Train travel in Germany – train tickets, top routes and destinations
Whether you’re just after a quick bit of info about trains in Germany, or you want to know absolutely everything there is to know about traveling by rail in the land of frankfurters, bier gartens and wanderlust, we’ve got you covered.
Our guide to traveling in Germany by train has been put together for anyone and everyone – not just rail geeks! Thinking about a holiday with the family? Head down to our German destinations section. Are you a student heading out for an Erasmus year? Then check out our loyalty cards section. Perhaps you’re a business traveler? Learn all about traveling in Business Class on German trains. If you already know which German train ticket you need, use our Journey Planner above to book now!
Of course, the best way to learn about trains in Germany is to head there and try them for yourself, but by reading this page, you’ll be setting yourself up for a successful trip, journey or year!
Here’s a short summary of each section on this page, simply select the topic you’re most interested in to jump down to the relevant section.
What's in this guide?
Eurostar and Thalys join forces!
Your European trips just got simpler: Eurostar and Thalys have joined forces under the Eurostar name!
London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne are just some of the destinations that are within reach as Eurostar expands across the continent.
There are now two types of Eurostar trains: Eurostar’s classic blue trains for journeys to/from the United Kingdom, and red trains (formerly Thalys trains) for all other trips to France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
So, what’s changed? 😎
✔ You’ll be able to buy tickets for all routes that used to be operated by Thalys with Eurostar (for example, trains from Paris to Amsterdam)
✔ There's now one set of Eurostar travel classes: Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier.
✔ Boarding the train will look different depending on where you’re headed: if you’re traveling to/from the United Kingdom, you’ll need to check-in and go through security
✔ All travelers, regardless of destination, can sign up to Club Eurostar (Eurostar’s loyalty scheme).
Want to book your next adventure with Eurostar?
German train tickets explained
There are two main types of train tickets in Germany. Read on for more details.
Sparpreis tickets
Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis tickets are the cheapest ticket options offered by Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s main rail operator. Similar to the UK’s Advance tickets, they only allow travel on the specific train you've booked, although if your journey involves a connecting regional train, you can take any regional train on that section of the route. Prices vary like air fares, meaning that tickets are cheaper when you book in advance than when you buy on the day.
You can get a refund for a Sparpreis fare up to the day before departure, but you’ll need to pay for an extra fee. No changes or refunds are allowed from the day of departure onwards. Super Sparpreis tickets are cheaper than Sparpreis, they’re non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
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Best for budget travelers
Flexpreis tickets
Flexpreis tickets generally cost more than Sparpreis and can be used for any train on your selected day of travel – simply hop on and find any empty unreserved seat. If you want to book your seat on a long-distance Intercity (IC), Intercity Express (ICE) or Eurocity (EC) train, you’ll need to pay a small extra charge.
Flexpreis tickets are also refundable and exchangeable for free as long as you make your request before your day of travel.
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Best for flexible travel
Do I need to buy German train tickets in advance?
Yes
Book your German train tickets in advance if you’re traveling on long-distance trains (IC, ICE and EC) and want to snap up the cheapest fares before they sell out. Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis tickets can start from €17.90 ($19.70) upwards depending on how far ahead you book and how popular that train, day or date is. Remember that if you buy one of these cheap fares you can only travel on that specific train, you can get limited refunds, but you can’t change your travel plans.
No
You don’t need to book your ticket in advance if you’re traveling on German regional trains – they have one fixed-price tickets with unlimited availability and seat reservation is not necessary. You also don’t need to buy in advance if you’re traveling on a long-distance train and are happy paying the relatively more expensive Flexpreis to get more flexibility.
How to buy train tickets in Germany with us
As trusted sellers of Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain and other cross-border services in Germany, we’ll show you train times, ticket options and highlight the cheapest prices. Here’s how you can book German train tickets with us:
How to book German train tickets online with us
- If you're on our website, put your departure and arrival stations into our Journey Planner at the top of the page. If you're on our app, enter them in the Search tab. Don't know the name of the station? You can also search by city
- Enter the date and time you’d like to depart (and return if you're buying a return ticket), along with the number of passengers and any relevant Railcards/Loyalty cards you have
- If you're looking for tickets on our website, hit Get times and tickets. If you're using our app hit Find times and prices to start your search
- Select a time and the class you'd like to travel in from our search results. Once you’re happy with your choice, continue to choose your seat preference
- Enter an email to send your ticket confirmation to, along with the full name of each passenger you’re booking tickets for (the name must match their IDs)
- Continue to the checkout and book your tickets!
