Copenhagen to Berlin and Hamburg by train: the direct trains, the fares and the long way round

Copenhagen to Berlin and Hamburg at a glance

Train times from DSB's international timetable valid to 12 December 2026; fares from DSB's route pages; night train times from Snälltåget's preliminary 2026 timetable; bus fare from FlixBus's UK route page; ferry fares from Scandlines. All seen on 22 October 2026 and subject to change. Conversions are rounded.

The direct train to Berlin

On 1 May 2026, DSB, Deutsche Bahn and the Czech railway ČD started direct trains between Copenhagen, Berlin and Prague, the first link between the three capitals without a change in more than ten years. They are Czech ComfortJet trains, pulled by a DSB locomotive as far as Hamburg, and the service is one of the European Commission's pilot projects for better cross-border rail.

• Southbound (timetable valid to 12 December 2026): Copenhagen Central Station 06:22 → Hamburg-Altona 10:48 → Hamburg Hbf 11:28 → Berlin Hbf 13:23, and 10:22 → Hamburg-Altona 14:48 → Hamburg Hbf 15:28 → Berlin Hbf 17:24. Both trains go on to Dresden and Prague.
• Northbound: Berlin Hbf 10:34 → Copenhagen Central Station 17:38, and 14:34 → 21:38.
• After 12 December: Deutsche Bahn says two pairs of trains run all year. A new European timetable starts on 13 December, so check the exact times for later dates on dsb.dk or bahn.de before you plan around them.
• On board: DB describes the ComfortJet with a restaurant car, Wi-Fi, adjustable seats, a children's cinema and wheelchair lifts.
• Stops in Denmark: Copenhagen, Ringsted, Odense, Kolding and Padborg, so you can also join in Odense if you stay there on the way.

In Berlin the train uses the lower level of the Hauptbahnhof, signed tief. If none of the direct times suit you, take a direct train to Hamburg and change there for one of the frequent ICE trains to Berlin; DSB puts the whole trip at about 7 hours that way as well.

The direct train to Hamburg

Hamburg is the easy one. The EuroCity-Express trains run from Copenhagen Central Station to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof in about 4 hours 45 minutes, and DSB says there are up to 8 direct departures a day from Copenhagen, Odense and Kolding.

• Departures (timetable valid to 12 December 2026): 08:22 → 13:06, 12:22 → 17:04, 14:22 → 19:04 and 16:22 → 21:04 (not on 24 or 31 December). The two Berlin trains at 06:22 and 10:22 also serve Hamburg, stopping at Altona first and reaching the Hauptbahnhof at 11:28 and 15:28.
• Back to Copenhagen: direct trains leave Hamburg Hbf roughly every two hours from early morning to early evening; check the day you want, as a few run only on some days.
• Food: DSB says you cannot buy food or drink on board its Hamburg trains, so stock up at the 7-Eleven at Copenhagen Central Station. First class includes coffee, tea, water and a snack.
• Hamburg-Altona or Hauptbahnhof? The Hauptbahnhof is the central one, close to the old town and the Alster lakes. Altona is in the west, handy for the Elbe riverside and Ottensen.

Why the train goes the long way round

Look at a map and Berlin seems to lie straight south of Copenhagen, across the Fehmarn Belt. For decades the trains did go that way, rolling onto the ferry at Rødby. Those ferry trains stopped in 2019, and since then every train to Germany runs west over the Great Belt, across Funen and down through Jutland to the border at Padborg, then on through Schleswig-Holstein to Hamburg.

The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will bring the short route back, and the Copenhagen–Hamburg trip should then be far shorter. Sund & Bælt, the Danish state company building it, said in January 2026 that it can open in 2031 at the earliest, and in May 2026 that the road will open first and the railway later, once the German side is ready. So for any trip you are planning now, the train goes via Jutland.

Tickets and fares

• DSB Orange Europa: DSB's cheapest international fare, called Non Flex in its online shop. DSB advertises Copenhagen–Hamburg from DKK 221 (~US$33 / £25) and Copenhagen–Berlin from DKK 456 (~US$69 / £51), one way. They are valid only on the train you book and cannot be changed or refunded, and they go on sale about six months before the travel date.
• First class: DSB lists Copenhagen–Hamburg in first class from DKK 520 (~US$78 / £58) one way.
• Full Flex: costs more, but you can change or refund it.
• Children: DSB says an adult can take up to four of their own children or grandchildren under 15 to Germany for free; you just pay for their seat reservations if they need their own seats.
• Where to book: DSB (dsb.dk) and Deutsche Bahn (bahn.de) both sell these trains. It is worth checking both for your date, as each runs its own offers.
• Rail passes: Interrail and Eurail passes are generally accepted on these trains. Check with your pass issuer whether a seat reservation is needed for your date.

