die
Stadtrundfahrt
🚌 What exactly is a Stadtrundfahrt?
The German noun die Stadtrundfahrt (feminine noun) refers to an organized tour through a city designed to show visitors the main sights and points of interest. These tours typically take place on a bus (often a Doppelstockbus - double-decker bus), but sometimes also use a tourist train (Bimmelbahn), a boat (Schiff), or are conducted on foot (zu Fuß). They are often accompanied by a guide (Reiseführer) providing commentary.
The article is always die, because the base word, die Fahrt (the journey, trip, drive), is feminine.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Stadtrundfahrt
The word "Stadtrundfahrt" is a feminine noun. The definite article is "die".
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stadtrundfahrt |
| Genitive | der | Stadtrundfahrt |
| Dative | der | Stadtrundfahrt |
| Accusative | die | Stadtrundfahrt |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stadtrundfahrten |
| Genitive | der | Stadtrundfahrten |
| Dative | den | Stadtrundfahrten |
| Accusative | die | Stadtrundfahrten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Wir haben gestern eine interessante Stadtrundfahrt durch Berlin gemacht.
(Yesterday we did an interesting city tour through Berlin.) - Die Stadtrundfahrt beginnt um 10 Uhr am Hauptbahnhof.
(The city tour starts at 10 AM at the main train station.) - Im Preis ist eine geführte Stadtrundfahrt enthalten.
(A guided city tour is included in the price.) - Viele Touristen buchen Stadtrundfahrten, um einen ersten Überblick zu bekommen.
(Many tourists book city tours to get an initial overview.)
🗺️ When to use "Stadtrundfahrt"?
The term "Stadtrundfahrt" is primarily used in the context of tourism and travel (Tourismus und Reisen). It describes a specific activity for visitors to a city.
- Typical situations: Planning holiday activities, describing tourist offers, sharing travel experiences.
- Means of transport: Often associated with buses (double-decker, hop-on/hop-off), but also boats (a Hafenrundfahrt - harbor tour - is a special type), tourist trains, or guided walks can be implied, even though "Fahrt" (drive/trip) is in the word.
- Distinction: A "Stadtführung" (city tour/guided walk) can also be on foot and is often more detailed, whereas a "Stadtrundfahrt" usually provides a quicker overview covering a larger distance. A "Besichtigung" (visit, viewing) often refers to a single site (e.g., Schlossbesichtigung - castle visit).
💡 Mnemonics for Stadtrundfahrt
Article Mnemonic: The word ends in "-fahrt". Nouns ending in "-fahrt" (like die Fahrt - the trip, die Abfahrt - the departure, die Hinfahrt - the outward journey) are almost always feminine. Therefore, it's die Stadtrundfahrt.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine taking a trip (Fahrt) round (rund) the city (Stadt) on a bus. That’s a Stadt-rund-fahrt (city round trip).
🔄 Synonyms & Contrasts
Synonyms:
Contrasting Concepts (Antonyms/Opposites):
- Die Landpartie: (Trip to the countryside) An excursion away from the city.
- Die Einzelbesichtigung: (Single visit/viewing) Focusing on just one building or place.
- Der Stadtbummel: (Stroll through the city) An unplanned walk, without a fixed route or guide.
- Die Wanderung: (Hike) A longer tour on foot, usually in nature.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Tourist den Busfahrer bei der Stadtrundfahrt: "Sagen Sie mal, wie alt ist dieses Schloss eigentlich?"
Antwortet der Busfahrer: "Keine Ahnung, das war schon da, als ich hier angefangen habe!"
Translation: A tourist asks the bus driver during the city tour: "Excuse me, how old is this castle actually?"
The bus driver replies: "No idea, it was already here when I started working here!"
📜 Poem about a Stadtrundfahrt
Der Bus rollt an, die Fahrt beginnt,
vorbei am Turm, der hoch gewinnt.
Der Führer spricht ins Mikrofon,
von alter Zeit und Stadtpatron.
Links eine Kirche, rechts ein Platz,
die Stadt zeigt ihren reichen Schatz.
Die Rundfahrt schnell vorüberzieht,
ein erster Blick, der viel verspricht.
Translation:
The bus rolls on, the tour takes flight,
Past the tower, reaching height.
The guide speaks clearly through the sound,
Of olden times and city ground.
A church to left, a square to right,
The city shows its treasures bright.
The round trip passes swiftly by,
A first glance promising, reaching high.
❓ Riddle
Ich zeige dir die Stadt im Nu,
im Sitzen, ohne Rast und Ruh'.
Ob Bus, ob Bahn, ich fahr dich rund,
erzähl dir manche frohe Kund'.
Was bin ich, schnell und informativ,
für den Touristen attraktiv?
Lösung: die Stadtrundfahrt
Translation:
I show you the city in a flash,
While seated, without rest or dash.
By bus or train, I take you round,
Sharing happy news I've found.
What am I, quick and informative,
For the tourist, attractive?
Solution: the city tour (die Stadtrundfahrt)
🧩 Word Breakdown
The word "Stadtrundfahrt" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Die Stadt: Meaning 'the city'.
- Rund: Adjective/adverb, here meaning 'round' or 'around'.
- Die Fahrt: Meaning 'the trip', 'the journey', 'the drive'.
Together, the meaning is: A trip that goes round (or all around) the city.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Stadtrundfahrt?
The German word "Stadtrundfahrt" is feminine. The correct article is die Stadtrundfahrt. It describes a tourist tour through a city, usually by bus, to see the sights.