Finding cheap train tickets in Germany
If you’re planning a journey on an IC, ICE or EC train, cheaper tickets are often released up to three months in advance. They are quick to sell out though, so snap them up when you can!
Find out more in our guide to cheap train tickets in Germany, and don’t forget to check out the latest offers in our European train deals section.
German rail passes
If you’d rather not think about individual tickets while traveling in Germany, then you’ll be after some sort of German rail pass. Thankfully, such a thing does exist! There are two, in fact – one for European residents (Interrail Pass) and one for those living anywhere other than Europe (Eurail Pass).
Interrail Pass
For EU residents, the Interrail Pass is the recommended choice. A One Country Pass allows you to travel across the German rail network, taking as many trains as you like on just one ticket. There’s nowhere in Germany you can’t go with this pass, and those under 28 even travel with the discounted Youth Pass.
Find out more about the Interrail Pass.
Eurail Pass
If, on the other hand, you’re not an EU resident, you’ll need to grab the ‘Eurail One Country Pass’. The premise is similar to that of the Interrail Pass, as you can get unlimited travel throughout the German rail network. And, as a bonus, certain attractions and shops will grant you a discount if you’re a Eurail Pass holder. What’s not to like about that? Check out our guide to the Eurail Pass in Germany or our guide to using a Eurail Pass in central Europe to find out more. And if you're a first-time traveler in Europe, check out our European packing list to help get ready for your trip!
Find out more about the Eurail Pass.
Germany train map
The train is the best way to travel in Germany, hands down. Stereotypes about efficiency aside, this rail network is one of the most complete in Europe – have a look at our German train map to see just how easy it is to get around. Before you know it, you could be waking up in Berlin and tucking into breakfast before taking in the Brandenburg Gate, and still be able to take a high-speed train to Frankfurt well in time for dinner and a spot of exploring. Or, if you fancy heading to one of the best European destinations to visit in September, why not take a train to Munich for Oktoberfest?
The main train company that manages most of the rail traffic in the country is Deutsche Bahn (DB for short) – with them, you can get from major city to major city in no time at all, thanks to the amazing high-speed services on offer.
If you plan to explore large portions of Germany in a short amount of time, we recommend doing it by train. Not only will you be able to city-hop like a boss, but you can also even reach other countries in under five hours, which is comparable to air travel when taking into account check-in and waiting times. For example, you can get from Frankfurt to Paris and from Munich to Vienna in less than four hours on the fastest services.
Trains in Germany – train companies
Handily, the majority of trains in Germany operate under the banner of Deutsche Bahn, so your brain won’t be too overloaded when looking for the right trains! DB trains can vary from the high-speed Intercity-Express (ICE) models to the slower (though not by much) Intercity and Regional-Express trains.
Other trains in Germany include international trains, including DB-SNCF for routes between France and Germany, ÖBB for routes between Austria and Germany, and Eurostar for routes between Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
Deutsche Bahn
- The main train company in Germany
- High-speed and regional trains
- Airport transfers
Deutsche Bahn (or DB) is the main train company in Germany and is well-known for its brilliant levels of comfort and efficiency. Offering both high-speed and regional services, you can easily get from city to city with Deutsche Bahn.
Find out more about Deutsche Bahn.
FlixTrain
- Cheap alternative to DB for high-speed routes
- Berlin to Frankfurt, Hamburg to Cologne and more
FlixTrain is a subsidiary of the bus operator Flixbus and is supplementing the bus network with rail connections. Also serving high-speed routes, including the ones from Berlin to Frankfurt and Hamburg to Cologne, it’s a cheaper alternative to Deutsche Bahn, perfect if you need to save on your train journey.
Find out more about FlixTrain.
Eurostar
- International routes between France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
- High speed: up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
Eurostar trains connect some of the biggest cities in Europe via high-speed rail. These include Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne. Enjoy comfortable and quick cross-border travel on these trains, perfect for if you’re on a country-hopping holiday.
Find out more about Eurostar.
DB-SNCF
- High-speed cross-border routes between France and Germany
A joint venture between SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, DB-SNCF offers high-speed connections between France and Germany. The trains connect Paris to 10 German cities: Ulm, Stuttgart, Saarbrücken, Munich, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Kaiserslautern, Frankfurt, Baden-Baden and Augsburg.
Find out more about DB-SNCF.
ÖBB
- Cross-border routes between Austria and Germany
- High speed: up to 142 mph (230 km/h)
The main rail operator in Austria, ÖBB operates on high-speed routes between Austria and Germany. You can get from Vienna and Innsbruck to Berlin, Munich and many other German cities in no time thanks to ÖBB fast trains.
