AmericansInLeipzig
Frequently Asked Questions

Travel:

• Where do I fly into?
• When should I get plane tickets?
• When should I arrive? When should I leave?
• How do I get from the Leipzig airport to the city-center?
• How do I get around the city during the Treffen? Should I rent a car?
• Any suggestions for taking the train around Germany?
• What if I am driving from the UK?

Where do I fly into?

Leipzig has its own airport - Leipzig-Halle [airline code: LEJ, website] - that offers flights to many European hubs. The most convenient way to get to Leipzig is to fly through a European gateway to the Leipzig Airport, and from there you will find direct train service to the Hauptbahnhof {main train station} [see "How do I get from the Leipzig airport to the city-center?"].

Also, the Altenburg-Nobitz airport [airline code: AOC, website] is 31 mi./50 km. south of Leipzig, and served by 1 Ryanair flight per day, from London/Stansted airport. From Altenburg, you can take a bus directly to downtown Leipzig (€12,00, 1 hour 15 minutes, info), and it is also possible to catch a shuttle bus to the Altenburg train station, and then take the train into Leizpig (for 2003, the train takes 40-55 minutes, and costs €6,60 - see "Any suggestions for taking the train around Germany?").

Berlin is only 1-½ hours away from Leipzig by train, and there are many high-speed ICE trains running on the major route that connects the two cities. Berlin has two active airports. Berlin-Tegel (TXL, more info) is the most-commonly used airport, and offers two flights a day directly to the US (on Continental and Delta). You'll have to take a shuttle bus from Tegel to the Berlin Hauptbahnhof {main train station} (bus info) to connect to the train to Leipzig. It makes a few stops between the airport and the Hauptbahnhof, taking about 25 minutes at a cost of €2,10 (the same as all Berlin subway/bus fares - your ticket is good for a connection to other subway or bus lines). The bus continues on to Alexanderplatz, if you are heading to Berlin's east side.

The other airport is Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF, more info, also known as Berlin-Brandenberg-International BBI), which is over time being developed to become Berlin's primary airport. As it develops, it will be very convenient to the high-speed rail line between Berlin and Leipzig, but for now it is necessary to take a local train north to Berlin and then take the regular train back south to Leipzig. [Technically, airline flights are still available to Berlin's most famous airport, Templehof, THF, but there are not many flights and all intra-Europe, and they are expected to be phased out as BBI takes over.]

Other people choose to take advantage of Deutsche Bahn, Germany's extensive train system [see "Any suggestions for taking the train around Germany?"], to fly into another major airline hub airport. By high-speed rail, Leipzig is about 3½ hours from Frankfurt, and 5½ hours from Munich. The railroads also make it possible to incorporate other travels into your trip. Keep in mind that if you see a cheaper fare from the US to Frankfurt or Munich than directly to Leipzig, the additional cost of taking the train could easily be over $100. Generally speaking, though not always, it is cheaper to buy an airline ticket from the US arriving at the Leipzig airport rather than flying into Frankfurt or Munich and then buying a train ticket from there to Leipzig.

When should I buy my plane tickets?

It's tough to tell when, exactly, you'll be able to get the best deal on flights. Generally, fare sales for mid- to high-season, when the Treffen falls, don't appear until 2 months prior to the date of departure. When you get closer than 3 weeks prior, you're getting into higher-fare ranges. So, roughly, plan on getting the tickets between 10 and 3 weeks before your departure. If the Treffen is in late-May, then don't worry about the lack of airfare sales until April!

When checking for airfares, travel sites such as Travelocity, Orbitz, and Expedia give a broad picture of best airfares, even when the travel might involve more than one airline. Sometimes going to the airline sites directly can pay off, too. Sometimes it's frustrating and time-consuming to find the best deal, but a little legwork can pay off. If you find any particularly good deals, post your find to the AmericansInLeipzig email list!

When should I arrive? When should I leave?

The Treffen always falls on the German holiday weekend of Pfingsten, which moves around on the calendar according to when Easter is. The Treffen officially kicks off early on Friday afternoon, and runs non-stop through very late Monday night (actually, even after sunrise on Tuesday).

It is strongly suggested that you plan on arriving in Leipzig the day before the Treffen actually kicks-off (in other words, arrive on Thursday). That will give you a day to adjust to the time zone and get a little familiarized with Leipzig. There are some other details that you will probably want to attend to: getting your Treffen tickets, bandchen {armbands}, and schedule [see "How do I buy tickets"], stocking up on snacks at the food market, and maybe hitting the bank. Remember that this is a holiday weekend in Germany, and most shops and all banks will be closed from Saturday afternoon through Monday.

