London to München / Munich by train

How to take the rail journey from London to Munich/München

There are two optimum routes when taking a train from London to Munich/München:
1, Travelling by day via Paris
2. Travelling by day via Bruxelles

The daytime connections via Paris are sold as end-to-end journeys by ticket agents, but the daytime route via Bruxelles can be a good option if you will making this journey with a Eurail or InterRail pass; or won't mind book separate tickets for different parts of the journey.
Making the effort to do can be worth it if you'd rather avoid what can be an awkward transfer between stations in the French capital.

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Routes

Option 1: by day via Paris

Travel Information

The Eurostar from London will arrive in Paris at the Gare Du Nord, but the train on to Munchen will depart from the Gare de L'Est.

This guide explains how to make the transfer between the two stations.

Travelling on Monday to Friday and Sunday

The 10:24 from Eurostar is due into Paris a little over two hours before the one direct train of the day to München/Munich is usually scheduled to depart.
Time enough to make an easy transfer, and have something to eat/drink in or near the Gare de l'Est.

However, the online ticket agents don't tend to offer this connection as an end-to-end journey, presumably due to a (mistaken) assumption that nobody will want to want so long between trains.
Instead they typically offer end-to-end journeys which involve making an additional change of trains in Stuttgart, with a connecting time between trains varying between just 8 minutes and more than hour.
Opt for the journey with an 8 min connection and there's a good chance that you'll paying a visit to the Reisezentrum travel desk in the station, so that you can swap any reservations to the next train on from Stuttgart.

So an option is to book separate tickets for the London to Paris and Paris to München journeys, though if you do miss the train on from Paris, even if the Eurostar has an exceptional delay, you'll then need to re-book the tickets on to München.

Travelling on Saturday

The daily train from Paris to München/Munich is usually scheduled to depart two hours later on Saturdays and taking the 12:24 Eurostar allows around two hours to make the trains between stations in the French capital.
And this combination with only '1 change' on Saturdays, can seemingly be typically booked as an end-to-end journey.

1 x optimum connection per day

Changing trains in: Paris

Tickets

Eurostar does not sell tickets for this journey on its booking service.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trainline from €89 approx

Trainline Guide

RailEurope from €89 approx

Journey Features

High Speed

Good to Know

As a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis Eurostar will be operating a particularly limited timetable for the time being - further information is available on Eurostar.com

Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind - so when looking at a timetable the journey will look as though it's an hour longer.

When the usual timetable is operating;
The majority of trains have a journey time of 2hr 16mins and these trains are non-stop between London and Paris.
All departures from London after 14:30 are non-stop to Paris.

Depart from London before 14:30 some trains will call at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations.
However as the trains only call at these stations to pick up passengers - these station calls are not included on the departure boards at St Pancras International or usually announced on the train.

At St Pancras:

Eurostar requests that holders of Standard Class And Standard Premier tickets check-in a minimum of 30mins BEFORE departure, though this increased to 45mins on weekends and holidays.
If you have a Business Premier ticket, Eurostar recommends that you only have to check-in 10 mins before departure.

The crossing of the River Medway - seen from the right of the train The crossing of the River Medway - seen from the right of the train
The Queen Elizabeth II road bridge seen from the right of the train The Queen Elizabeth II road bridge seen from the right of the train
From the high speed line between the tunnel and Lille From the high speed line between the tunnel and Lille

It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with SIX distinct phases and highlights:

1: For most of the first 8 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to exit London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).

2: Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.

3: The third tunnel that the train will pass through is the tunnel under the River Thames.

4: Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.

5: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel.
Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel.
The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.

6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed lines in France.

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial)

Good to Know

Final Destination: Munchen

This train also calls at: Stuttgart, Ulm and Augsburg

This is the only direct train between Paris and Munchen/Munich, the overnight train between the two cities was discontinued a few years ago.

The train is typically scheduled to depart at 15:55 on Mon-Fri and Sundays, but on Saturdays it usually departs at 17:55.

If these timings don't suit the best alternative is to travel via Stuttgart.

