How to travel from München / Munich to Hannover by train

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München / Munich to Hannover by train

Every hour during the day a sleek ICE train makes the train journey from München / Munich to Hannover

Routes you can take to go from München / Munich to Hannover

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

Route Information

Station Guides

The main station building at Munchen Hbf

München Hbf/Munich main station Rail Station Guide

Hannover Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

4hr 10min - 4hr 45min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 x train per hour on the route with a journey time of around 4hr 10min.

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

Is this journey scenic?
It isn't exceptional - but the high-speed line between Wurzburg an Hannover travels over multiple viaducts with sweeping valley views.

What other tourist locations are along this route from Munich / München to Hannover?
These trains call in Nurnberg and Wurzburg

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Hannover Hbf from München Hbf?

After 08:30 on Monday to Friday
After 09:30 on Saturday and Sunday
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the main station in Hannover?
Hannover Hbf is very conveniently located for the city centre.

When is the usual approximate latest departure from München Hbf to Hannover Hbf?

After 18:15 on Monday to Saturday
After 19:15 on Sunday
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 Hannover 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 Hannover 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 Hannover 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 Hannover 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 Hannover 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 Hannover 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 or Bremen

All trains also call at: Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe

The trains

A variety of different types of ICE trains are used on this route, for the time being most departures are by the ICE 1 trains and a few departures will be by the brand new ICE 4 trains.
ICE-2 and ICE T trains are also used on this route, particularly at weekends.

So it's worth looking at the train info on DB when looking up this journey, if you want to have a meal in a restaurant car you will need to take the ICE 1 or ICE 4 trains, if you want to take a non-folding bicycle you can only take the ICE 4 trains.

Slower Schedules due to construction work:

From April to December 9th 2023, a key section of the primary north<>south high-speed line in Germany is closed due to renewal works.
During the this time, the ICE trains travelling between Fulda and Kassel will be diverted on to the older classic line, which the high-speed route avoids; so the diversion will add around 60 mins to the journey time.
So trains will arrive into Hannover around an hour later than the usual time.

This is a direct journey

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

ICE 1 (Germany) Train Guide

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

ICE 2 (Germany) Train Guide

ICE T (Germany) Train Guide

ICE 4 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

The less frequent slower trains travel via Augsburg and these trains also call at Munchen-Passing.

The faster trains use the high speed line between Ingolstadt and Nurnberg.

Journey description:

This is a journey of four 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.
(The slower ICE trains take an alternative non-high speed route via Augsburg)
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, for more than 2hr 30mins until the outskirts of Hannover the train will travel between the stations at more than 250 km/h, there are some nice views as the train crosses some long viaducts, between the incredible number of 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 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 / Hannover 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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