Another reason to arrive in Leipzig by Thursday is the Americans In Leipzig dinner. Every year Shea and I, along with our close friend and resident Leipziger, Jutta, take over a restaurant in Leipzig and host a dinner where everyone has a chance to meet other people from the AmInLeip list and find some friendly faces to look for during the festival. An announcement with details is posted to the Yahoogroup list a month or so in advance.

The Treffen officially wraps up on Monday, but with the club events that run into the late night, it's possible that you won't get back to your hotel until after sunrise on Tuesday morning. In any case, you'll probably be completely exhausted from a weekend of non-stop activity. If you plan on flying back to the States on Tuesday, you'll probably have to catch a flight out of Leipzig airport early on Tuesday morning (or even worse: catch a train to Berlin or Frankfurt before sunrise on Tuesday!). The last thing that I want to have to do when I'm completely exhausted is have a very short sleep, then wake up very early and spend hours and hours catching flights back home! So, if at all possible, try to spend Tuesday nursing your hangover and doing low-impact activities around Leipzig [see "What else is there to do around Leipzig"], and then make your way home on Wednesday, when you're adequately rested!

How do I get from the Leipzig airport to the city-center?

From the Leizpig-Halle Airport (LEJ), you will find direct train service to the Hauptbahnhof {main train station} in downtown Leipzig operated by Deutsche Bahn (the German national railway system). Most hotels are walking distance from the Hauptbahnhof, and the Hauptbahnhof is also the hub for the city's extensive Strassenbahn {streetcar} network. In 2005, the trains from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof are running every half hour and cost €3,30. The trip takes 14 minutes. [More info.]

How do I get around the city during the Treffen? Should I rent a car?

While it is possible to rent a car in Germany, and it is safe to drive, you will do just fine without a car. Like most European cities, Leipzig has a very good public transportation system. Everywhere that you need to go in Leipzig can be reached by the Strassenbahn {streetcar/tram}, and you will get very familiar with the lines that run between downtown and the main WGT venues. The LVB is the public transportation system in Leipzig, and they have an info booth across the street from the Hauptbahnhof with maps and ticket prices [LVB homepage]. An online version of the Strassenbahn route map is available in the Reference Docs section of this website.

The cost of riding the Strassenbahn from Friday to Monday is included with either a basic Treffen ticket or the Obsorgekarte- your armband is your ticket. In past years, the trains are very crowded with Grufties {goths} during this period, and no one would check for tickets anyway. However, on other days, you'll need a ticket to rideon the Strassenbahn, and there is a fine (recently raised to €40,-) for riding with no ticket - and yes, some AmericansInLeipzig people have been caught! A single-ride ticket costs €1,80, a 4-trip ticket costs €6,80, and a daypass is €5,20. A weekly pass is also available, but note that it is valid from Monday-Sunday only, so it is not generally useful for Treffen travelers. {Note: it is a funny thing that riding without a ticket in Germany is called "Schwarzfahren" - literally translated, it means "black riding." Of course,at the WGT, everyone is wearing black - so EVERYONE is "black riding"!}

Ticket availability is somewhat limited in Leipzig. Only the main stops, such as the stop in front of the Hauptbahnhof {main train station}, have ticket vending machines. Make sure you plan in advance to have your tickets, because you can't get them at the outlying stops. As with many transportation systems in Europe, once you get on the train, you punch your ticket in a ticket validator near each entrance. If a ticket inspector comes to see your ticket,you have to show him one that you punched on that train or you're in trouble!

Late-night transportation has been improved greatly since 2004. Special Strassenbahn service is offered all night long on the #16 line between AGRA and downtown Leipzig, so it is possible for the many people who wanted to travel back and forth between the AGRA venues and campgrounds and the downtown clubs and hotels. The LVB also operates a few night busses (they have a Goth-friendly bat logo), but they only run once an hour, leaving the Hauptbahnhof at 1:11, 2:22, 3:33 and 4:44 [Nightbus map available in the Reference Docs section of this website].

Cabs are available for late-night transportation, and they can almost always be found around the WGT venues - except right when the headliners let out, you might have to wait a bit. Since the distances you will need to travel around Leipzig are usually not great, the cab fares are usually not excessive (a cab between AGRA and downtown should be €12,- to €18,-).

