Amsterdam to Berlin by train

Direct ICE trains run between Amsterdam Centraal and Berlin Hauptbahnhof in around 5 hours 42 minutes. Six services operate daily in each direction, departing every two hours from early morning. The journey is city centre to city centre. No airport transfers, no security queues.

Advance tickets start from €37.99 in second class and €56.99 in first class. Seat reservations cost €5.50 in second class or €6.90 in first class. They are usually optional, but from 26 June to 31 August 2026 they are compulsory on these cross-border ICE trains. Book early, especially for summer travel.

A night train, the European Sleeper, also runs between the two cities three nights a week.

Route details

Journey time and route

Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin Hauptbahnhof is 642 km by rail. The fastest direct service takes around 5 hours 41 minutes. Most departures are within a minute or two of that.

The big improvement came in December 2023, when Deutsche Bahn removed the locomotive change at Bad Bentheim and cut several smaller stops in Germany. Before that, the journey took around 6 hours 23 minutes.

The train calls at Amersfoort, Deventer, Hengelo, Osnabrück, and Hannover. After Hannover it joins the high-speed line to Berlin and accelerates to 250 km/h.

The train is worth choosing over a flight. Most flights between Amsterdam and Berlin take around 2 hours in the air, but door-to-door is rarely under 4 hours on either side when you factor in getting to the airport, check-in, and security. The train drops you in the centre of Berlin.

Train type: ICE3neo

Since November 2025, ICE3neo trains (class 408, built by Siemens) operate this route. They replaced the older Intercity Berlin trains that ran here for many years. The ICE3neo is a step up: full restaurant car, power sockets at every seat in both classes, and free WiFi.

Longer-term, Deutsche Bahn plans to introduce new ICE-L trains on this route. These Talgo-built low-floor trains were originally expected in late 2024, but delivery has been delayed. For now, the ICE3neo is what you will find.

Direct and indirect services

The six main daytime departures are all direct. If you see a result requiring a change, choose a different train.

One evening service around 18:00 requires a change at Hannover. Most travellers avoid it unless they need a later departure.

2026 timetable (direct ICE services, Amsterdam to Berlin):

Departs Amsterdam Centraal	Arrives Berlin Hbf
06:00	11:41
08:00	13:42
10:00	15:42
12:00	17:42
14:00	19:42
16:00	21:43

Check the current timetable at int.bahn.de before you book. Times can shift slightly with seasonal timetable changes.

Night train: European Sleeper

The European Sleeper operates three nights a week in each direction. Eastbound, it departs Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, arriving at Berlin Hbf at 06:07. Westbound, it departs Berlin Hbf at 23:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, arriving in Amsterdam at 06:26.

The train continues to Dresden and Prague, so this is also a way to reach the Czech Republic without a daytime connection.

Accommodation runs from budget seats to couchettes and sleeping-car berths. Fares start from €49 for a seat and from €79 for a couchette berth. Breakfast is included in sleeper-car bookings. Book at europeansleeper.eu; times can shift slightly due to trackwork, so check your specific date.

Buying tickets

Where to book

Book at int.bahn.de, Deutsche Bahn’s international website. It has the full range of fares, no booking fee, and a seat map so you can choose where you sit. You get a printable ticket or a mobile version. Booking opens up to six months ahead.

NS International (nsinternational.com) sells the same tickets at the same prices, but without a seat map. If a specific seat matters to you, use int.bahn.de.

Trainline and Raileurope connect to the DB ticketing system and are convenient if you are combining this train with other European legs.

Station ticket offices at Amsterdam Centraal and Berlin Hauptbahnhof sell tickets on the day, but day-of-travel fares are usually the expensive Flexpreis option. Plan ahead.

Fares and classes

Two fare types, and the difference matters.

Sparpreis (advance fare) starts from €37.99 in second class or €56.99 in first class. It is valid for one specific train only, with limited refund conditions. These fares are dynamic: the cheapest allocations sell first, and prices rise as the departure fills up. Book as early as you can if price matters.

Flexpreis (flexible fare) costs around €170 in second class or €298 in first class. Valid on any train on your travel day. Refundable and changeable. This is what you pay if you buy on the day or need the freedom to change trains.

Seat reservations cost €5.50 (second class) or €6.90 (first class). Compulsory from 26 June to 31 August 2026.

Children under 6 travel free. Children under 15 travel free when added to an adult’s Sparpreis booking.

