How to Get from Berlin to Hamburg: Train and Bus Options
Are you interested in learning how to get from Berlin to Hamburg? In this post, I’ll show you options for taking the train from Berlin to Hamburg and for taking the bus from Berlin to Hamburg.
Hamburg is a great city to add to your trip to Germany, whether it’s a day trip to Hamburg from Berlin or the next destination on your vacation. This interesting city is full of beautiful sights, and it’s well worth visiting.
It’s not too far from Berlin, so the logistics are pretty straightforward. Keep reading for details on getting from Berlin to Hamburg.
Book a tour for your trip to Hamburg
Consider booking a tour in Hamburg to help you make the most of your time and learn about the sights you’re seeing. Here are a few to check out.
Where to stay in Hamburg
If you decide you’d rather spend a night or two in Hamburg, you won’t regret it. You could easily fill several days with activities in Hamburg.
In general, Hamburg tends to be more expensive than Berlin, and that is reflected in the hotel prices as well.
Hotels in Hamburg
Here’s how to get to Hamburg from BerlinHow to get to Hamburg from Berlin
Traveling from Berlin to Hamburg is easy when you know how to do it.
What is the distance from Berlin to Hamburg?
The driving distance from Berlin Hbf to Hamburg Hbf is 282km (175 miles) so it’s not too far. However, it can take anywhere from three to four hours or more to drive depending on which route you choose, traffic conditions, and any road work that might be happening.
Plus parking isn’t easy in central Berlin or central Hamburg, and you have to understand German driving laws. Unless you have a compelling reason to drive, I recommend taking an option that’s less stressful.
That’s why I have all the details you need for taking the bus or train from Berlin to Hamburg.
Hamburg’s Rathaus is an impressive buildingHow to Get from Berlin to Hamburg by Train
Getting around in Germany using Deutsche Bahn is pretty simple, and getting from Berlin to Hamburg is no exception.
There are direct high speed (ICE and IC) trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof roughly twice an hour. The travel time is between 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes.
ICE are Inter City Express trains, which are high speed trains that make fewer stops than other types of trains. IC are Inter City trains, which are also high speed trains, but they usually make a few more stops than an ICE.
The ICE options are usually a little bit faster, but not by much on this route. So if there’s a big price difference, I’d probably go with whichever is cheapest, even if it meant an extra 20 minutes on the train.
Occasionally you’ll see a train number starting with EC on the route from Berlin to Hamburg. This is similar to an ICE train but run by a non-German rail company.
Most ICE and IC trains going to Hamburg Hbf also stop in Berlin Spandau and Berlin Südkreuz.
Check which station is closest to where you’re staying in Berlin to see which one makes the most sense. You can also click on the train number to see its full route, including all other train stations in Berlin that train stops at.
>>Search for schedules and prices on the Deutsche Bahn website.
The ICE trains are a fast option for getting from Berlin to Hamburg by trainUsing the Berlin to Hamburg high speed train
When using the high speed trains, you are usually bound to the exact train you choose, so you can’t hop on any train on that route. So if you booked a train from Berlin to Hamburg for 9am, you must take the 9am train. (These are just example times, not indicative of any actual schedule.)
The exception is if you buy the more expensive Flexpreis (Flexible Fare) ticket that allows this. I generally don’t think it’s worth the extra expense, unless you absolutely need that flexibility.
Using regional trains from Berlin to Hamburg
There are ways of reaching Hamburg from Berlin using only regional trains, but it will take you anywhere from 4 to 5 hours and involve switching at least twice. And when I searched a couple weeks from today, the option with fast trains was actually cheaper than taking only regional trains.
If you do decide to use the regional trains to get to Hamburg, your ticket is valid for any regional train that day. So you can buy a ticket for a train that departs at 9am, oversleep, and grab a 10am train. (Again, these are just example times, not indicative of any actual schedule.)
Another great option is the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket. This is a Germany day ticket starting at 42 euros which is valid for up to 5 people, so it’s a great deal if you’re traveling with a group and you’re willing to take the slower trains.
Are there seat reservations on trains to Hamburg from Berlin?
Left: Seat 115 is reserved from Rostock to Binz. Right: Seat 42 is not reserved.On high speed trains in Germany, your second class ticket does not come with a seat reservation. This means you can sit anywhere within second class that isn’t already reserved.
