Learn Phrases Using Public Transport

By using the sentence pattern Wo ist der nächste + ORT? (Where is the nearest + PLACE ?) you can ask for directions to the nearest bus stop, train station, or metro. You could do the same thing with the sentence pattern Gibt es in der Nähe einen + ORT? (Is there a + PLACE + nearby?). For example, you could ask something like ⁠Gibt es in der Nähe eine U-Bahn-Station? (Is there a metro station nearby?). In response someone might say something like: ⁠Wenn Sie die nächste Straße rechts hinuntergehen, finden Sie eine U-Bahnstation (If you go down the next street on your right then you'll find a subway station).

Ask questions using the sentence pattern Wie oft halten + VERKEHRSMITTEL + hier? (How frequently do + MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION + stop here?) to find out how often a train, subway, etc comes to a station or stop. Here is another example of this pattern: ⁠Wie oft halten Züge hier? (How frequently do trains stop here?). A response to this might look something like: ⁠Etwa alle zehn Minuten hält hier einer an (A new one stops here every ten minutes or so).

This is a must-know phrase! Use it when you're unsure when the last bus, subway, or train leaves. If you miss it, you'll be stuck where you're at and need to find a new way back home or to your hotel. An answer to this question might look something like this: ⁠Die letzte U-Bahn geht um Mitternacht (The last subway is at midnight).

Another way you could ask this question is: ⁠Gibt es einen Gruppenpreis? (Is there a group price?). It's a good idea to find out if there are group prices for tickets when you are traveling with more than one person. Group tickets are usually cheaper than buying lots of single tickets for everyone. An example response to questions like these is: ⁠Ja, es gibt ein Gruppenticket, das für eine Gruppe von fünf Personen gültig ist (Yes, there is a group ticket that is valid for a group of five).

When taking public transportation in Germany it's important to know which ticket you want to buy so that you don't end up paying more than you need to. There are lots of different kinds of tickets in Germany. For example an Einzelfahrschein is a one-way ticket, a Rückfahrschein is for round trips, and a Tagesticket is a ticket that is valid for 24 hours. If you are unsure which ticket you need, don't be afraid to ask for help. Employees can help you with ticket machines or direct you to where you can buy tickets. For example, like this: ⁠Sie können Tickets am Ticketschalter kaufen (You can purchase tickets over at the ticket counter).