The best way to explore Germany is by train and if you are looking for travel inspiration, in this article you will find a list of popular routes to help you plan your trip.
Train Routes in Germany
1. Berlin – Potsdam
Potsdam is a popular day trip destination from Berlin. The city is famous for the Sanssouci Park, a park with beautiful palaces and gardens.
Train from Berlin to Postdam – Distance: 35.1 km (21.8 miles) – 0h24m – Prices from US$7.
2. Berlin – Schwerin
Schwerin is a charming city located in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state, it is famous for its beautiful moated castle and lakes.
Train from Berlin to Schwerin – Distance: 207 km (128 miles) – 2h36m – Prices from US$31.
3. Berlin – Lübeck
Lübeck is a city located in northern Germany, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The Holstentor Gate and the Lübeck Cathedral are among the most popular attractions in the city.
Train from Berlin to Lübeck – Distance: 285 km (177 miles) – 2h42m – Prices from US$30.
4. Berlin – Dresden
Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony, in eastern Germany. It is located along the river Elbe.
Beautiful palaces, churches, and museums are some of the city’s attractions.
Train from Berlin to Dresden – Distance: 194 km (120 miles) – 1h50m – Prices from US$25.
5. Berlin – Leipzig
Leipzig is the largest city in the state of Saxony by population. The Monument to the Battle of the Nations, an observatory and museum of history, is one of the symbols and main attractions of the city.
Train from Berlin to Leipzig – Distance: 191 km (119 miles) – 1h51m – Prices from US$22.
6. Berlin – Magdeburg
Magdeburg is the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The city is located along the Elbe, and the Cathedral of Magdeburg, the Hubbrücke Magdeburg, and the Johanniskirche are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
Train from Berlin to Magdeburg – Distance: 155 km (96.5 miles) – 1h31m – Prices from US$22.
7. Hamburg – Bremen
Bremen is a city-state located along the Weser River, known for its beautiful Hanseatic buildings and the historic area of Schnoor.
Train from Hamburg to Bremen – Distance: 122 km (75.9 miles) – 0h56m – Prices from US$22.
8. Hamburg – Kiel
Kiel is the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein and is located on the banks of the Kiel fjord and the Baltic Sea channel to the north.
It is one of the main maritime centers in Germany with many of the attractions related to the theme.
Train from Hamburg to Kiel – Distance: 97,2 km (60.4 miles) – 1h11m – Prices from US$22.
9. Hamburg – Hannover
Hannover is the capital of the state of Lower Saxony. It is known for its old town with beautiful half-timbered houses and the beautiful New Town Hall.
The city hosts many important fairs.
Train from Hamburg to Hannover – Distance: 151 km (94.1 miles) – 1h36m – Prices from US$22.
10. Hannover – Celle
Celle is a city located in the state of Lower Saxony, not far from Hannover.
The Celle Castle and the French Garden are the most popular attractions in the city.
Train from Hannover to Celle – Distance: 42,5 km (26.4 miles) – 0h44m – Prices from US$13.
11. Hannover – Brunswick
Brunswick is a city in the state of Lower Saxony. The Residenzschloss, the Dankwarderode Castle, and the cathedral are some of the main attractions in the city.
Train from Hannover to Brunswick – Distance: 67,6 km (42 miles) – 0h43m – Prices from US$17.
12. Hannover – Kassel
Kassel is a city located in the state of Hessen, on the banks of the Fulda River.
It is known as the capital of the German Route of Fairy Tales and was home to the Brothers Grimm.
Train from Hannover to Kassel – Distance: 168 km (104 miles) – 0h54m – Prices from US$23.
13. Cologne – Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is a city in Germany located along the Rhine.
It is known for the fashion industry and the beautiful Schloss Benrath.
Train from Cologne to Düsseldorf – Distance: 44,1 km (27.4 miles) – 0h31m – Prices from US$21.
14. Cologne – Essen
Essen is a city located in the Ruhr region in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein is the city’s most popular tourist attraction.
Train from Cologne to Essen – Distance: 71,8 km (44.6 miles) – 0h55m – Prices from US$23.
