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Trains in Germany

Travel around Germany by train with an Interrail Pass and visit the enchanting Neuschwanstein Castle, soak up the lively atmosphere at Oktoberfest and admire areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Black Forest and the Rhine Valley.


Explore top cities Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt by regional, high-speed or night train while enjoying Germany's picturesque scenery on the way.

 

 

Train types in Germany

The German railways are run by Deutsche Bahn. You can check train times on the Interrail train timetable or on the DB website.

 

Map with main train connections in Germany
Map with main train connections in Germany

 

Popular connections

Compare train travel times for popular routes in Germany. We'll show you the travel times for high-speed ICE trains in Germany:
 

Route

ICE

Berlin to Cologne 4h 30m
Berlin to Frankfurt 4h
Berlin to Hamburg 2h
Berlin to Munich 4h 30m
Frankfurt to Cologne 1h
Frankfurt to Munich 3h 30m
Hamburg to Cologne 4h
Hamburg to Frankfurt 4h
Hamburg to Munich 6h
Munich to Cologne 4h 30m

 

Reservations

Interrail reservation self-service system

  • Interrail
  • IC, EC, ECE, ICE, TGV, RailJet, Eurostar, Nightjet, EuroNight, European Sleeper

Administration costs when booking through Interrail self-service

  • € 2,- p.p.per train
  • Additional € 9,- per order (for paper tickets)

With railway carriers

  • DB (German railways): Domestic and international trains 
    • Toggle on ‘Book seat only’ for most trains
    • Leave ‘Book seat only’ switched off for:
      • ICE and TGV to France
      • ‘Brenner’ EC/Railjet direct trains to Italy

Other platforms

By calling Deutsche Bahn

  • By clicking the link above you'll find yourself on the DB contact page. There are phone numbers for English, French, Danish, Italian, Dutch or German speaking customer service representatives.

 

An explanation of how each booking platform works can be found here: How do I book my reservations

 

Locally at the train station in Germany

  • At the DB ticket machines at the station

Good to Know

Which trains in Germany require reservations?

  • No reservations: Regional (RE, RB, IR).

  • Optional (but highly recommended during busy periods): InterCity (IC) / ICE / EuroCity (EC) / ECE (Eurocity Express). €5,20 2nd class and €6,50 1st class.

  • Required: All international IC, EC and ICE trains to and from Germany during summer season (1 June until 1 September). 
    • Exception: To Switzerland, only trains Munich-Zurich have mandatory reservations. 
  • Required: All night trains, fees depend on destination and type of seat/bed booked.
  • Required: Supplement Eurocity (EC) trains to/from/within Italy. Optional for routes that don't start, end or run through Italy.

The ICE Paris-Frankfurt train has a limited amount of seats for Interrail Pass Holders. Our advice is to book this train well in advance, especially if you plan to travel in high season (May to September).

 

Eurostar trains are popular and therefore, usually sell out quickly. Make sure to get your seat reservation in time. Alternatively, find trains without seat reservations in our timetable by toggling on the ‘no reservation needed’ button.

 
 

Get your Pass for Germany

Interrail Germany Pass

 
  • Explore all of Germany by rail.

  • Youth discounts, as well as family and senior discounts.

  • Benefits include FREE travel on the S-Bahn in major cities and 50% off ferries to Finland and Sweden.

  • Prices from € 170

 

View Germany Passes 

Interrail Global Pass

 
  • Travel by train in up to 33 countries in Europe including Germany.

  • Discounts available for youth, seniors and families.

  • Prices from € 212

 

View Global Passes 

 

Tips and tricks in Germany

The main German train stations

The main stations in Germany are very well connected to local and international cities. These stations are:

  • Berlin Hbf

  • Köln Hbf (Cologne)

  • München Hbf (Munich)

  • Frankfurt Hbf

 

German train stations are often well-maintained and have modern facilities:

  • Lockers

  • Cash machines and a foreign exchange desk

  • Restaurants and cafés

  • Restrooms

  • Tourist information offices

  • Elevators, escalators, and access for disabled passengers

Spelling of names in Germany

Sometimes the German spelling of cities is different to what you're used to. You'll see the local spelling when you arrive at the train stations or when you look up routes on the timetable.

Good to know:

  • Köln = Cologne

  • München = Munich

  • Nürnberg = Nuremberg

Ferry travel and other discounts

Free and discounted ferry travel is an extra benefit of the Interrail Germany Pass. Get discounted ferry travel between Germany and:

  • Denmark

  • Finland

  • Poland

  • Sweden

 

See all Interrail benefits in Germany

 

Get inspired

 
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    Germany Our local Interrail ambassadors and community members from Germany share their secret spots and favourite finds from past trips in their home country.
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    Berlin The city of Berlin is a train travel wonderland mixed with history, culture and extraordinary landmarks. With the Interrail Pass, you can travel to the city of Berlin by train and see what Berlin has to offer. Don't miss out! Book your train ticket now #interrailberlin