How to travel from München / Munich to Frankfurt (Main) by train

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München / Munich to Frankfurt by train

Sleek ICE trains link München / Munich to Frankfurt (Main) but what's slightly odd is that they take two different routes;
1 - via Nurnberg
2 - via Stuttgart
But because the trains on the route via Nurnberg ae faster, the only trains that have tickets available online are the trains on this route.

You might then wonder why, when you're at the station in Munich/Munchen why you can see trains to Frankfurt (Main) leaving before your departure, that you weren't aware of.
However, those other trains will arrive in Frankfurt after the train you will be taking.

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

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 München / Munich Journey guides for travel from Frankfurt (Main) / Francfort sur le Main

Route Information

Station Guides

The main station building at Munchen Hbf

München Hbf/Munich main station Rail Station Guide

The main station buildings at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

3hr 9min (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

16 x trains per day

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

Is this journey scenic?
It isn't exceptional - but the train will pass through woodland valleys between Wurzburg and Aschaffenburg.

What other tourist locations are along this route from Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main)?
These trains call in Nurnberg and Wurzburg.

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf from München Hbf?

Before 08:05 on Monday to Saturday
Before 10:05 on Sunday
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Frankfurt?
There are regular local (S-Bahn) trains which provide the fastest route to the city centre - 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 München Hbf to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf?
After 20:45 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to get to the station in Munich / München?
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 Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main) 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 Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main) 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 Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main) 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 Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main) 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 Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main) 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 Munich / München to Frankfurt (Main) 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: Dortmund or Essen

These trains also call at: Wurzburg (and Frankfurt Flughafen/airport)

The alternative route:

Every other hour (in odd hours) there is also an ICE train between Munich and Frankfurt which travels an alternative route via Stuttgart.
Those trains via Stuttgart tend to depart around 5 mins before these trains via Nurnberg, so you will see them listed on the departure screens at Munchen Hbf.

But the route they take is slower, so much so that these trains, which leave later, get to Frankfurt (Main) earlier.

Hence tickets can't usually be booked online for a train journey from Munich to Frankfurt (Main) on that alternative route via Stuttgart.
However, if you use the 'travelling with a bicycle' search option on the DB website, some of the trains on the route via Stuttgart are ICE 4 trains which have bike racks and EC trains which have bike storage, so you will be see those trains when looking up a journey

This is a direct journey

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

An ICE 3 (406) train on a Bruxelles - Frankfurt service

ICE 3 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

What gives this journey its wow factor is the opportunity to travel on the fabulous ICE 3 trains.

Journey description:

This is a journey of six distinct phases

Until Ingolstadt the train will be travelling on a conventional railway through a series of commuter towns.
In Ingolstadt station the train will move on to the high speed line and travel at more than 275 k/mh for around 40 minutes until it reaches the outskirts of Nurnberg
Between Nurnberg and Wurzburg the train will be back on conventional tracks
On departure from Wurzburg comes the part of the journey with a wow factor, the train will be on the high speed line for less than 15 minutes, but there are some nice views as the train crosses some long viaducts; in particular look out for when the train will burst out of a tunnel and then immediately cross the River Main.
Between there and Aschaffenburg comes the slowest, but most scenic part of the trip when the railway winds through some valleys.
From there to Frankfurt the railway passes through a series of towns.

Additional travel guides:

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 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 Munich / Frankfurt 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.
When a journey involves two or more trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees when first booking, cover all trains.
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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