Transportation

In the Karlsruhe region, the Karlsruhe Transport Association (KVV) rate applies for all urban trains, trams, regional trains and bus routes. One ticket can be used for any means of transport. Tickets are available from vending machines at stops and in the sales offices at Marktplatz, the Central Railway Station and at Europaplatz. In urban trains, trams and buses, you can buy tickets either at the vending machines, or from the driver if there is no vending machine. Please note: The vending machines in the vehicles do not accept notes. Many vending machines issue pre-validated tickets. But if the ticket has a space for validation, though, you have to validate (stamp) it in any of the yellow stamping machines before starting your journey. 

What kinds of tickets are available?

To tour the city of Karlsruhe, the best ticket to buy is the Citykarte solo. It costs € 6.00 per person and entitles you to travel as much as you want in Karlsruhe, to Ettlingen, Woerth, Stutensee, Pfinztal, Rheinstetten or Weingarten for 24 hours (for pre-validated tickets, this means from the moment of purchase and for other tickets from the moment of validation). For € 9.80 up to five persons can use buses, trams and trains in Karlsruhe with the Cityplus-Karte. For trips within the region, for example to Baden-Baden, Pforzheim, Landau, Bad Herrenalb, Eppingen or Forbach, you need to buy a Regiokarte solo. A Regiokarte for one person costs € 10.50, while the Regioplus-Karte for groups of up to five costs € 18.60. The best ticket for travelling to Freudenstadt, Baiersbronn, Bad Wildbad or Heilbronn is the RegioX-Karte solo. It costs € 17.30 for one person or € 28.00 as the RegioXplus-Karte for up to five. These tickets are also valid for 24 hours and can be used for as many trips as you like within that time period. If you are staying in the region for a longer period of time, you can also buy the Citykarte and Regiokarte in sets of four at a reduced rate. For single trips, you can also buy a single ticket. The price is calculated based on the distance travelled. Example: Within Karlsruhe, you need a two-zone ticket, while you have to buy a seven-zone ticket to travel to Baden-Baden. 

Whether along the River Rhine or into the Black Forest – cycling is in! Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion is bicycle-friendly. There are many kilometers of cycle lanes, and many citizens who happily use the opportunity to cycle. 

Cycling is healthy, fun and allows you to enjoy a lot of nature and your surroundings. Whether you cycle in your spare time or commute to work by bike, the infrastructure for cyclists is well-developed, in the cities as well as in the countryside. 

You will notice that particularly bicycle-friendly cities like Karlsruhe have bicycle parking facilities in the inner city. Cyclists can lock up their bicycles there to keep them safe from thieves. At the same time, it also prevents the pedestrian areas being cluttered with parked bicycles. 

Some history: Did you know that the bicycle principle was invented in Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion, or in Karlsruhe to be more precise? It was here that the first form of mechanized individual transportation was invented. In 1817, Karl Drais called his timber structure, which weighed in at a hefty 22 kilos, the Laufmaschine, or running machine. Newspapers soon began calling it the Draisine. Today, we all know and appreciate its more advanced form as the bicycle. 

Tip

Helmets are not yet required by law in Germany. However, it is recommended to protect yourself with a helmet when cycling.