Buying Train Tickets
Use these phrases when buying train tickets at a station counter or asking staff about departures in Germany.
Key Phrases
Einmal Berlin, bitte.
casualOne ticket to Berlin, please.
A common spoken shortcut at the counter.
Ich brauche ein Ticket nach Berlin.
neutralI need a ticket to Berlin.
Guten Tag, ein Ticket nach Berlin, bitte.
politeHello, a ticket to Berlin, please.
Standard polite greeting and request with staff.
Nur einfach, bitte.
neutralOne-way only, please.
Use when you do not plan to return by train.
Hin und zurück, bitte.
neutralRound trip, please.
Standard phrase for a return journey.
Zweite Klasse, bitte.
neutralSecond class, please.
Standard and most common seating option.
Wann fährt der Zug?
casualWhen does the train leave?
Wann fährt der nächste Zug, bitte?
neutralWhen does the next train leave, please?
Direct and polite question about the schedule.
Welches Gleis ist das?
neutralWhich platform is that?
Use to confirm where the train departs.
Braucht das Ticket einen Stempel?
neutralDoes the ticket need a stamp?
Important for local or regional tickets before boarding.
Hat der Zug Verspätung?
neutralIs the train delayed?
Standard question if a train does not arrive on time.