How to take the easy journey between these two cities

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Frankfurt to Hamburg by train

For the first third of the rail journey from from Frankfurt to Hamburg you may wonder why you are on an ICE train, but between Fulda and Hannover you will be travelling on a high speed line.

Routes you can take to go from Frankfurt (Main) / Francfort sur le Main to Hamburg

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?

Journey guides for travel to Frankfurt (Main) / Francfort sur le Main Journey guides for travel from Hamburg

Route Information

Station Guides

The main station buildings at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf Rail Station Guide

Hamburg Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

3hr 36min (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 x train per hour

Is the journey from Frankfurt (Main) to Hamburg direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.

Is this journey scenic?
Not particularly, though when the train is on the high-speed line between Fulda and Gottingen, there are flashes of sweeping valley views from the multiple viaducts.

What other tourist locations are along this route from Frankfurt (Main) to Hamburg?
These trains all call in Hannover

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Hamburg Hbf from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf on this journey option?

Before 09:55 on Monday to Friday
Before 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Hamburg?
Hamburg Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains and the metro (U-Bahn) - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.

When is the usual approximate latest departure from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Hamburg Hbf on this journey option
Before 21:15 daily - though this train doesn't arrive into Hamburg until after 01:00am
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to get to the station in Frankfurt (Main)?
Frequent local (S-Bahn) trains travel from stations in the city centre - and multiple tram and metro lines are also available.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Frankfurt to Hamburg trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access guides to how rail tickets are managed in Germany, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Frankfurt to Hamburg trains?
It can be up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December; and when looking up summer travel in March to May.

What are the child ticket terms for these Frankfurt to Hamburg trains?
Adults (aged 15 and over) purchasing discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets for travel in either First or Second class, can take up to four children (aged 14 and under) at no additional cost.

Does the ticket for these Frankfurt to Hamburg trains include assigned seats?
Only when booking the most expensive types of ticket = Flexpreise tickets for travel in 1st class.
So they are not included when booking tickets for travel in 2nd class, or any other type of ticket valid for travel in 1st class
They are available, so they can be added for an additional cost, when booking those types of ticket.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Frankfurt to Hamburg trains?
No they are available, but are not mandatory - Though they are recommended for this route, particularly at Hamburg

business hours,
Fridays after midday
Saturdays before midday
Sundays after midday
See the rail pass guide for details of the booking options.

Is catering available on the Frankfurt to Hamburg trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant car.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.

What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.

Travel Information

Final Destination: Hamburg-Altona (or Kiel)

All trains also call at: Hannover and Hamburg-Harburg which is a station on the southern outskirts of the city, so take casre to not leave the train here if you'll be heading to the city centre.

All of these trains will call at two stations adjacent to Hamburg city centre, Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg Dammtor.
So it can be worthwhile working out which of these stations will suit your needs best, before making the journey.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

ICE 1 (Germany) Train Guide

ICE 4 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

Note that you will be travelling on an ICE 1 or an ICE 4 train; as Germany's newest ICE trains are now used on some departures on this route.
If you will be travelling with a non-folding bicycle, you can only take it on the ICE 4 trains, but if you look up the journey on the DB, German national railways, booking service, you can hone in on which departures will use these trains.

There are other ICE trains from Frankfurt (Main) to Hamburg which travel through Koblenz and don't take a high-speed route, so are best avoided as they have journey times that are around two hours longer.

Until February 29th

Due to maintenance work on the high speed line typically used by these trains between Kassel and Fulda, the trains on this route will be diverted on to the slower, older railway.
As a result journey times will be extended by around 40-45 minutes.

These trains use the high speed line between Fulda and Hannover.

And this line is more scenic than most high-speed routes, there are fairly frequent long-distance views across a rolling landscape, from the viaducts between the tunnels.

The general guide to German rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes.

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

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 Aktion and Flexpreis

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 tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
Flexpreis Aktion tickets can't be refunded either - but their higher cost is due to...

...the other key difference is that both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date - in contrast, both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking,

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for both types of 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.

When travelling to and from the major cities, the Sparpreis, Flexpreis Aktion and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in the city centres of Frankfurt / Hamburg and the stations where the trains depart and arrive.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains for journeys within Germany - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
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 major stations.

Booking on the DB website

You can find these 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.

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