Berlin to Amsterdam by train

How to take the train from Berlin to Amsterdam

The Berlin to Amsterdam train journey lacks a wow factor, but it's a comparatively easy trip.

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Routes

From Berlin Hbf to Amsterdam Centraal / Amsterdam CS

Travel Information

The usual first train of the day does not operate on Sundays and the last train of the day only departs on Sundays.

Final Destination: Amsterdam Centraal/CS

All trains also call at: Berlin Spandau*; Amersfoort

These trains commence their journey at Berlin Ostbanhof and they usually depart from the upper level (tief) in Berlin Hbf.

*If your journey is commencing in West Berlin, the quickest option is to take a Regio or S-Bahn train from Berlin Zoologischer Garten station to Berlin-Spandau station and join these trains to Amsterdam there.

Mon - Fri = 7 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = 6 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

Check that you’re looking at booking info for the direct trains.

On the DB, German national railways,  booking site look for journeys that have:

- 0 in the Chg. column

- IC  in the Products column.

Seat reservations are optional, but recommended for this journey; particularly if:

- you won't be taking the first or last trains of the day
- you will be travelling on a Friday or Sunday year round
- you will be travelling between the beginning of July and the end of September.

Take note if you will be travelling with a rail pass.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
DB Bahn from €35.90

DB Bahn Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

Omio from €35.90

Omio Guide

Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The three key advantages of using Omio are

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.

Happyrail from €35.90

Happyrail Guide

Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.

SaveATrain from €35.90

SaveATrain Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial)

Good to Know

For the time being this train journey has a retro aura, as little has changed on this route for more than 10 years; apart from a welcome switch of terminals in Amsterdam from the station at Schiphol Airport to the city's main central station.
The coaches currently used date back to the 1990s, so lack tech features such as info screens, but some travelllers will appreciate some seats being available in compartments.
However. this route is now awaiting brand new trains which have been ordered and should be entering service in 2023.

This is a scenically un-interesting journey across the flat landscape of the plains of northern Europe.
So it's a particularly good idea to have something to read or watch to fill in the time.

The highlight of the journey comes right at the beginning of the trip when the train travels on a viaduct across the city with great views over Berlin.

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