Important Info about taking your dog (and yourselves) on the trains in Germany:
Two important rules to remember while taking train rides in Germany
- Make sure you buy extra ticket for your dog!
- Have a muzzle with you!
You must buy a ticket for dog!!! – it may be tempting to skirt the system once you realize that Germany uses a “trust-based” system and there isn’t always someone on board checking tickets; however, Germans take their rules seriously and you may be subject to severe fines or even be kicked out of the country for violating these laws so buy your tickets EVERY time.
Where to buy tickets:
Tickets are available for purchase via small kiosks at nearly every stop/station and on each train, generally located somewhere near the middle
Tip:
If the machine is not working you can stay on the train and finish your ride you do not need to get off and buy a ticket.
You can also go on line to official German train website or download an app and you can have your tickets on your phone at all times.
It is important to remember that you need to stamp time on your ticket after you board the train, your ticket(s) will be valid for one hour after that time, so you can change trains without buying a new ticket and there are machines in each bus, train or train station for validating tickets.
Tip:
When travelling by train with your dog you should be mindful of the time of day. It is best to avoid the early morning and late afternoon “rush” hours as the trains are generally much more congested and room can be sparce, especially in the larger cities
Busses and trains in Germany are great! You can find this universal signs, that will spell out the rules for you!
Taking your dog on the train is incredibly easy and rather common, though it is important to remember that large breed dogs (15kg+) must be muzzled while riding any public transportation. There are signs posted on every train.
Our experience:
“BANE” mask
Sage loved the ride but is absolutely not a fan of the muzzle, or what we refer to as her “Bane” mask.
She loves people so after the initial discomfort, she took to her mask and just enjoyed the ride! Our tickets have been checked a few times and the conductor/train personnel were always very nice, genuinely concerned about her comfort, and fluent in English (a great help for us).
Overall, taking trains in Germany as great! It is a very dog-friendly culture and our experiences here certainly reflect that. Sage is a big fan of Germany!
Thank you for this information. I am moving to Germany soon and was curious how it worked with taking a dog on the train!!
You are welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to petsandpassport@gmail.com! I will be happy to help.
Also this is a general rule that is posted on the DB website: “Passengers can bring small dogs (no larger than a domestic cat) free of charge, provided they are in a carrier. Larger dogs are considered passengers and charged as adults. If you are travelling with a dog that requires a ticket, enter the German name for dog (Hund) instead of a passenger name.”