Travel and Transportation
Would you like to be mobile in Germany? Here you will find information on buses and trains, cycling, driving and other mobility options.
On the road by car
Siegen is the district town of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district in the south-east of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. With a population of just over 100,000, Siegen is considered a large city and has officially been a university town since 2012. Thanks to its location and good connections, Siegen invites you to visit numerous beautiful destinations in the surrounding area.
If you want to drive a car in Germany, you should first check whether you have a valid driving license in Germany. When using non-German driving licenses, there are some special regulations to be observed, depending on where the driving license to be used was obtained.
People who have their driving license from a country that does not belong to the EU or EEA must observe a few rules. The foreign driving license may be used for short stays without any time restrictions. If you do not have an international driving license, you should carry a certified German translation (this does not apply to driving licenses from the following countries: Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Switzerland and Senegal.)
If a residence is registered, the foreign driving license may be used in Germany for a maximum of six months. During this time, a German driver's license must be applied for. Depending on the country in which the driver's license was issued, a theoretical and practical driving test may be required. You can find out for which states this does not apply or only applies to a limited extent here
If you are staying in Germany for a maximum of twelve months, the period can be extended from six to twelve months in exceptional cases.
You can find information on the transfer and the relevant contact persons here.
Persons who have acquired their driving license in an EU or EEA country can use it in Germany (provided it is still valid). A translation of the driving license is not necessary. However, the driver's license can also be converted into a German driver's license, e.g. when the foreign driver's license expires or beforehand, upon presentation of the following documents: ID, confirmation of registration from the residents' registration office, photograph and the original of the foreign driving license. If a German driver's license is issued, the foreign driver's license will be retained and returned to the office that issued it. This does not apply to commuters who are resident abroad and have a parallel employment relationship in Germany.
You can find information on the transfer and the responsible contact persons here.
Train, bus and bike
Siegen's transport system consists of a well-developed road network for cars and bicycles as well as public transport by train, cab and bus. Siegen's main railway station - also known as the "Siegen ZOB" (central bus station) - is at the heart of this system.
Germany ticket
With the Deutschlandticket for €58 per month, you can use all public transport here and throughout Germany (with the exception of ICE and IC). The ticket can be purchased from various transport companies or directly from Deutsche Bahn (see here). Please note that you need a bank account with IBAN and BIC to purchase tickets from Deutsche Bahn and that it must be SEPA-compliant. Alternatively, you can also purchase the ticket via this transport company and its app using a credit card or PayPal. Enrolled doctoral students automatically have a Deutschland-Semesterticket. Further information on activation for doctoral students can be found here.
Siegen's local public transport system is operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Westfalen Süd (vws) and covers the entire Siegen city area. Part of the vws route network is the CityBus network Siegen, which connects the outer parts of Siegen with the Siegen central bus station with 20 Citybus routes (C). In addition, there are the UniExpress lines (UX), which enable faster travel to the university campuses, and the "Hübbelbummler" city bus (H), which runs between the upper town and the central bus station. All regional lines abbreviated with "R" are part of the regional network. The night bus lines (N), express bus lines (SB), local bus lines (L), cab bus lines (all towns) and school bus lines (A) also cover out-of-town regions.
Cycling is a widespread and popular means of transportation in Germany. There are cycle paths in most German cities where you can cycle safely. Further information about cycling and what you need to bear in mind when using this environmentally friendly means of transportation can be found on this website
In Siegen, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes can be rented via the "Velocity" app and returned at one of the 30 stations (there are also stations at the AR and EN campuses). You can find more information about the rental system and price options at Velocity Siegerland.
FlixBus and FlixTrain offer a cheap and flexible travel option for long-distance travel in Germany and Europe. There is a direct stop for the FlixBus in Siegen, which is located at Koblenzer Str. 45, 57072 Siegen. It is a cheaper alternative to trains and planes and also covers smaller towns. There are currently no direct connections for FlixTrain from Siegen. However, it is possible to purchase a combined ticket, which involves first taking the regional train to Cologne (RE9) and then continuing the journey from there with FlixTrain. For further information and/or bookings, please visit the FlixBus
and FlixTrain websites.