Renting a car is a possibility, and can reduce travel-times between venues, but keep in mind:

• Parking is very limited around venues, and sometimes you'll spend so long parking and then walking a considerable distance that it will take longer than just taking the Strassenbahn
• There is an extra fee for a parking pass, which does not guarantee that there will actually be a spot to park
• Gas is very expensive in Europe, as can be insurance

Realistically, I would only suggest renting a car if you specifically want to tour around Germany by car.

Any suggestions for taking the train around Germany?

Deutsche Bahn is the German national railway system, and the experience of riding the trains in Germany is fantastic. Generally speaking, the system really works: the trains generally run on time, they are clean, and you can get to just about any city, town, or village in the country on them.

In the last couple of years, Deutsche Bahn has greatly improved the English sections of their website. Also, they have simplified their fare structure (it used to be very easy, and then DB started a very complicated new system, which was very unpopular in Germany).

First, the most important link: DB English website

There are some general things to keep in mind whether you are making your plans online or in person. First, note that the website and DB agents sometimes use British-English terms that might seem unfamiliar to American-English speakers. For example, what Americans call a "round-trip" ticket is referred to as a "return ticket". Second, there are many discounts available when you buy your ticket [see "Discount Fares" below]. And make sure you read the "Seat reservations" section.

Finally, keep in mind that many cities have more than one station. In Leipzig, as in many other cities, the Hauptbahnhof is the main train station, and Flughafen is the airport (so, if you want to go the airport in Frankfurt, make sure you say so!). Berlin is a special case: until the gigantic Lehrter Bahnhof is complete, the primary train stations are Berlin Zoo in the west, and Ostbahnhof in the east.

Whether you buy your tickets online or in person at the station, there are a few options that you should understand.

First, you may need to select what type of train you want to take (on the DB website, the train type is under the heading "Product"). For intra-Germany travel, here is a list of the primary train types you can expect to see:

• ICE or ICE-T (InterCity Express): Germany's high-speed train. A nice ride! Experience it!
• IC (InterCity): Not a high-speed train, but only stops at major stops
• RB (RegionalBahn): Local train
• S-Bahn: Suburban train

There are other variations (like, night-sleeper trains) - for a comprehensive list, see the DB "Our Trains" page. In general, the faster trains cost more (but the time savings can be significant) - but that's not always true. Sometimes the faster trains take a more-direct route, and therefore actually cost less!

Some other choices you'll have to make:

• One-way (einfach) or round-trip (hin-und-zurück)
• Class: First (erste) or Second (zweiter).
• Do you want a seat reservation? Read on for the "Seat reservations" section...

Seat reservations

Having a ticket for a train does not guarantee you a seat - you can get on the train and take any vacant seat. However, it is possible that you find train completely full - and sitting on your baggage in the hallways between the cars is not fun.

When you get on the train, you might notice that next to the seat numbers, there is a little card or a digital display with the names of cities, like "Berlin - Leipzig". That means that someone has the seat reserved between those cities. You can make reservations yourself for a small additional fee - something like €3. (As of 2007, DB offered seat reservations for €1,50 when you purchase your ticket online.) The trains going to Leipzig around the Treffen are usually quite full of people dressed in black - many times we would have been without a seat for the trip to Leipzig if we didn't have seat reservations.

Deutsche Bahn has added info in English about getting seat reservations - see DB seat reservations page.

If you make a seat reservation, you can select more options:

• Smoking (raucher) or non-smoking (nicht raucher)
• Seats around a table (Tisch) or in a compartment (Abteil)
• Window seats (Fenster)
• Sometimes available: "quiet" (meaning no cellphones) areas

Discount Fares (updated 2007)

Deutsche Bahn offers several ways to get discounts off the walk-up fares - you'll have to see what works best for you based on your travel plans. Some of the discounts can be combined, others can't; it's complicated to say exactly how each program works - even for those who are native Germans. Here I outline the plans that are most useful to Treffen-travelers - there are other fare discounts that exist (such as a family plans or package deals), but that's beyond the scope of our little help-guide!

Deutsche Bahn savings plans:

1. Travel together. If there is more than one person traveling, then each additional person pays 50% of the fare of the first person, up to 5 total people. The minimum price the "extra person" will pay is €15. If you have 6 or more people in a group, the Gruppe&Spar program gives everyone 50% off (or 60% off if you buy your ticket 7 days in advance, or 70% off for 14 day advance purchase). [Family/Group discount page]
   
2. Advance purchase. If you are sure of your plans - like, exactly which train you are going to take - and you are traveling roundtrip, then you can take advantage of the Plan&Spar program to save either 25% or 50%. You must buy your roundtrip ticket at least 3 days in advance, and there is a €15 fee to make any changes (so if you might change your plans, or if there's a chance that your flight will be late and you'll miss the train, then don't bother). If you qualify for this plan and your travel includes a weekend stay, you get 50% off. Otherwise, you get a 25% discount. Oh, one more thing - the minimum you can pay after the discount is €30. [Plan&Spar info page] You can combine your Plan&Spar savings with the group discounts.
   