15. Cologne – Dortmund
Dortmund is known for the Borussia Dortmund football team. It is located in the Ruhr region in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The LWL Industrial Museum Zollern, the Dortmunder U, and the Westfalenpark are some of the main tourist spots in the city.
Train from Cologne to Dortmund – Distance: 94,6 km (58.8 miles) – 1h16m – Prices from US$23.
16. Cologne – Bonn
Bonn is a beautiful city located on the banks of the Rhine in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The city is known for being the birthplace of the famous German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
Train from Cologne to Bonn – Distance: 34,2 km (21.2 miles) – 0h23m – Prices from US$14.
17. Cologne – Koblenz
Koblenz is a city located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, in the state of Rhineland Palatinate.
The Deutsches Eck, the Schloss Koblenz, and the Festung Ehrenbreitstein are some of the city’s must-see attractions.
Train from Cologne to Koblenz – Distance: 113 km (70.3 miles) – 1h08m – Prices from US$23.
18. Koblenz – Cochem
Cochem is a beautiful city in the state of Rhineland Palatinate. It is known mainly for its castle, the Reichsburg Cochem.
Train from Koblenz to Cochem – Distance: 55,5 km (34.5 miles) – 0h35m – Prices from US$14.
19. Frankfurt – Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is the capital of the state of Hessen. The city is located on the right bank of the Rhine, and the Museum Wiesbaden and the Biebrich Palace are some of the main attractions in the city.
Train from Frankfurt to Wiesbaden – Distance: 39 km (24.2 miles) – 0h45m – Prices from US$20.
20. Frankfurt – Heidelberg
Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, and a popular destination to combine with Frankfurt.
Heidelberg Castle is a symbol of the city and its main attraction.
Train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg – Distance: 88,7 km (55.1 miles) – 1h10m – Prices from US$23.
21. Frankfurt – Rüdesheim am Rhein
Rüdesheim am Rhein is a city located in the Rhine Valley region. It is known for its wine production and the ruins of Ehrenfels Castle.
Train from Frankfurt to Rüdesheim am Rhein – Distance: 63,6 km (39.5 miles) – 1h12m – Prices from US$23.
22. Frankfurt – Mainz
Mainz is the capital of the Rhineland Palatinate state.
The Gutenberg Museum and the Kurfürstliches Schloss are some of the popular tourist spots in the city.
Train from Frankfurt to Mainz – Distance: 43,7 km (27.2 miles) – 0h31m – Prices from US$20.
23. Frankfurt – Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg is a popular destination to visit from Frankfurt, and the Schloss Johannisburg is the city’s prominent tourist attraction.
Train from Frankfurt to Aschaffenburg – Distance: 40,3 km (25.1 miles) – 0h28m – Prices from US$18.
24. Frankfurt – Würzburg
Würzburg is one of the cities on the Romantic Road and the best destination to start exploring the route.
The Residenz Würzburg, the Festung Marienberg and the Alte Mainbrücke are the city’s must-see attractions.
Train from Frankfurt to Würzburg – Distance: 119 km (73.9 miles) – 1h07m – Prices from US$23.
25. Frankfurt – Mannheim
Mannheim is a city located in the state of Baden-Württemberg at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers. It is known as the square city due to its network of square streets.
Train from Frankfurt to Mannheim – Distance: 84,2 km (52.3 miles) – 0h57m – Prices from US$23.
26. Frankfurt – Freiburg
Freiburg is a city located in the Black Forest, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The city has a charming medieval old town, and the cathedral and the Schwabentor are two symbols of the city.
Train from Frankfurt to Freiburg – Distance: 270 km (168 miles) – 2h43m – Prices from US$23.
27. Frankfurt – Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is one of the most elegant cities in Germany, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, in the Black Forest.
The city has a beautiful historic center and is famous for its spas.
Train from Frankfurt to Baden-Baden – Distance: 174 km (108 miles) – 1h40m – Prices from US$23.
28. Frankfurt – Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The city is full of green areas in its surroundings, it is known as an industrial center and for hosting the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums.
