Munich to Berlin train with Deutsche Bahn (ICE,RE,IC,RB)

Transportation experience

Check on the Omio app over a month before departure to get the best fares. If you can book even earlier, that’s perfect, but fares may not be much lower. If you need to travel last minute, the fares are extremely high in Germany, but the trains don’t sell out. Seat reservations are not compulsory, so you will always have a train to travel on.

View from DB ICE4

Schedule & frequency

Trains run roughly every hour, starting around 6:00 am, with additional peak services. There are also overnight trains without beds, with the final departure at 23:00 and arriving early the next morning in Berlin.

Onboard experience & services

Here’s what I love most about German high-speed trains: their interiors shine and really shame air travel. Free Wi-Fi is also included, although the connection can be patchy, based on my experience. Well-designed overhead screens give clear indications of journey progress, including any delays. First Class is in a 2+1 configuration and feels extremely spacious. Seats located next to each other are comfortably spaced out, and everyone has their own armrest (no fighting for the middle armrest like in Second Class!). You also get a plug socket, a reading light, and a decent-sized table, on which I had no issues fitting my large laptop. The reclining seats feature a cushioned and winged headrest for additional comfort. There is plentiful luggage storage available in the vestibules and on the overhead racks above all the seats. There is no strict limit, but you have to be able to carry it yourself, unaided. As for catering, all German high-speed trains come with their very own dining car, the Bordrestaurant, in which you can sit down and order freshly cooked hot meals, snacks, desserts, and drinks, including tap beer! In First Class, you can also order food service directly to your seat. My favorite meal is the Currywurst, which is so traditionally German!

DB ICE4 Passenger Information Screens

Ticketing advice & budget breakdown

Fares are, in my opinion, rather affordable unless you book very close to departure. I paid €62 for my First Class ticket, three weeks in advance. This did not include a seat reservation, which isn’t required, though it is advisable in peak periods; otherwise, you may have to stand. These cost an extra €7.

Top tips & recommendations

• The Sprinter limited-stop services are faster by nearly an hour on this route. However, they are less frequent and cost more.
• First Class often isn’t much more than Second Class, but no complimentary service is included, except (sometimes) a small chocolate!
• Enjoy a freshly cooked meal in the dining car! It’s really magical to be able to eat, drink, and socialize while enjoying the scenery speeding past at 300 km/h!
• To save time, check which of the three options is the best Berlin station for you to alight at.

Conclusion

German efficiency at its finest! With frequent trains, super comfortable interiors, and a great restaurant carriage to rest and dine in, the train from Munich to Berlin really is a stress-free way to travel from one German city to the other. If you’re making this journey frequently in the future, it might even be a good idea to invest in a BahnCard, which can seriously reduce the price of your ticket.