Saarbrücken (pop. 180k) is the capital city of the German federal state of Saarland (approx. pop. 1M) and located on the French border. For more information, visit the city’s website.
Although not a major center, Saarbrücken’s location in the heart of Western Europe means that it isn’t far from many popular tourist destinations. The following summarizes relevant travel tips accumulated in the years living here.
Getting to the saarbrücken Area
Airports
Saarbrücken has a very small airport with direct flights to Hamburg, Berlin, Luxembourg, and various holiday destinations (e.g., Mallorca, Spain). If you are traveling from further away, you will be best served by the following airports (in order of decreasing convenience):
- Frankfurt (FRA)
A major European hub with connections worldwide (e.g., Calgary and Vancouver). Beyond standard airlines like Air Canada and Lufthansa, it is worth checking out Iceland Air (flights to/from Edmonton via Reykjavik) and Condor. Frankfurt has a great rail connection to Saarbrücken (ca. 2 hours with direct connections available) and the train station is located directly inside the airport. By car, the trip is about 170 km (1.5 hours highway driving). - Luxembourg (LUX)
As a major European economic center, Luxembourg airport offers connections to much of Europe. The many airlines including Ryanair, Luxair, EasyJet, British Airways, TAP, Volotea serve destinations such as London, Dublin, Portugal, and Barcelona. The airport is small and modern and is definitely recommended if you’re looking to explore Europe by short-haul flight. Getting to the airport is done by car (ca. 100km, 1h10min) or bus. There is a direct bus from Trier or a bus connection from Saarbrücken via Luxembourg City. - Paris (CDG)
This is a massive airport with worldwide connections. Direct flights to Canada are offered by: Air France (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal), Air Canada (Toronto), and Air Transat (Calgary, Vancouver). Transfers from the airport to the city and its train stations may be done by train/metro or bus and take about 30 min. If you will be continuing onto Saarbrücken by train, you will likely have to switch train stations from Gare du Nord to the nearby (600 m, 8 min. walk) Gare de l’Est. - Amsterdam (AMS)
If you are interested in exploring Holland and Belgium, Amsterdam is a great destination airport with many direct Canadian connections offered by airlines: KLM (Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver), Air Transat (Calgary, Vancouver), and Iceland Air (Edmonton via Reykjavik). Getting from Amsterdam to Saarbrücken is best done by car. It’s a relatively easy approx. 5 h (500 km) drive.
When searching for flights, try the Google Flights search tool. It allows you to compare prices from multiple airlines for various origin and destination airports in a single search. Note also that “open-jaw” flights are often possible, where you fly into one airport and out of another on your return home. This may allow you to explore more of Europe without having to return to your starting point.
Train
The train is a pretty fantastic way to travel and can get you almost anywhere in Europe. The main train operator in Germany is the Deutsche Bahn. They provide information about all their various products and services online in English. If you are traveling in France, the SNCF is the national train operator. The best way to use the train depends on the length of your journey:
For short trips (< 300 km)
- Regional Ticket (Länder-Ticket)
e.g., Saarland Ticket (also valid in Rheinland-Pfalz)Valid from 09:00-03:00 the following day, all day on weekends/public holidays; 24€ first passenger + 5€/extra passenger (max. 5 total passengers). - Weekend ticket (Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket)
Valid Saturday or Sunday from 00:00-03:00 the following day
44€ first passenger + 6€/extra passenger (max. 5 total passengers).
For long trips (>300 km)
You’re going to want to take a high-speed Intercity (IC) or Intercity-Express (ICE) train. These tickets tend to be rather expensive. A cheaper alternative that requires some planning ahead are a German rail pass or a (multi-country) Eurail pass. These passes are only available to non-European residents and must be purchased in advance. They allow for unlimited travel for a chosen number of days during a specified time period (e.g., 4 travel days in one month). The cost per travel day can be much less than a long-distance high-speed train ticket.
- Certain types of tickets are valid on regional trains only (not intercity/high-speed trains) so double check before purchase.
- Be aware of 1st and 2nd class areas in the train. First class tickets aren’t worth the extra expense.
- For long distance journeys, make sure to reserve a seat otherwise you may need to stand (not fun).
- Contrary to popular belief, the German train system is only marginally reliable. There are often delays and problems with air conditioning in the summer. If you have trouble during your trip, make sure to speak to a Deutsche Bahn employee on the train or in the station. They are usually quite helpful and may even be able to call ahead to make sure you get your connection.
- If booking a trip where you must change trains, make sure you have enough time (10 min. if possible) to do so. The online booking system sometimes suggests connections with insufficient transfer times
Car
Drivers will feel at home in Saarland, the region with the most cars per capita in Germany. Traffic on the highways is relatively light compared to highly populated regions of the country. The rules of the road are similar to Canada except that no right turns on a red light are allowed and many highway sections (Autobahn) do not have a speed limit. An overview of road rules and signs are provided by the German Auto Club. You do not need an international driver’s license to drive in Germany during your first 6 months in the country.
Renting a car in Germany is pretty standard with many well-known providers (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget) and some European ones (Europcar, Sixt). Make sure to make book your car online in advance. The prices at the counter are much higher than online. Most cars are manual shift and an automatic has to be explicitly requested.
Note that car rental companies often allow the vehicle to be dropped off in a different city from where it was picked up. A small fee may or may not be charged for this service, but it offers a good option for getting between major centres.
Public Transportation
Public transportation is the best way to get around major urban centres. You do not want to drive in most large cities due to traffic and parking problems. Google maps can often be used for navigation with public transport.
Accommodations in Saarbrücken
Our recommended hotels in Saarbrücken by ascending price category are:
- Ibis budget Saarbruecken Ost
This is a zero-frills chain hotel that offers clean and functional rooms. Double rooms cost approx. 55€/night and parking is free. Breakfast may be added for 7.50€/adult. - B&B Hotel Saarbrücken-Hbf
Located conveniently at the main train station and opened in 2009, this hotel offers modern double (64€), triple (82€), and family (82€) rooms with free parking. Breakfast may be added for 8.50€/adult. - Hotel Leidinger
This welcoming and stylish family-run hotel is located in the heart of the city. Double rooms range from 100€-130/night including breakfast (parking is extra). If you are interested in staying here, please let us know, as we may be able to arrange for a special rate.