Find out more about ÖBB.
Types of trains in Germany (high-speed and regional)
German trains represent one of the most effective ways to get around the country – they’re fast, convenient and comfortable. Some of the most popular German train routes include Deutsche Bahn’s Frankfurt to Munich route (which you can do as fast as 3 hours and 10 minutes via ICE train) and FlixTrain’s Berlin to Cologne route (you can get there in 4 hours and 18 minutes).
Learn about all the different German trains below in our comprehensive train types table.
| Train | Train type | Train operating company | Popular routes | Ideal for |
| Intercity-Express (ICE) | High speed - up to 330 km/h (205 mph) | Deutsche Bahn |
Business travelers | |
| Intercity | Semi-fast - 250 km/h (160 mph) | Deutsche Bahn |
|
Business travelers/Residents |
| Eurocity | Semi-fast - 250 km/h (160 mph) | Deutsche Bahn |
Business/Leisure travelers | |
| Regionalbahn | Regional train (city – town and vice versa, town – town) |
Deutsche Bahn |
Residents/Leisure travelers | |
| FlixTrain | Semi-fast – 200 km/h (125mph) | FlixTrain |
Leisure travelers/Students | |
| Eurostar | High-speed 300 km/h (186 mph) | Thalys |
Business travelers/Leisure travelers | |
| ÖBB | Semi-fast – 230 km/h (142 mph) | ÖBB |
Business travelers/Leisure travelers |
Seating classes on German trains
Germany’s ICE trains aren’t just best in class for speed – they’re best-equipped in terms of facilities too. Wondering whether First Class tickets are really worth the extra cash or not? Check out our comparison below for a summary of what’s onboard. Remember, even though ICE trains are generally more expensive than regional and Intercity trains, you may be able to find good deals with us by booking tickets well in advance.
DB trains - what's onboard?
| Regional (Standard Class) | Intercity (First Class) | ICE (First Class) | ICE (Second Class) | |
| Comfortable, wider seats with extra legroom | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quiet spaces/cars | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seat reservations | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to exclusive DB lounges | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| Unlimited free WiFi | X | X | ✓ | X (WiFi is buyable) |
| In-seat food and refreshments | X | X | ✓ | X |
| Free newspapers | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Need more information on First Class? Check out our dedicated page to DB Bahn First Class.
Train travel in Germany
With DB’s high-speed services, you can easily hop from one city to another in style and comfort, avoiding the stress of airports and air travel. Check out some of the most popular German train routes below.
BahnCards (Loyalty cards & Railcards)
Similar to UK Railcards, the BahnCard is an annual card offered by Deutsche Bahn that allows you to get up to 50% off FlexPreis and Sparpreis tickets when traveling by train in Germany. We recommend you get a BahnCard if you’re moving to Germany or are visiting for a few months and want to enjoy unlimited train travel without having to worry about individual tickets.
Check out our comparison table for BahnCards.
How can I use my BahnCard?
After picking the number of passengers in our Journey Planner, simply click on ‘Add loyalty and railcards’ and select the type of BahnCard you’ll be traveling with – the discount will be applied automatically to your booking.
| BahnCard | Valid for | Price | Discount | Applicable ticket types |
| BahnCard 25 (2nd class) | 1 year | €59.90 ($65.99)* | 25% | Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and Flexpreis |
| BahnCard 25 (1st class) | 1 year | €121 ($133.30)* | 25% | Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and Flexpreis |
| BahnCard 50 (2nd class) | 1 year |
€244 ($268.81)* |
50% 25% | 50% off Flexpreis, 25% off Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis |
| BahnCard 50 (1st class) | 1 year | €492 ($542)* |
50% 25% | 50% off Flexpreis, 25% off Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis |
*Prices correct as of July 2023
Top German destinations
Germany features over 80 cities with populations of 100,000 people or more, making it so difficult to pick a favorite destination. There really is something for everyone, sausages and beer for the foodies, endless culture for those who are into the arts, and vibrant nightlife for the party animals. If we had to pick just three cities to check out on a short trip to the country, these are the ones we’d recommend you check out.
Berlin
Steeped in unmissable history and culture, Berlin is the capital of Germany, and the largest city in the country to boot. In fact, it’s one of the largest cities in Europe (9 times the size of Paris), so there’s plenty to see!
From the Tiergarten station in the west of the city, visitors can enjoy a pleasant walk through the Großer Tiergarten, the largest and oldest park in Berlin, on the way to the Reichstag building, home of the German Parliament.
The Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of the city, stands a few minutes away on foot, and from there it’s easy to reach Checkpoint Charlie, one of the border crossings used to cross from East Berlin to West Berlin during the Cold War. Among the dozens of museums in Berlin are the Jewish Museum, the Topography of Terror and the Pergamon Museum, dedicated to classical art. Want to take something memorable home from your trip in the German capital? Take a look at our list of the best flea markets in Berlin. Make sure you cross all these off your list during your stay!
Main train stations
- Berlin Hbf (central train station)
- Berlin Zoologischer Garten
- Berlin Friedrichstraße station
- Berlin Alexanderplatz
Airport transfers
Hamburg
A beautiful northern port city, the way of life in Hamburg is dominated by the River Elbe and its many canals that branch out, creating stunning scenes akin to those you might find in Amsterdam, for example.
Make the most of it all by taking a tour of the city by boat – the river is easily reachable from Hamburg’s main train station, Hamburg Hbf. From there, you can also take a stroll to unmissable attractions like the epic Rathausmarkt (central square), the Miniatur Wunderland (featuring its own miniature model railway!) and wonderfully sculpted churches like those of St. Nikolai and St. Petri.
Not unlike Amsterdam, Hamburg even has its own famous red light district, located on Reeperbahn Street – a lively part of town that certainly isn’t for the faint of heart!
Main train stations
Airport transfers
Frankfurt
Take a train to Frankfurt, Germany’s financial capital and home of the Frankfurter, for a deliciously exciting trip of a lifetime! It’s not only meaty delights you can look forward to though, as the city combines a futuristic skyline with distinct German culture and architecture.
Take the Römer for instance, a medieval town hall built in the early 1600s, it sits in front of the famous and popular Römerberg Square – but you’ll notice modern skyscrapers rising behind it in the distance if taking a photo! It can’t be a bad thing, though, since Frankfurt is ranked as one of the best places to live for quality of life.
Some of the reasons behind that include its excellent transport infrastructure, its penchant for fantastic museums and a lively culinary scene. So, what’s not to like about Frankfurt? Head there for yourself and let us know if you find anything!
This year, the NFL is heading to Frankfurt for their annual International Series. Read our comprehensive guide if you’d like to find out which teams are playing the NFL Europe games, where the host stadiums are, and how you can make the most of an exciting weekend of NFL action in Germany.
Main train stations
Airport transfers
Frequently Asked Questions
Our goal is to leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting you all the info you’ll need on train travel in Germany. So, with that in mind, here are the frequently asked questions you’ve all been waiting for!
Buying train tickets
Can I get German train tickets on my phone?
Should I buy an Interrail Pass/Eurail Pass or individual train tickets?
Do children pay for trains in Germany?
How far in advance should I buy my train tickets?
On the train
Do I need a seat reservation?
How much baggage can I take on German trains?
Are there toilets on all German trains?
Are pets allowed on board?
Is WiFi available on German trains?
Miscellaneous
Are trains in Germany safe?
How fast is a high-speed train in Germany?
What is an Intercity train?
What happens if you miss your train?
The German phrases you should know
As your one-stop shop for all German trains, we know you need a few handy phrases to help you get by smoothly on your travels, so here are the most common phrases you’ll need to know for your trip. Want to improve your language skills? Why not learn German with a private tutor – you'll benefit from a personal teaching experience where classes are based upon your own interests and language goals. Find out more about the German home tuition programme.
Basics
Hello – Hallo
Good morning – Guten Morgen
Good evening – Guten Abend
Thank you – Danke schön
Please – Bitte
Excuse me – Entschuldigung
Useful phrases for traveling by train
Where is my train? – Wo ist mein Zug?
Where are the toilets? – Wo sind die Toiletten?
Where is the main train station? – Wo ist der Hauptbahnhof?
Do you speak English? – Sprichst du Englisch?
I don’t speak German – Ich spreche kein Deutsch.
German itineraries by train
As if you needed any more persuading to travel to Germany by train, our travel inspiration articles are here for your viewing pleasure! We’ve got everything from itineraries to day trips, to Oktoberfest and even a very special David Bowie tour of Berlin. Check them all out by visiting our Germany travel inspiration page.
Learn more about German train travel
So, you've reached the end of the road (for our German trains guide, at least). You’ve seen the different types of trains you can travel on, their seating classes and the operating companies in charge, as well as how to buy German train tickets.
You’ve also seen some must-visit destinations, popular routes and a few handy German phrases to help you along your way.
If you’re feeling ready to book those all-important tickets with us, simply head back up to our Journey Planner at the top of the page and get searching!