Deutsche Bahn: Family tickets now on permanent offer

dpa | Families can now book family tickets again for long-distance travel with Deutsche Bahn – permanently. The offer, priced at 99.99 euros, is valid for trips from November 1st for a return trip on the IC or ICE, including seat reservations.

The railway came under heavy criticism in mid-2025 because it abolished family reservations. Until then, families could reserve up to five seats together for 10.40 euros. Since then, each place has to be paid for individually. During these summer holidays, the federally owned company offered the family ticket for the first time - a kind of response to the discontent over the abolition of family reservations. The railway is now turning the temporary offer into a permanent one.

Reservations are already included in the family ticket. With the ticket, up to five people can travel on Deutsche Bahn's long-distance trains in second class for just under 100 euros there and back throughout Germany. A single trip costs 59.99 euros.

The ticket is valid regardless of family relationship. According to the railway, one adult (aged 15 and over) can travel with up to four children or two adults can travel with up to three children.

The family ticket will be offered “with a very high level of availability,” said a railway spokeswoman upon request. “There are no limited quantities from the outset.” However, the ticket may no longer be available on individual, already heavily booked connections.

According to the spokeswoman, the family ticket has contributed to greater use of the train by families: In the summer, almost 100,000 more families traveled by train than in the same period last year - with a family ticket or saver prices.

The railway has been observing increasing demand from families for years. The abolition of family reservations has not changed this.