What are trains in Germany like?

On this page, you can see an overview of all train types in Germany, what they are like, and everything you need to know about booking tickets.
For an overview of Eurail reservation fees for German trains, please see Eurail Reservations in Germany.
Check out our German Rail Tour packages, with all tickets, itineraries and reservations included.

Germany has an efficient, dense railway network. High-speed ICE and IC trains connect all major cities within hours, regional trains provide fast and efficient transport around cities and to smaller towns. Happyrail offers all train tickets, passes, reservations and package deals, with over 20 years of experience.

ICE high-speed trains

ICE (InterCity Express) are the flagship high-speed trains of the German state railways DB. They run up to 300 km/h, with frequent connections between all large cities as well as individual trains connecting smaller touristic regions, and international connections to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Austria.

All ICE tickets can be bought in the Happyrail planner.
Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all ICE services.
Reservations are mandatory for international connections, and optional but highly reccommended for national journeys. Seat reservations can be bought alongside your ticket or seperately (select 'Reservations') in the Happyrail planner.
For a one-click fully booked package with all needed train tickets and reservations, make sure to check our our German Rail Tours.
Second class features adjustable seats in a 2+2 layout, some with tables, others airplane-style. Free wifi, plug sockets, and luggage space are available in all cars. Each train has at least one designated quiet car and one designated car for families with children.
First class features adjustable leather seats in a 2+1 layout, some with tables, others airplane-style, with more legroom and wider seat pitch than in second class. Free wifi, plug sockets, and luggage space are available in all cars. Stewards will take your order at your seat for drinks or meals from the dining car.
A dining car is also available, with both at your seat and takeaway service for all drinks and meals. Reservations are not possible for the dining car: anyone with a valid ticket can take a seat.

Intercity long-distance trains

Intercity or IC trains are long-distance trains run by German state railways DB that reach up to 200 km/h. They run on convential railway lines, as well as on international connections to Amsterdam. These trains are either single-deck ordinary passenger cars similar to ICE, or double-decker trains. No dining car is available.

Reservations are mandatory for international connections. They are optional but highly reccommended for national services.
All tickets and reservations can be bought via the Happyrail planner.
Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all Intercity trains. Eurail seat reservations can be booked via the Happyrail planner (select 'Reservations')
Second class features 2+2 seating with similar seats as on ICE but with less legroom. Luggage storage is limited and mostly available around the vestibule areas.
First class features leather seats in a 2+1 configuration or in 6-person compartments. More luggage space is available compared to second class.
Pictured: first class on a double-decker IC train.Pictured: first class on a conventional single-decker train in a 6-person compartment.

Regional trains (IRE, RE, RB)

Regional trains in Germany vary highly between each individual connection. Some older trains still run, but are gradually being replaced by modern ones with free wifi and plug sockets.

IRE and RE are regional semi-fast trains not stopping at all stations, with first and second class available. RB are local trains stopping at all stations, usually second class only.
Some trains are single-decker, some are double-decker.
Reservations are not possible: you are free to take any seat with a valid ticket, and are not bound to a specific connection.
All tickets are available via the Happyrail planner. Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all regional trains.

Commuter & metro trains (S-Bahn)

S-Bahn, or S trains, are commuter, metro-style trains that run around and between big cities, stopping at all stations. These trains are convenient for travelling within cities to and from your hotel and for sightseeing.

In big cities like Berlin or Munich they run as frequent as every 2 minutes, in other cities they run every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the time of day.
These trains are usually second-class only, with wifi available on most but not all S trains.
With a valid ticket you can take any connection.
All tickets are available via the Happyrail planner. Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all S trains.

Railjet international express trains

Railjet (RJ) and Railjet Express (RJX) are Austrian long-distance trains run on several routes from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Hungary.

All Railjet tickets are available via the Happyrail planner.
Reservations are sometimes optional, sometimes mandatory, but always highly reccommended. They can be bought alongside your ticket or seperately (Select 'Reservations')
Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all Railjet trains.

