Frankfurt to Berlin by Train
Direct high-speed (ICE) service · from €17.99
Route Overview
Travel from Frankfurt to Berlin by ICE high-speed train in as little as 3 hours and 43 minutes. Up to 35 Deutsche Bahn services operate daily between Germany's financial capital and its political capital, with approximately 27 direct ICE connections.
In the 2026 timetable, Deutsche Bahn operates a dedicated ICE Sprinter service (Line 3) between Frankfurt and Berlin, running three times daily in each direction with minimal stops. Standard ICE trains travel via Fulda, Kassel and either Hannover or Brunswick.
Tickets start from €17.99 per person one way in 2nd class (Super Sparpreis, advance booking). Frankfurt Airport's long-distance station (Fernbahnhof) is served by several ICE trains to Berlin, allowing direct airport-to-city-centre travel.
Train Operator
Deutsche Bahn
ICE (Intercity Express) service. ICE 3, ICE 4 and ICE Sprinter (Line 3: dedicated Frankfurt-Berlin Sprinter) on this route.
Direct high-speed · 300 km/h max
Departure & Arrival Stations
Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof
- Am Hauptbahnhof, Central Frankfurt (Bahnhofsviertel)
- S-Bahn (S1-S6, S8, S9), U-Bahn (U4, U5), Tram (11, 12, 16, 17, 21), Bus. Nearby: Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Frankfurt Airport long-distance station)
Berlin Hauptbahnhof
- Europaplatz 1, Central Berlin (Mitte district)
- S-Bahn (S3, S5, S7, S9), U-Bahn (U5), Tram (M5, M8, M10), Bus (120, 142, 147, 245, TXL). Nearby: Berlin Sudkreuz, Berlin Ostbahnhof
Classes of Service
2nd Class (Standard)
- Free WiFi
- Power outlets at seats
- Fold-down tables
- Children's compartment on some trains
- Bordrestaurant/Bordbistro car
1st Class
- More legroom
- Quieter carriages
- At-seat catering service
- Free newspapers/magazines
- Access to DB Lounges at major stations
- Seat reservation included with Flexpreis
Tickets & Booking Tips
Starting Price
from €17.99 per person, one way in 2nd Class (Standard) class. Prices range from €17.99 (Super Sparpreis, advance) to €79.99+ (Flexpreis, last-minute).
Book Early
Tickets are available Up to 180 days (approximately 6 months) in advance. Advance bookings typically offer the lowest fares.
Children & Youth
Children aged 6-14 travel free when accompanying a paying adult (must be added at booking).. Standard adult fares apply from age 15.. Children aged 0-5 travel free without a ticket.
Luggage
No formal baggage limits on ICE trains.
Good to Know
ICE Sprinter Line 3
In the 2026 timetable, Deutsche Bahn operates a dedicated ICE Sprinter service (Line 3) between Frankfurt and Berlin. These Sprinter trains run three times daily in each direction with minimal stops, using the Hannover freight bypass to shave time off the journey. One Sprinter pair extends to Saarbrucken.
International Hub Connection
Frankfurt Hbf is Germany's busiest hub for international high-speed services. From Frankfurt, direct ICE trains connect to Paris (3h 45min), Amsterdam, Brussels and Basel/Zurich. This makes the Frankfurt-Berlin corridor a key link between Germany's capital and its international rail gateway.
FlixTrain Alternative (Not on EuroTrain)
FlixTrain operates a budget alternative on this route (2 trains/day from Frankfurt Sud). However, FlixTrain is not available through the ERA API and cannot be booked on EuroTrain. EuroTrain exclusively sells Deutsche Bahn ICE and IC services on this corridor.
Advance Booking Window
Deutsche Bahn typically opens bookings 180 days (approximately 6 months) in advance. The cheapest Super Sparpreis fares sell out quickly on popular routes -- booking 4-6 weeks ahead gives the best combination of price and availability.
City-Ticket Inclusion
Sparpreis and Flexpreis tickets (but NOT Super Sparpreis) include a City-Ticket for free local public transport at both origin and destination cities. This covers S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram and bus within the city zone -- saving €3-4 at each end.
Night Train Option
A night ICE service operates between Frankfurt and Berlin. Super Sparpreis night fares start from €17.99, often cheaper than daytime trains. This is a seated service (not a sleeper) running on the regular ICE route.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fastest ICE Sprinter services take 3 hours and 43 minutes. Standard ICE trains average approximately 4 hours and 18 minutes.
Super Sparpreis tickets start from €17.99 in 2nd class when booked in advance. Booking one day before departure can cost €79.99 or more for the same journey.
Approximately 27 direct ICE trains per day, plus additional services with connections. Up to 35 total train options daily.
Most trains travel via Fulda, Kassel and either Hannover or Brunswick. ICE Sprinter services take a faster route using the Hannover freight bypass with minimal stops.
Yes. Frankfurt Airport's long-distance station (Fernbahnhof) is served by several ICE trains to Berlin, allowing direct airport-to-city-centre travel.
Yes. Since December 2024, a direct ICE train runs between Berlin and Paris via Frankfurt Hbf, Mannheim and Strasbourg. The Frankfurt-Berlin leg is part of this international service.