Trains in Germany

Trains in Germany

General information about German Rail

One of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel in Germany is by train. The high-quality rail network has made trains in Germany one of the most popular ways to travel, as they are an efficient and reliable method of transportation. There are a number of types of trains and services that visitors may choose from when planning their trip to Germany.

There's the InterCity Express (ICE) train that stops at the major cities in Germany as well as the bordering countries (Netherlands, France, and Austria). There's also the slightly slower yet cheaper, version of the InterCity Express, simply called InterCity. There is the Regional Express train which has a long-distance route throughout Germany. Lastly, there's the Regionalbahn, which also has routes within Germany but stops at a greater number of stations (a good choice for commuters and travelers that wish to see smaller rural towns). A couple of the most popular routes chosen by travelers are Frankfurt to Munich (duration of 3 hours and 40 minutes) with the Deutsche Bahn, and the Frankfurt to Berlin route (duration 4 hours and 43 minutes) with the FlixTrain. Using Omio, travelers will be able to find all the optional routes for their trip all in one website, allowing them to make the best choice in the simplest manner.

Booking with Omio

When booking train tickets in Germany with Omio, travelers will be able to plan their trips efficiently and smoothly thanks to its service. In order to use Omio, travelers have to first select the location they desire to visit and the location they wish to depart from, as well as the dates for their trip. Once all this information has been completed, travelers will be directed to a webpage which will provide them with clear and up-to-date information on their train travel options within Germany. At this point, travelers will have the option to choose between specific currencies they wish to use, inserting any personal discount cards, as well as having the chance to decide how to sort their travel (i.e. lower price or fastest travel time). Once the travelers have booked their trip, they will have access to all the tickets needed for their journey directly on their mobile phones for easier access.

Train companies in Germany

As mentioned earlier, there are a number of companies that service the trains in Germany. Therefore, travelers may want to be well informed in regards to which company and what type of train they can choose to take during their trip. The train companies that travelers will see while planning their trip are the Deutsche Bahn, the DB-SNCF, FlixTrain, and ÖBB. The Deutsche Bahn is the main train company in Germany and it operates with practically any route. The DB-SNFC is the high-speed train company that connects German cities with France, typically operating routes between Paris and ten cities in Germany.

The FlixTrain (part of the FlixMobility family) operates with routes between major cities within Germany. Specifically, it operates a route between Hamburg and Cologne (with stops in between) and one between Berlin and Stuttgart (with stops in between). The ÖBB train company connects major cities in Germany with Austria, such as the routes from Vienna/Salzburg to Munich. Other international companies that have routes in Germany are EuroCity (EC), Austrian RailJet, InterCity Express (ICE), and the Berlin-Warsaw Express.

Deutsche Bahn (sometimes referred to as DB) is Germany's state-owned train company and is the main train company that provides most train services throughout Germany. Deutsche Bahn provides high-speed trains to major cities and slower regional trains to smaller towns. Deutsche Bahn also provides trains for international routes leaving from Germany to neighbouring countries and beyond. Deutsche Bahn is the largest rail company in Europe, transporting approximately 2 billion passengers annually.

Popular Trains in Germany

Main Train Stations in Germany

All big German cities have major train stations that are connected to other parts of the country as well as as international cities. Below is a list of the major stations and their need to know details.

Popular Train Journeys in Germany

As trains in Germany are fast and reliable, they're a popular method of getting around Germany for locals and travelers alike. From our data, we've compiled a list of the most popular routes that are taken throughout the country. Most routes are run by Deutsche Bahn however some more locals routes are operated by smaller, more regional companies.

Night Trains in Germany

In recent years, night trains have become increasingly popular again and are a not only a great alternative to flying but also allow you to gap larger distances while being sound asleep in a sleeper car. Deutsche Bahn operates several night train routes within Germany and across borders to Switzerland, Italy and Czech Republic among others.

Trains from Berlin to Hamburg	duration: 2h40	from 30 ,00€
Trains from Berlin to Munich	duration: 4h32	from 38,00€
Trains from Hamburg to Berlin	duration: 1h45	from 30,00€
Trains from Munich to Berlin	duration: 4h33	from 36,00€
Trains from Frankfurt to Berlin	duration: 4h43	from 10,00€
Trains from Berlin to Frankfurt	duration: 4h41	from 20,00€
Trains from Frankfurt to Munich	duration: 3h40	from 30,00€
Trains from Cologne to Berlin	duration: 6h49	from 44,00€
Trains from Cologne to Hamburg	duration: 3h54	from 10,00€

Popular International Routes by Train from Germany

Travelers wishing to visit cities in Germany using the train as the method of transportation will find that Omio is an efficient and convenient tool to streamline the planning process. Being located in the center of Europe, Germany has many international routes passing through its cities. Here are three of the main cities in Germany and how to get there by train:

• Munich: The most popular international routes in Munich are to Innsbruck (EuroCity), to Vienna (Austrian RailJet), to Prague (DB Express), to Paris (TGV), to Venice (EuroCity), and to Rome (ÖBB).
• Frankfurt: The most popular international routes in Frankfurt are to Brussels (InterCity Express), to Paris (InterCity Express), and to Amsterdam (InterCity Express).
• Berlin: The most popular international routes in Berlin are to Prague (EuroCity), to Warsaw (Berlin-Warsaw Express), and to Zurich (ÖBB).

Good To Know

• Booking train tickets in Germany is easy with Omio. Just simply put the route and date you're looking for, then our search will find all the available options. Meaning all you need to do is find the one that suits you best!
• Omio also offer by smaller providers such as Flixtrain and Hamburg-Köln-Express meaning you can see all the options available to you in one place.
• Most Deutsche Bahn tickets within Germany support mobile tickets so all you need to do is make sure your phone is fully charged! If your journey is not supported by mobile tickets then it is best to print off your ticket before you board your train.
• Look out for the 'Wagenstandsanzeiger' on each platform, these inform you where you need to stand on the platform so you get the right carriage.

For more information on traveling with children, luggage allowances and refunding tickets please visit our Deutsche Bahn page.

When arriving

If travelers choose to visit Germany, and we highly suggest they should, they should be aware of the following information in order to facilitate their journey. It should go unsaid, but travelers are advised to always pay for and validate their train tickets (as well as for all public transportation). Germany, generally speaking, has no security gates or staff checking tickets while travelers enter the trains or public transport, therefore many tourists usually believe that the transport may be free. This is false; travelers must always buy a ticket and validate it before entering, or else if they get caught, they may pay a hefty fine. English is widely spoken in the larger cities of Germany, but should not be taken for granted. It is useful to learn a few basic phrases before traveling to Germany and translation apps or books should be taken if German is not spoekn.

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