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How to take a train journey from Paris to Berlin
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Paris to Berlin by train
There is now a choice when travelling from Paris to Berlin by train:
- travelling direct on an overnight train, though it will only be initially available when departing Paris on Tues, Thurs and Sat.
- travelling during the day on a combination of high speed trains.
What may not be obvious when looking up the daytime train journey from Paris to Berlin on the ticket booking websites is that the options follow two routes:
1: Taking Thalys train services from the Gare Du Nord in Paris to Koln hbf and then connecting there for an ICE train on to Berlin
2: Taking A DB-SNCF train service from the Gare de l'Est in Paris to one of several stations in central Germany; from where connections by ICE train are available on to Berlin.
When travelling from Gare de l'Est the connections between trains can be available at different stations - including Frankfurt (Main) hbf, Mannheim hbf or Karlsruhe hbf.
The ticket agents will offer a combination of connections which provide for the fastest end-to-end journey time.
However, it's easier to make the transfer between trains at Frankfurt (Main) hbf, because at that station all the platforms/tracks are on the same level, so making the connection there simply involves walking from one train to the other.
Routes you can take to go from Paris to Berlin
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?
Route Information
Option 1 - taking the direct night train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
from 13hr 15min (approx)
Frequency
Three nights per week
Travel Info
Departs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Is the journey from Paris to Berlin direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this journey option.
What other tourist locations are along the route from Paris to Berlin?
This train takes a route which passes through Strasbourg and Erfurt
When is the USUAL approximate earliest arrival at Berlin from Paris - Est on this journey option?
Around 09:15
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Berlin?
Berlin Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains, trams and the metro line, U5 - 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 l approximate latest departure from Paris Est to Berlin on this journey option
Before 19:15
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to get to the station in Paris?
The Gare de l'Est is served by three Metro lines including line 4 which provides a direct link from Gare Montparnasse and line 5 which is direct from Gare Austerlitz.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in the neighbourhood.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for the Paris to Berlin trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access a guide to how rail tickets are managed in France, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for the Paris to Berlin trains?
Typically up to 6 months ahead; see the Ticket Information
What are the child ticket terms for this Paris to Berlin trains?
Up to one child aged 5 and under travels free of charge, but they must travel in the booked seat, couchette or bed of the accompanying adult.
Separate sleeping areas and seats for children aged 4 can be booked as the "Child" ticket, which are low priced tickets available for children aged 6 to 14.
Source: Nightjet
Does the ticket for the Paris to Berlin train include assigned seats / sleeping places?
Yes - See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for the details of the types of accommodation.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for the Paris to Berlin train?
Yes; see the rail pass reservation guide for the options on how to book.
The rail pass reservation fees per person for the sleeping cabins are exceptionally expensive.
Is catering available on the Paris to Berlin train on this journey option?
Yes, but the level of on-board service varies according to the type of accommodation booked - Find out more on the Train Guides which can be found within the Journey Information.
These trains do not convey bar/bistros or restaurant cars.
What else is good to know about French rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in France.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF Connect Guide
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
Other Ticket Providers
OBB operates the Nightjet trains and it's bespoke booking path for these trains is particularly easy to follow, with detailed explanations of the accommodation options.
Nightjet Guide
Booking places in the sleeping cabins
When entering 2 travellers as 1 male and 1 female, you will automatically be given the option to book a 3-bed cabin for the sole use of the two of you - the 'double' cabin option.
So you will be in the cabin together with no other travellers.
3 men + 2 women or 3 women + 2 men = three beds in a triple cabin + two beds in a double cabin is what you will be offered, though the cabins will then be male and female only.
So if the combination of travellers is 1 male/female couple + 1 male/female couple and a child, you will need to make two separate bookings so that the two couples can each share a cabin.
When 4 Adults are travelling together you will be given the option of booking double or triple cabins.
If you select 'Double' you will automatically be assigned 4 beds in two double cabins.
Because the Triple cabins are segregated into male and female, when two women + two men are in the travel party, the two men will be sharing a triple compartment with another traveller, as will the two women
When 3 men + 1 woman or 3 women + 1 man are the travel party, the fourth person will then be sharing a three bed cabin with two other people.
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
Travel Information
Due to extensive construction work in Germany and France this Nightjet service will not be available between August 12th and October 25th:
From October 28th, the route will be offered again as scheduled.
Final Destination Berlin Hbf
The train will typically be departing Paris on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings only.
It is scheduled to leave from the Gare De l'Est at around 19:10.
