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Amsterdam to München / Munich by train
There are multiple options available for taking a train journey between Amsterdam and Muenchen*/Munich (*Dutch spelling of Munich).
Simplest of all is to take the direct overnight trains, which have been newly re-introduced to this route.
Or if you'll be happy to travel overnight in a seat rather than a bed or bunk, you can travel through the night on a combination of ICE trains
Connections between swish ICE trains are always required when making a daytime journey.
But because you need to change trains, when you look up the journey on the ticket agents, you will see a multitude of options.
However, take care as many of the combinations of journeys, will have connecting times between trains of less than 20 minutes.
And those tightly timed connections can't be guaranteed in Germany.
Though if you miss a booked connection, any tickets/reservations can be transferred to a later train at a Reisezentrum travel desk, but this is a hassle that can be avoided.
Routes you can take to go from Amsterdam to München / Munich
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Via stations: Köln/Cologne Hbf
Option 1: by day connecting in Koln or Dusseldorf
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
7hr 30min - 8hr 5min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Mon - Sat = 5 x connections per day
Sunday = 4 x connections per day
*Change trains in: Koln/Cologne* or Dusseldorf
Purchase Tickets
DB Bahn Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.
Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.
Travel Information
A plus of this route is that connecting time between trains at Koln isn't usually particularly tightly timed.
*However, when you look up this journey on the DB (the official German railways) ticket booking website, it will often suggest making connections in other stations along this route such as Dusseldorf or Seigburg/Bonn.
Because the tickets will be train specific, you'll need to make the connections at these other stations, but it doesn't particularly matter at which station you change trains; though if you will be travelling with heavy luggage etc, a connection at Seigburg/Bonn usually involves waiting on the same platform/track for the onward connection
What you're looking out for is a connecting time between trains of more than 30 mins; because if you take those options, you'll have a greater chance of having a stress-free journey.
Also look out for connections which involve arriving at Koln-Messe/Duez station and departing from Koln hbf and avoid them if possible, as these are two very separate stations, with a comparatively awkward connection between them.
Travelling with a Eurail or InterRail Pass:
If you will be travelling with a rail pass our advice is to ignore all the above and change trains in Dusseldorf.
There are more ICE trains between Dusseldorf Hbf and Munchen, than there are between Koln Hbf and Munchen.
And as you don't need to reserve on the ICEs, you can hop on the next train to depart from Dusseldorf.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Amsterdam Centraal / Amsterdam CS and Köln/Cologne HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Note that Koeln is the Dutch spelling of Cologne, so this name for the city will be used on the train information screens at Amsterdam Centraal.
Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main) or Basel SBB
All trains also call at: Utrecht; Arnhem; Dusseldorf
This is nearly always a stress-free journey, which showcases the best aspects of European international train travel.
The stations at both ends of the route have ideal city centre locations and the ICE 3 trains definitely have a wow factor!
This is nearly always a stress-free journey, which showcases the best aspects of European international train travel.
The stations at both ends of the route have ideal city centre locations and the ICE 3 trains definitely have a wow factor!
Though what's a tad odd about this journey is that you'll be on board a train that's in the Top 5 on a 'fastest trains in Europe' list, but there's no high speed railway line between Amsterdam and Cologne.
So this route isn't particularly fast and it isn't going to wow scenery fans, but there's still lots to see as the train passes through numerous towns and cities.
And if you sit on the left, you'll see a typical Dutch canal between Amsterdam and Utrecht; so you can sit back and watch the boats go by.
Train 2
Between Köln/Cologne Hbf and München Hbf/Munich main stationYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Munchen Hbf
All trains also call at: Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg
Most trains also call at: Munchen-Passing
Journey description:
This is a journey of five distinct phases:
- Until Siegburg/Bonn the first part of the journey is on a conventional railway.
- On departure from Siegburg/Bonn comes the part of the journey with a wow factor, when the train spends around 40 minutes racing along the rollercoaster that is the high speed line to Frankfurt Flughafen, at more than 280 km/h.
