Train service
Flixtrain
FlixTrain is a German long-distance train operator offering affordable, tech-enabled rail travel on key routes across Germany and into neighboring countries.
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Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany’s national railway company, operating long-distance, regional, and international train services across Europe.
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Omio
Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning.
Trainline
Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies.
Raileurope
Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide.
For almost any visit, aim for Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Most long-distance and international trains arrive here, and it connects best to onward travel into the city. Around 1,000 trains a day use its 14 platforms. A few services use other Berlin stations, so confirm the exact arrival station when you book, not just the city name.
Journey times below are orientation for planning. Domestic ICE trains reach Berlin from Munich in around 4 hours, Hamburg in under 2 hours, and Frankfurt in around 4 hours. From Amsterdam, an ICE takes around 5 hours 50 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes. Paris connects by daytime ICE in around 7 to 8 hours, Warsaw in around 5 hours 30 minutes, and Prague in under 4 hours. Check the time for your exact departure when booking.
For overnight corridors, decide early whether you want a bed. ÖBB Nightjet runs daily from Vienna and from Zurich, and the European Sleeper connects Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris on selected nights. On both, couchettes and sleepers sell out before seats, so the later you leave it the more likely you are arriving in a reclining seat rather than a proper bunk.
Once you arrive at Hauptbahnhof, skip the taxi queue. S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7, S75, and S9 and U-Bahn line U5 run straight into the centre, and a single BVG ticket for zones AB costs €4.00. Validate it before you board.
Berlin’s main train stations
Berlin has several stations, and booking the wrong one means an extra transfer with your luggage. For almost every visitor, the answer is Berlin Hauptbahnhof: central, handling most long-distance and international arrivals, with the best onward connections. Use another station only if your specific train terminates or calls there, which the sections below explain. If a booking page shows only “Berlin”, open the train details and confirm the exact station before you pay.
Berlin Hauptbahnhof
Berlin Hauptbahnhof is where almost all long-distance and international trains arrive. It sits close to the government district, around 1.5 km from the Brandenburg Gate, with 14 platforms spread across five floors. Regional trains use the lower levels; S-Bahn services run from the upper floors.
The station has 24/7 customer service, a DB Lounge for first-class passengers, luggage lockers, and over 80 shops and restaurants open until around 22:00. WiFi is available through the station’s HotSpot network.
S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7, S75, and S9 stop here, along with U-Bahn line U5, which runs east to Alexanderplatz, the Museumsinsel area, and Berlin Ostbahnhof. Trams and buses connect at street level. Validate your BVG ticket before boarding; inspectors treat an unvalidated ticket as no ticket.
Secondary stations
Berlin Ostbahnhof, in the Friedrichshain district, is a useful stop for travellers heading east. EC trains on the Warsaw route call here as well as at Hauptbahnhof, so check your exact stop when booking.
Berlin Gesundbrunnen handles regional trains in the north. It is also where GoVolta’s direct Amsterdam service arrives (three times a week since March 2026), so if you book that service, plan your onward journey from Gesundbrunnen, not Hauptbahnhof.
Berlin Südkreuz, south of the centre, is a junction for regional and domestic trains from the south and southwest. Some southbound services call here before Hauptbahnhof, so if your train lists Südkreuz, stay on to Hauptbahnhof unless your accommodation is genuinely closer to the south.
Berlin Spandau, at the western edge, handles some IC services. It is useful only if you are heading to the far west of the city; otherwise stay on to Hauptbahnhof. The trade-off is typically an extra 15 to 20 minutes back into the centre.
Getting to Berlin by train
From London
There is no direct train from London to Berlin. The practical routes combine two trains with a short connection.
Daytime: take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels (around 2 hours), then an ICE from Brussels to Berlin (around 6 hours 30 minutes). Total journey time is typically around 9 to 10 hours. You can also route via Paris: Eurostar to Paris (around 2 hours 15 minutes), then an ICE to Berlin (around 7 to 8 hours).
Overnight: the European Sleeper connects Brussels with Berlin three times a week. From April 2026, the Eurostar timetable from London St Pancras is scheduled to connect with the European Sleeper departure in Brussels, making the overnight route practical without a long wait. You arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof the following morning. Book the Eurostar and the European Sleeper as two separate tickets.
A UK-Germany treaty signed in July 2025 includes plans to study a direct London-Berlin rail service. No timetable has been set; the announcement established a task force to examine border controls and infrastructure. If a direct service comes, it is most likely years away.
From Paris
For most travellers, the direct daytime high-speed service is the default. Deutsche Bahn and SNCF run it jointly between Paris Est and Berlin Hauptbahnhof, with up to 14 trains linking the cities daily. Journey times run around 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 30 minutes. The fastest are closer to 7 hours 30 minutes, but most sit nearer 8 hours, so book a morning train if you want to arrive the same evening with time to spare.
