The Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express (ICE) high-speed train connects many major cities across Germany. Travel by ICE to the heart of each city, close to all the main attractions and hotels. If you plan to explore neighbouring countries, you can take an international ICE train to Austria (Vienna, Linz), Belgium (Brussels, Liège), France (Paris, Strasbourg), the Netherlands (Arnhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam) and Switzerland (Zürich, Basel, Interlaken).

The ICE connects all major cities in Germany and some in Austria, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands. Reservations on ICE trains are recommended, especially if you have a long trip ahead. They are very popular.

Please note that we recommend making seat reservations for International ICE connections. ICEs on the route Amsterdam – Frankfurt/Munich are subject to mandatory reservations from 28 May to 31 August.  

Here are some domestic and international examples of the core routes available:

Important domestic routes

• Frankfurt – Hannover – Hamburg
• Dortmund – Düsseldorf – Cologne – Frankfurt – Stuttgart – Munich
• Frankfurt – Cologne – Münster – Bremen – Hamburg
• Hamburg – Hannover – Nuremberg – Munich
• Dresden – Berlin – Hamburg
• Berlin – Halle – Erfurt – Frankfurt
• Berlin – Leipzig – Nuremberg – Munich
• Cologne – Düsseldorf – Dortmund – Hannover – Berlin

Important international routes

• Frankfurt – Mannheim – Paris
• Stuttgart – Strasbourg – Paris
• Berlin – Frankfurt – Strasbourg – Paris
• Hamburg – Frankfurt – Basel – Zurich
• Hamburg – Bremen – Dortmund – Düsseldorf – Cologne – Frankfurt – Basel
• Berlin – Frankfurt – Basel – Interlaken
• Dortmund – Cologne – Frankfurt – Nuremberg – Linz – Vienna
• Berlin – Stuttgart – Bregenz – Innsbruck 

• Berlin – Stuttgart – Munich – Innsbruck
• Hamburg – Hannover/Berlin – Nuremberg – Vienna
• Frankfurt – Cologne – Düsseldorf – Amsterdam
• Munich – Stuttgart – Frankfurt – Cologne – Düsseldorf – Amsterdam
• Frankfurt – Cologne – Aachen – Brussels

Reservations for ICE trains

Reservations on regular ICE high-speed trains are optional.

Exceptions:

• Reservations are compulsory on the international ICE route Amsterdam – Frankfurt/Munich between 28 May and 31 August.
• Reservations are compulsory on all cross-border, long-distance trains (TGV and ICE) between Germany and France.

Reservation fees

Optional reservations for domestic ICE routes:

• 2nd class: €5,50
• 1st class:€6,90

Mandatory Pass holder fares (reservation + supplement) for ICE trains to and from Paris:

• 2nd class: €19
• 1st class: €19

The mandatory fares can be purchased through our Self-service and DB Passzuschlag.