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Gleis7 14:32 +10 ICE 578 Hamburg Hbf über Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe · Hannover 1. Kl 2 Bistro 2 2 2 ABCDEF Gleis platform · Hbf (Hauptbahnhof) main station · über via +10 ten minutes late (Verspätung) · ICE high-speed train A–F platform sections: stand where your coach will stop 1. Kl erste Klasse, first class
German platforms show a Wagenstandsanzeiger, a coach position chart. Your ticket reservation lists your Wagen (coach) number; the chart tells you which section to wait in.
German · Vocabulary · A2

Travelling in German: trains, hotels and finding the way

Travel in German-speaking countries runs on trains, signs and short, direct questions. This guide covers the vocabulary of the station, the phrases for a ticket desk and a hotel reception, and how to ask for and understand directions, with the grammar each situation needs.

Short answer: you travel mit dem Zug (by train) or zu Fuß (on foot). A ticket is eine Fahrkarte, the platform is das Gleis, a delay is eine Verspätung. Directions: links (left), rechts (right), geradeaus (straight on).

Ways to travel: mit dem … and zu Fuß

German says “with the …” for every vehicle: mit always takes the dative, so the article becomes dem (masculine and neuter) or der (feminine). The one exception is walking: zu Fuß, “on foot”. The verb is fahren for anything with wheels, fliegen for planes and gehen for walking.

At the station

GermanEnglish
the station
the main station (Hbf)
the ticket
the return journey
the platform, track
the departure
the arrival
the delay
the connection
the ticket machine
Articles: der masculine, die feminine, das neuter (see der, die, das).
Buying a ticket at the DB counter
You
EineaFahrkarteticketnachtoHamburg,Hamburgbitte.please
INE-uh FAHR-kar-tuh nahkh HAHM-boork, BIT-uh “A ticket to Hamburg, please.” Nach, “to”, is used before town and country names.
Clerk
Einfachsingleoderorhinthereundandzurück?back
INE-fahkh OH-der HIN oont tsoo-RÜK “Single or return?”
You
Hinthereundandzurück,backzweitesecondKlasse.class
HIN oont tsoo-RÜK, TSVY-tuh KLAH-suh “Return, second class.” Second class is the default; first class is erste Klasse.
Clerk
Möchtenwould-likeSieyoueinenaSitzplatzseatreservieren?reserve
MÖKH-tun zee INE-un ZITS-plahts ray-zair-VEE-run “Would you like to reserve a seat?” A modal verb with the infinitive at the end.
You
Ja,yesamat-theFenster,windowbitte.please
yah, ahm FEN-ster, BIT-uh “Yes, a window seat, please.” Am Gang would be “by the aisle”.
You
MussmustichIumsteigen?change-trains
moos ikh OOM-shty-gun “Do I have to change trains?” Umsteigen is separable; after a modal it stays whole.
Signs you will follow
Understanding an announcement

Deutsche Bahn announcements follow fixed formulas. Listen for the train type and number, the destination after nach, the platform after Gleis, and any change. Every word has its English meaning underneath.

AufonGleisplatformsiebensevenfährttravelsein:inICEICEnachtoHamburg.Hamburg
“Arriving at platform 7: the ICE to Hamburg.”
Listen for: einfahren, “to pull in”, split into fährt … ein. The platform number comes first.
DertheZugtrainhathasheutetodaycircaaboutzehntenMinutenminutesVerspätung.delay
“The train is running about ten minutes late today.”
Listen for: Verspätung with a number of minutes. Circa means “approximately”.
Bittepleasezurückbleiben!stay-back
“Please stand back!”
Listen for: heard as doors close or a train passes through. Step away from the platform edge.
On board
When something goes wrong

At the hotel

Use Sie with hotel staff. Floors are counted from the Erdgeschoss (ground floor), so der erste Stock is one floor up. Breakfast, das Frühstück, is often included and served until about ten.

Asking for and following directions

Start with Entschuldigung (excuse me), then ask Wie komme ich zum …? (How do I get to the …?) or Wo ist …? (Where is …?). Zum is zu dem merged, for masculine and neuter places; use zur (zu der) for feminine ones. Directions come as commands with Sie: Gehen Sie …, Biegen Sie … ab. Press a step to follow the route.

Hbf Museum Park Fluss Brücke Bahnhofstraße 1234
Sie sind hier: you are at the Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). The red line follows the steps you select.

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