🇩🇪 GermanA1–A2

German Public Transport Phrases

This page helps you handle the most common public-transport moments in German: asking which bus, train, or platform you need, buying a ticket, checking when something leaves, and saying what happened if you missed a stop or connection. The phrases are aimed at short, real questions you can use with staff or other passengers in Germany.

Useful in real conversations

Essential German phrases

Finding the right service

Ask which bus or train goes where, and which stop or platform you should use.

Welcher Bus fährt zu [place]?
Which bus goes to [place]?
Ist das der Zug nach [place]?
Is this the train to [place]?
Welches Gleis ist für den Zug nach [place]?
Which platform is the train to [place] on?
Wo hält der Bus Richtung [place]?
Where does the bus toward [place] stop?
Fährt der Bus hier ab?
Does the bus leave from here?

Buying a ticket and checking the fare

Ask for a ticket, a single ride, a round trip, and how to pay.

Eine Fahrkarte nach [place], bitte.
A ticket to [place], please.
Eine Einzelfahrkarte, bitte.
A single ticket, please.
Hin und zurück, bitte.
Round trip, please.
Wie viel kostet das?
How much is it?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?

Departure times, stops, and transfers

Check when the service leaves, how many stops remain, and whether you need to change.

Wann fährt der nächste Zug?
When does the next train leave?
Um wie viel Uhr fährt der Bus?
What time does the bus leave?
Wie viele Haltestellen sind es bis [place]?
How many stops are there until [place]?
Muss ich umsteigen?
Do I have to change?
Ist das ein direkter Zug?
Is that a direct train?

Delays, missed stops, and getting help

Say that the service is late, you rode too far, or you need help finding the next connection.

Der Zug hat Verspätung.
The train is delayed.
Ist der Bus verspätet?
Is the bus delayed?
Ich bin zu weit mitgefahren.
I rode too far.
Ich habe den Anschluss verpasst.
I missed my connection.
Gibt es eine andere Verbindung?
Is there another connection?
Können Sie mir bitte helfen?
Can you please help me?

Example conversations

Buying a ticket at the train station

You are at a train station and need the right platform and a ticket.

You
Entschuldigung, welches Gleis ist für den Zug nach Berlin?
Excuse me, which platform is the train to Berlin on?
Other person
Gleis 3. Der Zug fährt in fünf Minuten ab.
Platform 3. The train leaves in five minutes.
You
Eine Fahrkarte nach Berlin, bitte.
A ticket to Berlin, please.
Other person
Gern. Das kostet 12 Euro.
Sure. That costs 12 euros.
You
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Other person
Ja, natürlich.
Yes, of course.

Missing a stop and asking for the next connection

You stayed on the bus too long and need help getting back on track.

You
Entschuldigung, ich bin zu weit mitgefahren.
Excuse me, I rode too far.
Other person
Wohin wollten Sie denn?
Where were you trying to go?
You
Zur Haltestelle am Rathaus. Ich habe den Anschluss verpasst.
To the stop at the town hall. I missed my connection.
Other person
Kein Problem. Es gibt eine andere Verbindung. Der nächste Bus kommt in zehn Minuten.
No problem. There is another connection. The next bus comes in ten minutes.
You
Muss ich umsteigen?
Do I have to change?
Other person
Nein, die Linie fährt direkt zurück zum Rathaus.
No, the line goes directly back to the town hall.
You
Können Sie mir bitte helfen?
Can you please help me?
Other person
Ja. Steigen Sie an der nächsten Haltestelle aus und warten Sie dort.
Yes. Get off at the next stop and wait there.

A few things to know

polite by default

Use Sie with staff and strangers by default. On trains, at stops, and at ticket machines, short direct questions are normal, but the polite form is still the safest choice. Du is usually too informal unless the other person offers it first.

grammar

Use zu for local destinations, nach for towns and cities

In German, „nach“ is the normal choice for city names and towns, while „zu“ is used for a place you are going to directly, such as a stop, building, or nearby destination. That is why the page has both „Welcher Bus fährt zu [place]?" and „Ist das der Zug nach [place]?".

usage

Gleis is the word you need at train stations

For trains in Germany, people normally ask about the departure track with „Welches Gleis ist für den Zug nach [place]?". For buses and trams, the word you need is usually „Haltestelle“. That distinction helps you ask for the right place, not just the right vehicle.

usage

Anschluss and Verbindung are not the same

„Ich habe den Anschluss verpasst.“ means you missed the transfer you were supposed to catch after changing. „Verbindung“ is the whole route or service, so „Gibt es eine andere Verbindung?“ asks for another option, not just the same service a little later.

Keep building your everyday vocabulary

German Introductions: Essential PhrasesGerman phrases for greeting someone, introducing yourself, asking basic questions, and ending a first conversation politely.German Restaurant and Café PhrasesGerman phrases for getting a table, ordering, checking ingredients, paying, and leaving politely in a restaurant or café in Germany.How to Ask for Directions in GermanEveryday German for politely asking where a place is, understanding simple route directions, checking what you heard, and thanking the person who helped you.German Hotel and Accommodation PhrasesEssential German for hotel check-in, room questions, problem reports, and checkout in Germany.Essential German Shopping PhrasesEveryday shopping phrases in German for finding items, asking about price, size, and colour, trying things on, paying, and handling a simple exchange or return.

Put the phrases in context