Here in Denmark we usually book the Germany trains as soon as our dates are fixed, because the number of cheap seats on each train is limited.

The night train

Snälltåget, the private Swedish operator, runs a night train between Stockholm and Berlin that calls at København Syd in Valby, south-west of the centre (M4 metro or S-trains A, E and F).

• Times (preliminary 2026 timetable): København Syd 22:32 → Hamburg Hbf 05:06 → Berlin Hbf 08:35. The other way, Berlin Hbf 21:09 → Hamburg Hbf 23:59 → København Syd 06:03.
• Days: southbound from Sweden on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays between 2 November and 11 December 2026, then around Christmas and New Year (13–16, 20–21 and 27–28 December and 3–6 January). Northbound days differ slightly, so check the calendar. After 7 January 2027 the service pauses until after Easter.
• On board: choose a seat or a private compartment. Prices depend on the date and the compartment, so look at Snälltåget's booking page.

The RDC EuroNight (nachtexpress.de) runs three times a week between Berlin, Hamburg and Stockholm, with sleeper, couchette and seated carriages, and tickets from €40 (~DKK 300 / US$45) per journey. Towards Berlin it calls at Copenhagen Airport at 23:52 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 01:37 in the night after Saturday, and reaches Berlin Gesundbrunnen at 08:56 (the Thursday train) or 11:10 (the Saturday train); the Tuesday train ends in Hamburg. From 12 December 2026 it leaves København Syd at 23:16 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 22:02 on Saturdays, and the Thursday and Saturday trains reach Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 09:18. Northbound, from Berlin, it reaches Copenhagen at 03:23 in the morning.

Passports and the border

Denmark and Germany are both in Schengen, but both run temporary border controls. Denmark has extended its checks at the land and sea border with Germany until 11 May 2027, and Germany's controls at its land borders run until 15 March 2027. In practice, police may walk through the train at Padborg or Flensburg.

• Travellers from outside the EU and the Nordic countries: keep your passport on you, not in the suitcase in the luggage rack.
• EU citizens: a national ID card works too.
• Money: Germany uses the euro. Cards work in most places, but Germany is more fond of cash than we are, so a few euros help at bakeries and Christmas market stalls.

By bus

FlixBus runs about 11 departures a day from Copenhagen to Berlin, from early morning to late evening, with fares from £28.49 (~DKK 255 / US$38) on its UK site on 22 October 2026. Buses leave from Copenhagen Bus Terminal at Carsten Niebuhrs Gade 30 or the stop at Ingerslevsgade 22, both near Copenhagen Central Station, and stop at several places in Berlin, including the central bus station (ZOB) and the Hauptbahnhof. Journey times vary a lot between departures, so look at the time on the ticket before you pay. One carry-on and one checked bag are included. Once you book a few weeks ahead, the train is often not much dearer and a good deal more comfortable.

By plane: Copenhagen to Berlin BER

SAS, easyJet and Norwegian fly nonstop from Copenhagen to Berlin Brandenburg (BER), about an hour in the air. Add the metro to Copenhagen Airport (about 15 minutes from the centre), airport time, and the train from BER into central Berlin. Centre to centre, we would allow around 4 hours in practice, against 7 on the train, which goes from one city centre to the other with your bags beside you.

Flying makes sense if you are short on days, or if your flight home leaves from Berlin anyway. We compare fares on Kiwi.com.

Compare flights on Kiwi.com →

More on fares and routes from Copenhagen in our cheap flights from Copenhagen guide. Landing in Copenhagen first? Our Copenhagen Airport guide covers the train into the city.

By car

Germany has no motorway toll for cars, but the sea gets in the way. There are two short ferry routes and one long way round by land:

• To Hamburg via Rødby–Puttgarden: drive south from Copenhagen to Rødby on Lolland (about 150–160 km, just under 2 hours on the motorway), then take Scandlines across the Fehmarn Belt in about 45 minutes. Car fares start at €48 (~DKK 360 / US$54) one way online for the booked departure. Compare Rødby–Puttgarden sailings on Direct Ferries.
• To Berlin via Gedser–Rostock: the shortest drive to Berlin. Copenhagen to Gedser is a similar 150–160 km, the crossing takes about 2 hours, and from Rostock it is a motorway run to Berlin. Car fares start at €65.30 (~DKK 490 / US$73) one way online. Compare Gedser–Rostock sailings on Direct Ferries.
• No ferry: the land route over the Great Belt Bridge and through Jutland to Padborg, the same way the train goes. It is longer in kilometres and you pay the bridge toll instead of a ferry.
• Rental cars: check that the company allows the car into Germany and what it charges for a one-way drop abroad, which can be steep. Our driving in Denmark guide covers the Danish side, the bridges and car hire.

