A Summer in Germany: Family, Adventure, and the 9-Euro Ticket

With the 9-euro ticket, one pass allowed us to explore Germany’s cities and charming border towns, making our trip feel limitless.

We visited our relatives in Germany in 2022, soon after the long COVID pause. It had been ages since we travelled, and this trip was the perfect chance to reconnect with family. From there, we went to Dresden. It's one of my favourite German cities.

I was in Dresden in May to celebrate three family birthdays. While planning our days, something incredible happened — the German government announced the “9-Euro Ticket”. For just 9 euros a month, it covered local and regional transport in June, July, and August, though long-distance trains like ICE, IC, or EC were excluded. For us, it was perfect — one ticket let us explore Germany’s cities and charming border towns, making our trip feel limitless.

Having worked in tourism since 1999, I’ve explored many European destinations. I have visited Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and the French Riviera, including Monaco, multiple times for work and leisure. On leisure trips, we often seek less touristy spots and share these hidden gems with our customers. On group tours, one of us acts as tour leader, guiding the experience. After the long COVID pause, we made the most of the 9-euro ticket to explore Germany again—this time at a relaxed pace, enjoying a family holiday.

Dresden is Germany’s second capital and a city of rich history and culture. What made this visit truly special was our family’s warmth, welcoming us with open arms and creating countless memorable moments.

The holiday was full of simple joys: cooking together, playing with the children, watching TV, enjoying garden barbecues, taking long evening walks, and singing karaoke. After the stress and isolation of COVID, it was wonderfully refreshing to laugh, explore, and simply be together.

Dresden, the capital of Saxony, lies near the Czech Republic and Poland, making it an ideal hub for exploring Central Europe. Once Germany’s cultural centre, it was nearly destroyed in World War II but has since risen from the ashes. Set on the Elbe River, Dresden—often called the “Florence of the Elbe”—boasts stunning architecture, world-class museums, and a rich cultural heritage.

Highlights include the Frauenkirche, rebuilt from salvaged stones after WWII, and the Fürstenzug, a 102-metre-long porcelain mural depicting Saxony’s rulers across centuries. Other must-sees include Neumarkt, Zwinger, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Porzellansammlung, Semperoper, Residenzschloss, Katholische Hofkirche, and Altmarkt, alongside numerous gardens and parks perfect for strolling and relaxing.

Close to our family home, the Großer Garten, established in 1676, stretches nearly 1.8 km in Baroque symmetry. Tall trees, serene lakes with swans, and benches scattered throughout invite long walks and quiet reflection. Over time, the park expanded to include the Dresden Zoo, Botanical Garden, and Parkeisenbahn, a miniature railway. Even Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory blends modern architecture with historic beauty. Cycling or strolling here became my personal retreat, a peaceful haven amid the city’s energy.

Hidden Architectural Gem

With the 9-euro ticket, our first excursion was Görlitz, a picturesque town on the German-Polish border. After a two-hour train journey, we stepped into a town seemingly frozen in time.

Görlitz boasts nearly 4,000 listed buildings, preserved thanks to being spared WWII bombing. From Baroque to Renaissance to Neoclassical to Art Deco, the town is a living museum. Wandering its cobbled streets, every corner seemed to tell a story, and the quiet charm made it a memorable first stop on our German adventures.

Nature’s Spa Retreat

Next, we visited Bad Schandau, a spa town on the Elbe River at the mouth of the Kirnitzsch Valley, within Saxon Switzerland National Park, famous for the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The town is charming with spring waters, forested hills, and quaint spa houses, and the Kirnitzschtalbahn, a historic tramway, offers a scenic ride to the Lichtenhain Waterfall.

Fields of lavender and yellow wildflowers along the river were breathtaking. We walked for two to three hours, soaking in the scenery, and later enjoyed views from the train. Long summer days allowed us to explore until 8 PM, returning home around 10:30 — a combination of walking, trains, and even a boat made each day a full, unforgettable adventure.

In just a few days, we had explored these beautiful places, but our journey was far from over. With another family birthday ahead, we planned visits to three castles in Saxony, promising even more magical experiences. I’ll share that part of the adventure in my next articles — so stay tuned for more stories of Germany’s beauty, culture, and joy.

Germany, with its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and the convenience of the 9-Euro Ticket, offered us a summer full of family, adventure, and discovery — an experience to cherish forever.

(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. Views personal.)