Practical Information
How to get to Saarbrücken:
If you are coming from Germany or France, your best option is likely to travel by train to Saarbrücken Hbf. The most convenient international airports for travel to Saarbrücken are Frankfurt am Main and Luxembourg.
Details on ground transportation to Saarbrücken:
From Germany: train schedules and tickets can be found on the German railway website.
From France: there are direct trains from Paris Est. Tickets are available for purchase both on the French and German railway websites.
From Luxembourg: there are direct buses connecting Luxembourg and Saarbrücken. Tickets are available for purchase here and here.
From Frankfurt am Main Airport: there are trains (both direct and with a connection in Mannheim) and buses connecting Frankfurt am Main's airport and Saarbrücken.
From Frankfurt Hahn Airport: this airport is 120 km away from Frankfurt. There are very few direct buses connecting Frankfurt Hahn airport with Saarbrücken. Alternatively, take a bus to Bullay's train station, and then a train from Bullay to Saarbrücken.
A few hotel reccomendations:
How to get to campus from the city:
The university campus is roughly 5 km away from the city center, and it is well connected with the city via bus.
From bus stop Rathaus (close to Hotel Madeleine), take bus 101, 102, 109, 111 or 150 towards Universität. Buses in the morning run every 5-10 minutes. Get off at stop Universität Mensa. The math buildings E2 4 and E2 5 are a short walk down the road on the right.
Public transit tickets:
Recommended option: Weekly pass (Wochenkarte), which allows you to use any bus or tram within Saarbrücken for one calendar week. Can be bought for future weeks and costs 26,20 EUR. Cannot be bought online, but at ticket machines. There are two types of ticket machines:
1) Machines at tram stops, e.g. Johanniskirche close to Hotel Madeleine: Select "Wochenkarte Erwachsener" and "Saarbrücken". Cash only.
2) Machines within the train station: Select SaarVV and pick a destination within Saarbrücken, e.g. Universität Mensa. Then select seasonal passes -> weekly pass. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
Other ticket options:
single tickets (Einzelfahrkarte Erwachsene): 2,90 EUR.
4 ticket bundle (4er-Karte): 10,44 EUR.
Day pass (Tageskarte): 5,60 EUR or 7,90 EUR for two people (Tageskarte 2 Personen).
These tickets (with the exception of the weekly pass) can also be purchased on the Saarfahrplan app, which you can download on your smartphone following the links here. The app is available in English. In order to buy a ticket (or to use one of a previously purchased ticket from a 4er-Karte), you need to use the app's Trip planner (for instance, look for the trip Rathaus, Saarbrücken - Universität Mensa, Saarbrücken). Tickets are also sold by the bus driver (cash only).
Additional information about tickets is available here.