Travelling around Germany

While there is much to do and explore in Halle, on your visit to Germany you may be interested in exploring other locations, such as the larger cities Leipzig, Munich, Dresden, and the capital Berlin, all of which have rich culture, history and architecture and are reasonably close by.

Here is a guide of ideas about accessibility to these places and transport facilities. Transport options- Train, bus, airplane

Use of train

Germany has a good railway system which connects Halle well with other cities. It is the fastest way of accessing other locations. Train tickets can be purchased online or at the train station. Halle train station is within walking distance of the town center.

Use of bus

The buses are also effective methods of travel. Although slower than the train, the bus is usually the cheaper option.

Use of airplane

An airplane is not needed to travel around Europe due to the accessibility of trains.

Use of car

The app Blablacar is used in Germany to connect driver’s with empty spaces in their car with you who want to go to the same destination.

Blablacar is used in Germany to connect driver’s with empty spaces in their car with you who want to go to the same destination.

How to easily assess which mode of transport to use for your trip

Omio (Go Euro) app/website is commendable for planning travelling around Germany and the whole of Europe. It is easy to use and clearly lays out the different options available to you for that journey. You simply input your starting location and destination, as well as the dates of your travels, and it will list the times, prices and modes of transport (bus, train or plane) possible.

You can buy tickets straight from the website, though going directly to the transport company’s website can sometimes be cheaper, especially for flixbus.

Top tips for transport

Check and see whether your transport ticket will need to be printed or can be an online E-Ticket to be scanned. If you need a hand copy of the ticket, have a single place you shall keep it in to avoid losing it. If you can have an online ticket, make sure your phone is charged up to show to the ticket inspector.
Make sure you arrive at the train or bus station at least 15 -20minutes before departure so you can gather your bearings and find out the exact stop you are departing from.
Don’t be afraid to ask someone before getting on the bus or train if they are going to the same place as you to confirm you are getting on the right vehicle.
If possible, book a return rather than two separate tickets because it is almost always cheaper.
Enjoy the journey! Look at the views as this is a good opportunity to see more of Germany.
If you are taking a longer journey, to Munich for example, consider booking an overnight train, meaning you travel by night, so you can be well rested and have more time to explore the city in the day.

Choosing where to stay in another city

If you are interested in spending the weekend away for example in Munich, you need to look at where you are going to sleep. Hostels, hotels, and AirBnB are options.

All options are worth looking at, but you must consider your priorities first, which may be a central location, a quiet neighbourhood, or a cheap price.

Hostels

Use Hostelworld website to see which hostels are available in the city you are visiting. Hostels are quite often cheap and placed centrally which allows for lots of sight-seeing. Sleeping in mixed-shared rooms is a great way to meet people and get a cheap bed, but private rooms are also available and often cheaper than hotel rooms.

Hotels

Hotels are typically a more expensive option and can be luxurious.

AirBnB

AirBnB can be used as an app/website. It runs off people renting out homes or private-rooms to tourists for short periods of time. It’s worth looking to see what is available wherever you are going because it can sometimes be cheaper than hostels.

AirBnB gives you a bit more privacy than a hostel, especially if you rent a whole apartment. Because of this however you might get less recommendations of where to go, for example.