Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [697]
Hire & Purchase
Most towns and cities have some sort of bicycle-hire station, which is often at or near the train station. Hire costs range from €9 to €25 per day and €35 to €85 per week, depending on the model of bicycle you hire. A minimum deposit of €30 (more for fancier bikes) and/or ID are required. Many agencies are listed in the Getting Around sections of the destination chapters in this book. Some outfits also offer repair service or bicycle storage facilities.
Hotels, especially in resort areas, sometimes keep a stable of bicycles for their guests, often at no charge.
If you plan to spend several weeks or longer in the saddle, buying a second-hand bike may work out cheaper than renting one and be easier than bringing your own. You can get a cheap, basic two-wheeler for around €60, although for good reconditioned models you’ll probably have to shell out at least €200. The hire stations sometimes sell used bicycles or may be able to steer you to a good place locally. Flea markets are another source, as are the classified sections of daily news-papers and listings magazines. Notice boards at universities, hostels or supermarkets may also yield some leads. A useful website for secondhand purchases is www.zweitehand.de, although it’s in German only.
Transport
Bicycles may be taken on most trains but require purchasing a separate ticket (Fahrrad-karte). These cost €9 per trip on long-distance trains (IC and EC; reservations required) and €4.50 per day on local and regional trains (IRE, RB, RE and S-Bahn; see the boxed text, Click here, for train types). Bicycles are not allowed on high-speed ICE trains. There is no charge at all on some trains. For full details, enquire at a local station or call 01805-151 415. Free lines are also listed in DB’s complimentary Bahn & Bike brochure (in German), as are the almost 250 stations where you can rent bikes. Both are available for downloading from www.bahn.de/bahnundbike.
Many regional companies use buses with special bike racks. Bicycles are also allowed on practically all boat and ferry services on Germany’s lakes and rivers.
For additional information on cycling in Germany, Click here.
BOAT
With two seas and a lake- and river-filled interior, don’t be surprised to find yourself in a boat at some point. For basic transport, boats are primarily used when travelling to or between the East Frisian Islands in Lower Saxony; the North Frisian Islands in Schleswig-Holstein; Helgoland, which also belongs to Schleswig-Holstein; and the islands of Poel, Rügen and Hiddensee in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania. Scheduled boat services operate along sections of the Rhine, the Elbe and the Danube. There are also ferry services in areas with no or only a few bridges as well as on major lakes such as the Chiemsee and Lake Starnberg in Bavaria and Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg.
From around April to October, local operators run scenic river or lake cruises lasting from one hour to a full day. For details, see the individual entries in the destination chapters.
BUS
Local & Regional
Basically, wherever there is a train, take it. Buses are generally slower, less dependable and more polluting than trains, but in some rural areas they may be your only option for getting around without your own vehicle. This is especially true of the Harz Mountains, sections of the Bavarian Forest and the Alpine foothills. Separate bus companies, each with its own tariffs and schedules, operate in the different regions.
The frequency of services varies from ‘rarely’ to ‘constantly’. Commuter-geared routes offer limited or no service in the evenings and at weekends, so keep this in mind or risk finding yourself stuck in a remote place on a Saturday night. Make it a habit to ask about special fare deals, such as daily or weekly passes or tourist tickets.
In cities, buses generally converge at the Busbahnhof or Zentraler