🇩🇪 Germany by Rail:
The Definitive Guide

The fastest link between Belgium and Germany — Brussels-Midi to the cathedral doorstep of Köln Hbf in about 1h 47m by ICE.

London to the Rhine by rail — the Eurostar to Brussels, a change onto an ICE, and on to Cologne Cathedral in around five hours, no direct train needed.

The new direct ICE from Köln Hbf to Antwerpen-Centraal — twice a day via Aachen, Liège, Leuven and Brussels Airport, in about 2h20 to 2h50.

Germany's fastest domestic corridor — 300 km/h ICE with free Wi-Fi and at-seat power, every hour.

One of Germany's busiest intercity corridors — a frequent direct ICE from Nuremberg to Munich in about 1h 10m down the Bavarian high-speed line.

Germany's headline intercity journey — a direct ICE from Berlin to Munich via Erfurt and Nuremberg, normally around 4h on the fastest trains, city centre to city centre.

Same door-to-door time as flying — but with the Elbe sandstone gorge and Dresden's Baroque skyline from your window seat.

Germany's flagship ICE journey — Berlin to Hamburg in about 1h 45m, city centre to city centre, fast and frequent with optional reservations.

Germany to Scandinavia by rail — the direct EuroCity from Hamburg to Copenhagen via Jutland and the Great Belt in about 4h 40m.

Central Europe to Scandinavia in a day — the direct daytime ComfortJet from Prague to Copenhagen via Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg, launched in 2026, in just under twelve hours.

The direct rail link between two capitals — Amsterdam to Berlin on the modern ICE 3neo, city centre to city centre, no flying. Diverted via Hamburg during engineering works (from 2 Oct 2026, scheduled until Dec 2027), about 7h.

One of the easiest international rail trips in Europe — Munich to Mozart's Salzburg in about 90 minutes, with the Alps along the windows.

Direct Railjets from München Hbf up the Inn valley via Kufstein to Innsbruck in about 1h 55m — or the slow, scenic Karwendel line via Garmisch and Seefeld.

Depart Berlin Hbf in the evening, roll through Bavaria into Switzerland at dawn.

The flying-free overnight link to Italy — the direct European Sleeper from Brussels-Midi over the Gotthard to Milano Porta Garibaldi, three nights a week from September 2026.

The direct night train from Antwerpen-Centraal to Milano Porta Garibaldi — European Sleeper, three nights a week from the December 2026 timetable change, in about 17 hours.

The revived Paris to Berlin night train — the direct European Sleeper from Paris-Nord via Brussels to Berlin Hbf, around three nights a week, seats to sleeper cabins.