There are multiple options available for taking a train journey between Amsterdam and Muenchen*/Munich (*Dutch spelling of Munich).
Simplest of all is to take the direct overnight trains, which have been newly re-introduced to this route.
Or if you'll be happy to travel overnight in a seat rather than a bed or bunk, you can travel through the night on a combination of ICE trains
Connections between swish ICE trains are always required when making a daytime journey.
But because you need to change trains, when you look up the journey on the ticket agents, you will see a multitude of options.
However, take care as many of the combinations of journeys, will have connecting times between trains of less than 20 minutes.
And those tightly timed connections can't be guaranteed in Germany.
Though if you miss a booked connection, any tickets/reservations can be transferred to a later train at a Reisezentrum travel desk, but this is a hassle that can be avoided.
A plus of this route is that connecting time between trains at Koln Hbf isn't usually particularly tightly timed.
*However, when you look up this journey on the DB (the official German railways) ticket booking website, it will often suggest making connections in other stations along this route such as Dusseldorf or Seigburg/Bonn.
Because the tickets will be train specific, you'll need to make the connections at these other stations, but it doesn't particularly matter at which station you change trains; though if you will be travelling with heavy luggage etc, a connection at Seigburg/Bonn usually involves waiting on the same platform/track for the onward connection
What you're looking out for is a connecting time between trains of more than 30 mins; because if you take those options, you'll have a greater chance of having a stress-free journey.
Also look out for connections which involve arriving at Koln Hbf station and departing from Koln-Messe/Duetz and avoid them if possible as these are two very separate stations, with a comparatively awkward connection between them.
Travelling with a Eurail or InterRail Pass:
If you will be travelling with a rail pass our advice is to ignore all the above and change trains in Dusseldorf.
There are more ICE trains between Dusseldorf Hbf and Munchen, than they are between Koln Hbf and Munchen.
And as you don't need to reserve on the ICEs, you can hop on the next train to depart from Dusseldorf.
Mon - Sat = 5 x connections per day
Sunday = 4 x connections per day
Change trains in: Koln/Cologne* or Dusseldorf
Book online and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date (usually)
DB Bahn is recommended for booking tickets for THIS routing because of the facility it offers to increase the connecting time between trains to at least 30 mins when making a booking.
Therefore it gives the easiest access to this combination of 2 x ICE trains that involve connecting between trains somwhere other than Frankfurt (Main).
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Reservations:
Seat reservations are included when booking 1st class tickets.
However, if you book 2nd class tickets, or will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass, reservations are optional.
The advice is too pay the reservation fee, you'll be quite fortunate to find a spare seat available on what are normally, comparatively busy trains.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB Bahn | from €39 (approx) |
Note that Koeln is the Dutch spelling of Cologne, so this name for the city will be used on the train information screens at Amsterdam Centraal.
Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main) or Basel SBB
All trains also call at: Utrecht; Arnhem; Dusseldorf
This is nearly always a stress-free journey, which showcases the best aspects of European international train travel.
The stations at both ends of the route have ideal city centre locations and the ICE 3 trains definitely have a wow factor!
This is nearly always a stress-free journey, which showcases the best aspects of European international train travel.
The stations at both ends of the route have ideal city centre locations and the ICE 3 trains definitely have a wow factor!
Though what's a tad odd about this journey is that you'll be on board a train that's in the Top 5 on a 'fastest trains in Europe' list, but there's no high speed railway line between Amsterdam and Cologne.
So this route isn't particularly fast and it isn't going to wow scenery fans, but there's still lots to see as the train passes through numerous towns and cities.
And if you sit on the left, you'll see a typical Dutch canal between Amsterdam and Utrecht; so you can sit back and watch the boats go by.
Final Destination: Munchen Hbf
All trains also call at: Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg
Most trains also call at: Munchen-Passing
This is a journey of five distinct phases:
The fastest end-2-end daytime journey from Amsterdam to Muenchen* is available on this route via Frankfurt (Main).
However, on this routing via Frankfurt (Main) the connecting time between trains at Frankfurt is usually around 24mins.
So ideal IF the ICE from Amsterdam arrives on time; and the other big plus of this routing is that Frankfurt (Main) hbf is also an exceptionally easy station in which to change trains.
Though if the train is running late, the best option is to move towards the front of the train, as the easiest route to the train on to Munchen will be via the main concourse.
But this connection between trains is not guaranteed.
Though if the train from Amsterdam arrives too late to make the connection, tickets/reservations can be transferred on to the next ICE to Munchen at the Reisezentrum travel desk in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
On balance this route via Frankfurt would be our choice for a daytime train journey from Amsterdam to Munchen/Munich; and SMTJ put the chances of making the connection, or not, to the back of our mind.
Three reasons:
(1) The chances of making the connection will be more than 80%.
(2) Frankfurt (Main) is an easy station in which to change trains
(3) There'll be plenty of other options for travelling on to Munchen in the event of a delay
There is a minimum of 1 x ICE train per hour from Frankfurt (Main) to Munchen.
**4 -5 x connections per day
Change trains in: Frankfurt (Main)**
Book early and save: YES
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date (usually)
When looking uo this journey, you will see multiple options for making the journey from Amsterdam to Munchen/Meunchen/Munich by train.
To find THIS combination of trains you're looking for 'ICE' on DB Bahn or 'ICE > ICE' on NS International AND only one connection.
On DB Bahn don't extend the connecting time between trains.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
The most heavilly discounted tickets can be particularly tricky to track down on this routing via Frankfurt;, taking the route via Koln or Dusseldorf often be cheaper.
Reservations:
Seat reservations are included when booking 1st class tickets.
However, if you book 2nd class tickets, or will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass, reservations are optional.
The advice is too pay the reservation fee, you'll be quite fortunate to find a spare seat available for these entire journeys.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB Bahn | from €39 (approx) | |
NS International | from €39 (approx) |
Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
All trains also call at: Koln/Cologne; Frankfurt Flughafen/Airport
There are few scenic highlights on this trip, though you'll be travelling beside a canal between Amsterdam and Utrecht; it can be seen on the left when travelling in this direction.
But what makes this journey fascinating is the multiple towns that the train will pass through, there is an interest contrast between the Dutch and German cityscapes
What gives the journey the wow factor is when the train travels on Germany's fastest high speed line
between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen.
Though the train will only be travelling at more than 280 km/h for around 50 mins of this journey; between Amsterdam and Seigburg/Bonn the train won't be travelling exceptionally fast.
The train will also reverse direction on departure from Koln Hbf station.
Final Destination: Munchen
All trains also call at: Nurnberg
This is a journey of seven distinct phases:
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
Look for the connections which:
- Depart Amsterdam at around 18:40
- Involve channging trains in Duisburg
- only involve taking ICE trains
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | * | |
NS International | * | |
Trainline | * |
Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main)
Though what's a tad odd about this journey is that you'll be on board a train that's in the Top 5 on a 'fastest trains in Europe' list, but there's no high speed railway line between Amsterdam and Cologne.
So this route isn't particularly fast and it isn't going to wow scenery fans, but there's still lots to see as the train passes through numerous towns and cities.
And if you sit on the left, you'll see a typical Dutch canal between Amsterdam and Utrecht - so you can sit back and watch the boats go by.
Final Destination: Munchen Hbf
The train also calls at: Augsburg; Munchen-Passing
This is an ordinary daytime ICE 3 train that happens to run overnight.
It is normally scheduled to depart from Duisburg Hbf at 21:39, but it arrives in Munchen/Munich at an exceptionally early time; usually just after 06:00
It does not have any couchette sleeping berths or sleeping cabins.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.