The European Sleeper is the alternative if you would rather travel overnight and save a hotel night. It runs three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday) since March 2026, calling at Aulnoye-Aymeries, Mons, Liège, and Hamburg before reaching Berlin Hauptbahnhof in the morning. Shared Classic compartment tickets start from €79.99 per person, with cheaper Budget seats and pricier private Comfort options available. Couchettes sell before seats on this route, so if you want a bunk rather than a seat, book the moment your plans are fixed.
From Amsterdam
For a central arrival, book the Deutsche Bahn ICE between Amsterdam Centraal and Berlin Hauptbahnhof, which runs several times a day. If you are searching for the old “IC Berlin” service, that name no longer exists: DB upgraded the route to full ICE trains from Autumn 2025, but the route runs as before. Journey times are around 5 hours 50 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes. Advance tickets start from around €38 and rise as the train fills.
GoVolta runs a separate, cheaper direct service three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) since March 2026, but it arrives at Berlin Gesundbrunnen, not Hauptbahnhof. Book it only if a lower fare matters more than a central arrival, and add time for the S-Bahn from Gesundbrunnen into the centre.
From Warsaw
EC trains run by Deutsche Bahn and PKP IC link Warsaw Centralna and Berlin Hauptbahnhof up to six times a day, via Poznan, in around 5 hours 30 minutes. Several of these trains call at Berlin Ostbahnhof first, which is east of the centre. If your accommodation is in Friedrichshain or the eastern districts, Ostbahnhof may suit you better; otherwise stay on to Hauptbahnhof, and check which stop your ticket shows before booking.
From Prague
EC trains operated by Deutsche Bahn connect Prague with Berlin in under 4 hours, with multiple services daily. From June 2026, Czech Railways (ČD) ComfortJet trains extended the Prague-Berlin corridor further north to Copenhagen; see the night trains section below.
From Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt
Domestic ICE services are frequent on all three corridors:
| Route | Journey time | Service type |
|---|---|---|
| Munich to Berlin | Around 4 hours | ICE |
| Hamburg to Berlin | Under 2 hours | ICE |
| Frankfurt to Berlin | Around 4 hours | ICE |
The fare you pay depends almost entirely on how early you book. Advance Sparpreis fares on Munich-Berlin can start from around €17.90 on some departures, but they climb steeply as the train fills, so book a fixed departure as soon as your plans are firm. Hamburg-Berlin runs all day and is flexible even at short notice, but the cheapest seats still go first. If your plans might change, weigh the cheaper Sparpreis against a flexible Flexpreis fare before booking; more on this in the fares section below.
Night trains to Berlin
ÖBB Nightjet
ÖBB Nightjet runs daily overnight trains to Berlin from Vienna and from Zurich, Basel, and Graz. Board in the evening and arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof the following morning. A third Nightjet service connects Paris and Brussels with Berlin three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday).
Nightjet trains carry seats, couchettes (shared multi-berth compartments), and sleepers (private compartments). Pass holders still need a separate reservation; do not board with only your pass. Pass-holder reservation fees start from €4.90 for a seat, with couchettes and sleepers costing more. Sleeper compartments sell out ahead of seats on popular departures, so book early if a private bed matters to you.
European Sleeper
The European Sleeper runs two Berlin routes. The Brussels and Amsterdam service runs three times a week and is also the connection that enables the London-Berlin overnight route described above; shared Classic couchette tickets start from around €49.99 per person, with Budget seats and private Comfort compartments also available. The Paris service has run three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) since March 2026; shared Classic compartments start from €79.99 per person.
Pass holders need a separate reservation on the European Sleeper too. Pass-holder seats start from €11; shared couchettes from around €64 to €74. Couchettes sell before seats, often weeks before departure on busy nights.
Prague to Berlin to Copenhagen (ČD ComfortJet)
From June 2026, Czech Railways operates a direct ComfortJet service connecting Prague, Berlin, and Copenhagen, with up to three services daily. This is a daytime service, not an overnight train. The Berlin-Copenhagen leg takes around 7 hours; the full Prague-Copenhagen journey takes around 11 hours. Tickets for the Prague-Copenhagen route start from around €60 (CZK 1,488). It is particularly useful for travelling through Berlin to or from Scandinavia without a change.
Stockholm and Nordic connections
Coming from Sweden, your choice depends on when you travel. SJ EuroNight runs overnight trains from Stockholm to Berlin only between April and September. Outside that window, Snalltaget runs its Stockholm-Copenhagen-Berlin service year-round. Both carry seats, couchettes, and sleepers. Couchettes and sleepers sell before seats, so book accommodation as soon as your dates are fixed.
