--- title: "Trains from Frankfurt to Berlin | EveryRail" description: "Direct DB ICE trains run about every hour from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Berlin Hbf, taking about 4 hours. Seat reservations are optional." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/frankfurt-to-berlin/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Germany]()Frankfurt to Berlin by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Germany]()Frankfurt to Berlin by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About Frankfurt to Berlin by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Berlin]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated October 2026 # Frankfurt to Berlin by train Direct DB ICE trains run about every hour from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Berlin Hbf, taking about 4 hours. Seat reservations are optional. ![Deutsche Bahn ICE trains beneath the glass roof of Berlin Hauptbahnhof]() Origin [Frankfurt]() Destination [Berlin]() Main stations Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Berlin Hbf Country [Germany]() Direct ICE trains run from [Frankfurt]() (Main) Hbf to Berlin Hbf about every hour, and the journey takes about 4 hours on most departures. ## Direct ICE trains every hour [Deutsche Bahn]() runs direct ICE trains from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to [Berlin]() from early morning into the evening, roughly one an hour. They alternate between two routings. Both take about 4 hours. | Routing | Main stops after Frankfurt | Typical journey time | Berlin stations | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Via Halle | Hanau, Fulda, Erfurt, Halle (Saale) | About 4 hours | Berlin Hbf (also Berlin Südkreuz from 13 December 2026) | | Via Leipzig | Fulda, Eisenach, Erfurt, Leipzig, Lutherstadt Wittenberg | About 4 hours 15 minutes | Berlin Südkreuz, Berlin Hbf, Berlin Gesundbrunnen | For the quickest hourly ride to Berlin Hbf, take a train via Halle. The Leipzig trains are about 15 minutes slower but stop at Berlin Südkreuz first and continue to Gesundbrunnen. From 13 December 2026 the Halle trains also stop at Südkreuz, and extra faster ICE Sprinter trains run on many days, non-stop from Frankfurt to Erfurt, then Halle, Berlin Südkreuz and Berlin Hbf, in about 3 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 55 minutes. ## Frankfurt Airport and other stations Board at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. Until 12 December 2026 the direct Berlin trains do not call at Frankfurt Airport, so from the airport you need one change, and the trip takes about 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours. From 13 December 2026 a few direct ICEs a day start at the airport's regional station and run to Berlin without a change, except from 6 February to 14 May 2027. In Berlin, most passengers get off at Berlin Hbf, where the ICE arrives on the lower level. Heading north? Stay on a Leipzig train to Gesundbrunnen. ## Tickets, fares and reservations Deutsche Bahn sells three main fare types. Super Sparpreis and Sparpreis are the cheapest, but both are tied to the train you book and the low prices sell out first, so book early. Sparpreis can be cancelled before the travel day for a €10 fee, refunded as a voucher. Flexpreis costs more. In return you can take any train on your booked route and day, and cancel free until the day before travel. A seat reservation is optional on these ICE trains and costs from €5.50 when booked separately. It is worth having at weekends and in holiday periods, when trains to Berlin fill up. With an Interrail pass you can board any of these ICE trains without a reservation. The pass alone is enough. FlixTrain also runs between Frankfurt and Berlin, leaving from Frankfurt (Main) Süd rather than the Hbf, with stops in Berlin at Südkreuz, Berlin Hbf and Spandau. It sells its own tickets with a seat included, and DB tickets are not valid on board. ## Engineering works in 2026 and 2027 On the weekends of 21 to 22 November and 28 to 29 November 2026, most direct ICE trains call at Frankfurt (Main) Süd instead of Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. Allow extra time for the S-Bahn across the city. From 5 February to 14 May 2027, the line between Fulda and Bebra is closed for renovation. Direct ICE trains still run on a diversion. Expect about 4 hours 30 minutes, and some trains skip Fulda, Erfurt or Halle. A second closure, between Hanau and Fulda, runs from 13 August 2027 to 4 February 2028 and adds a similar amount of time. The hourly pattern carries on after the timetable change on 13 December 2026, but the Sprinter trains do not run during these two closures. During the works, check the journey time of your exact train when you book. ## Where to book ![]() ### Book with Omio Find times and prices for Frankfurt → Berlin. [Check times & prices]() ### Other places to book Ticket websites - [Rail Europe]() - [Trainline]() These links open the provider’s website. Search for your journey there. ### Train service - [Deutsche Bahn]() Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany's national railway, running ICE, IC and regional trains with Flexpreis, Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis fares. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Flixtrain]() FlixTrain runs affordable intercity trains mainly in Germany and, to a lesser extent, Sweden; fares vary by demand and booking time. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in Berlin [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Berlin**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a direct train from Frankfurt to Berlin? Yes. Direct ICE trains run from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Berlin Hbf about every hour, via Erfurt and either Halle or Leipzig. From Frankfurt Airport you need one change until 12 December 2026; after that a few direct ICEs a day start at the airport. ### How long does the train from Frankfurt to Berlin take? About 4 hours on trains via Halle and about 4 hours 15 minutes via Leipzig. During the Fulda to Bebra closure from 5 February to 14 May 2027, allow about 4 hours 30 minutes. From 13 December 2026, Sprinter trains do the trip in under 4 hours on many days. ### How much is the train from Frankfurt to Berlin? Prices vary by train and date. Deutsche Bahn's Super Sparpreis and Sparpreis saver fares are the cheapest and are tied to one train, and the lowest prices go early. Flexpreis costs more and lets you take any train on your travel day. ### Do I need a seat reservation on the ICE to Berlin? No. Reservations are optional on these ICE trains, including with an Interrail pass. A seat reservation from €5.50 is worth it at weekends and in holiday periods. ### Which Berlin station should I get off at? Berlin Hbf for most travellers. Trains via Leipzig also stop at Berlin Südkreuz before the Hbf and continue to Berlin Gesundbrunnen, and from 13 December 2026 most other direct trains stop at Südkreuz too. ## More routes [![Brandenburg Gate in Berlin at night]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Amsterdam to Berlin by trainDirect ICE trains connect Amsterdam Centraal and Berlin Hbf in around 5 hours 42 minutes, with six daily departures. Advance fares start at €37.99.]()[![Cityscape of Basel, Switzerland]()![ÖBB]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Basel to Berlin by trainDirect daytime trains take under 7.5 hours from Basel SBB to Berlin; an ÖBB Nightjet also runs directly every evening.]()[![Amsterdam canal houses and houseboats illuminated at night]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Amsterdam by trainDirect ICE trains take about 5 hours 42 minutes to 6 hours from Berlin to Amsterdam, with DB advance fares from €37.99 and GoVolta promotional tickets from €10.]()[![Temple of the Sacred Heart on Tibidabo hill in Barcelona at sunset]()![SNCF Voyageurs]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Barcelona by trainBerlin to Barcelona has no direct train. Via Paris, fastest trips take about 17 hours and typical trips 21 to 22 hours, changing from Paris Est to Gare de Lyon.]()[![Cityscape of Basel, Switzerland]()![ÖBB]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Basel by trainDirect daytime ICE trains can take about 7 hours from Berlin Hbf to Basel SBB; slower options may require changes or an overnight connection.]()[![Panoramic aerial view of Bologna's old town and surrounding hills]()![ÖBB]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Bologna by trainThere are no direct Berlin to Bologna trains; journeys take about 11 to 15 hours via Munich, with fares from EUR27.]()[![Deutsche Bahn ICE trains beneath the glass roof of Berlin Hauptbahnhof]()![Eurostar]()![European Sleeper]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Brussels by trainDaytime trains take about 7 to 8 hours with a change, usually in Cologne; European Sleeper runs direct overnight from Berlin Hbf six times a week.]()[![Cologne skyline and Rhine River]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Cologne by trainBerlin to Cologne takes 3 hours 43 minutes on the fastest direct ICE; most trips take 4 to 5 hours, with around 35 daily trains from DB and FlixTrain.]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/frankfurt-to-berlin/#webpage", "name": "Trains from Frankfurt to Berlin | EveryRail", "description": "Train travel information for Frankfurt to Berlin. 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