Compare car hire on DiscoverCars → Get a second quote on Auto Europe →

Where to stay at each end

The direct trains arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, both right in the centre, so a hotel a short ride or walk away keeps the first evening easy.

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Which one should you pick?

• Berlin, most trips: the direct train at 06:22 or 10:22. About 7 hours, no change, from the middle of Copenhagen to the middle of Berlin.
• Hamburg: the direct train, about 4¾ hours. Easy enough for a long weekend, and in late November and December Hamburg's Christmas markets are a classic Danish trip.
• You would rather sleep the distance: Snälltåget's night train from København Syd, on the days it runs.
• Solo on a tight budget: the bus, or an early-booked Orange Europa fare.
• Short on time: fly, and spend the saved hours in either city.
• Touring by car anyway: the Gedser–Rostock ferry for Berlin, Rødby–Puttgarden for Hamburg.

A good route for a longer trip: a few days in Copenhagen, the train to Berlin, and either back the same way or on to Prague on the same train. Going north instead? See Copenhagen to Stockholm by train or the overnight boat to Oslo. If you would like a stop on the way, our Odense guide covers the town the Germany trains pass through.

Quick answers

Is there a direct train from Copenhagen to Berlin?

Yes, two a day. Since May 2026, Czech ComfortJet trains run without a change from Copenhagen Central Station to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and on to Prague. In the timetable valid to 12 December 2026 they leave at 06:22 and 10:22 and arrive at 13:23 and 17:24, about 7 hours. Back from Berlin Hbf they leave at 10:34 and 14:34. DB says the two daily pairs run all year, but check the times for dates after 12 December when the new timetable starts.

How long is the train from Copenhagen to Hamburg?

About 4 hours 45 minutes on the direct EuroCity-Express trains from Copenhagen Central Station to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, which leave at 08:22, 12:22, 14:22 and 16:22 in the timetable valid to 12 December 2026. The two Berlin trains also stop in Hamburg, first at Altona and then at the main station, a little over 5 hours from Copenhagen.

How much is the train from Copenhagen to Berlin or Hamburg?

DSB advertises Orange Europa fares from DKK 221 (about US$33 / £25) to Hamburg and from DKK 456 (about US$69 / £51) to Berlin, one way in standard class, checked on 22 October 2026. First class to Hamburg starts at DKK 520 (about US$78). These cheapest tickets are only valid on the train you book and go on sale about six months ahead, so book early for the low fares.

Why does the train not take the ferry to Germany any more?

The trains that rolled onto the Rødby–Puttgarden ferry stopped in 2019, so trains to Germany now run the long way round, over the Great Belt and down through Funen and Jutland to Padborg. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will bring the short route back, but Sund & Bælt now says it can open in 2031 at the earliest, with the road part first and the railway later.

Do I need a passport on the train from Copenhagen to Germany?

Yes, carry it. Denmark has extended its controls at the border with Germany until 11 May 2027, and Germany checks its land borders too, so police may board at Padborg or Flensburg. Travellers from outside the EU and the Nordic countries should carry their passport on them; EU citizens can use a national ID card.

Is there a night train from Copenhagen to Berlin?

Yes. The Snälltåget night train from Stockholm calls at København Syd at 22:32 and reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 08:35, with seats or private compartments. It runs on selected days until 7 January 2027, then pauses until after Easter. The RDC EuroNight also runs three times a week. Towards Berlin it calls at Copenhagen Airport late on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (23:52) and just after midnight on the Saturday train (01:37); from 12 December 2026 it leaves København Syd late on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings (23:16, or 22:02 on Saturdays). The Thursday and Saturday trains reach Berlin the next morning; the Tuesday train ends in Hamburg.

Plan the trip

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Sources, checked 22 October 2026: DSB international timetable, 14 December 2025 – 12 December 2026 (PDF) · DSB, train to Berlin · DSB, train to Hamburg · DSB Udland, Orange Europa · DSB on the first direct Copenhagen–Berlin–Prague train (1 May 2026) · Deutsche Bahn press release on the Prague–Berlin–Copenhagen trains · Snälltåget night train Berlin–Copenhagen–Stockholm · RDC EuroNight timetable · RDC EuroNight fares (from €40) · Sund & Bælt, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel will open in two stages (17 May 2026) · tagesschau.de on the opening moving to 2031 · Danish border control with Germany extended to 11 May 2027 · European Commission list of temporary border controls · FlixBus Copenhagen–Berlin · Scandlines prices Rødby–Puttgarden · Scandlines prices Gedser–Rostock. Currency conversions use the ECB reference rate of 21 October 2026.