Jena Travel Forum

My friend and I are visiting another friend who has been studying abroad in Jena. Any suggestions on the best (and most cost effective way) to get from Frankfurt --> Jena --> Berlin? My friend who is in Jena now says a train ticket to Berlin is around 100 euros. :/

We'll be doing this in a little less than a month, during World Cup time(!), so I expect things might get a little extra busy.

Also, I'd love any hostel recommendations for all 3 locations!

The train ticket to Berlin is 94 Euro return with an ICE, yes. If you are travelling on a weekend you can buy a Weekend-Ticket (Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket) that allows you unlimited travel on local trains (not IC/EC or ICE ones) on a saturday OR a sunday in whole Germany. It costs about 30 Euro and is valid for up to 5 persons. Of course with this ticket the journey from Jena to Berlin takes 4 1/2 instead of 2 1/2 h. For schedules and ticket prices look at www.bahn.de

DB timetable
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/e
From: FRA airport
To: Jena
To: Berlin

Do you plan any further journeys in Germany? -> rail pass

On a Sa or Su you can travel on local trains on the - already mentioned - Happy-Weekend-Ticket for EUR 30,00. This ticket is valid for 1-5 persons travelling together. Will approx. double the travel times.
Select at the DB timetable as means of transport "only local transport" if you like to use this ticket.

Frankfurt hostels (2)
http://www.jugendherberge-frankfurt.de
http://www.frankfurt-hostel.de

Jena hostels (1)
http://old.web02.djh.de/international/html/01-hostels/extended_jh.jsp?IDJH=133

Berlin (>50 - there is no complete list)
http://www.hostelz.com/hostels/Germany/Berlin-State/Berlin

Thanks! Sadly, we are going to traveling during the week, so we won't be able to use the weekend pass. For now it looks like we'll probably just go with a German railpass.

Is the bus system in Germany about the same price/quality? Or is it best to stick to trains?

>Is the bus system in Germany about the same price/quality?

No - since it doesn't exist :-)

>Or is it best to stick to trains?

It's either train or rental car... and renting a car won't be much cheaper or more comfortable. In a city, especially an unfamiliar one, the car is nothing but a nuisance.

Or try to use http://www.mitfahrzentrale.de - cheapest way to get around in Germany, but not something you want to rely on for transport. If you can arrange something, great, but be prepared to take the train if it doesn't work out.

There are occasional buses for a few major connections, check here:

http://www.berlinlinienbus.de/