The train will also call at: Erfurt and Halle (Saale)
Arriving in Berlin
The train is typically scheduled to arrive into Berlin Hbf between 08:25 and 09:15, depending on the travel date - due to the length of the journey the schedule often has to be altered due to works on the lines.
Usual onward connections:
- To Warszawa before 10:00
- To Dresden at around 10:25
- To Wroclaw, Krakow and Katowice at around 10:50
These trains will call at Berlin-Südkreuz before they arrive at Berlin's main station, Berlin hbf.
It's worth checking the lcoation of your final destination in Berlin - there are direct S-Bahn trains from Sudkreuz to FriedrichstraBe and locations to the east and west of the city centre.
Check your onward connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Paris to Berlin night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: from 6 months ahead of the travel date
The train conveys:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berthsm
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
Click the train details below for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains,
You can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains).Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.
Route Information
Via stations: Köln/Cologne Hbf
Option 2: Depart from the Gare Du Nord and connect in Köln
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
8hr 8min - 8hr 14min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
3 x optimum connections per day
Is this journey from Paris to Berlin direct?
No, a connection is required in Köln Hbf*
What other tourist locations are along this route from Paris to Berlin?
Bruxelles and Köln /Cologne and Hannover
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Berlin?
Berlin Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains, trams and the metro line, U5 - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.
How easy is it to get to the station in Paris?
The Gare Du Nord is served by two Metro lines - line 4 serves also serves Gare Montparnasse and line 5 also serves Paris Austerlitz.
The station also has direct rail links from the Gare de Lyon and CDG Airport.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay by the Gare De Nord.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for the this ?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' buttons to access additional info including guides to ticketing policies on routes which involve connections between trains.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale?
Typically up to 6 months ahead; see the Ticket Information
What are the child ticket terms for this journey option?
- For the part of the journey by Eurostar train = Children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium Class: Source = Eurostar
- For the part of the journey by ICE train = An adult a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
Does the ticket this journey option include assigned seats?
- Yes on the train from Paris to Koln / Cologne
- On the train from Koln / Cologne to Berlin, reservations are included when booking the more expensive types of ticket, but have to be added at an additional cost when booking the cheaper types of ticket.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for this journey option?
- Yes on the train from Paris
- On the train from Koln / Cologne to Berlin, reservations are required for travel in June to September, but are optional at other times of year
See the rail pass reservation guide for the options on how to book.
Is catering available on this journey option?
A bar / bistro service will be available on all trains.
Find out more on the Train Guides which can be found within the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about French rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in France.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on rail tickets booked with Omio, a booking service which lists the cheapest option for each day of travel first in its search results. It also often enables easy comparison between taking the train and other modes of transport.
Omio Guide
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Travel Information
There are no direct daytime trains from Paris to Berlin.
When taking the train from Paris to Berlin there is a choice of routes, you can either
(1) Taking this route - departing from the Gare Du Nord and travelling via Koln/Cologne
A plus of taking this routing is that you SHOULD have between 30 and 35 mins to to make the connection between trains at Koln Hbf.
Which is pretty much ideal, if the Thalys train from Paris arrives on time.
OR
(2) Taking an alternative route; departing from the Gare de l'Est and travelling via Frankfurt (Main)
There is little difference in journey times and neither route is particular scenic compared to the other - and both routes involve extensive travel on high speed lines on state of the art trains.
So the deciding factor as to which route to take is likely to be price. as explained in the 'Ticket Information' below.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Paris Gare Du Nord/Paris Nord and Köln/Cologne HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Details of the departures which are currently available can be found on the Thalys website, (change the departure and arrival stations).
Note that these trains depart from Gare du Nord in Paris.
Final Destination: Dortmund or Essen or Köln
For a stress-free journey it's a good idea to be at the Gare Du Nord at least 20 minutes before departure as all passengers taking the Thalys trains have to pass through security checks.
So being at the back of the queue wondering if you'll be able to board in time is a scenario best avoided.
Journey Description
This is a fascinating journey of six distinct phases.
- Around seven minutes after departure the train will move on to the high speed line and it will then travel at more than 280 km/h for around 80 minutes until it reaches the suburbs of Bruxelles; this is the fastest part of the trip.
- On departure from Bruxelles-Midi the train will cross the city centre in a tunnel.
- Then after Bruxlles-Nord the train will move on to a re-engineered railway until Leuven.
- Between Leuven and five minutes before arrival in Liege the train will travel up to 250 km/h on a high speed line.
- After Liege and until Aachen the train will again achieve speed in excess of 280 km/h as it heads over the border into Germany.