Train from Frankfurt to Stuttgart – Distance: 210 km (131 miles) – 3h13m – Prices from US$23.
29. Stuttgart – Hechingen
Hechingen is a city located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, known for its spectacular castle, the Hohenzollern Castle.
Train from Stuttgart to Hechingen – Distance: 64,3 km (39.9 miles) – 1h04m – Prices from US$12,80.
30. Stuttgart – Esslingen am Neckar
Esslingen am Neckar is a city located along the Neckar River, a popular destination to visit on a day trip from Stuttgart.
The city has beautiful historic buildings and is surrounded by vineyards.
Train from Stuttgart to Esslingen am Neckar – Distance: 17,1 km (10.6 miles) – 0h11m – Prices from US$12.
31. Würzburg – Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the most popular destinations to visit on the Romantic Route.
The city is known for its intact walls and the intersection of the famous Plönlein.
Train from Würzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Distance: 65,3 km (40.7 miles) – 1h01m – Prices from US$20.
32. Munich – Füssen
Füssen is a charming city located in Bavaria, known as the gateway to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Germany’s postcards.
The city is also home to interesting attractions like the High Castle of Füssen and the Füssem Museum.
Train from Munich to Füssen – Distance: 135 km (83.6 miles) – 2h03m – Prices from US$36.
33. Munich – Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Germany located in the state of Bavaria along the Danube.
The Regensburg Cathedral, the Old Stone Bridge, and the Regensburg History Museum are some of the city’s highlights.
Train from Munich to Regensburg – Distance: 124 km (77.2 miles) – 1h33m – Prices from US$37.
34. Munich – Augsburg
Augsburg is a popular destination to visit on a day trip from Munich.
The city’s best-known attractions include the Fuggerei, the cathedral, and the Perlach Tower.
Train from Munich to Augsburg – Distance: 79,9 km (49.6 miles) – 0h29m – Prices from US$23.
35. Munich – Nuremberg
Nuremberg is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Bavaria.
The city is known for its castle, the Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände Museum, and is also home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Train from Munich to Nuremberg – Distance: 169 km (105 miles) – 1h09m – Prices from US$23.
36. Munich – Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located in the state of Bavaria.
It is a popular winter destination known for the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain peak.
Train from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Distance: 90,5 km (56.2 miles) – 1h37m – Prices from US$28.
37. Munich – Bamberg
Bamberg is a city located in the Upper Franconia region in the state of Bavaria.
The Old Town Hall, the Michelsberg monastery, and its breweries are some of the city’s attractions.
Train from Munich to Bamberg – Distance: 231 km (143 miles) – 2h26m – Prices from US$31.
38. Munich – Passau
Passau is a city located in the state of Bavaria known as the “City of Three Rivers“.
The city has beautiful Baroque architecture and is a popular river cruise destination.
Train from Munich to Passau – Distance: 192 km (120 miles) – 2h13m – Prices from US$28.
39. Munich – Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city located along the Danube in the state of Bavaria.
It is known for the Audi Museum Mobile and for hosting one of the best outlets in Europe, the Ingolstadt Village.
Train from Munich to Ingolstadt – Distance: 81,9 km (50.9 miles) – 0h57m – Prices from US$24.
40. Munich – Ulm
Ulm is a city located along the Danube, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, on the border with Bavaria.
The cathedral, the Fischerviertel, and the Wilhelmsburg are some of the city’s attractions.
Train from Munich to Ulm – Distance: 156 km (97.2 miles) – 1h14m – Prices from US$23.
Featured Photo Credit: Markus Winkler
Book Your Trip
Book Your Accommodation
Book your hotel with Booking.com as they consistently provide the cheapest and lowest rates.
Book Your Flight
Find cheap flights to Germany by using Momondo. Momondo is a flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many budget carriers.
Book a Train Ticket
Check the train routes and schedules with Omio. Omio is an authorized Deutsche Bahn ticket seller, which compares and combines transport options for complete flexibility.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, and cancellations. It’s a protection in case anything goes wrong. You can book your travel insurance with Travelexinsurance.com.
See also
Travel from Amsterdam to Germany: 8 Suggested Train Routes and Map