Taking a Bike on a German Train ICE, IC, and Regional Rules

Bringing a bike on a German train is a real option, not a hassle — as long as you book the right ticket and the bike-spot reservation in advance. On ICE and IC long-distance trains you need two separate items: a Fahrradkarte (bike ticket, currently 7.99-14.99 EUR dynamic per journey) and a Stellplatz-Reservierung (bike-spot reservation, separate fee, mandatory on long-distance). Regional trains are usually simpler — bikes ride free on most RE/RB services, with a small day-ticket needed in some states.

This walk covers the five steps: confirming the train carries bikes, buying your own passenger ticket, adding the bike ticket, reserving the actual bike spot, and finding the bike compartment on board. If you are travelling with luggage or a dog as well, see the luggage, bikes, and pets guide for the full picture.

The Two-Part Rule for Long-Distance Trains (ICE / IC / EC)

For an ICE or IC journey with a bike, you must buy both:

• Fahrradkarte (bike ticket) — 7.99-14.99 EUR per bike per journey, dynamic pricing
• Stellplatz-Reservierung (bike-spot reservation) — separate fee, required to actually board with the bike

Skipping the reservation is the single most common mistake. The Fahrradkarte on its own does not guarantee a bike spot — if reservations are full, the conductor can refuse boarding with the bike even if you have a valid bike ticket.

When Bikes Are Free

Some categories of bike travel free as regular luggage on all German trains, with no ticket and no reservation:

• Folded folding bikes (fully folded, max 120 x 90 x 40 cm) — store in a luggage cover or bag
• Child bikes up to 16 inches
• Standard luggage trailers for transporting small children or cargo (under 80 x 60 x 40 cm)

Step 1: Check Whether Your Train Carries Bikes

Not every German train has a bike compartment. The default:

• ICE 4, ICE 3neo, ICE L — bike compartment, usually 8 to 16 spots per train
• ICE 1, ICE 2, ICE 3 (older) — bike compartment, smaller (4-8 spots)
• IC / EC — most have bike compartments, but capacity is small
• RE, RB, IRE, S-Bahn — usually accept bikes without reservation, but rules vary by state

In DB Navigator, the trip details show a bike symbol next to each connection — green means spots are free, red means full. Book the green one. If only red is shown, the bike compartments are sold out for that connection; try a different train or a different date.

Step 2: Buy Your Passenger Ticket First

You need a valid ticket for yourself on the same route and date as the bike. The bike ticket (Fahrradkarte) is sold as an add-on to your own ticket — DB will not sell a standalone bike ticket for a journey you are not taking. For regional-only trips, a Deutschlandticket (63 EUR / month) covers your own travel; you still need to buy a separate bike day-ticket in states that require one.

Step 3: Add the Fahrradkarte (Bike Ticket)

The bike ticket is not sold at the DB Automaten. Buy it through one of these channels:

• bahn.de — search the connection, click “Add bike”, pay with card
• DB Navigator app — same flow, pay with stored card or Apple/Google Pay
• DB Reisezentrum (counter) — at the station, fee may apply for non-DE cards
• Phone 030 2970 — DB hotline, German and English

Pricing within Germany (long-distance): the Fahrradkarte costs 7.99 to 14.99 EUR per bike per journey. The exact price is dynamic — it depends on the distance, how early you book, and how full the trains are. The cheapest 7.99 EUR price is for short distances booked well in advance; the 14.99 EUR ceiling applies to long-distance or peak-demand journeys.

Pricing international: the bike ticket starts at 7.99 EUR for international journeys and varies by destination.

Booking window: you can buy the bike ticket up to 6 months before departure. Summer weekends and school holidays sell out weeks in advance — book as early as you can.

Step 4: Reserve the Bike Spot (Required on ICE/IC)

For long-distance trains, the bike-spot reservation (Stellplatz-Reservierung) is the second and equally important item. The reservation is a separate fee that varies by route and date — the public price is shown only at checkout. You must book it at the same time as the bike ticket for the same train.

• bahn.de / DB Navigator — the booking flow prompts you to add a bike-spot reservation after you add the bike ticket
• DB Reisezentrum — staff can book the reservation alongside the bike ticket
• BahnCard 100 holders — book the reservation free via the service hotline 030 586020900

If you show up with only a bike ticket and no reservation, the conductor can refuse boarding with the bike on a sold-out train.

Step 5: Find the Bike Compartment and Lock Your Bike

On ICE trains the bike compartment is usually at the head or tail of the train, marked with a bicycle symbol on the outside. On most ICE 4 trains it is coach 11 or 28 (depending on the direction of travel). The compartment has numbered bike racks and straps.

Boarding tips:

• Board 5 minutes before departure so you can secure the bike calmly and avoid blocking the aisle
• Bring your own lock — the racks have loops, frame the bike in, front wheel facing out so the rack holds it firmly
• If the rack straps are awkward, ask other cyclists — they will help
• Folded folding bikes go on the luggage rack, not in the bike compartment

On IC2 double-decker trains, the bike compartment is on the lower deck — the upper deck has standard seats. On regional trains, the bike compartment is usually at the end of the train, open-plan, with hooks to lean bikes against.

Common Tourist Questions

🚲 Can I take a bike on the S-Bahn in Munich or Berlin?

Yes — S-Bahn (and most RE/RB regional trains) accept bikes without reservation, free of charge in most states. Some states (Baden-Württemberg, NRW) require a Fahrrad-Tages-Ticket (about 6 EUR); Bavaria, Berlin, and Hamburg do not.

⚡ What about e-bikes and Pedelecs?

Standard Pedelecs (up to 25 km/h, up to 250 W continuous) are treated exactly like normal bikes — same ticket, same reservation. S-Pedelecs (over 25 km/h) are usually not allowed on long-distance trains. E-bike batteries must be removable for transport; the battery itself travels in a protective case in your luggage.

🚫 What bikes are NOT allowed on long-distance trains?

• Tandems — too long for the racks
• Recumbent bikes (Liegeräder) — do not fit upright
• Cargo bikes longer than 120 cm
• Large tricycles (Dreiräder >120 cm)
• Fatbikes with tires wider than 60 mm — sometimes refused

When in doubt, call the DB hotline 030 2970 before booking.

Related Reading on Trainvave

• Luggage, bikes, and pets on German trains — full rules, fees, and packing tips
• Understanding German train tickets — Sparpreis vs Flexpreis and how to add bike tickets
• Regional day tickets and Länder-Tickets — when a day ticket is cheaper than two singles
• DB Navigator app — where to add the bike ticket and reservation in the app