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Does anybody know where I can buy tickets for the bus or tram in Heidelberg? Do I pay the fare on board, or do I have to buy the ticket before boarding? Thanks
The normal way is to buy a ticket from one of the ticket machines at the railway stations and tram stops. At bus stops without a ticket machine you can buy the ticket from the bus driver, but see that you have the amount more or less exaclty. A bus driver is no bank (thus no EUR 20,- note for a EUR 2,00 ticket!).
A single ticket inside Heidelberg is EUR 2,00. A Ticket 24 is EUR 5,00 (this is a 24 hour ticket, if bought on a Saturday even till Monday 3am. A 3-day ticket is EUR 12,00.
With a 24 hour ticket you also don't have the problem of change for the next ticket from a ticket machine or bus driver.
There are also ticket machines at least in the S-Bahn trains. BUT they only accept the GeldKarte, a card which is issued with a German bank account. Thus these machines are of no use for a foreigner.
Heidelberg tram & bus lines javascript:newWindow('heidelberg.pdf'); Heidelberg map with these lines http://www.vrn.de/frames/karten_plaene/content_heidelberg.html
Heidelberg is part of the VRN network http://www.vrn.de/frames/karten_plaene/content.html
You can buy also 24 hour tickets which covers the whole VRN area (i.e. you can use all local public tansport inside this quite large area). Nice is e.g. Speyer http://www.speyer.de/de/tourist/sehenswert?switch_language=en also the Neckar Valley with its castles and small town. Such a ticket would be even valid for a trip to Würzburg and back (but only to the main railway station in Würzburg, not for the trams and buses in Würzburg). Or to Wissembourg (France).
It's not a problem, it's just a curiosity. I'll have a large group along, and I'm trying to organize every tiny detail because tiny details can add up and cause delays when big groups of distracted, overexcited people arrive in a new town. I take things very seriously when I'm paid to do something and be somewhere on time. Thanks for your useful, significant reply to the post. That's the spirit!
There is also a Ticket 24 PLUS 0-3 zones (e.g. Heidelberg) EUR 8,00 whole VRN area EUR 17,50
Same like the Ticket 24 but valid for up to 5 persons travelling together.
No 3-day ticket for mini groups. If you are there however over Easter you can take advantage of the *weekend rule* for the Ticket 24 or Ticket 24 PLUS. If bought on Good Friday these tickets are valid till Tuesday 3am. Thus effectivly becoming 4 day tickets.
You can find deals for mini groups bascially everywhere in Germany for local public transport.
Hi, if you have a group, buy the tickets before you get on the bus. The ticket 24 plus is the best one. Depending on the size of your group, you're supposed to call ahead and let the bus company how many people will get on. They want to plan ahead and maybe get a second bus out. Are you taking your group to the castle? They also want to know before if there are more than 10 in your group. Christine
It's not a huge group, but I have volunteered to meet nine (maybe ten) people at the airport in Frankfurt and lead them to the University in Heidelberg. Not a big deal (the Lufthansa airport bus takes us direct to Heidelberg), but we'll be on a very tight schedule (dinner engagement) so I'm trying to save as much time as possible by knowing everything ahead of time. Thanks to all for the help.
