The German Railways, Deutsche Bahn AG or DB operate a rail network of 40,000 kilometres. Such a dense and intricate network makes it possible for the passengers to reach any destination comfortably and on time.
Germany has a very central location. It has direct rail connections to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland. There are also ferry connections to Sweden and Finland.
InterRail Pass validity in Germany
The InterRail Global Pass and InterRail Germany Pass are valid on:
- trains operated by the national railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB).
- various private railway companies in Germany (PDF).
- DB trains to Salzburg (Austria) and Basel (Switzerland).
Train Types
- Intercity-Express (ICE): high speed trains, reservations are required for international services to France, reservations are recommended for other destinations
- ICE Sprinter: high-speed trains with high service running between major cities, reservation compulsory
- Eurocity (EC) and Intercity (IC): intercity trains), reservations are required only on night trains;
- Interregio-Express (IRE), Regional-Express (RE) and Regionalbahn (RB): regional trains, reservations are not required;
- S-Bahn: commuter trains, reservations are not required;
- Thalys: international high speed trains, reservations are required
- CityNight Line (CNL), Euronight (EN): night trains, reservations are required.
For more information about seat reservations, see the pages:
- fees for domestic trains (ICE / IC / EC, Thalys)
- fees for international day trains (Berlin-Warszawa Express, Eurocity, ICE, TGV, Thalys)
- fees for night trains (CityNightLine)
- How to make reservations
Bicycles
Bicyles are allowed on most Intercity and Eurocity trains (there is a bike symbol in the timetable), reservations are required for bike spaces. Bikes can be taken on IRE, RE and RB trains upon purchase of a special bike ticket, no reservations is required. In some cities bikes can be carried on S-Bahn trains free of charge.
Expressbus
With your InterRail Pass you can take the Expressbus from Prague to Nürnberg (Germany). You only pay a reservation fee of 10 euro (2nd class) / 15 euro (1st class).
See the page German Pass Benefits for more details.
Berlin Night Express
If your Pass is valid in Sweden, you can take the Berlin Night Express between Berlin and Sweden for a reduced fare starting at 15 euro.
See the page German Pass Benefits for more details.Itineraries
Travel times
Average domestic travel times in hours:
| Cities | Berlin | Munich | Frankfurt | Hamburg | Cologne |
| Berlin | - | 5:45 | 4:10 | 1:35 | 4:20 |
| Munich | 5:45 | - | 3:10 | 5:40 | 4:40 |
| Frankfurt | 4:10 | 3:10 | - | 3:40 | 1:20 |
| Hamburg | 1:35 | 5:40 | 3:40 | - | 4:00 |
| Cologne | 4:20 | 4:40 | 1:20 | 4:00 | - |
International travel times in hours:
- Frankfurt - Paris: 3:50
- Frankfurt - Amsterdam: 4:00
- Frankfurt - Bern: 3:55
- Berlin - Amsterdam: 6:10
- Hamburg - Copenhagen: 4:40
- Berlin - Warszawa: 6:05
- Berlin - Prague: 4:35
- Munich - Prague: 6:05
- Munich - Vienna: 4:10
- Munich - Venice: 7:05
