Bus and coach travel in Germany

Germany has an extensive domestic bus network although most travellers stick with the  convenient rail network unless they want to get to smaller towns, particularly in the Bavarian Alps and along the Romantic Road. However coach travel has recently become a popular alternative to the train with services to destinations throughout Germany and to other cities in Europe.

Long-distance coach travel in Germany

Prior to 2013, long distance coach services (anything longer than 50km) was prohibited unless it could be proven that it did not compete with DB’s rail network and during this time coach travel in Germany was restricted to international routes, short regional services and intercity routes in and out of Berlin. However on 1 January 2013, this law was repealed leading to a more competitive market for domestic travel within Germany and the launch of many long distance bus operators that are often a much cheaper alternative to rail travel. You can search German long-distance and international coach services here:

German long distance coach services include: Berlin Linien Bus, Dein Bus, Flixbus, München–Stuttgart Express and Onebus.

Berlin Linien Bus

Berlin Linien Bus operates coach services to over 300 destinations within Germany plus several international destinations in over 10 countries. Routes include:

• Berlin–Bremen (via Hanover)
• Berlin–Cologne (via Wuppertal and Hanover)
• Berlin–Dresden
• Berlin–Hamburg
• Berlin–Leipzig
• Berlin–Munich
• Berlin–Nuremberg
• Berlin–Stuttgart (via Würzburg and Leipzig)
• Hamburg–Stuttgart (via Frankfurt and Hanover)

The most frequent routes are those to and from Berlin. Domestic travel within Germany starts at €5 and international services start at €22.

Dein Bus

Dein Bus have a national network although it offers more extensive services in southern and western Germany. Dein Bus also operate international services to Maastricht (from Cologne and Aachen) and to Prague and Pilsen (from Munich). Fares start at €5 and coaches feature free Wi-Fi. The Dein Bus route network includes:

• Aachen–Marburg (via Cologne)
• Aachen–Stuttgart (via Cologne, Bonn and Frankfurt)
• Bonn–Heidelberg (via Frankfurt)
• Cologne–Freiburg (via Bonn, Koblenz, Trier and Strasbourg)
• Frankfurt–Konstanz (via Heidelberg  and Stuttgart)
• Frankfurt–Munich (via Stuttgart)
• Frankfurt–Munich (via Würzburg)
• Freiburg–Munich (via Stuttgart)

Flibco

Flibco operate primarily as a shuttle bus serving budget airports and also provide transport to stops en-route.

Flibco routes include:

• Cologne–Weeze Airport via Dusseldorf
• Frankfurt–Hahn Airport via Frankfurt Airport and Mainz
• Heidelberg–Baden Airpart via Karlsruhe
• Heidelberg–Hahn Airport via Mannheim and Ludwigshafen
• Trier–Hahn Airport

Flixbus

Flixbus is the largest domestic coach operator in Germany. having recently acquired competing coach operators Mein Fernbus and Postbus. Flixbus operate a national coach network that serves around 120 destinations within Germany plus international routes to to most major cities in Europe. The main hubs are Berlin, Frankfurt and Karlsruhe. Flixbus domestic coach routes in Germany include:

• Aachen to Augsburg, Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Rostock, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Augsburg to Aachen, Bamburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Freiburg, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Münster, Osnabrück, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart
• Berlin to Aachen, Ausgburg, Bamburg, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Lübeck, Munich, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Regensburg, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart
• Bonn to Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Wuppertal and Würzburg
• Bremen to Aachen, Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Lübeck, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Rostock, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Cologne to Aachen, Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Dortmund, Duisdorf, Essen, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Dortmund to Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Lübeck, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Munich, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Rostock, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Dresden to Aachen, Bamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Regensburg, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Duisberg to Aachen, Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Frankfurt,  Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Lübeck, Munich, Münster, Regensburg, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Dusseldorf to Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Essen to Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Frankfurt to Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Wuppertal
• Hamburg to Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Hanover to Bamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Lübeck, Munich, Münster, Osnabrück, Rostock, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Heidelberg to Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Dresden, Essen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Rostock, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Wuppertal
• Leipzig to Aachen, Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Lübeck, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Osnabrück, Regensburg, Rostock, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Lübeck to Aachen, Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Duisburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Münster, Rostock, and Wuppertal
• Munich to Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Münster, Osnabrück, Regensburg, Rostock, Stuttgart and Wuppertal
• Münster to Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Lübeck, Munich, Nuremberg, Rostock, Stuttgart and Wuppertal
• Nuremberg to Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Munich, Münster, Osnabrück, Regensburg, Rostock, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Osnabrück to Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Würzburg
• Rostock to Aachen, Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Essen, Leipzig, Lübeck, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg and Wuppertal
• Saarbrücken to Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Munich and Stuttgart
• Stuttgart to Aachen, Augsburg, Bamburg, Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg and Osnabrück

München–Stuttgart Express

München–Stuttgart Express run coaches linking Munich and Stuttgart with stops en route at Augsburg and Günzburg. Fares start at €9. The meta-booking engine Bus Linien Suche lets you search multiple coach operators for travel within Germany.