- Then from Aachen until the suburbs of Koln/Cologne, the train will travel at 200 kn/h on a re-engineered railway.
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Train 2
Between Köln/Cologne Hbf and Berlin HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
All trains also call at: Bielefeld, Hannover and Berlin-Spandau*
*If your final destination is in West Berlin, the fastest option is usually to leave these trains at Berlin-Spandau and connect there into S-Bahn commuter trains or Regio trains.
The station in the heart of West Berlin is Zoologischer-Garten, but these ICE trains do not call there.
If your final destination is to the north of the city centre, then it's likely that your best option is to take this train to Berlin-Gesundbrunnen station.
Check your onward connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
This a journey on which we recommend having something to do on the trip, as it's a train ride with few wow moments.
A highlight of the train comes near the beginning, with the views over the city of Wuppertal, on the left hand side.
Between there and Bielefeld, the train will pass through an industrial landscape.
The train will travel at more than 250 km/h on a high speed line between Wolfsburg and Berlin-Spandau.
Tickets
Book in advance and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.
The alternative route via Frankfurt tends to be the cheaper, because the German national rail operator, DB, offers its discounted ‘Europa-Spezial’ tickets on that route, but they’re not available when travelling via Koln/Cologne.
Though the prices of both routes can be compared on the Trainline website.
On this routing it's worth checking whether you can save money by booking separate tickets for the Paris to Koln/Cologne and Koln/Cologne to Berlin journeys.
Though be aware that if you do so - and the Thalys train from Paris arrives too late in Koln for you to make the fastest connection (of between 30 and 35 mins) into the train on to Berlin; you may have to book a new ticket in Koln for the journey on to Berlin.
However, an option is to book the separate tickets, but then take a later train on from Koln, to allow more than 1hr 30mins to make the connection at Koln Hbf station.
If you DO want to book the end-2-end journey on SNCF Connect look for the journeys that have 2 corresp. THALYS ICE' in the journey summary.
And if you book an end-2-end ticket from Paris to Berlin, in the event of the train arriving too late in Koln to make the connection on to Berlin, your tickets/reservations can be transferred to the next departure.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass valid in both France and Germany, you will save money if you travel on the alternative route via [Frankfurt (Main) because the rail pass reservation fees are more expensive on the Paris – Koln Thalys trains.
Route Information
Via stations: Karlsruhe Hbf
Option 3: Depart from Gare de l'Est, connecting in Karlsruhe
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
8hr 33min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x optimum connection per day
Is this journey from Paris to Berlin direct?
No, a connection is required in Karlsruhe
What other tourist locations are along this route from Paris to Berlin?
Strasbourg and Erfurt
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Berlin?
Berlin Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains, trams and the metro line, U5 - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.
How easy is it to get to the station in Paris?
The Gare de l'Est is served by three Metro lines including line 4 which provides a direct link from Gare Montparnasse and line 5 which is direct from Gare Austerlitz.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in the neighbourhood.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for the this ?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' buttons to access additional info including guides to ticketing policies on routes which involve connections between trains.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale?
Typically up to 6 months ahead; see the Ticket Information
What are the child ticket terms for this journey option?
- The child ticket policy for the part of the journey in France = the adult rate is charged for all travellers aged 12 and over; children aged 4-11 pay half fares
- The child ticket policy for the part of the journey in Germany = An adult a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
Does the ticket this journey option include assigned seats?
- Yes on the train from Paris to Karlsruhe
- On the train from Karlsruhe to Berlin, reservations are included when booking the more expensive types of ticket, but have to be added at an additional cost when booking the cheaper types of ticket.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for this journey option?
- Yes on the train from Paris
- On the train from Frankfurt to Berlin, reservations are required for travel in June to September, but are optional at other times of year
See the rail pass reservation guide for the options on how to book.
Is catering available on the trains on this journey option?
A bar / bistro service will be available on all trains.
- On the train from Paris, this bistro menu is available as an at seat catering service in Premiere Class.
- On the train from Karlsruhe a restaurant and a bar/bistro car will be available, with an at seat catering service in 1st class.
Find out more on the Train Guides which can be found within the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about French rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in France.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
Other Ticket Providers
DB Bahn Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.
Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.
Travel Information
This journey, which usually involves departing Paris at 10:55, has been singled out because it allows more than 30mins in Karlsruhe to make the connection between trains.
So making the connection is less of a gamble than making the more tightly timed connections on the alternative options, which involve departing from the Gare de l'Est and changing trains in Frankfurt or Mannheim.