Seat reservations cost 4.50 euros, and it’s highly recommended that you reserve. At busy times, the train could be rather full, and having a seat reservation means you won’t get stuck standing.
If you buy a first class ticket, seat reservations are included as long as you select it at the time of booking.
Regional trains do not have seat reservations. But be aware that most regional trains do have a 1st class section.
>>Read: How to Get From Berlin Airport to City Center
How to buy a train ticket from Berlin to Hamburg
Hamburg has an impressive train stationThere are several ways to buy a train ticket to Hamburg from Berlin, and all are fairly simple. High speed trains are often cheaper if you book several weeks in advance, so planning ahead helps.
They have recently made it harder to buy tickets on the train, and in some cases it’s not even possible. You will get checked almost every time, so don’t get on a train without a ticket.
In person
Deutsche Bahn has ticket offices in the train stations in Berlin, so you can buy a ticket in person. They won’t always speak English though, so this can be tricky.
If you decide to buy your ticket this way, I highly recommend going to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (central station) to buy your ticket. Here you’ll have a better chance of finding an employee who speaks at least some English.
At a machine
There are Deutsche Bahn ticket machines at the train stations, and they have a language option so you can switch it to English. These are the same machines used at Sbahn stations.
Simply follow the prompts to buy your ticket from Berlin to Hamburg. Remember that times are often displayed in a 24 hour format, so 5pm would be 17:00, as an example.
These are the Deutsche Bahn ticket machines seen at train stations and Sbahn stationsOnline
Tickets can also be purchased on the Deutsche Bahn website, which is also available in English. Once you’re done with your purchase, you’ll get an email with a PDF of your ticket which you can show on the train.
Deutsche Bahn app
The Deutsche Bahn app is also available in English, and it’s easy to use. Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you’ll have it right there in your app.
Types of tickets
Example train ticket optionsWhen buying tickets online, once you put in your start and end cities, date and time info, and number of people, you’ll get a list of routes for that day. Choose a time, and you’ll have different ticket options to choose from, as seen in the photo above.
In general, cheaper tickets have more restrictions. The Sparpreis tickets bind you to the exact train, while the Flexpreis tickets let you take any train on that route that day.
For more detailed info, jump over to my step-by-step instructions on how to book train tickets on Deutsche Bahn.
Are there other companies that run trains from Berlin to Hamburg?
FlixBus also runs FlixTrain, and they do have train routes between Berlin and Hamburg. They have fewer routes, and at the time of writing there are at least two trains per day on most days, though some days have as many as five or six.
FlixTrain’s routes from Berlin to Hamburg take 2 to 3 hours. They depart from Berlin Hbf, and a few have departures from Berlin Südkreuz.
The good thing is that if you’re using the FlixBus website and there is a FlixTrain option, it will show up too. And FlixTrain could save you some money versus using Deutsche Bahn, so it’s worth checking.
How to Get from Berlin to Hamburg by Bus
Flixbus is a great budget option for getting around in GermanyIf you’re traveling on a budget, FlixBus is another great option. They have several buses per day running between Berlin and Hamburg.
Berlin has bus services from several stations, though not all stations are on every route. The buses to Hamburg from Berlin leave from the central bus station, though there are a few that leave from Südkreuz, Alexanderplatz, or the BER Airport, plus a few others.
The central bus station, called Berlin ZOB, is located in the western side of Berlin, quite far from the center. Unless you’re staying out that way for some reason, I recommend catching the bus from one of the other stations, such as Südkreuz or Alexanderplatz.
The journey takes between three to five hours to get to Hamburg from Berlin by bus, assuming there are no traffic problems. The buses all stop at Hamburg ZOB (Central Bus Station) which is conveniently right next to the main train station.
Again, times are usually listed using the 24 hour clock, so if you aren’t interested in taking a middle-of-the-night bus, pay close attention the times. They really do have routes leaving at 2:35am, as one example.
FlixBus is a comfortable option that will most likely save you some money in exchange for a little extra time, especially if you can get one of the shorter routes.
It’s always worth comparing FlixBus/FlixTrain with Deutsche Bahn to see which one works best for your timing needs and budget.
