For families travelling within Germany by ICE, IC or EC this winter, Deutsche Bahn is offering a fixed fare: 99.99 euros for a return journey, including seat reservations for up to five people. The ticket has been available to book since 26 October 2026 for travel from 1 November. It offers particularly good value when the adult tickets and any reservations required would together cost more – and family tickets are still available on the chosen service.
First, count the travellers
The offer is valid for one or two people aged 15 or over and one to four children aged between 6 and 14. At least one adult and one child must travel together; they do not need to be related. Children aged five and under already travel free on long-distance trains. They should also be included when booking so that a free seat reservation can be issued for them too.
The comparison is therefore not simply “a family ticket versus five individual tickets”: children aged 6 to 14 normally travel free on domestic long-distance services when accompanied by someone aged at least 15, but must be listed on the ticket. With the family ticket, the main considerations are the cost of the adult tickets and whether sitting together matters to the family.
When the fixed fare pays off
For a family of four with two adults and two children, it is worth looking at three figures: the price of the adult tickets, the reservations and the fixed fare for the family ticket. Seat reservations for up to five people are included in the family offer. A standard ticket may be cheaper if the adults find particularly low saver fares or the family does not need reservations.
In October 2026, Stiftung Warentest compared four sample routes and booking times. On the routes examined that used only long-distance trains, the available saver fares were more expensive than the family ticket; on routes involving regional trains, the result was less clear-cut. The comparison indicates a trend, but is no substitute for checking your own travel date: fares and available offers depend on the specific connection.
Local and regional services push up the price
If you need a regional train for part of the journey, you can book the entire connection with the family ticket, provided the main leg is on a long-distance service. In that case, a single journey costs 81.99 euros and a return 143.99 euros. Without a local or regional leg, the fare is 59.99 euros for a single and 99.99 euros for a return. It is therefore worth comparing prices for the entire journey – especially if you already have a Deutschlandticket or a regional ticket covers the connecting service.
Availability is limited: the offer may not be bookable on busy trains. It is available until two days before travel. When searching, enter all travellers correctly and select the connection you want, including any local or regional legs; only then will the comparison be meaningful.
Reservations and cancellation
Reservations for up to five people are included in the price. When booking, you can select a family area or a compartment for travellers with babies and toddlers, subject to availability. This can be useful when travelling with young children; a reservation is not, however, a guarantee of a disruption-free journey or of a particular area being available.
The family ticket can be cancelled up to one day before its first day of validity for a fee of ten euros. Refunds are issued as vouchers, not cash. Anyone whose travel plans are not yet certain should factor this condition into the comparison.
At a glance
The family ticket costs 99.99 euros for a return journey on long-distance trains and includes reservations for up to five people. With a local or regional leg, it costs 143.99 euros. It is particularly suitable when adult tickets plus reservations would cost more; compare saver fares and the cost of regional connections before booking. Availability is limited, and the ticket can be cancelled up to one day before travel for a ten-euro fee, with the refund issued as a voucher.
Original reviewed by the editors · 15 November 2026
