: price index and cost split, 26 March 2026 (read).
- Deutschlandticket, Bundesregierung: €63 price in 2026 (extract).
- DB FAQ, confirming the increase: procedure and the 30 November 2026 deadline (extract).
- DB FAQ, not confirming the increase: end of contract on 31 December 2026 (extract).
- The Deutschlandticket, CEC-ZEV: scope, cancellation, border (unofficial body, updated 18 June 2026, read).
- Bayerische Zugspitzbahn: rules for using the ticket on the Zugspitze (read).
- Tickets, BVG: Berlin Tageskarte AB price (read).
- HVV, 2026 fare increase: Hamburg Tageskarte AB price (extract).
- Deutschlandticket wird teurer, deskmodder.de: reprint of the dpa report of 30 September 2026 (extract).
- Deutschlandticket, Wikipedia (French): price history and governance (read).
- Third interim evaluation report, teltarif.de: funding and ridership (extract).
- Bundestag secures funding to 2030, beck-aktuell: funding horizon, November 2025 (extract).
- Eurail is now Interrail, TravelPulse: name change on 10 September 2026, trade press (extract).
- Deutschland-Ticket, student guide, sprachschule.org: practical conditions and Semesterticket (read).
- Deutschlandticket guide, profee.com: validity and cancellation (read; page dated 2024, updated June 2026).
- Können Touristen auch Deutschlandticket kaufen, wandernundmehr.at: 2024 FAQ on purchases by tourists (extract).
- Frontaliers Grand Est, transport in Germany: Flexfahrt and Saar-Lor-Lux (extract).
Sources checked 24 October 2026. Read: page opened and reviewed. Extract: content taken from a search result or a partly read page.
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