How to take the rail journey from Hamburg to Nuremberg / Nürnberg

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Hamburg to Nürnberg / Nuremberg by train

This journey guide focuses on travelling on the trains which typically take the most direct and fastest route - most of which usually travel on the longest high speed line in Germany between Hannover and Wurzburg.

Routes you can take to go from Hamburg to Nürnberg / Nuremberg

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 Hamburg

Route Information

Station Guides

Hamburg Hbf Rail Station Guide

Nürnberg Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

4hr 23min* (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

Mon Fri = 14 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = 13 x trains per day

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

Is this journey scenic?
Not particularly, though the high speed line between Hannover and Fulda crosses a hilly landscape and there are many viaducts between the tunnels

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Nurnberg Hbf from Hamburg Hbf on this journey option?

Around 09:25 on Monday to Saturday
Around 10:25 on Sunday
Source = Deutsche Bahn

When is the usual approximate latest departure from Hamburg Hbf to Nurnberg Hbf on this journey option
After 18:00 daily
Source = Deutsche Bahn

How easy is it to get to 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.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Hamburg to Nurnberg 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 Hamburg to Nurnberg 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 Hamburg to Nurnberg 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 Hamburg to Nurnberg 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 Hamburg to Nurnberg trains?
No they are available, but are not mandatory - Though they are recommended for this route, particularly at

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 Hamburg to Nurnberg trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant service
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

Departing from Hamburg:

Most of these trains commence their journeys at Hamburg-Altona station and they all call at Hamburg-Dammtor before they arrive at Hamburg Hbf.

So it can be a good idea to look up the starting point of your journey and then book tickets from the most convenient station; only Hamburg Hbf has connections with the U-Bahn (subway).

Final Destination: Munchen (or Wien)

All trains also call at: Wurzburg

A variety of different types of ICE trains are used on this route including the brand new ICE4 trains.

ICE 1 trains are used for most other departures, but the trains which are joined to departures from Bremen in Hannover are formed of ICE 2 or ICE-T trains.

The alternative routes:

At Hamburg Hbf you may see trains to Nurnberg on the departure screens, which will be travelling via Berlin.
They are much slower than these trains, which travel via Hannover and Wurzburg.

Other slower trains also travel to Nurnberg via Koln.

DB doesn't sell tickets for Hamburg to Nurnberg journeys by either of these slower routes, it logically assumes that travellers will want to save more than an hour, when making the journey

Though if you will be travelling with a rail pass, take care to board these faster ICE trains, which will be travelling via Kassel.

This is a direct journey

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

Two ICE 2 trains have been combined for the remainder of the journey

ICE 2 (Germany) Train Guide

ICE 4 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

The ICE 2 trains are used on the services which combine in Hannover, with trains which depart from Bremen.

This is a journey of thee distinct phases:

Until Hannover the train will travel at up to 200 km/h on a conventional railway.
. On departure from Hannover comes the part of the journey with a wow factor, for more than 2hr 30mins the train will travel between the stations at more than 250 km/h on the high speed line and there are some nice views as the train crosses the long viaducts, between the incredible number of tunnels.
Between Wurzburg and Nurnberg the train will be back on conventional tracks

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 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.

When travelling to and from the major cities, the Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in the city centres of Hamburg / Nurnberg 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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