International coach services

Germany is well connected with international coach services to most European countries with coaches operated by Busabout, Eurolines, Flibco, Flixbus and Hellö.

Busabout

The Busabout Pass stops in Berlin, Dresden, Munich and Stuttgart

Eurolines

Eurolines have international coach services from many cities throughout Germany including Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Munich and Stuttgart.

You can use a Eurolines Pass to travel to Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart.

Flibco

Flibco operate primarily as a shuttle bus serving budget airports in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg and they operate from Frankfurt to Nancy and Luxembourg. From Luxembourg it is possible to transfer to coaches to destinations in Belgium and France.

International Flibco routes from Germany include:

• Frankfurt–Nancy via Hahn Airport, Trier, Luxembourg, Thionville and Metz
• Frankfurt–Luxembourg Airport

Flixbus

Flixbus international coach routes to and from Germany include:

• Aachen to Prague
• Augsburg to Amsterdam, Budapest, Linz, Maribor, Osijek, Paris, Ptuj, Reims and Vienna
• Berlin to Aarhus, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Copenhagen, Gdansk, The Hague, Innsbruck, Kraków, Łódź, Luxembourg, Malmö, Milan, Paris, Poznań, Rotterdam, Salzburg, Vienna, Warsaw, Zagreb, Zakopane and Zurich
• Bonn to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Luxembourg, Lyon, Metz, Milan, Montpellier, Nancy, Paris and Prague
• Bremen to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Copenhagen, Eindhoven, Ghent, Paris, Prague and Utrecht
• Cologne to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dijon, Ghent, The Hague, London, Luxembourg, Lyon, Malmö, Metz, Milan, Montpellier, Nancy, Paris, Prague, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Utrecht, Vienna and Zurich
• Dortmund to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Copenhagen, Malmö, Milan, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Utrecht and Zurich
• Dresden to Amsterdam, Lille, Paris, Pilsen, Prague, Vienna, Wrocław and Zagreb
• Duisberg to Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, The Hague, Milan, Rotterdam, Paris, Vienna and Zurich
• Dusseldorf to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Bruges, Brussels, Dijon, Ghent, The Hague, Luxembourg, Lyon, Metz, Milan, Montpellier, Nancy, Paris, Prague, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Vienna
• Essen to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Milan, Paris, Prague, Utrecht, Venice, Verona, Vienna and Zurich
• Frankfurt to Amsterdam, Bern, Bologna, Bratislava, Brussels, Florence, Geneva, Innsbruck, Karlovy Vary, Lausanne, Ljubljana, London, Luxembourg, Lyon, Metz, Milan, Paris, Pilsen, Prague, Reims, Rome, Salzburg, Utrecht, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Wrocław, Zagreb and Zurich
• Hamburg to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Copenhagen, Ghent, The Hague, Malmö, Milan, Odense, Paris, Prague, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Utrecht, Vienna and Zurich
• Hanover to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Copenhagen, The Hague, Lille, Malmö, Milan, Paris, Prague, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Utrecht, Vienna and Zurich
• Heidelberg to Amsterdam, Bern, Bratislava, Geneva, Innsbruck, Lausanne, Łódź, Lyon, Milan, Paris, Utrecht, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Warsaw, Wrocław and Zurich
• Leipzig to Amsterdam, Innsbruck, Lille, Milan, Paris, Prague, Vienna and Zurich
• Lübeck to Copenhagen, Malmö and Stockholm
• Munich to Amsterdam, Ancona, Antwerp, Barcelona, Bled, Bologna, Brussels, Cannes, Florence, Geneva, Genoa, Graz, The Hague, Lausanne, Linz, Ljubljana, Milan, Montpellier, Nice, Padova, Paris, Pilsen, Prague, Reims, Rimini, Rome, Rotterdam, Split, Strasbourg, Utrecht, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Villach, Zagreb and Zurich
• Münster to Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Paris and Utrecht
• Nuremberg to Amsterdam, Brno, Brussels, Innsbruck, Katowice, Kraków, Łódź, London, Lyon, Milan, Paris, Pilsen, Prague, Salzburg, Utrecht, Vienna, Warsaw, Wrocław and Zurich
• Osnabrück to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Lille, Paris, Prague
• Rostock to Brussels, Copenhagen, Ghent, Malmö and Prague
• Saarbrücken to Amsterdam, Dijon, Lyon, Metz, Nancy, Paris, Reims, Strasbourg
• Stuttgart to Amsterdam, Bologna, Bratislava, Brno, Budapest, Florence, Grenoble, Innsbruck, Linz, Ljubljana, Katowice, Kraków, Maribor, Milan, Paris, Prague, Reims, Rome, Utrecht, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Zagreb and Zurich

Hellö

Hellö is a relatively new coach company operated by the Austrian rail operator ÖBB. It’s main hub is Vienna in Austria

Bus stations

Central bus stations (busbahnhof) are usually located near the main train station (hauptbahnhof) in most larger towns and cities. However big cities such as Berlin and Hamburg have large dedicated coach terminals called Zentralen Omnibus-Bahnhof (ZOB).