Between Paris and Strasbourg the train travels at up to more than 300 km/h on the fastest high speed line in France.
Then from Strasbourg inti Germany, the train travels on conventional tracks through an urban area; see if you can spot when the train has crossed the border, it won't be announced on the train.

Then once the train has travelled for around 15 mins in Germany it briefly joins another high speed line before calling at Karlsruhe.
Yet another high speed line is used for around 25 mins of the journey, as the train approaches Stuttgart.

Between Stuttgart and Ulm the train takes a slower, twisting route through the hills, before speeding up again between Ulm and Munchen.

Option 2: by day via Bruxelles

Travel Information

The potentially awkward transfer between two stations can be avoided on this route via Bruxelles and Frankfurt (Main)
Though the connections with the fastest end to end journey times only allow around 20 minutes to make the necessary changes of train in both stations. (There are no direct daytime trains between Bruxelles and Munchen/Munich).

So ideal if the trains are on time and Frankfurt (Main) Hbf is an exceptionally easy large station in which to make a transfer between trains.
However, only a slight delay is going to create race against time scenarios, so an option is to call Eurostar and book tickets for the 08:55 departure from London and then a journey on to München/Munich which involves departing Bruxelles at 14:25.
Using the more two hours to have lunch near Midi station.

Though if delay were to a result in a missed connections in Bruxelles or Frankfurt, any tickets/reservations booked as an end-to-end journey can be transferred to the next departure(s).

If you'll be travelling with an InterRail or Eurail pass you won't have to make reservations on the ICE trains used for the Bruxelles to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to München sections of the journey.
Though the best option is to set off from London at 08:55 and assume you will make the connections, if you don't, you can simply hop on the next ICE train on to Frankfurt.

More information about making the connection in Bruxelles/Brussels - and what to do if you if the Eurostar does arrive too late, is available on our changing trains at Bruxelles-Midi station guide.

2 x connections per day

Tickets

Book Early And Save: Yes

Online bookings open: usually open around 6 months ahead of the travel date.

Worth knowing before booking London to Munich/Munchen train journey tickets online when travelling via Bruxelles/Brussels

Changes to ticketing on this route:

DB has withdrawn its 'Europa Sparpreis Spezial' and no longer sells that type of tickets on this route via Bruxelles, as a consequence the cheaest prices of booking the end-to-end journey has increased.

The alternative routing via Paris is now typically cheaper, so there is a trade-off between the price of a journey via Bruxelles, which doesn't involve having to change stations - and the slightly more awkward journey via the French capital.

However, DB has retained its offer of  'Europa Sparpreis Spezial' tickets on the Bruxelles > Munchen/Munich art of the journey when travelling by the ICE trains (and not the Thalys trains from Bruxelles on to Koln)
As a result it's now often possible to save money by booking separate tickets for the London > Bruxelles journey with Euroster and then booking the Bruxelles > Munchen journey with DB.

Though if you do, it's likely that you will have to re-book tickets for the journey on to Munchen, in the event of a delay to a Eurostar causing a missed connection in Bruxelles.
Which can be an issue when the connecting time between Eurostar arrivals and ICE departures is only around 20 mins.
So an option is to book the tickets, so that depart London on an early morning Eurostar, so that you can take a later ICE train on from Bruxelles.

DB Bahn ticket terms and conditions in English, including details of child tickets is available here.

The tickets sold by each agent:

Trainline ALSO sells the alternative connections via Paris thereby enabling easy comparison of all the options for London to Munich/Munchen train journeys.
Though it will charge a booking fee for this journey.

Seat Reservations:

The tickets will be train specific, but seat reservations are optional if you book 2nd class tickets on both the ICE train between Bruxelles/Brussels and Frankfurt AND the ICE train between Frankfurt and Munchen/Munich.

Reservations on the ICE trains are included within the ticket price of 1st class ticketsl and they're included for the Eurostar when booking 1st and 2nd class,.

