Deutschlandticket: discover the most beautiful train routes

Since May 1 2023, there is the Deutschlandticket. This means: for 49 euros a month, we can travel across the country by train. The ticket is not valid for long-distance travel - i.e., ICE or IC trains - but it is valid on all scheduled buses, streetcars, subways, commuter trains and regional trains.

This awakens the spirit of discovery in us. We want to know: What are the most beautiful train routes? And which unknown places unknown will we get to know? We set out on a search and show you which regional train will take you to the most beautiful corners of Germany in complete relaxation.

Top 4: The most beautiful train routes in Germany

There has been a lot of hype about train travel for a long time. Just think of the Orient Express, which becomes the stage for a legendary story in Agatha Christie's novel. Or the pictures from "Harry Potter," in which the Hogwarts Express travels over breathtaking bridges.

Well, the train journeys we are going to present to you do not lead through the Orient and do not end at a witch school. But castles and palaces à la Harry Potter are included on some of our routes. You'll be amazed at the great places you can visit with the Deutschlandticket.

Here are our favorite routes, cities and discoveries:

#1 With the Black Forest Railway from Karlsruhe to Constance

Let's start with the train route that enchanted us the most: With the Black Forest Railway, you'll travel 149 kilometers through dense mountain forests and 39 tunnels. You are surrounded by greenery and tranquility. And you have the opportunity to stop off in some really worth seeing towns on your way from Karlsruhe to Constance.

In the spa town of Baden-Baden, wellness is the order of the day. In the Friedrichsbad, which was opened in 1877 and exudes an almost imperial charm, you can swim in precious thermal water that bubbles up from hot springs. Enjoy yourself here and take the relaxation with you on your tour up to the Merkur summit, which you can either do on foot or by taking the longest funicular in Germany. Look down on Baden-Baden from a height of 668 meters and enjoy the closeness to nature.

We recommend a second stop in Offenburg - the city between the Rhine and the vineyards, surrounded by picturesque vineyards. What we particularly like here is the unique flair. You can feel the proximity to France, stroll along historic houses and try regional delicacies at the weekly market. If you have a little more time - or even an overnight stay at the Bio-Pension Satya - be sure to take a canoe tour on the arms of the Rhine through the beautiful floodplain forests. We were speechless at how untouched nature is here. The water is absolutely clear, there are countless dragonflies buzzing on the banks and we even got to see a kingfisher.

If you feel like exploring more towns, also get off in Brühl, Donaueschingen and Radolfzell along the way.

Once you arrive in Konstanz, you'll be amazed at how diverse the largest city on Lake Constance is. After a tour of the historic city center, you'll head to the promenade with the impressive "Imperia" statue. From here, the view across the water is perfect. Cafés along the waterfront invite you to linger while you unwind. Once you have picked up some delicious cherry strudel at the "Biobackstüble Zuck & Kaun", you can take the bus or ferry to Mainau Island. Colorful flowers, exotic butterflies in the butterfly house and an imposing castle create a Mediterranean oasis with a splendor of color rarely seen elsewhere.

#2 With the Höllentalbahn from Freiburg to Villingen

We stay in the Black Forest and get on the train with probably the most beautiful route in Germany. The Höllentalbahn goes through tunnels, past the Hirschsprung and over historic bridges, so you have a fantastic view over the Black Forest and all the green valleys.

The absolute highlight: the view over the Ravenna Gorge. This is the most impressive side valley of the Black Forest through which the Ravenna stream meanders with many cascades and waterfalls. No matter how many times we have seen this sight, we are blown away every time.

In addition, the Höllentalbahn holds the record for the steepest train route in Germany. On a section of twelve kilometers - between Himmelreich and Hinterzarten - it makes 400 meters in altitude. But don't worry, it still doesn't feel like a roller coaster ride. You barely notice the incline.

Where you can get on the Höllentalbahn? The train starts in Freiburg - the most sustainable city in Germany, which we already introduced to you in our "City Trip Guide". It then stops in various small towns such as Neustadt, Rötenbach and Löffingen before continuing on to Villingen.

You should get off in Neustadt at the Titisee. It's best to plan a few more days here. Titisee-Neustadt is a municipality very close to Titisee, which is one of the most popular destinations in Germany. Here you can stroll along the shore in summer, cool off in the lake, enjoy the alpine view in Schwärzenbach, explore hiking trails in Jostal, taste delicious culinary delights in Langenordnachtal or get your circulation going in the Kneipp pool. The area has so much to offer.

