Uni-Tübingen

Getting Around Tübingen

Aerial side picture of the Tübingen Neckarbridge with a Tübingen bus passing. The colorful Neckarfront is in the background.

Whether by public transport, bike, or on foot, getting around Tübingen and in the region is easy. The city has an excellent bus network, and cycling is also a popular choice. Below, you'll find helpful information on the different ways to get around – as well as special benefits for students.

Public Transport Tickets Bike Car

Public Transport

Travelling by bus is the easiest and fastest way to get around in Tübingen if you don't want to walk or bike. The buses are part of the network operated by the regional transport company naldo (German), Verkehrsverbund Neckar-Alb-Donau and means the public transport area Tübingen is a part of. The naldo area (maps in German) stretches from south of Stuttgart down to Überlingen at Lake Constance, close to Switzerland. On the route from Tübingen towards Stuttgart, the naldo area borders are marked by Bempflingen and Herrenberg (both train) and Dettenhausen (airport bus 826/828).

  • Tübingen has more than 20 bus lines as well as a few local train stations connecting the different parts of the city.
  • Buses generally run from about 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, with night buses covering the main routes after midnight.
  • During the summer and Christmas holidays, special holiday timetables apply to certain bus routes. 

You can check bus departure times, buy tickets, find nearby bus stops, and more in the naldo app or online at the naldo website (German). 

Free Bus Service on Saturdays

Bus service in the city is free on Saturdays from midnight to 5 a.m. on Sunday to encourage people to visit the city and leave their cars outside the city. Certain regional busses which also pass through the city center and some trains are excluded, see here the detailed regulations (German).

Tübingen Night Busses

Night buses run hourly between midnight and 4 a.m. Twelve lines operate on routes that differ slightly from daytime buses. For details, check the nightbus overview (German) and the naldo app on your mobile.

Tickets

Choosing the right ticket can be a bit confusing at first. This section gives you a brief overview of the most relevant choices, including special options for students. Exchange students will also find a detailed overview of the ticket options in the Arrival Information brochure handed out by the Incoming Team upon check-in.

Student ID card

Your student ID card serves as travel ticket within the naldo network at specific times and at no extra cost during the official semester period. This is called the “Freizeitregelung” (leisure time regulation):

  • Validity: If you’re enrolled that semester and your student ID shows the semester print, it serves as a ticket valid Monday to Friday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., plus all day on weekends and public holidays. Usable on buses, local trains (e.g. RE, RB, HZL), and other regional public transport within the naldo region. Not valid for long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC).

  • Duration: Valid only during the period of the semester indicated on your student ID.

  • Personalized: The student ID card is issued in your name and is non-transferable.

  • More Info: For further details, visit  Studierendenausweis = naldo-Ticket (in German).

Please refer to the introduction above for details on the naldo network where the student ID card is valid.

Naldo Semester Ticket

Do you regularly use public transport during the day in Tübingen? In this case, the most affordable option is the naldo semester ticket, available to students enrolled at the University of Tübingen and valid for one semester.

  • Validity: Usable on buses, local trains (e.g. RE, RB, HZL), and other public transport within the naldo region. Not valid on intercity trains (ICE, IC, EC). 

  • Duration: Valid for 6 months – April 1 to September 30 (summer semester) and October 1 to March 31 (winter semester).

  • Personalized: The ticket is issued in your name and is non-transferable.

  • More Info: For the current price, how to purchase, and further details, visit naldo Semesterticket (in German).

Please refer to the introduction above for details on the naldo network where the semester ticket is valid.

Deutschland-Ticket, "Germany Ticket"

Planning to travel a bit more? The Deutschland-Ticket, short D-Ticket offers unlimited 2nd class travel throughout Germany, making it the most budget-friendly option for exploring the entire country.

  • Validity: Valid nationwide (and in a few cases abroad) for local and regional transport. Not valid for long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC).

  • Subscription: Monthly subscription. Can be ordered until the 27th of the month you want it to start and cancelled at any time.

  • Personalized: The ticket is issued in your name and is non-transferable.

  • Price: The standard version costs 58 EUR per month.

  • D-Ticket Tübingen: After registering with the citizen's office as a resident in Tübingen, you are eligible to purchase the D-Ticket for just €45 per month, due to a subsidy from the city; see for the registration step 3 of the next steps after your arrival.

  • More Info: For purchase, including the D-Ticket Tübingen, visit naldo Deutschlandticket (in German). The standard version of the D-Ticket is also available through Deutsche Bahn or other authorized providers.

