How to get reduced-price ICE train tickets in Germany this January

January is the season of sales, with vendors slashing their prices after the Christmas rush. The same goes for Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail operator, which is set to put millions of discounted ICE tickets on sale from January 14th.

The sale will run for two weeks until January 28th and will see two million high-speed rail tickets available for just €17.99 one way.

For journeys on Tuesdays and Wednesday, an additional 20 percent discount will apply on Super-Sparpreis and Sparpreis tickets, bringing the price down to just €14.39.

The Savings Weeks campaign is the first time Deutsche Bahn has offered an additional discount for passengers who travel on certain weekdays.

By offering an incentive to opt for low-demand days, the rail operators hopes to avoid overcrowding at busier periods and half-empty trains at off-peak times. 

READ ALSO: The big changes for travel in Germany in 2025

Passengers with a Bahncard 25 and 50 will still be eligible for an extra 25 percent discount on the tickets, meaning this group can travel for a mere €10.79. 

"With this offer, we want to encourage even more people to leave their cars at home and give the train a try," explained DB Head of Marketing Stefanie Berk.

With fuel prices on the rise this year, taking a trip on an ICE train for under €15 is not just good for the environment but good for the wallet as well, Beck added.

In the two-week sale window, budget rail tickets can be booked for journeys for almost the entire year - that is, until the train schedule changes as usual on December 13th 2025.

That means families can get a head-start on booking travel for the easter, summer and autumn school holidays. 

READ ALSO: What to know about Germany's long-distance train service changes

The ordinary terms and conditions will apply to the €17.99 tickets, meaning children aged five and under always travel free. Children aged between 6 and 14 are also able to travel free, provided they are accompanying a passenger over the age of 15. 

Up to four children can travel for free on a single ticket.