The ICE trains from Berlin to Hannover spend the majority of their journey between the two cities on a high speed line, so they're the fastest option.
It can be possible to save money by taking the slower, but less frequent IC trains
Departing from Berlin:
Final Destination: Koln Hbf/Dusseldorf Hbf or Koblenz Hbf
These trains commence their journey at Berlin Ostbahnhof station, which lives up to it name with a location to the east of the city centre.
They also usually depart from the upper most level in Berlin Hbf.
If your journey is commencing in West Berlin, the quickest option is to take a Regio or S-Bahn train from Berlin Zoologischer Garten station to Berlin-Spandau station and join these trains to Hannover there.
Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
1 x train per hour
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date - usually
Reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Though for this comparatively short journey the reservation fees of €4.50 in 2nd class and €5.90 in 1st class are relatively expensive.
Finding tickets:
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for these direct ICE trains.
On the DB Bahn booking site look for journeys that have;
0 in the Chg. column
ICE (and only ICE) in the Products column
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Use the earlier/later buttons to search for the cheapest ticket prices.
Though if you are booking less than a week or so ahead, you may be able to save money by taking the slower IC trains.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | from €17.90 | |
Save A Train | from €17.90 | |
Omio | from €17.90 | |
Happy rail | from €17.90 |
The ICE train service to Hannover is formed of two ICE trains joined together, one set of coaches will head for Koln and the other will head to Dusseldorf.
The trains are joined together for the journey to Hannover, so if you haven't reserved, it doesn't matter which part of the train you join.
Unlike the slower IC trains from Berlin to Hannover, these trains travel at more than 250 km/h on a high speed line between Berlin-Spandau and Wolfsburg.
Final Destination: Amsterdam or Koln or Nordeich Mole
All trains also call at: Berlin-Spandau
At Berlin Hbf the train should depart from the upper level (tief) platforms/gleis.
The alternative service of Flix trains:
Flix trains now compete with DB's trains, they now depart from Berlin for Hannover daily AND with an additional departure on Thursday - Sundays.
More info and tickets are available on the Flix Trains website.
Rail passes cannot be used on these trains.
7 - 9 x trains per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
The ICE trains tend to depart Berlin only 4 mins before the IC trains to Amsterdam, and as the ICE trains are faster, DB Bahn logically assumes that you’ll want to take the ICE trains.
So it doesn’t sell tickets for Berlin Hbf to Hannover journeys by the IC trains heading to Amsterdam.
DB Bahn will sell tickets for Berlin Hbf – Hannover journeys by the 1 – 3 x IC trains per day that are heading beyond Hannover to other destinations in Germany.
If you’re booking tickets less than a week ahead of your travel date, then there’s a small chance that these IC trains will be cheaper.
But otherwise take those ICE trains from Berlin to Hannover.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB Bahn | from €17.90 | |
Happy rail | from €17.90 | |
Omio | from €17.90 | |
Save A Train | from €17.90 |
Unlike the alternative ICE trains, these trains commence their journeys at Berlin Ostbahnhof station.
So they can be the best option for a Berlin to Hannover train ride, if the starting point of your journey in Berlin is close to Berlin Ost station.
These trains take a different route to the ICE trains and in the city they cross central Berlin on a viaduct, with great views over the city, particularly on the left.
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