I’ve taken FlixBus more times than I can count, both in Germany and in other parts of Europe. Their buses are comfortable and safe, and I would highly recommend them if you’re trying to save a few bucks.
The buses do have a bathroom, though I can’t vouch for their cleanliness because I do whatever I can to avoid going to the bathroom on moving vehicles.
In general, I prefer taking Deutsche Bahn from a comfort and speed point of view, but I will gladly take FlixBus for shorter routes.
Check out Hamburg’s famous ElbphilharmonieAre there seat reservations on buses to Hamburg from Berlin?
FlixBus does have an option to reserve a seat. This is good for people who want to make sure they’re seated with their family or friends, or if you are particular about where you sit.
But buying a ticket guarantees you a seat, so you don’t have to reserve a specific seat if it’s not important to you. Standing is not allowed on long distance buses.
Prices for seat reservations vary depending on the type of seat the route. They range from 1.50 to 5 euros.
Visiting Miniatur Wunderland is my favorite thing to do in HamburgHow to buy a bus ticket from Berlin to Hamburg
There are a few different ways to book a bus ticket to Hamburg from Berlin.
In person
Technically you can buy a FlixBus ticket from the ticket office at the ZOB (central bus station) but I wouldn’t recommend it.
I’ve definitely been over there to catch a bus and noticed that the office was closed. Even if they were just closed for a short break, this feels too stressful when there are easier ways to book a ticket.
There are multiple travel agents around the city that can book you a FlixBus ticket, but finding them is even more of a hassle.
Online
The FlixBus website is an easy way to book tickets. It’s available in multiple languages.
You can search your route, and it’ll show you all starting and ending points. So if you want to travel from Berlin to Hamburg, you can see which stations the bus leaves from and buy based on that.
Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you’ll get an email with a PDF that you can show the bus driver when boarding the bus.
FlixBus app
The FlixBus app is also easy to use to search for routes and buy tickets. It’s available in multiple languages.
Are there other companies that run buses from Berlin to Hamburg?
Other bus companies operate routes in Germany, but they are not as widespread as FlixBus. I have not seen any others running on the Berlin to Hamburg route.
Hamburg really is a gorgeous cityWhat’s the cheapest way to get from Berlin to Hamburg?
Ticket prices fluctuate for both the train and the bus to Hamburg from Berlin, but both are affordable.
Taking FlixBus or FlixTrain will usually be cheaper than Deutsche Bahn.
While writing this post, I searched for trains and buses 2 weeks out, and the Deutsche Bahn trains were 30-60 euros, while Flixbus was 7-25 euros. FlixTrain was 7-20 euros.
Both the train and the bus are comfortable, but I’d have to give a little more credit to the train for comfort.
Either train option is faster than the bus. Taking the train will save you anywhere from 50 minutes to 3 hours.
The train is less likely to have timing problems, but delays can happen with either the train or the bus. In dozens of trips on FlixBus, I’ve only dealt with a major delay (which was due to an accident miles ahead of us on the highway) one time.
If you’re on a budget, every dollar and euro counts. Budget travelers should weigh the cost savings of the bus against the time savings of the train to Hamburg from Berlin, as well as check out the FlixTrain option.
But if time is more important to you, it could be worth spending a little extra for Deutsche Bahn to get there faster.
Book a tour for your trip to Hamburg
Consider booking a tour in Hamburg to help you make the most of your time and learn about the sights you’re seeing. Here are a few to check out.
Berlin Travel Resources
I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide for how to get to Hamburg from Berlin is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!
- 101 Best Things to do in Berlin
- 23 Impressive Castles in Berlin (And Nearby)
- 27 Best World War II & Cold War Sights in Berlin
- 29 Fun Day Trips From Berlin
- 75 Things to Know Before Visiting Berlin: Essential Berlin Travel Tips
- What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List
- How to Get Around in Berlin: An Easy Guide to Berlin Public Transportation
Book a local photographer
Flytographer: Hire an amazing local photographer anywhere in the world. Use code BERLINTRAVEL to get $25 off your first photo shoot.
Ali is originally from the US, but she’s been living in Germany since 2011. In 2015, she and her husband moved to Berlin where they now live with their small dog. They even bought an apartment in Berlin in 2021 – Berlin is definitely home now! Ali’s goal is to show you everything you need to know for enjoying a trip to Berlin.