Please support ShowMeTheJourney
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but this period of time is shorter when looking up journeys in August to October.
A choice of tickets
Up to four types of ticket are typically available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa.
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis Europa tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
The Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Hamburg the station.
Seat reservations
For ticket holders seat reservations are always optional on this route, but if you will be using a rail pass they are now mandatory on the train from Amsterdam when travelling between mid-June and mid-August - check the Train guide for the exact dates.
Regardless of whether you will be using tickets or rail passes they cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Although if you do book your reservations later and your journey involves more than one train, you will then have to pay for separate reservations per train.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
On this journey which involves two trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees cover all trains - if reservations are added when initially booking.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though if you opt to add reservations later you will have pay the fees per train.
Booking on the DB website
To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so if you can be flexible with your departure time use the 'best prices' tool - at the top right on the list of journey options.
Making the connection or extending the transfer time:
Making booked connection is not guaranteed, but if the train from Amsterdam does arrive too late, tickets / reservations can be swapped free of charge to subsequent connections at the Reisezentrum travel desk
OR minimise your chances of encountering this scenario, by using the transfer tool on the DB home page
You can then book journey options which allow more than 30min to make the transfers between trains.
Route Information
Via stations: Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Option 2: by day connecting in Frankfurt
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
7hr 27min (via Frankfurt)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
**4 -5 x connections per day
Change trains in: Frankfurt (Main)
Purchase Tickets
DB Bahn Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.
Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.
NS Intl Guide
NS is the Dutch national rail operator and it operates a bespoke website for the booking of international rail journeys from and to The Netherlands.
Therefore it offers tickets for journeys by:
- Thalys trains to Bruxelles and Paris
- IC trains to Berlin via Hannover and Bruxelles via Antwerpen
- Eurostar to London
- ICE trains to Basel and Frankfurt (Main) via Koln
- the Nightjet trains to Austria and Germany
NS International also sells tickets to a range of destinations in Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Italy and Switzerland, which involve a change of train in Germany, along with the destinations in France, which can be accessed by making a connection in Bruxelles.
Travel Information
The fastest end-2-end daytime journey from Amsterdam to Muenchen (Dutch spelling of Munich) is available on this route via Frankfurt (Main).
However, on this routing via Frankfurt (Main) the connecting time between trains at Frankfurt is usually around 24mins.
So ideal IF the ICE from Amsterdam arrives on time; and the other big plus of this routing is that Frankfurt (Main) hbf is also an exceptionally easy station in which to change trains.
Though if the train is running late, the best option is to move towards the front of the train, as the easiest route to the train on to Munchen will be via the main concourse.
But this connection between trains is not guaranteed.
Though if the train from Amsterdam arrives too late to make the connection, tickets/reservations can be transferred on to the next ICE to Munchen at the Reisezentrum travel desk in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
On balance this route via Frankfurt would be our choice for a daytime train journey from Amsterdam to Munchen/Munich; and SMTJ put the chances of making the connection, or not, to the back of our mind.
Three reasons:
(1) The chances of making the connection will be more than 80%.
(2) Frankfurt (Main) is an easy station in which to change trains
(3) There'll be plenty of other options for travelling on to Munchen in the event of a delay
There is a minimum of 1 x ICE train per hour from Frankfurt (Main) to Munchen.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Amsterdam Centraal / Amsterdam CS and Frankfurt (Main) HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
All trains also call at: Koln/Cologne; Frankfurt Flughafen/Airport
There are few scenic highlights on this trip, though you'll be travelling beside a canal between Amsterdam and Utrecht; it can be seen on the left when travelling in this direction.
But what makes this journey fascinating is the multiple towns that the train will pass through, there is an interest contrast between the Dutch and German cityscapes
What gives the journey the wow factor is when the train travels on Germany's fastest high speed line
between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen.