Railjet trains are supremely comfortable and feature second, first and business class, as well as a dining car. For more information, see the page 'What are trains in Austria like?'

Eurocity international express trains

Eurocity (EC) trains are comfortable international express trains with dining cars. They differ per route in their interior and amenities, as they are operated by the national railway carriers of the countries they serve. All trains however feature comfortable first and second class with plug sockets and free wifi, mandatory seat reservations, and a dining car.

All Eurocity trains can be booked via the Happyrail planner. Seat reservations are often mandatory for international routes and can be booked alongside your ticket (and are sometimes included in the price).
Eurail passes as booked via Happyrail are valid on all Eurocity trains.

For Eurocity trains from Germany to Poland, please see: What are Polish Eurocity trains like. For Eurocity trains to the Czech Republic and Hungary, please see: What are Eurocity trains to Czech Republic like. For a complete package tour by rail to Berlin, Prague, Budapest and Krakow, check out our Central Europe Rail Tour, which includes tickets and reservations made by us.

Second class German Eurocity trains often features seats in a 2+2 configuration, sometimes in 6-person compartments. The exact interior and amenities depend on the route. Wifi and plug sockets are usually available. Pictured: a second-class car as used on trains to Denmark and Austria.
First class often features 6-person compartments, although open-plan cars can be available as well. The compartments have more legroom and a larger seat pitch than in second class. The first class coach is usually next to the dining car. Wifi and plug sockets are always available. Pictured: a first-class car as used on trains to Denmark and Austria.

High-speed TGV trains to France

High-speed French TGV trains run on several routes from Germany to France. They feature feature second and first class and a café car. For more information on the trains themselves, please see: What are TGV trains in France like?

All tickets for TGV trains from France to Germany can be bought via the Happyrail planner.
Seat reservations are mandatory. They are included as standard in tickets bought via Happyrail.
Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all TGV trains.
TGV are comfortable double-decker trains with free wifi, a lot of luggage storage space, a bar/café car, power sockets, and other amenities. For more information please see What are TGV trains in France like?

Eurostar trains to Paris

Eurostar high-speed trains run from Germany to Brussels and Paris. The trains are modern and very comfortable and feature three classes: Standard, Eurostar Plus, and Eurostar Premier. For more information please see What are trains in France like: Eurostar.

All Eurostar tickets are available via the Happyrail planner. Seat reservations are mandatory and included as standard with all tickets booked via Happyrail.
Eurail passes as available via Happyrail, are also valid, but only together with a mandatory seat reservation. This reservation can be quite pricy on Germany-France routes (also see Germany: Eurail reservations) so a seperate ticket is generally reccommended over using a Eurail pass.
For more information about Eurostar trains please see What are trains in France like: Eurostar.

Nightjet international sleeper trains

Austrian 'Nightjet' sleeper trains run on the routes Hamburg - Vienna/Innsbruck, Berlin-Vienna/Zürich, and more.

All tickets for Nightjet are available via the Happyrail planner. Choose your class of travel (seated, couchette or sleeper) when booking.
Eurail passes as bought via Eurail are valid on all Nightjet trains. A reservation is required and can also be booked via Happyrail. Reservation fees vary on travel class: please see Eurail Reservations: Nightjet trains.
These trains are the same as other Austrian Nightjet trains and feature second-class seating, couchette (up to 6 bedsin a shared cabin) and sleeping cabins (1 to 3 people in a private cabin). For more detailed information please see What are Nightjet Trains like?

International Euronight (EN) sleeper trains

Some international sleeper trains run as EuroNight (EN) trains, which are less modern than Nightjet but broadly similar in terms of comfort and travel classes.

Most of these can also be booked via the Happyrail rail planner service. For more detailed information please see What are Euronight trains like?

Stuttgart - Munich - Ljubljana - Zagreb/Rijeka
Stuttgart/Berlin - Budapest
Munich - Krakow - Warsaw