Train companies and service types
ICE services
For most journeys to Berlin, the ICE is the default. Deutsche Bahn operates the ICE network across Germany and on several international routes. Trains reach up to 300 km/h on high-speed lines and carry power outlets, WiFi, and a bistro or restaurant car on most services. Second class works for almost everyone; pay for first class only if you want more space and included snacks on a longer journey, or a quieter carriage on a busy departure.
FlixTrain is worth checking on the few routes it covers, mainly some Hamburg-Berlin and Berlin-Cologne departures, where its fares often undercut DB’s flexible Flexpreis. Fewer departures and less flexibility mean it suits you only when your timing is fixed. The cheap seats go first on popular days, so check in advance.
Regional and overnight trains
Regional RE and RB services connect Berlin with nearby cities and Brandenburg. These are covered by the Deutschlandticket, but they are not the trains you would use to reach Berlin from Munich or Amsterdam.
Night trains to Berlin are covered in the section above.
Classes of service
On daytime ICE trains, book second class unless you have a specific reason to upgrade. It is comfortable for most journeys. First class earns its price on longer routes where the extra space and quieter carriage change how the time feels; on a short hop like Hamburg-Berlin it rarely does.
For overnight travel, the accommodation type matters far more than the class. Night trains offer three options. A seat is the cheapest: reclinable in a shared carriage, fine for a short leg but not comfortable for a full crossing. A couchette is a shared sleeping compartment, usually 4 to 6 berths, with a thin mattress, pillow, and blanket; comfortable enough for a full night, and it sells before seats on popular services. A sleeper is a private or semi-private compartment with a proper bed, the most expensive option and the first to go.
If you want to arrive rested, book at least a couchette.
Tickets, fares, and money-saving options
Booking channels
Book domestic German trains through the Deutsche Bahn website (int.bahn.de) or the DB Navigator app; both show real-time schedules and sell mobile tickets. For international journeys, Trainline lets you compare times and book across operators.
Booking counters and ticket machines are available at major stations, but booking online in advance nearly always gives lower prices on flexible and advance fares.
Advance fares and the Sparpreis
DB’s two main long-distance fare types:
- Sparpreis: advance fares available from when tickets go on sale (up to 6 months before travel) until trains fill. Non-refundable on most tickets. These are the cheapest fares and the right choice for most travellers with fixed plans. Munich-Berlin Sparpreis can start from around €17.90 on some departures; prices vary by date and demand.
- Flexpreis: flexible, changeable, and refundable. Significantly more expensive than Sparpreis, but useful when plans might change.
Tickets go on sale up to 6 months before departure. The earlier you book, the more Sparpreis availability you are likely to find.
BahnCard
A BahnCard gives a percentage discount on DB fares across the year. The BahnCard 25 costs €62.90 per year for second class (€125 for first class) and gives 25% off Flexpreis and Sparpreis fares on DB long-distance trains. The BahnCard 50 starts from €199 per year for second class, with promotional rates sometimes available, and gives 50% off Flexpreis fares and 25% off Sparpreis fares; check DB for the current price before buying. Either card pays for itself quickly if you make several DB journeys in a year.
The Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket
The Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket is a one-day group ticket for unlimited regional (RE, RB) travel, covering up to five people. It is priced per group, so it only makes sense for a slow regional day trip with companions. It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC services, so it will not get you to Berlin on a long-distance train. For that, a Sparpreis fare is almost always the better choice. Check DB for current group pricing.
Rail passes
Interrail and Eurail
Interrail passes (for European residents) and Eurail passes (for non-European residents) cover flexible multi-country train travel across Europe. Both are available in multiple durations and regional options. Check interrail.eu or eurail.com for current pass prices.
Using a pass to travel to Berlin takes some planning. On ICE trains in Germany, seat reservations are optional for pass holders; you can travel without one if you are comfortable finding a free seat. To guarantee a seat, the pass-holder reservation fee is €5.50 in second class or €6.90 in first class. On a busy route like Munich-Berlin, particularly on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, booking the reservation is worth the small extra cost.
For night trains, the rules are stricter. Do not board a Nightjet or European Sleeper with only your pass: reservations are compulsory for all accommodation types, whether you want a seat, a couchette, or a sleeper. Nightjet pass-holder reservations start from €4.90 for a seat; couchettes and sleepers cost more. European Sleeper pass-holder seat reservations start from €11, with shared couchettes from around €64 to €74. Couchettes and sleepers on popular departures sell out weeks before travel, so book the reservation as soon as your itinerary is set.
The Deutschlandticket
The Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month and covers unlimited travel on regional trains (RE, RB), S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses across Germany. It is useful for getting around Berlin and for day trips to nearby cities.
It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC trains. If you are travelling to Berlin by ICE, you need a separate long-distance ticket on top of any Deutschlandticket you hold.
