Train to Berlin From Amsterdam: A 5-Step Guide

Most travellers pick the direct ICE, and the steps below follow the trip from the booking screen to your first afternoon in Berlin.

Step 1: Choose the direct ICE for your train to Berlin from Amsterdam

The direct ICE is the simplest train to Berlin from Amsterdam, because you stay on one train all the way. NS International lists 5 direct trains a day from Amsterdam Centraal and a fastest journey of 5 hours 51 minutes.

The train stops in towns such as Hilversum, Amersfoort, Apeldoorn, Deventer, Hengelo, Bad Bentheim, Osnabrück and Hannover. Some trains make extra stops, so check the stops of the train you book. The page does not list a full stop-by-stop order.

Key Takeaway The direct ICE from Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin takes about 5 hours 51 minutes and needs no change.

Step 2: Book early to get the cheapest ticket

Train tickets from Amsterdam to Berlin start at €38 one way in second class, and first class starts at €60. These are the lowest fares on NS International's page, and they are the early-booking prices.

Tickets go on sale 60 to 364 days ahead, and the page says that booking earlier usually means a lower price. When the cheap fares for a train are sold out, the next fare is higher. Fares differ from train to train, so compare a few departures.

Pro Tip Book as soon as your travel date is fixed. The cheapest €38 fare is the one that sells out first.

Luggage is simple. NS International allows two regular pieces plus one hand bag, up to 85 × 85 × 85 cm each.

Step 3: Decide on a seat reservation

A seat reservation is optional on this route, but NS International recommends it. It is included in first-class full-flex tickets. The page does not state a price for a second-class reservation, so check the amount when you book.

Reserve your seat if you travel on a Friday or Sunday, with a group or with a lot of luggage. Without one, you may have to look for a free seat. NS also says reservations will be compulsory on international ICE trains from 25 June to 5 September 2027, so summer trips next year will need one.

Step 4: Look at the night train if you want to sleep on the way

A night train also runs from the Netherlands to Berlin. NS International describes the European Sleeper as a service from Brussels via Amsterdam to Berlin, Dresden and Prague. You board in the evening and wake up in Berlin the next morning.

NS International's night train page says it runs three times a week, but it does not say which days. Seats start at €39, couchettes (shared bunk compartments) at €69 and private sleepers at €109. The page does not give departure times or the Berlin station, and it does not mention winter 2026, so look up the current timetable on the European Sleeper booking page.

An honest limit: the night train is not the best choice if you need to be somewhere on a fixed day. With only three trips a week, the daytime ICE is the safer pick.

The best train is the one that gets you there rested and on the day you planned.

Step 5: Arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and plan your first afternoon

The direct ICE arrives at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the main station. NS International also lists Spandau and Südkreuz as Berlin stops, so check which one your train uses. Read the guide to Berlin Hbf train station for how the city's tickets and lines work.

From Hauptbahnhof, the U5 metro line runs east to Bundestag, Brandenburger Tor, Unter den Linden and Museumsinsel, according to BVG. A single AB ticket costs €4 and is valid for two hours, as the City of Berlin lists. If you are looking for a bed, read where to stay in Berlin first.

You can see Berlin on your own after the train, and a tour is optional. The U5 and a €4 ticket reach the main sights, so go alone if you like your own pace. Choose a tour if you want a guide to explain what you pass. After about six hours on a train, keep the first afternoon light.

A street art walking tour is from €20 per person, takes about 3 hours and has free cancellation. It runs in English with up to 20 people and meets at Warschauer Strasse. The page says you may need a zone AB public transport ticket, so bring one. A one-hour Spree cruise is from €18 per person, with live commentary in English and free cancellation. It starts at the Alte Börse pier. Food and drinks on board are extra, and transfer to the pier is not included. If you want to sit and see the sights, a classic VW bus tour is from €44 per person for 2 hours and up to 7 people. It meets at Berlin Cathedral. The page lists people with epilepsy, a cold or over 125 kg as not suitable. Group size for the cruise and what is not included for the other two are on their booking pages.

Of the 352 Berlin experiences listed on GetYourGuide on 27 October 2026, 41 are walking tours, and their median starting price is €26 per person. Pick the format that fits your energy, and compare the choices on the Berlin sightseeing attractions page.