Fare type	2nd class	1st class
Advance (Sparpreis)	From €37.99	From €56.99
Flexible (Flexpreis)	Around €170	Around €298
Seat reservation	€5.50	€6.90

Booking tips

Book advance fares early. The Sparpreis allocations at the lowest price points are limited. Once they sell, the fare steps up. A busy summer Friday bought a month ahead can easily reach €60 or more in second class.

Ticket-splitting is worth trying when advance fares are expensive. Search Amsterdam to Bad Bentheim and Bad Bentheim to Berlin as two separate bookings. You stay on the same train throughout and simply carry two tickets. The combined fare is sometimes significantly lower than the Amsterdam-Berlin price when advance allocations on the direct booking are already sold out.

České dráhy (ČD) is another option at short notice. Go to cd.cz, search from Amsterdam to Prague (or Prague to Amsterdam for the return), click “More options” and add Berlin as a via station. The booking includes the Amsterdam-Berlin or Berlin-Amsterdam leg of the journey, and the fare can undercut the direct DB price when advance fares on int.bahn.de are gone. German conductors can scan Czech ticket barcodes. It does not work on every departure, but it is worth checking.

Station guide

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Centraal is the departure point for all direct Berlin trains. It sits in the city centre, a short walk or tram ride from most central neighbourhoods.

The station has staffed ticket counters, self-service machines, luggage lockers (small lockers cost around €7 and large ones around €11 per 24 hours, though prices can change), and an NS International First Class lounge for first class ticket holders with complimentary tea, coffee, and juice.

Platforms are divided into zones (A to N) that show where each carriage stops. Each platform handles two trains, labelled ‘a’ and ‘b’. The IJpassage is an underground tunnel connecting the north and south sides of the station without a ticket.

The Berlin train usually departs from platforms 7 or 8. Check the departure board on the day.

Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Berlin Hbf is a large glass-and-steel station in the city centre, close to the Reichstag and roughly 17 minutes on foot from the Brandenburg Gate.

Find the right platform. Trains from Amsterdam arrive on the lower level, on the north-south axis. These are platforms 1 to 8, underground. The upper east-west platforms (11 to 16) are for the S-Bahn. First-time visitors often walk to the wrong level. When your train pulls in, you want the basement.

On the platform, check the Wagenstandsanzeiger, the carriage position poster showing where each coach stops along the platform. Standing at the right spot with a large bag saves you sprinting when the train arrives.

The station has free WiFi, DB information points open around the clock, around 80 shops mostly open 08:00 to 22:00, and luggage lockers in the adjacent parking building. S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and buses connect directly from the station.

Travel advice

Luggage

There are no luggage checks on ICE trains. Take what you can carry. ICE3neo trains have large end-of-car racks that fit suitcases easily, and standard overhead racks above seats for smaller bags and backpacks. Keep your valuables with you.

Bikes need a separate booking. ICE3neo trains have 8 bike spaces per train. Add your bike when you buy your ticket at int.bahn.de.

Interrail and Eurail passes

Interrail and Eurail passes both cover travel on the direct ICE services. You pay for the journey itself with the pass. You still need a seat reservation: €5.50 in second class or €6.90 in first class.

From 26 June to 31 August 2026, seat reservations are compulsory on these trains for all passengers, including pass holders. Book your reservation at int.bahn.de using the “Book seat only” toggle, which lets you choose your seat from the map. Do not wait until the last week of June: compulsory reservation capacity can sell out before the physical seats on the train do.

Outside summer, a reservation is still a good idea on Fridays, Sunday afternoons, and during school holiday weeks.

On board

The ICE3neo restaurant car is open to all passengers. Take a seat and order from the waiter; no reservation is needed. There is a bar counter as well as restaurant tables.

In first class, a steward comes to your seat to take food and drink orders. You can also order via the WIFIonICE portal on your phone: connect to the onboard WiFi, open the DB portal, and order; staff deliver to your seat.

Power sockets are at every seat in both classes. Free WiFi works across most of the route.

Seats have a small LED display showing whether they are reserved and between which stations. A seat showing “ggf. freigeben” is a last-minute reservation seat. You can sit there, but be ready to move if someone boards with a reservation for it.

First class lounges: At Amsterdam Centraal, the NS International lounge is available for all first class ticket holders. At Berlin Hbf, the DB first class lounge requires the most expensive Flexpreis first class fare. It is not available with a Sparpreis first class ticket or a rail pass.