3. Bahncard. If you are doing a significant amount of traveling around Germany during a 12-month period, you might consider buying a Bahncard. The "smaller" deal is the Bahncard 25. For €50, you get a card that gives you 25% off your DB railway fares for 1 year - so if you spend a total of €200 on train fares, the card will pay for itself. The next level is the Bahncard 50 - for €200 you get 50% off your fares for a year (in this case, spending more than €600 total in a year will make this card worthwhile). And in case you are curious, the Bahncard 100 costs €3,000! [Bahncard info page]

Buying Tickets Online

Deutsche Bahn has a page that shows you the steps to take to buy your train ticket online [the step-by-step page]. To get started, you enter your travel plans on the TravelService Query page.

Buying Tickets at the Station

Recently, DB has been rolling out automated ticket machines in most major train stations. The machines will walk you through your ticket purchase in English. One thing to be aware of: not all ticket machines take credit cards. Many only take EC-cards, which is a European check card system incompatible with credit cards, so make sure that the machine you are using has logos for your credit card. (One further note: the EC-card logo looks just like a MasterCard logo, but it says something like "EC-card" in the circles - so be aware that this is different than normal MasterCard.)

Another way to buy your tickets is the old-fashioned way: from a live human being. When you are at the station, look for signs for the ReiseZentrum {TravelCenter}. There, agents will be available to help you make your travel plans, which can be a big help if you have lots of questions or challenging travel plans that could involve many choices (such as traveling to other countries). Even if you don't speak German, buying tickets shouldn't be too big a problem - and the experience can give you some confidence handling a foreign language (most of the DB sales agents in a ReiseZentrum do speak English). Tell the agent the name of the city you want to go to, and the agent will give you some options for time and type of train. If you have already looked at the schedules online (see links above), you'll be extra-prepared.

If you are planning on getting your tickets in person at the station (which is what I usually do), here are some things to consider. First, you may want to buy your tickets in advance if there is a possibility of getting a discount [see "Discount Fares " above]. Also, if your train might be oversold and you want to guarantee a seat with a reservation [see "Seat reservations" above], you need to buy your ticket early enough so that the seats aren't already all reserved (I usually stop by the station a day or two in advance - that's usually enough). And if you are purchasing your tickets immediately before travelling, don't forget to add in plenty of extra time to buy your tickets!

Now, with your ticket and reservation, you're ready to get on the train.

Getting on the train

When it's time to leave, first you may have to figure out what track your train departs from. Schedules are posted around the station - look for your time of departure, and the direction of your train (normally, the schedule will list the major cities that the train will be stopping at).

When you arrive at the track, there will be a board with graphic diagrams of each train. If you have a seat reservation, or you have a smoking/non-smoking preference, this graphic will tell you where each car is located in the train, and it will correspond to large overhead signs with letters on them. Let me give you an example:

You get to the Berlin Zoo station to catch the 12:17pm departure to Leipzig, which your ticket says is "ICE #1519". In the station, find a sign with a list of the day's departing trains, and see that your train leaves from Gleis {track} 6. Follow the signs to Gleis 6 and look on the platform for a sign that has diagrams of trains. Your seat reservations says that you are in a non-smoking 2nd-class car ("Wagen #22") - and when you look at ICE#1519 on the diagram, you see that Wagen 22 is under the letter "G". When the train arrives in the station - what do you know! - Wagen 22 pulls up right under the "G" sign that is above the platform. Get the idea?

If you have a seat reserved, once you are onboard the proper car, you can go directly to your seats - the numbers are marked overhead, like on an airplane. If someone is in your seat, just say, "Excuse me - reserved"! If you do not already have a reserved seat, find an empty seat - but it's best to check the card or electronic sign next to the seat number, and see if someone has the seat reserved before your stop. If there's no card next to the seat number, or if the city listed is after you're going to get off, then you're all set!

Alternative to DB

There are alternative railways to Deutsche Bahn. A private railway, CONNEX, offers service between Leipzig and Berlin, although they run less frequently and don't use Berlin's major stations (but they do go right into Leipzig's Hauptbahnhof). The fares are significantly cheaper than DB, and you can just buy your ticket aboard the train. [More info, German only]

What if I am driving from the UK?

 

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