Malmo to Munich by train

Malmö to Munich by train is a connecting journey. There is no regular direct daytime service. The route crosses Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, and most itineraries involve at least two changes: Malmö to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Hamburg, and Hamburg to Munich.

The one exception is Snälltåget’s seasonal direct night train from Malmö C to München Ost, which runs on selected summer dates. If your travel date fits, it can save a hotel night. If it doesn’t, you’re looking at a daytime connection.

Malmö to Munich by train at a glance

Detail	What to expect
Usual route	Malmö C, Copenhagen H, Hamburg Hbf, Munich Hbf
Regular direct train to Munich Hbf	No
Seasonal direct night train	Snälltåget to München Ost on selected summer Fridays
Fastest daytime connection	Around 12 to 13 hours
Typical daytime journey	Around 14 to 15 hours
Main arrival station	Munich Hbf for daytime trips
Seasonal night-train arrival	München Ost (not Munich Hbf)
Main operators	Öresundståg (Malmö to Copenhagen), DSB and DB (Copenhagen to Hamburg), DB (Hamburg to Munich)
Night-train operators	Snälltåget (seasonal Malmö direct), ÖBB Nightjet (Hamburg to Munich, year-round)
Rail passes	Interrail or Eurail Global Pass can be useful; reservations vary by train

The daytime route: Malmö via Copenhagen and Hamburg

The route has three legs, and each one works differently.

Malmö C to Copenhagen H takes around 35 minutes on Öresundståg across the Øresund Bridge. Trains run frequently and you don’t need a seat reservation. Just board with your ticket or pass.

From Copenhagen H (also listed as København H), intercity trains head south to Hamburg Hbf. This leg takes around 5 hours. DB and DSB both operate services, including the newer DSB EuroCity trains. Check either operator for the current timetable and whether a reservation is needed on your train.

There is no ferry on this route. There hasn’t been one since December 2019. All trains between Denmark and Germany now cross overland via Padborg and Flensburg. The Fehmarnbelt fixed link between Denmark and Germany is still under construction. Its opening has been pushed back beyond the original 2029 target and is now expected around 2031 at the earliest, so check the current status before assuming a faster Denmark-Germany route.

From Hamburg Hbf, DB ICE trains continue to Munich Hbf. The typical journey time is around 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours, with several departures each day. ICE reservations are optional but worth adding on a busy travel day.

A realistic best-case journey from Malmö to Munich takes around 12 to 13 hours. Most itineraries, with sensible connection buffers, take 14 to 15 hours.

Hamburg is the critical junction. A delayed train from Copenhagen can cascade into a missed ICE and a long wait at Hamburg Hbf. When building the journey yourself, leave at least 45 minutes in Hamburg. More if you’re travelling on a Friday, at a weekend, or during a German public holiday.

If you’d prefer not to do the whole journey in one day, Hamburg is the obvious place to break the trip. It keeps the cross-border leg and the long German run separate.

The Snälltåget night train: Malmö direct to München Ost

In summer 2026, Snälltåget runs a direct night train from Malmö C to München Ost as part of its Austria service. The southbound service runs on Fridays 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 July 2026. Train 305 departs Malmö C at 15:50 and arrives at München Ost at 06:58 the following morning, then continues to Austria.

The northbound return runs on Saturdays 4, 11, 18, 25 July and 1 August 2026, leaving München Ost at 23:30 and arriving in Malmö C at 14:30 the next afternoon.

Snälltåget has run this Austria service in previous summers, so check its website for dates if you’re travelling outside July 2026.

One thing to know before booking: München Ost is not Munich Hbf. It’s Munich’s eastern station, connected to the city by S-Bahn but a separate arrival point. If your hotel or onward journey is based around the main station, allow time for the transfer.

Book as soon as your date is confirmed. The July dates are limited, and couchettes and sleepers sell out before seats.

The ÖBB Nightjet: Hamburg to Munich overnight

If the Snälltåget summer dates don’t work, the ÖBB Nightjet between Hamburg and Munich gives you a year-round overnight option for the German leg of the journey.

