How to Get from Munich to Berlin by Train and Bus

Are you wondering how to get from Munich to Berlin? In this post, I’ll show you options for taking the bus from Munich to Berlin and for taking the train from Munich to Berlin.

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 that will give you a very different view of Germany, and it’s well worth visiting on a one week Germany itinerary.

Keep reading for details on getting from Munich to Berlin by train and by bus and even a word about flying from Munich to Berlin.

How to get to Berlin from Munich

Traveling from Munich to Berlin is easy when you know how to do it.

>>Are you interested in going the opposite direction? Check out how to get from Berlin to Munich by train and bus.

What is the distance from Munich to Berlin?

The driving distance from Munich to Berlin 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 can be faster and easier.

That’s why I have all the details you need for taking the bus or train from Munich to Berlin.

How to Get from Munich to Berlin by Train

Getting around in Germany using Deutsche Bahn is pretty simple, and getting from Munich to Berlin is no exception.

There are direct trains from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Berlin Hauptbahnhof once or twice per hour. The travel time is roughly 4 to 5 hours 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 Berlin 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.

Using high speed trains from Munich to Berlin

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 Munich to Berlin 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.

Using regional trains from Munich to Berlin

There are ways of reaching Berlin from Munich 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 Munich to Berlin 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 Berlin from Munich?

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 less than 5 euros, and it’s highly recommended that you reserve. At busy times, and on popular routes such as Munich to Berlin, 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 Munich to Berlin

There are several ways to buy a train ticket to Berlin from Munich, 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 station in Munich, so you can buy a ticket in person. They won’t always speak English though, so this can be tricky.

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. 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.

Online
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

When 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 below.

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 Munich to Berlin?

FlixBus also runs FlixTrain, and they do have one or two trains per day between Munich and Berlin. Their trains take 9.5 to 13 hours, sometimes involve switching trains or even switching from a bus to a train, 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.

Join our Facebook group!

Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

Join our Facebook group!

Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

How to Get from Munich to Berlin by Bus

If 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 Berlin from Munich. The shortest journey takes 7 hours 20 minutes, while the longest journey without having to switch buses takes 11 hours 15 minutes, without traffic problems.

Berlin has bus services from several stations, though not all stations are on every route. The buses to Berlin from Munich mostly arrive at the central bus station, though if you end up on one of the buses that involves a switch, you could arrive at 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. If there are any options to get out at a different station, you’re probably better off.

FlixBus is a comfortable option that will most likely save you money if you’re willing to take a longer journey getting from Munich to Berlin.

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.

>>Can’t decide which city to visit? Check out Munich vs Berlin: Which is Better to Visit?

Are there seat reservations on buses to Berlin from Munich?

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 Munich to Berlin

There are a few different ways to book a bus ticket to Berlin from Munich.

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 to the bus station in Berlin 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 Munich to Berlin, you can see which stations the bus arrives at 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 Munich to Berlin?

Other bus companies operate routes in Germany, but they are not as widespread as FlixBus. I have not seen any others running on the Munich to Berlin route.

Flight from Munich to Berlin

The flight time from Munich to Berlin is just over one hour. This might make it tempting to fly from Munich to Berlin because it looks faster on paper.

But you have to also factor in how long it takes to get from Munich city center to the airport, being at the airport 1-2 hours ahead of your flight, waiting for your checked bags when you arrive in Berlin, and then getting from the Berlin airport into the city center.

All of this extra time means a Munich to Berlin flight takes about the same amount of time, or possibly even a bit longer, than taking the train. The price is usually similar as well, depending on when you book tickets. For me, the train is more comfortable and less stressful than flying, plus it’s much more environmentally friendly.

What’s the cheapest way to get from Munich to Berlin?

Ticket prices fluctuate for both the train and the bus to Berlin from Munich, 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 traveling 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 Berlin from Munich 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.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide for to how to get to Berlin from Munich is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!