However, when making connections in Germany with an end-2-end ticket(s) , it/they can be always be transferred free of charge to a later departure, in the event of a train running late.
Keep that in mind as this journey option via Karlsruhe tends to be more expensive than making the connection between trains in Frankfurt or Mannheim.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Paris Gare de l'Est/Paris Est and Karlsruhe HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination Stuttgart
Note that this train departs from Gare de l'Est in Paris.
The train will travel on a high speed line between Paris and Strasbourg
Train 2
Between Karlsruhe Hbf and Berlin HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Berlin Ost
Train also calls at: Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, Hildesheim and Berlin-Spandau.
If your final destination is in West Berlin, the quickest option is to leave this train at Berlin-Spandau and connect there for S-Bahn (local) or Regio trains.
Tickets
Book in advance and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This particular journey option, which departs Paris at 10:55, tend to be more expensive than making connections in Frankfurt (Main) or Mannheim
It has been singled out because it allows more than 30 mins to make the connection between trains (similar to the connecting times between trains on the alternative route via Koln/Cologne).
The greater the connecting time between trains, the greater the chance of having a stress-free journey, when taking a train from Paris to Berlin.
Route Information
Via stations: Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Option 4: depart from Gare de l'Est, connecting in Frankfurt (Main)
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
8hr 8min - 8hr 22min)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
4 x connections per day
Is this journey from Paris to Berlin direct?
No, a connection is required in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
What other tourist locations are along this route from Paris to Berlin?
Strasbourg and Erfurt
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Berlin?
Berlin Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains, trams and the metro line, U5 - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.
How easy is it to get to the station in Paris?
The Gare de l'Est is served by three Metro lines including line 4 which provides a direct link from Gare Montparnasse and line 5 which is direct from Gare Austerlitz.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in the neighbourhood.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for the this ?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' buttons to access additional info including guides to ticketing policies on routes which involve connections between trains.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale?
Typically up to 6 months ahead; see the Ticket Information
What are the child ticket terms for this journey option?
- The child ticket policy for the part of the journey in France = the adult rate is charged for all travellers aged 12 and over; children aged 4-11 pay half fares
- The child ticket policy for the part of the journey in Germany = An adult a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
Does the ticket this journey option include assigned seats?
- Yes on the train from Paris to Frankfurt
- On the train from Frankfurt to Berlin, reservations are included when booking the more expensive types of ticket, but have to be added at an additional cost when booking the cheaper types of ticket.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for this journey option?
- Yes on the train from Paris
- On the train from Frankfurt to Berlin, reservations are required for travel in June to September, but are optional at other times of year
See the rail pass reservation guide for the options on how to book.
Is catering available on the trains on this journey option?
A bar / bistro service will be available on all trains.
- On the train from Paris, the on board service depends on the type of train used for a specific departure.
- On the train from Frankfurt a restaurant and a bar/bistro car will be available, with an at seat catering service in 1st class.
Find out more on the Train Guides which can be found within the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about French rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in France.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.
Purchase Tickets
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Travel Information
If you book with DB two of these connections involve changing trains in Mannheim and not Frankfurt (Main).
However, if you will be booking end-2-end tickets then the slight issue with this route, is that you will only have less than 15 mins to make any of the optimum connections required in either Mannheim or Frankfurt (Main).
Delays of more than 10 mins are not unknown on these trains from Paris.
Though if you do miss the booked connection in Mannheim or Frankfurt (Main) due to late running, then tickets/reservations can be transferred free of charge to a later departure on to Berlin.
Though be aware that there are more frequent trains between Frankfurt (Main) and Berlin, than between Mannheim and Berlin.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Paris Gare de l'Est/Paris Est and Frankfurt (Main) HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination Frankfurt (Main)
All trains also call at: Mannheim (where connections can also be available into trains on to Berlin).
Note that this train departs from Gare de l'Est in Paris.
The morning departures are scheduled to be TGV trains, while the afternoon/evening departures should be ICE trains.
Via: Kaiserslautern
This is a journey of four distinct phases.
- Around 13 minutes after departure the train will move on to the high speed line, on which between Champagne-Ardennes and Lorraine, it should travel at more than 300 km/h (faster than the speed achieved by ICE trains in Germany).
- Shorty after passing Lorraine TGV station, the train will move on to conventional tracks.
- Between Kaiserslautern and Neustadt the train will travel through a series of forests in the valleys, this is the most scenic part of the journey.
- After passing through the cities of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, the train will pass through the commuter towns to the south of Frankfurt.
Via: Strasbourg
This is a journey of three distinct phases.