From the station to the city
Public transport from Hauptbahnhof
S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7, S75, and S9 stop at Hauptbahnhof and connect to central and eastern Berlin. U-Bahn line U5 runs east to Alexanderplatz, the Museumsinsel area, and Berlin Ostbahnhof. The M10 tram connects Hauptbahnhof with Prenzlauer Berg in around 23 minutes.
Validate your ticket before boarding. BVG tickets must be stamped at the yellow machines before you board. Inspectors check regularly, and an unvalidated ticket is treated as no ticket; the fine is typically €60.
BVG ticket prices
| Ticket type | Zone AB | Zone ABC |
|---|---|---|
| Single journey | €4.00 | €5.00 |
| 24-hour ticket | €11.20 | €12.90 |
Children under 6 travel free on BVG services. Children aged 6 to 14 pay a reduced fare (€2.50 single in zones AB for eligible holders) and travel free on DB trains when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
For most visits, zone AB covers central Berlin and almost all the main sights. Step up to zone ABC only if you are travelling to or from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) or out into the wider metropolitan area. If you plan to make three or more trips in a day, the 24-hour ticket usually works out cheaper than buying singles. Tickets are available from vending machines, through the BVG app, or at service counters. Group day tickets covering up to 5 people are available; check VBB.de for current group fares.
Walking from Hauptbahnhof
Hauptbahnhof is around 1.5 km from the Brandenburg Gate, about 18 minutes on foot, and around 11 minutes from the Reichstag. The U5 gets you to the main museum district quickly if you prefer not to walk.
Travelling with children
If you are travelling with children on Deutsche Bahn, add them to your booking even if they travel free. Children under 6 travel free on DB long-distance and regional trains. Children aged 6 to 14 also travel free when named on the same booking as a fare-paying adult, but you need to register them at booking time to secure their place rather than assuming it at the gate. This is separate from Berlin’s BVG public transport, where children under 6 ride free and 6 to 14 pay a reduced fare.
Frequently asked questions
Which station do trains to Berlin arrive at?
Most long-distance and international trains arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the city's central station near the government district. It has 14 platforms, S-Bahn and U-Bahn connections, and over 80 shops. A few services use other stations: EC trains on the Warsaw route also call at Berlin Ostbahnhof, and GoVolta's Amsterdam service (three times a week) arrives at Berlin Gesundbrunnen. If a booking page shows only "Berlin", open the train details and confirm the exact station before you pay.
How long does the train journey to Berlin take from major cities?
Journey times from key European cities: Munich to Berlin takes around 4 hours by ICE; Hamburg to Berlin takes under 2 hours; Frankfurt to Berlin takes around 4 hours; Amsterdam to Berlin takes around 5 hours 50 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes by ICE; Paris to Berlin takes around 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 30 minutes; Warsaw to Berlin takes around 5 hours 30 minutes; Prague to Berlin takes under 4 hours. These are orientation ranges; check the time for your exact departure when booking.
Are there night trains to Berlin?
Yes. ÖBB Nightjet runs daily overnight services from Vienna and from Zurich, Basel, and Graz, arriving at Berlin Hauptbahnhof in the morning. The European Sleeper connects Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris with Berlin three times a week. SJ EuroNight runs from Stockholm seasonally (April to September), and Snalltaget operates a Stockholm to Berlin overnight service year-round. If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass, you still need a separate reservation on all night trains. Book a couchette or sleeper early; they sell before seats on popular departures.
Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass to travel to Berlin?
Yes, both passes are valid on trains to Berlin, but with conditions. On ICE trains in Germany, a seat reservation is optional, but on busy routes like Munich to Berlin a reservation (€5.50 in second class, €6.90 in first class) is worth booking. On night trains, reservations are compulsory. Do not board a Nightjet or European Sleeper with only your pass. Nightjet pass-holder reservations start from €4.90 for a seat; European Sleeper pass-holder seats start from €11, with shared couchettes from around €64 to €74. Book couchettes and sleepers early, as they can sell out weeks before travel.
Does the Deutschlandticket cover trains to Berlin?
The Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month and covers unlimited travel on regional trains (RE, RB), S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses across Germany. It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC long-distance trains. If you are travelling to Berlin by ICE from another city, you need a separate long-distance ticket regardless of whether you hold a Deutschlandticket. Within Berlin, the Deutschlandticket covers all BVG public transport, making it useful for getting around the city once you arrive.
Do children travel free on Deutsche Bahn trains to Berlin?
Children under 6 travel free on Deutsche Bahn long-distance and regional trains. Children aged 6 to 14 also travel free when named on the same booking as a fare-paying adult. Add them to your booking when you buy your ticket so they have a confirmed place. This is separate from Berlin's BVG public transport, where children under 6 ride free and those aged 6 to 14 pay a reduced fare.
