How to Get From Berlin to Munich by Train and Bus
Are you wondering how to get from Berlin to Munich? In this post, I’ll show you options for taking the bus from Berlin to Munich and for taking the train from Berlin to Munich.
Munich is a great city to add to your Germany trip. It’s too far for a day trip from Berlin, but Munich is a fantastic city full of interesting sights and history, and it’s well worth visiting on a one week Germany itinerary.
Keep reading for details on getting from Berlin to Munich by train and by bus.
A guide for how to get from Berlin to MunichBook a tour for your trip to Munich
Booking a tour can help you make the most of your time in Munich. Here are a few tours in Munich we recommend:
- Munich Third Reich Walking Tour
- Munich Old Town Walking Tour
- Munich Food Tour
- Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Tour from Munich
Don’t miss Munich’s gorgeous Rathaus building
How to get to Munich from Berlin
Traveling from Berlin to Munich is easy when you know how to do it.
What is the distance from Berlin to Munich?
The driving distance from Berlin to Munich is roughly 600km (373 miles) depending on exactly which route you take. This means it can take anywhere from six to seven hours to drive depending on which route you choose, traffic conditions, and any road work that might be happening.
Driving could be an interesting option if you enjoy road trips, if you understand the road rules, and if you want to make stops along the way.
But keep in mind, parking isn’t easy in central Berlin or central Munich, and you have to understand German driving laws. If you’d rather avoid the stress, traveling by train or bus can be faster and easier.
That’s why I have all the details you need for taking the bus or train from Berlin to Munich.
Amazing views of Munich from St Peter’s ChurchHow to Get from Berlin to Munich by Train
Getting around in Germany using Deutsche Bahn is pretty simple, and getting from Berlin to Munich is no exception.
There are direct trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Munich Hauptbahnhof once or twice per hour. The travel time is from 3 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes depending on which train you take.
This is taking the ICE trains, which are Inter City Express trains. They are high speed trains that make fewer stops than regional trains and fewer stops than the IC (Inter City).
Most ICE trains going to Munich Hbf also stop in either Berlin Südkreuz or Berlin Spandau, sometimes both.
Check which train 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.
The ICE trains are a fast option for getting from Berlin to Munich by trainUsing high speed trains from Berlin to Munich
When using 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 Munich for 8:30am, you must take the 8:30am 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.
>>Check prices and schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website.
Viktualienmarkt beer garden in MunichUsing regional trains from Berlin to Munich
There are ways of reaching Munich from Berlin using only regional trains, but it will take you 9-10 hours and involve switching several times, usually at least three times. It only takes one small delay to throw off your whole connecting schedule and add hours to your already long journey.
If you do decide to use the regional trains, 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.
But in general, I think Berlin to Munich is too far for using the regional trains. If you plan ahead, you can usually get a pretty good price on the ICE train, and you’ll lose a lot less of your vacation time.
Are there seat reservations on trains to Munich 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, and on popular routes such as Berlin to Munich, 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.
How to buy a train ticket from Berlin to Munich
There are several ways to buy a train ticket to Munich 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. 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 options for Berlin to MunichWhen 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 Munich?
FlixBus also runs FlixTrain, and they do have one or two trains per day between Berlin and Munich. Their trains take 9.5 to 13 hours, sometimes involve switching trains, and sometimes they leave or arrive in the middle of the night/wee hours of the morning.
If you’re traveling in Berlin on a tight budget and time is not a big issue, this might be an option to consider. Plus spending the night on transport can save you money on lodging for that night.
The good thing is that if you’re using the FlixBus website and there is a FlixTrain option, it will show up too. That way you can compare their bus and train options.
Some of their trains go to Munich Hbf while others list “Munich central bus station” as the end destination. Don’t worry, there is an Sbahn line at the bus station, and it’s a quick one stop hop to Munich Hbf where you can catch transport to other parts of the city.
How to Get from Berlin to Munich 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 that leave in the morning and early afternoon, and several that leave in the evening and go overnight to Munich from Berlin. The shortest journey takes 7 hours 20 minutes, while the longest journey without having to switch buses takes 9 hours 15 minutes, without traffic problems.
Berlin has bus services from several stations, though not all stations are on every route. The buses to Munich from Berlin mostly leave from the central bus station, though if you end up on one of the buses that involves a switch, you could leave from one of the other Berlin bus stations.
The central bus station, called Berlin ZOB, is located in the western side of Berlin, quite far from the center. Give yourself plenty of time to get there.
FlixBus is a comfortable option that will most likely save you money if you’re willing to take a longer journey getting from Berlin to Munich.
Always compare Flixbus/FlixTrain with Deutsche Bahn to determine which price and time combo works best for you.
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.
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most popular day trips from Munich>>Can’t decide which city to visit? Check out Munich vs Berlin: Which is Better to Visit?
Are there seat reservations on buses to Munich 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.
How to buy a bus ticket from Berlin to Munich
There are a few different ways to book a bus ticket to Munich 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 Munich, 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 Munich?
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 Munich route.
Enjoying a dark beer at a Biergarten in MunichWhat’s the cheapest way to get from Berlin to Munich?
Ticket prices fluctuate for both the train and the bus to Munich from Berlin, but both are affordable.
Taking FlixBus will usually be cheaper than the train. While writing this post, I searched for trains and buses roughly two weeks out, and the FlixBus and FlixTrain optionss were 25-60 euros, while Deutsche Bahn was 80-140 euros.
Both the train and the bus are comfortable, but I’d have to give a little more credit to Deutsche Bahn for comfort.
The Deutsche Bahn is a lot faster than the bus and faster even than FlixTrain. Taking Deutsche Bahn will save you a minimum of 3.5 hours, and often it’ll save you even more time since some of the bus routes take quite a bit longer.
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 in Berlin on a budget, every dollar and euro counts. This is definitely a situation where you have to weigh the cost savings with the time savings and decide which is more important to you.
The FlixTrain option or taking the bus to Munich from Berlin can easily save you money in exchange for extra time, which is a good trade-off for budget travelers. But Deutsche Bahn is much faster, and that could be reason enough to spend the extra money.
Book a tour for your trip to Munich
Booking a tour can help you make the most of your time in Munich. 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 to how to get to Munich 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
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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.