  • Students under 27 can also check out the D-Ticket JugendBW (see section below).

As the D-Ticket is a monthly subscription, it renews automatically unless canceled in time – often quite early, by the 10th day of the previous month. Make sure to check the cancellation policy for your specific ticket. 

Deutschlandticket JugendBW

This variant of the D-Ticket is specifically for students under the age of 27 enrolled at a university in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

  • Validity: Valid nationwide (and in a few cases abroad) for local and regional transport. Not valid for long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC).

  • Minimum subscription period: 12 months, billed monthly. After the initial 12 months, the subscription automatically continues on a month-to-month basis. You may cancel at any time after the first year with one month’s notice.

  • Flexibility: Provides the same travel flexibility as the standard Deutschlandticket, while having a fixed initial commitment of one year.

  • Personalized: The ticket is issued in your name and is non-transferable.

  • More Info: For the current price, how to purchase, and further details, visit naldo Deutschlandticket JugendBW (students) (in German).

Public Transport Apps

Do you want quick navigation and easy access to tickets? Here are common bus and train apps you can download on your mobile phone!

  • DB Navigator – The DB Navigator app of Deutsche Bahn offers timetables for Tübingen and beyond, and sells tickets for many regional, national, and European routes. Tickets of some local networks (e.g. VVS) are included, but others like naldo are not yet integrated. No English UI is available.
  • naldo – The naldo app is the most relevant app for travels within the naldo region. It offers information, schedules as well as ticket sale. naldo app does offer an English UI.
  • Öffis – Öffis is a standalone app that provides excellent public transport schedules by integrating timetables from many German regional networks (Verkehrsverbünde), Deutsche Bahn, and some European and overseas providers. Ticket purchases are not possible, and there is no English UI.

By Bike

Tübingen is well-suited for getting around by bike, and the surrounding area offers many opportunities for enjoyable bicycle tours.

Finding a bike

Throughout the city you will find several different bicycle stores. There are also some places in town where you can rent a bike for a short time or a couple of days.

Bicycle Shops

Choose from a huge variety of regular bikes, E-bikes and others at the bicycle shops (map in German) in Tübingen, which also sell accessories, or carry out repairs. To find more options, try searching online for "Fahrradhändler Tübingen" or "Fahrradladen Tübingen.".

Renting a Bike

If you don't want to buy a bike or need an extra one for visitors, there are a few rental options available (German). The most centrally located provider is the Radstation (German), conveniently situated right at the main train station. 

The Radstation is more than just a bike rental service –  it offers secure bike parking, a repair station, wash services, and cycling accessories. It’s part of a social project that supports people facing challenges in the job market, making it a very convenient and socially responsible option for cyclists in Tübingen.

Second-hand bikes

If you’re looking for a second-hand bike in Tübingen, there are a few good options. A popular place to start is the bicycle flea market organized by the ADFC (German), usually held at the beginning of the summer semester (around April or early May). It’s a great chance to find affordable bikes from private sellers. 

Other options are Radlager or Radstall (both in German), which also offer second-hand bikes. However, many people now prefer to sell their bikes directly rather than going through a shop. So, it's worth checking the usual online second-hand online platform as well. 

E-scooters

Nowadays, e-scooters are another quick way of getting around town. The following companies provide e-scooters for rent in Tübingen – you generally have to download their respective apps on your phone:

By Car

Although not as common among students as traveling by bus or bike, getting around by car is also an option in Tübingen. Here you’ll find information about driver's license regulations in Germany, as well as tips on renting a car locally. If you’re considering bringing your own car, there are also some important things to keep in mind,

Driver's license in Germany

A driver's license from your home country is usually valid in Germany, but in some cases it must be converted and/or translated into a German driver's license. For official information on validity, accepted countries, possible conversion, and required documents please visit the following websites:

The  TÜV Süd (a German car inspection and certification body) explains the different driving license classes in Germany (German).

Car rental and car sharing

If you want the flexibility of a car e.g. for a weekend trip or need to transport something bulky, car sharing and rental services are a useful solution: Several car rental companies operate in the city, offering options for both short- and long-term use. A good alternative to a rented car is car sharing. It’s affordable, with fees based on time and distance. To access the service, you typically need to become a member of a car sharing association and pay a modest monthly or annual fee.

Bringing your own car

Car Registration, Tax, and the Environmental Badge (Feinstaubplakette)

If you're bringing a car with you to Germany, make sure to find out what steps might be necessary during your stay. The website of the District Office of Tübingen provides information on the following topics (all websites in German):