The Nightjet runs from Hamburg Hbf in the evening, arriving in Munich Hbf early the next morning. You would still need to reach Hamburg first (from Malmö by the daytime connecting route) and then take the Nightjet for the final leg.

Interrail and Eurail pass holders need a separate Nightjet reservation. The pass covers the travel day; the reservation covers your seat, couchette, or sleeper. Book the couchette or sleeper early if you want a real bed, because those categories sell faster than seats.

Check ÖBB.com or DB for Nightjet timetables and reservation fees.

Journey times

Journey planners typically show 10 to 15 connection options per day between Malmö and Munich. The fastest realistic connections clock in at around 12 to 13 hours. Most practical itineraries take 14 to 15 hours.

Those are orientation figures, not commitments. Timetables change by season and day, and engineering work can affect specific routes. Check the actual times and connection gaps when you book.

For search: use Malmö C or Malmö Central as the origin. For daytime trains, use Munich Hbf or München Hbf. For the Snälltåget service, use München Ost.

Tickets and fares

Fares for the full Malmö to Munich route vary considerably depending on when you travel, how flexible your ticket is, and where you book.

Advance fares for the daytime connecting route can start from around EUR 43 on Deutsche Bahn’s saver fare for Germany to Sweden, but prices rise sharply at busy times and on flexible fares. Most European booking channels price the trip in EUR when using DB as the main operator.

Where to look:

• Deutsche Bahn handles the Hamburg to Munich leg and covers many international baskets including Copenhagen to Munich.

• DSB is useful for the Copenhagen to Hamburg portion and for Denmark-Germany pass reservation guidance.

• Rail Europe, Trainline, and Omio let you search the full connecting route in one step, which is often easier than building it yourself.

For the Snälltåget night train, book directly through Snälltåget. For the ÖBB Nightjet on the Hamburg to Munich leg, use ÖBB.com or DB.

Sometimes booking Hamburg to Munich separately gives you more control over connection buffers and accommodation type. Worth comparing if a through-ticket search gives you an uncomfortably short Hamburg connection.

Rail passes and reservations

An Interrail or Eurail Global Pass is valid across Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, so it covers this full journey. Reservations are a separate matter.

On Öresundståg between Malmö and Copenhagen, no reservation is needed. Board with your pass.

On DB ICE and IC services in Germany, seat reservations are optional. They cost a small fee and are worth adding on busy travel days.

For international and night-train services, reservations are generally required. On the ÖBB Nightjet, a pass covers the travel day but not your place. You need to book a seat, couchette, or sleeper separately. On Snälltåget, the booking process is separate from standard pass workflows. Check Snälltåget’s booking system directly.

Do not board a Nightjet or the Snälltåget overnight with only a pass. Without a reservation, you do not have a confirmed place on the train.

Travelling from Stockholm

SJ’s direct trains between Stockholm and Copenhagen are suspended in 2026, with resumption expected around autumn 2026. If you are starting from Stockholm, travel by train to Malmö first. SJ runs frequent services on the Stockholm to Malmö corridor. Then continue on the connecting route from Malmö.

Train, bus, or flight

The train suits this journey if you can manage a long travel day or an overnight trip. City centre to city centre, no airport transfers, and you arrive in Munich Hbf or München Ost without the overhead of flying.

A direct bus takes considerably longer and offers less comfort. It’s worth checking only if the price difference matters more than the journey experience.

Flying from Malmö means going via Copenhagen Airport. Once you account for the airport transfer, check-in, security, and the flight itself, the train is often competitive on total travel time for many travellers.

Before you book

Search for both Munich Hbf and München Ost before committing to a train. The choice of station matters.

Look at the Hamburg connection gap carefully. If a ticket search gives you 20 minutes in Hamburg, that is not enough for an international through-journey. Find a departure with a real buffer.

Check reservation rules for each leg separately. Öresundståg, a DB ICE, and a night train all have different reservation systems and different rules. What’s optional on one is compulsory on another.