Trains are the most fun, most convenient, and often the cheapest way to travel around Europe. Say you’re in Spain and you want to make your way to France, well, there’s a high-speed train that will take you from Barcelona to Paris in 6.5 hours for just $41.15 (39 €). And once you’ve visited Paris’ museums and gone up the Eiffel Tower, you can hop in another high-speed train to Amsterdam for $50.90 (48 €). Once there, you can enjoy all the Dutch culinary specialties you never even knew existed, including stroopwafels and kopstoot. And when it’s time to move again, you can hop in the Amsterdam to London high-speed train or go east and make your way to the German capital of Berlin.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
This Train Connects Amsterdam to Berlin Directly so You Can Whiz Your Way Around Europe
- How do I get from Amsterdam to Berlin?
- Is there a direct train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
- How long is the train ride from Berlin to Amsterdam?
- How much does it cost to take the train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
- Is there a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
- Is it better to fly or train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
- Where to stay in Berlin to be near Berlin Hbf (Berlin Central Station)
How do I get from Amsterdam to Berlin?
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The easiest way to get from Amsterdam to Berlin besides flying is to take the German railway company Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity train between the two cities. There are multiple Amsterdam to Berlin InterCity trains per day, throughout the day, making it easy to travel between the two European cities whenever the fancy takes you. You can easily book your journey on Deutsche Bahn’s online booking system.
Do not confuse Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity (IC) trains with its InterCity Express train (ICE). IC trains are not high-speed trains, but they still reach speeds of 125 mph. ICE trains are high-speed trains and can technically reach a speed of 186 mph.
Is there a direct train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity train connects Amsterdam to Berlin directly. It makes multiple stops along the way, including in Deventer, Rheine, and Hannover, among others. The complete list of stops is available online on Deutsche Bahn’s booking system.
How long is the train ride from Berlin to Amsterdam?
The Deutsche Bahn InterCity train that connects Amsterdam to Berlin is direct and takes six hours and 25 minutes to reach its destination.
How much does it cost to take the train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
As for every flight and train ride out there, the price of the Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity train that runs between Amsterdam and Berlin varies according to your dates of travel, the flexibility of your reservation, and the class of service you want, starting at $40.45 (37.90 €) in second class. As always, the earlier you book, the better your chances of scoring a deal.
Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity train have two classes of service: Second class and First class:
- Second class: Cheapest price, access to the on-board bistro/restaurant car. Second-class cars have two seating configurations: side-by-side seats and two seats facing each other with four seats in a row.
- First class: Quieter section of the train, more legroom, adjustable seats, access to the on-board bistro/restaurant car, and access to the Deutsche Bahn lounge in train stations that have them. First-class cars have three seating configurations: individual seats, side-by-side seats, and two seats facing each other. There are only three seats in a row in First class, providing more aisle space. First-class passengers can also reserve their seats.
Is there a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
The European Sleeper train will start operating between Amsterdam and Berlin on May 26, 2023, and will run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The European Sleeper starts in Brussels, Belgium, and stops in eight cities along the way, including Amsterdam.
Also, there are several sleeper trains that connect Amsterdam directly to other cities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland:
- Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity overnight service from Amsterdam to Zurich, Switzerland, stops in the following cities: Utrecht, Arnhem, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Offenburg, and Basel.
- The NightJet train from Amsterdam to Vienna, Austria, stops in the following German cities: Utrecht, Arnhem, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt, Würzburg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Wels, Linz, Amstetten, and St. Pölten.
- The NightJet train from Amsterdam to Innsbruck, Austria, stops in the following cities: Utrecht, Arnhem, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt, Würzburg, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Munich, Rosenheim, Kufstein, Wörgl, and Jenbach.
- The NightJet train from Amsterdam to Zurich, Switzerland, stops in the following cities: Utrecht, Arnhem, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Offenburg, Freiburg, and Basel.
To book a sleeper train to any of the destinations listed above, visit Deutsche Bahn’s online booking system or NightJet’s website. NightJet is part of the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB.
Is it better to fly or to take the train from Amsterdam to Berlin?
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
If you book early enough, it is hard for airlines, even the low-cost ones, to compete with Deutsche Bahn’s lowest fare of $40.45 (37.90 €), especially considering there is no restriction on the amount of luggage you can bring in on the train. Also, note that because the train stations of Amsterdam Centraal and Berlin Hbf are located in the center of those two cities, you won’t have to pay for a bus, subway ride, taxi, Uber, etc. to get to and from the airport.
While flying will take less time than taking the train, in terms of convenience, comfort, food, and ecological impact, riding the train between Amsterdam and Berlin is way better than flying.
Where to stay in Berlin to be near Berlin Hbf (Berlin Central Station)
For places to stay in Amsterdam, review Matador‘s list of Airbnbs in the Amsterdam’s coolest neighborhoods or take a look at the hotels near Centraal Station that we previously selected.
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend in Berlin! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.
Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt
The Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt is located right next to the main train station (only a two-minute walk), and has views of the river Spree. It has 339 air-conditioned and soundproofed rooms, including 24 luxurious suites. The rooms are modernly furnished with a flat-screen TV, safe, minibar, coffee and tea-making facilities, sitting area, and desk. The property has a wellness and spa area with saunas, steam baths, relaxation rooms, and an outdoor terrace. There’s a restaurant, Ella, for local, fresh, and modern culinary creations, and a bar, Bar N°5, for delicious cocktails.
Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof
The Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof is a modern hotel located directly opposite Berlin Hauptbahnhof (a four-minute walk). It offers soundproofed rooms with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a rain shower. Guests can enjoy their breakfast at the stylish One Lounge which also serves as a bar. The property has an outdoor space, with a wooden terrace, lots of greenery, and a water feature. The Reichstag parliament building is less than 20 minutes away from the hotel on foot.
Hotel ROMY by AMANO
The Hotel ROMY by AMANO features an elegant design with dark wood tones and golden accents in each of its 100 rooms. Guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the Berlin skyline from the hotel, which is located four minutes on foot from Berlin Central Station, making it an ideal starting point for your travels. The hotel has a restaurant with an adjoining bar on the ground floor, and a buffet breakfast is served every morning. 