How to travel from Berlin to Stralsund by train

During the day these Regio trains usually leave from Berlin in even hours.
So they're the most frequent train service on this route.

Final Destination: Stralsund

Ostseebad Binz is at the end of the railway route across the Isle of Rugen and there are local (Regio) trains every two hours from Stralsund to Ostseebad Binz; so they can provide useful onward connections if the timings of the direct trains ICE trains (option 2) don't suit.

Departing from Berlin:
These trains usually depart from the lower level (tief) in Berlin Hbf.

These trains also depart from Berlin Sudkreuz - which is to the south of the city centre and Berlin Gesunbrunnen station - which is to the north of the city centre.

Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.

Book early and save: No*

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date, usually

Journeys by Regio trains usually can't be booked online, but DB makes an exception on this route.
*Another exception to the usual rules, is that if you look up this journey more than 4 months ahead, tickets for these journey by Regio trains are more expensive.
However, book less than 4 months ahead and tickets are a fixed price.
So if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, taking these Regio trains will be cheaper than the alternative ICE services.

Though when the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets for those ICE trains are still available, you can save money by taking them, IF you can book in advance.
If you are booking a couple of weeks ahead, those express trains will only cost a couple of euros more.

Final Destination: Osteebad Binz

Despite there being no high speed line between Berlin and Stralsund, the fastest trains between the two cities are these ICE trains.
Though they are less frequent than the regular service of Regio (RE) trains on this route.

They're faster and much more comfortable than the RE trains and if the discounted tickets are still available, they can be (much) cheaper too.

Departing from Berlin:

These trains usually depart from the lower level (tief) in Berlin Hbf.

These trains also depart from Berlin Sudkreuz - which is to the south of the city centre and Berlin Gesunbrunnen station - which is to the north of the city centre.

Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.

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.

These ICE trains usually scheduled to depart from Berlin Hbf at:
09:46 on Saturdays only
13:46 daily
15:46 not Saturdays
So target these departure times when looking up this journey.

A choice of tickets

Four types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus

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 and Flexpreis Plus 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 tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis 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 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 the city centre and the station in Berlin

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains for journeys within Germany.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
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.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.

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.

1st Class tickets

No matter what type of ticket booked, if you choose to travel 1st class, you will have access to the same seating areas on the train, ICE trains do not have Business or Executive lounges.
Though only those who have booked 1st class Flexpreis or Flexpreis Plus tickets can access the DB Lounges at the stations.

Booking on the DB website

You can find these direct trains more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.

Or 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.