Though the train will only be travelling at more than 280 km/h for around 50 mins of this journey; between Amsterdam and Seigburg/Bonn the train won't be travelling exceptionally fast.
Train 2
Between Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and München Hbf/Munich main stationYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Munchen
All trains also call at: Nurnberg
This is a journey of seven distinct phases:
- Between Frankfurt (Main) and Aschaffenburg the railway passes through a string of commuter towns.
- Then east of Aschaffenburg, is the most scenic and slowest part of the trip as the railway follows a series of valleys.
- As the River Main comes into view on the right, the train will speed up before bridging the river and entering a tunnel which will link it to the high speed line.
- The train will spend around 10-15 mins on the high speed line as it nears Wurzburg, just before the station look out on the right for a brief panorama over the river and city.
- On to Nurnberg the train will be on conventional railway tracks.
- Between Nurnberg and Ingolstadt comes the fastest part of the trip when the train should spend around 30 minutes travelling at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but this period of time is shorter when looking up journeys in August to October.
A choice of tickets
Up to four types of ticket are typically available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa.
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis Europa tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
The Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Hamburg the station.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on these trains.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
On this journey which involves two trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees cover all trains - if reservations are added when initially booking.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though if you opt to add reservations later you will have pay the fees per train.
Booking on the DB website
To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so if you can be flexible with your departure time use the 'best prices' tool - at the top right on the list of journey options.
Making the connection or extending the transfer time:
Making booked connection is not guaranteed, but if the train from Amsterdam does arrive too late, tickets / reservations can be swapped free of charge to subsequent connections at the Reisezentrum travel desk
OR minimise your chances of encountering this scenario, by using the transfer tool on the DB home page
You can then book journey options which allow more than 30min to make the transfers between trains.
Route Information
Option 3: travelling through the night on a direct train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
11hr 41min
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Info
1 x train per night
Purchase Tickets
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
NS Intl Guide
NS is the Dutch national rail operator and it operates a bespoke website for the booking of international rail journeys from and to The Netherlands.
Therefore it offers tickets for journeys by:
- Thalys trains to Bruxelles and Paris
- IC trains to Berlin via Hannover and Bruxelles via Antwerpen
- Eurostar to London
- ICE trains to Basel and Frankfurt (Main) via Koln
- the Nightjet trains to Austria and Germany
NS International also sells tickets to a range of destinations in Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Italy and Switzerland, which involve a change of train in Germany, along with the destinations in France, which can be accessed by making a connection in Bruxelles.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Innsbruck
This train also calls at: Augsburg ( typically arrives 06:23)
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Amsterdam-Centraal at 19:30; it also typically departs from Utrecht at 20:03 (connect from Den Haag and Rotterdam) and from Arnhem at 20:37 (connect from Nijmegen).
It is usually scheduled to arrive in München/Munich at 07:11; though due to the length of this journey it can be prone to having the timings altered due to works on the railway line.
If the train arrives on time, the following connections will be typically available at München hbf:
- 07:34 to Bolzano - Trento - Verona - Bologna
- 08:17 to Bad Gastein - Villach (connect for Ljubljana and Zagreb) - Klagenfurt
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
On departure from Amsterdam this train heading to Innsbruck via Munchen will be attached to another train heading to Wien, the two trains will be separated on arrival at Nurnberg.
Your reservations will be in the part of the train heading to Munchen and the train conductor will greet all passengers who will be travelling in the sleeping cabins and couchettes.
Though if you can only see info for a train heading to Wien on the departure screens at Centraal station, the info will be what you need to follow.
As the train will be continuing to Innsbruck, you will not be able to remain in the sleeping cabins on arrival at Munchen hbf - the sleeping cabin attendant can be asked to wake you so that you're up in time.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Amsterdam at 19:30, so target that time when looking up this journey.
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB (OBB is the operator of this train)
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
The choice of accommodation - summary:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click the train details button for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding this train.
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but you can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains_
Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.
If you arrange the reservations at a Dutch station you will also have to pay a booking fee.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
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