So the 2nd class ticket prices you will initially see on Trainline does NOT initially include the costs of the reservation on these ICE trains.
The 2nd class reservation fee, which covers both trains is €4.50.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trainline from £65 approx

Trainline Guide

Journey Features

High Speed

Good to Know

As a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis Eurostar is operating a particularly limited timetable for the time being - further information is available on Eurostar.com

Final Destination: Bruxelles-Midi or Amsterdam

Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind - so when looking at a timetable the journey will look as though it's an hour longer.

Most of the departures between London and Bruxelles will be by the e320 trains, but the e3300 trains are usually used on some departures.

The usual calls at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations, have been been temporarily suspended until further notice.
However as the trains only call at these stations to pick up passengers. these station calls are not included on the departure boards at St Pancras International, or usually announced on the train.

Eurostar requests that holders of Standard Class And Standard Premier tickets check-in a minimum of 30mins before departure; though this time increases to 45mins before departure on weekends and holidays.
If you have a Business Premier ticket, Eurostar recommends that you only have to check-in 10 mins before departure

Crossing the River Medway Crossing the River Medway
The Queen Elizabeth II road bridge over the River Thames can be seen from the right. The Queen Elizabeth II road bridge over the River Thames can be seen from the right.
Typical scenery between the tunnel and Lille Typical scenery between the tunnel and Lille

It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with six distinct phases and highlights:

1: For most of the first 8 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to exit London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).

2: Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.

3: The third tunnel that the train will pass through is the tunnel under the River Thames.

4: Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.

5: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel.
Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel.
The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.

6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed lines in France and Belgium.

Journey Features

High Speed

Good to Know

Aim to be at Bruxelles Midi/Zuid station a minimum of 15 - 20 mins before your train is due to depart.

You will have to pass through security checks before boarding these trains and queues can build up at busy times.

Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main)

All trains also call at: Aachen; Koln/Cologne; Frankfurt Flughafen/Airport

Most of these ICE trains also call at: Bruxelles-Nord

This train journey from Bruxelles to Frankfurt is usually a great showcase for 21st century European train travel.

The sleek ICE 3 trains give any journey a wow factor and on this route they're either travelling on a custom-built high speed line, or on a conventional railway that has been re-engineered so that the trains can travel faster.

The fastest part of this trip comes between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen, when the train will travel at up to 285 km/h on Germany's fastest high speed line.

Our guide to taking international trains from Belgium is available HERE.

Between Leuven and Liege Between Leuven and Liege
Between Liege and Aachen Between Liege and Aachen
From the high speed line in Germany From the high speed line in Germany

This train journey from Bruxelles to Frankfurt is usually a great showcase for 21st century European train travel.

The sleek ICE 3 trains give any journey a wow factor and on virtually all of this route they're either travelling on a custom-built high speed line, or on a conventional railway that has been re-engineered so that the trains can travel faster.

The fastest part of this trip comes between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen, when the train will travel at up to 285 km/h on Germany's fastest high speed line.

Journey Features

High Speed (partial)

Good to Know

There is a minimum of 1 x train per hour during the day

Final Destination: Munchen

All trains also call at: Nurnberg

These trains travel on a high speed line between Nurnberg and Ingolstadt.

Every other hour there is also an ICE train between Frankfurt and Munchen that travels via Stuttgart.
However, tickets for the Frankfurt to Munchen journey via Stuttgart aren't seemingly sold online by DB Bahn.
Presumably because the journey time via Stuttgart is more than 30 mins longer than this journey via Wurzburg.

This is a journey of seven distinct phases:

  1. Between Frankfurt (Main) and Aschaffenburg the railway passes through a string of commuter towns.
  2. Then east of Aschaffenburg, is the most scenic and slowest part of the trip as the railway follows a series of valleys.
  3. As the River Main comes into view on the right, the train will speed up before bridging the river and entering a tunnel which will link it to the high speed line.
  4. The train will spend around 10-15 mins on the high speed line as it nears Wurzburg, just before the station look out on the right for a brief panorama over the river and city.
  5. On to Nurnberg the train will be on conventional railway tracks.
  6. Between Nurnberg and Ingolstadt comes the fastest part of the trip when the train should spend around 30 minutes travelling at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line.
  7. Then on from Ingolstadt the railway will pass through the commuter towns to the north of Munchen.
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