Surely it will be difficult for you to leave here again. Nevertheless, you should drive to the terminus of the Höllentalbahn. Villingen convinces with a cultural mixture of 1000 years of town history and impressive sights like a completely preserved town wall, mighty gate towers and the minster "Unserer Lieben Frau". Everywhere there are winding alleys that arouse curiosity, beautiful half-timbered houses that invite you to marvel and cafés like the "Café Dammert", where you can order homemade cakes and enjoy them at tables in the sun - with a view of traditionally painted facades.

#3 Take the Mittelrheinbahn through Germany's Grand Canyon

"Just get on and ride more beautifully" - that's the promise of the Mittelrheinbahn, which runs on one of the most beautiful routes between Cologne and Mainz. As soon as you have taken your seat at one of the newly installed panorama windows, you can let the view of mountains, water and valleys take effect on you. The route runs between Koblenz and Bingen directly along the Rhine and takes you into the "Grand Canyon of Germany" - past castles, palaces and the steep slopes of the Middle Rhine wine-growing region.

Sure, you could just sit tight for the three-hour ride. But along the way, you'll stop at numerous destinations that are worth getting off for. There's the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rhine Valley, the Drachenfels castle ruins, the castle in Namedy or the geyser in Andernach.

We were particularly taken with Koblenz. In the city with 2000 years of history, the Rhine and the Moselle flow together at the "German Corner", while terraced vineyards open up along the rivers. You can get a great view of them by taking the cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. It is the second largest fortress still standing in Europe and towers 118 meters above the Rhine.

Also absolutely worth seeing in Koblenz: the Görresplatz with history column, the Schängel and Inventor's Fountain, the four towers in Marktstraße in the old town, the Sacred Heart Church and the Old Prussian Government Building.

#4 With the BRB through the Allgäu and Upper Bavaria

The Bavarian Regiobahn is one of the trains in Germany that stops at the most beautiful vacation spots. It travels through the beautiful alpine country with its mountain peaks and lakes; along steep slopes, picturesque markets and historic communities.

You can decide whether you want to travel from Munich to Tegernsee, from Augsburg to Füssen, once across the Ammersee-Altmühltal or even to Salzburg in Austria.

We decided to visit Augsburg first and then take the RB77 to Füssen to hike up to Neuschwanstein Castle here:

Augsburg is one of the oldest cities in Germany with buildings from many different eras. The town hall, for example, is one of the most important buildings of the German Renaissance; Augsburg Cathedral was built as early as the 8th century. Strolling through the city center in the sunshine feels like an impressive journey through time. But you should also definitely go inside the buildings. In the town hall, for example, there is the Golden Hall - a 14-meter-high room decorated with magnificent ornaments and paintings.

Should you get hungry, we recommend "Emmis Kitchen". The vegan restaurant is somewhat hidden in an alley with a view of St. Ulrich Church. Here you can have pancakes, rice pudding, scrambled tofu, etc. for breakfast (until 4 p.m.) and burgers, bowls, and - our tip - spinach spaetzle for lunch and dinner.

The train ride to Füssen takes just under two hours. Even though the town is best known for its proximity to Neuschwanstein Castle, you should plan enough time to explore the old town at the southern end of the "Romantic Road" - or, in the best case, spend a few nights at the organic hotel "Eggensberger" and take in the town, its idyllic surroundings and castles from here. You should book tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle in advance. Often they are sold out weeks in advance and it would be a real pity if you stand in front of closed gates.

Deutschlandticket: You can also use it to travel abroad

If you stumbled upon the fact that you can also travel to Salzburg with the BRB, here is our insider knowledge for you:

You're not allowed to travel on the night trains from Hamburg to Vienna with the Deutschlandticket, but you can actually travel abroad with it. The keyword here is: Border fare point. Some rail routes lead to Switzerland or Austria, for example. You can then travel with your ticket to the specific station that is included in the rail fare. But not further. From there on the tariff of the neighboring railroads would count.

You can find out in detail here which cities in our neighboring countries you can travel to with the Deutschlandticket.

If you can't wait to admire landscapes and cities from the train, we have two more tips for you: In the ard-Mediathek, you can find exciting reports that show train routes around our globe under the search term "Mit dem Zug durch". On the other hand, you can find a great documentary about the Orient Express at arte.

At the latest here the inspiration for the next train trip should not fall by the wayside.