See also: Germany by Train - Overview. At HappyRail, you can easily book international and domestic train tickets to and within Germany. Germany is one of Europe’s best rail destinations: excellent connections, modern trains and a vast railway network that makes every region easy to reach. Whether you are planning a city break to Berlin, Hamburg or Munich, or a rail holiday through the Black Forest or Bavaria, the train gets you there comfortably and sustainably.

On this page you will find an overview of international train connections to Germany, the domestic rail network and inspiring options for rail holidays and city breaks.

International trains to Germany

Germany is easy to reach by train from the UK. Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Brussels, then continue by ICE to Cologne, Frankfurt or other German cities. Depending on your destination, you can often reach western Germany in a single day.

The ICE (Intercity Express) is the backbone of Germany’s high-speed rail network. From Amsterdam, Utrecht and Arnhem there are direct ICE trains to Duisburg, Düsseldorf and Cologne, with onward connections to Frankfurt, Mannheim and Munich. From Brussels, direct ICE services run to Cologne and Frankfurt.

Germany is also an important transit country for train journeys to Switzerland, Austria, Czechia and Poland, making it an ideal starting point or stopover for longer European rail holidays.

Domestic trains in Germany

Germany has one of the most extensive railway networks in Europe, largely operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB). ICE trains connect all major cities at high frequency and speed.

Popular domestic and international connections include:

• London - Brussels - Cologne - Frankfurt
• Amsterdam - Cologne - Frankfurt - Munich
• Hamburg - Berlin in around 1 hour 45 minutes
• Frankfurt - Munich in around 3 hours 15 minutes
• Düsseldorf - Berlin in around 4 hours 30 minutes

In addition to ICE trains, Germany has many Intercity (IC), EuroCity (EC) and Regional Express (RE) services, making smaller towns and regions easy to reach. Tickets for these connections can be booked through HappyRail, including seat reservations where available.

Rail holidays and city breaks in Germany

Germany is perfect for rail holidays and city breaks. Popular routes combine culture, nature and comfortable travel times.

• Berlin - Dresden - Prague: culture and history
• Munich - Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Innsbruck: Alps and nature
• Hamburg - Lübeck - Kiel: coast and harbour cities
• Cologne - Koblenz - Mainz: along the Rhine Valley

Our rail holidays combine comfortable train journeys with carefully selected hotels close to the station. Whether you are travelling independently, with a group or want a tailor-made route, our rail experts can help with advice and planning.

Why book with HappyRail?

• International and domestic train tickets for Germany in one place
• Expert advice from experienced rail travellers
• Complete service with reservations, seat selection and Interrail advice
• Comfortable, sustainable and stress-free travel
• Specialist in ICE, Nightjet and regional connections

With hundreds of rail holidays and city breaks across Europe, including many routes through Germany, HappyRail is the specialist in international rail travel. Book your train tickets to Germany today and discover one of Europe’s most important rail countries: sustainable, comfortable and inspiring.

See also

• Germany by Train - Overview
• Germany City Breaks by Train & Hotel
• Germany Rail Holidays
• Austria by Train
• Switzerland by Train