Germany is easy to reach by train, with fast, comfortable and good-value connections. Travel on modern ICE high-speed trains operated by Deutsche Bahn, with direct and connecting services to major cities, holiday regions and smaller towns across the country.

From classic journeys along the Rhine to the Baltic coast, the Eifel, the Black Forest, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich, Germany is one of Europe’s most convenient countries to explore by rail.

Germany by train can be booked in two ways:

• Separate train tickets to and within Germany
• Fully organised rail tours and city breaks with train and hotel included

On this page, you will find both options clearly explained.

Train tickets to and within Germany

With HappyRail, you can book train tickets to, within and via Germany online. Since 2002, we have specialised in international rail travel and work with more than 60 European railway operators, including Deutsche Bahn, ICE International and ÖBB Nightjet.

• Train tickets to, within and via Germany, including Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB Nightjet
• All ICE high-speed trains within Germany and internationally
• ÖBB Nightjet sleeper trains, including Amsterdam – Munich
• Regional trains, including RE, RB, S-Bahn and InterRegioExpress services
• Seat selection with interactive seat maps on many reservable day trains
• Low-fare calendar for popular routes such as Amsterdam – Berlin and Amsterdam – Frankfurt
• Official rail fares with no booking fees

In short: book all train tickets to and within Germany in one place, from ICE and InterCity trains to regional services and sleeper trains.

Start booking in the international train planner

Organised rail tours and city breaks in Germany

HappyRail also offers fully organised rail tours and city breaks to Germany, with train tickets, reservations and carefully selected hotels arranged in advance.

• Fully organised rail tours across Germany
• City breaks by train, often cheaper than booking train and hotel separately
• Hotels within walking distance of the station
• Train tickets and reservations arranged in advance
• Clear itinerary with no need to arrange everything locally
• Travel documents available before departure

HappyRail offers both separate train tickets and complete rail holidays to and within Germany.

Popular train routes to Germany

Popular routes include Amsterdam – Berlin, Amsterdam – Cologne, Amsterdam – Hamburg, Amsterdam – Düsseldorf, Amsterdam – Frankfurt, Amsterdam – Munich and Rotterdam – Berlin. Germany also has excellent domestic rail connections between major cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Stuttgart.

How to book cheaper train tickets to Germany

The price of train tickets to Germany depends on when you book, the travel date, the train type, the route, availability, the number of passengers and any discount cards used.

• Book as early as possible; Germany train tickets are often available up to 12 months ahead
• Avoid busy travel dates, especially Saturdays during school holidays
• Travel midweek where possible, especially Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
• Compare different routes and train types
• Reserve seats where useful, especially on longer ICE and InterCity journeys

International train tickets to Germany

Deutsche Bahn’s Super Sparpreis fares are usually the cheapest option for international journeys to Germany. These tickets are tied to a specific train and are limited in availability. Sparpreis fares offer another advance-purchase option, while Flexpreis tickets provide maximum flexibility on the booked route and travel date.

Seat reservations are included with many first class tickets and can usually be added optionally to second class tickets.

Trains in Germany

ICE
InterCity Express trains are Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed trains, operating within Germany and to international destinations. They offer first and second class, comfortable seating and, on many services, a restaurant car.

InterCity and EuroCity
Long-distance trains linking medium-sized and larger cities in Germany and neighbouring countries. Many services have a restaurant car. Bikes can often be taken on InterCity and EuroCity trains with a compulsory reservation.

ÖBB Nightjet
Comfortable sleeper trains, including routes such as Amsterdam – Munich and onward night trains from Munich towards Italy.

InterRegioExpress
Fast regional trains connecting cities and regions.

Regional Express, RegionalBahn and S-Bahn
Regional and suburban trains serving cities, towns and local destinations throughout Germany.

Discount fares in Germany

Super Sparpreis
Usually the cheapest Deutsche Bahn fare, with limited flexibility. Tickets are non-refundable and only valid on the booked long-distance train.

Sparpreis
A good-value advance fare for travellers who can fix their travel plans in advance. Availability is limited and tickets are tied to specific trains and times.

Flexpreis
The most flexible fare, allowing travel on the booked route on the chosen travel date.

Children, groups and discount cards

Children up to and including 14 can often travel free when accompanied by parents, grandparents or guardians. Special group fares are available from 6 people, while groups of 15 or more can request a dedicated group quotation. BahnCard discounts may also apply on many German rail fares.

More rail holidays in Europe

• Switzerland rail holidays
• Italy rail holidays
• France rail holidays
• Spain rail holidays
• Europe by train – overview