Paying for Deutsche Bahn tickets with cash
I'm planning on travelling from Frankfurt to Zurich, then from Zurich to Heidelberg and finally from Heidelberg to Frankfurt again via Deutsche Bahn.
Since I don't have credit/debit cards, I'm not able to book tickets online, so I'm planning to buy the tickets at the train station. Am I able to pay in cash? I don't have any form of swipeable identification card, just my country's (Argentina) ID and passport.
Ideally I would buy the tickets about 2 o 3 days before the actual trip.
Best Answer
In addition to Omega Terus' answer:
Some of the self-service machines only accept coins, which can be a problem if you didn't anticipated it and all shops / counters are closed. If possible you can try to buy the ticket early (a day early, few hours early) so you have some time to gather coins if needed.
Source: Own experience, ~ 7 years ago.
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How do I pay for Deutsche Bahn?
Your payment options on bahn.com. During the booking process, you can choose whether you would like to pay by credit card, PayPal, giropay or SEPA direct debit. You can find more information in advance on which payment option is right for you on this page.Can you buy tickets on German trains?
Can You Buy Tickets on The Train In Germany? Yes and No. If you are traveling on Long Distance (ICE, IC) trains, then technically you can, but they are going to be quite expensive. You'll need to find a conductor (either standing on the platform or walk around until you find one onboard) to request a ticket ASAP.How do Deutsche Bahn tickets work?
Deutsche Bahn Discount Cards The way it works is you pay for a discount card up front and then for every Saver or Flexible ticket you buy, you get that percentage off of the ticket. These are great options for people living in Germany and wanting to save money on frequent train travel in Germany.What does ERW mean on a German train ticket?
Erwachsener means adult in German. On mobile tickets, this is abbreviated as "Erw".HOW TO ! Buying train ticket from the machine in Germany
More answers regarding paying for Deutsche Bahn tickets with cash
Answer 2
Pay at the counter
Every train station except rural stops has a ticket counter, where you can buy tickets for immediate departure or up to 90 days in advance. They take cash and ask no questions (other than your destination and departure date). Larger stations have a dedicated Reisezentrum (travel center), in smaller stations the counter may be hidden in the snacks/newspaper/convenience shop, or there is a travel agency in the station building.
Vending Machines
Called Fahrkartenautomat. They were recently overhauled, all of them should take at least €50 notes, I'm not sure about €100. They can speak Spanish.
On the train
You can buy a ticket for cash onboard on long distance trains, but then there is a surcharge of €7.50 (AFAIK). Warning, this is only possible on long distance (IC, ICE) trains, not on local ones like RE,RB or S-Bahn.
Paypal
Even if you don't have a card, you might be able to open a Paypal account, transfer some funds in advance, and book tickets online. You should definitely check out this if you know the exact time when you would travel, since there are substantial discounts available when booking a few weeks in advance, e.g. €49 instead of €114 just for the Frankurt - Zürich leg. You'll need you passport number for tickets booked online. Note that discounted tickets are not refundable on or after the day of departure.
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Images: Alexander Mils, Pixabay, Pixabay, Karolina Grabowska