- The train will take the same high speed line from Paris, but will remain on it until around 5 minutes before arrival in Strasbourg.
- On departure from Strasbourg the train will travel fairly slowly on a route it will share with local metro trains.
- Then it will speed up, but remain on conventional railway tracks as it passes through Karlsruhe and Mannheim.
Train 2
Between Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and Berlin HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
The ICE trains between Frankfurt (Main) and Berlin now take multiple routes, but the trains with the optimum connections with arrivals on Paris are the trains which travel via Kassel.
Arriving in Berlin:
These trains via Kassel also call at Berlin-Spandau station*
- Terminate at Berlin Ost station
If you’re heading to West Berlin the best option is usually to leave this train at Berlin-Spandau
You can then connect there into a S-Bahn (local) or Regio trains on to Zoologischer Garten (Berlin-Zoo) station, which is the main station in West Berlin.
Zoologischer Garten station also has trains from Berlin Hbf, but you'll end up travelling back the way, that the train from Frankfurt (Main), will have just travelled.
Journey description:
Now that the high speed line between Erfurt and Halle has opened, the ICE trains from Frankfurt (Main) to Berlin now take two different routes:
(1) via Erfurt OR
(2) via Kassel.
via Kassel
This is a journey of four distinct phases:
- From Frankfurt to Fulda on to the train will travel on a conventional railway
- Between Fulda and Hildeshein the train will make use of Germany's first high speed line; this is the part of the journey with a wow factor as the train will travel across dozens of viaducts and bridges, which occur as flashes between numerous tunnels
- Then between 10 minutes after departure from Braunschweig until Berlin-Spandau the train will be on a high speed line across dull farmland.
- One of the highlights of the journey comes right at the end of the trip when the train travels on a viaduct across Berlin with great views over the city centre.
via Erfurt
These trains follow the route above to Fulda and then take a twisty, but scenic route to Erfurt.
But then after departure from Erfurt they will travel at up to 290 km/h on Germany's newest high speed line for around 40 minutes, but the remainder of the journey on to Berlin is back on conventional tracks.
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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 ticket are typically available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa.
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 Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa 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 Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa 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 Europa 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 from Berlin Hbf to locations in Berlin city centre.
Seat reservations
Reservations are mandatory on the train from Paris, so will be included, when booking tickets, but if you will be using a rail pass you will need to make a reservation.
Seat reservations are optional on the ICE train on Berlin.
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.
On this journey which involves two trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees cover all trains - if reservations are added when initially booking.
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.
Though if you opt to add reservations later you will have pay the fees per train.
Booking on the DB website
To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Making the connection or extending the transfer time:
These journey times and the associated train specific tickets are are all dependent on making a transfer between ICE trains in Frankfurt (Main) station of around 15 mins.
This connection is not guaranteed - it is not particularly unusual for the trains from Paris to arrive late into Frankfurt (Main) hbf station.
IF the ICE does arrive too late - then tickets/reservations can be swapped free of charge to subsequent connections at the Reisezentrum travel desk
OR minimise your chances of encountering this stressful scenario, by using the transfer tool on the DB home page
You can then book journey options which allow more than 30min to make the transfers between trains; though the connections you will then be offered can involve making the transfer between trains at other stations than Frankfurt (Main() hbf.
And these alternative routings can be more expensive.
Rail Pass Users:
Travelling with a rail pass
If you will be making this journey with a Eurail or InterRail pass then make reservations on a train to Frankfurt (Main) and make the connections there.
It's an exceptionally easy station in which to change trains and you won't have to make any reservations on trains between Frankfurt (Main)
Meaning that if the train from Paris arrives on time you can often gamble on making a 3-4 minute connection into a different ICE service on to Berlin, the tightly timed connection means that ticket bookers aren't given this option.
If you gamble and lose there will be another train on to Berlin within 15 minutes.
Reservations when using rail passes:
If you have a rail pass the best option is to book the reservation on a DB-SNCF train from Paris to Frankfurt (Main) – you’ll need to do this before you board this train
And then on arrival in Frankfurt (Main) you can either:
(1) hop on the next ICE train to Berlin – and hope that can find spare seats on the train (it’s more likely that you will, than you won’t).
(2) Use a DB ticket machine or stop by the Reisezentrum travel desk at Frankfurt (Main) and book reservations on the next ICE to Berlin
(3) Book the reservations on the Frankfurt to Berlin ICE before you leave Paris; and then IF you miss the connection you are booked on to, because the train from Paris is delayed, you can then transfer your reservation to the next ICE train, free of charge at the Reisezentrum travel desk.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
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