Itinerary · 3 days
Berlin & Hamburg by Train
A short, punchy 3-day itinerary covering Germany's two largest cities by rail. 2 nights in Berlin, 1 in Hamburg, with the 1h 45min ICE ride as the transition. Targets first-time visitors who want highlights without overcommitting.
At a glance
| Day | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Berlin | Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, Holocaust Memorial |
| Day 2 | Berlin | Museum Island, East Side Gallery, TV tower, Prenzlauer Berg evening |
| Day 3 | Berlin → Hamburg | Morning ICE, Speicherstadt, Elbphilharmonie, Reeperbahn |
Day 1 — Berlin first impressions
Morning
- Arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof or BER Airport.
- Drop bags at hotel in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg — most hotels hold luggage before check-in.
- Walk from Hbf via Reichstag (book free dome tour 2 weeks ahead at bundestag.de) to Brandenburg Gate.
Afternoon
- Holocaust Memorial (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) — 2727 concrete stelae, free.
- Walk south to Checkpoint Charlie + Topography of Terror (free museum on SS headquarters site).
- Late lunch in Mitte or Kreuzberg.
Evening
- Sunset walk along the Spree river.
- Dinner in Mitte — Prater Garten (Prenzlauer Berg) for beer garden; Mogg (Jewish-style deli) for sandwiches.
Day 2 — Berlin depth
Morning
- Museum Island — pick 1 or 2: Neues Museum (Nefertiti), Pergamon (if open; partial closure through 2027).
- Or: DDR Museum (interactive East Germany history).
Afternoon
- East Side Gallery — longest remaining stretch of Berlin Wall, painted murals. Take U-Bahn to Warschauer Straße.
- Cross Oberbaum Bridge to Kreuzberg for late lunch (Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap is a classic).
- Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm) for city views — book timed entry to skip queue.
Evening
- Prenzlauer Berg dinner and drinks — Kollwitzplatz restaurants, then bars around Kastanienallee.
Day 3 — Berlin → Hamburg
Morning: the ICE ride
- Check out, walk to Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
- Take ICE to Hamburg Hbf — 1h 45min, €19-€49 Sparpreis if pre-booked.
- Via DB Navigator or Omio.
- Arrive Hamburg Hbf before lunch.
Afternoon
- Drop bags at Hamburg hotel (St. Pauli or Altstadt).
- Walk to Speicherstadt — UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district, world's largest contiguous warehouse complex.
- Miniatur Wunderland (world's largest model railway) inside Speicherstadt — book timed entry ahead, it sells out.
- Elbphilharmonie — free public viewing terrace with 360° harbour view (get a reservation ticket at the ground floor kiosk).
Evening
- Landungsbrücken for sunset over the Elbe and harbour cranes.
- Dinner at a fischbrötchen stand or proper Hanseatic restaurant.
- Reeperbahn district — Hamburg's legendary nightlife strip. Safe and lively; watch the usual big-city caution.
Tickets and budgets
- ICE Berlin → Hamburg: €19-€49 advance (Sparpreis), €79 flex day-of. Book 2-3 months ahead for best fares.
- Berlin city transport: 24h ticket €9.90, covers S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, trams.
- Hamburg city transport: 24h ticket €7.60 (HVV Kurzstrecke shorter). Or walk most of the city centre.
- Hotels: Budget €90/night for a 3-star in either city.
Alternate routings
- 4-day version: 2 nights Berlin + 2 nights Hamburg. Add Potsdam day trip from Berlin (Sanssouci palace) and Lübeck day trip from Hamburg (45 min by train, medieval old town).
- Add Copenhagen: Hamburg → Copenhagen direct ICE Lyntog ~5h. Extends to 5-day trip for the Scandinavia addition.
- Reverse direction: Fly into Hamburg (HAM), train out of Berlin (BER Airport). Works with Ryanair/EasyJet from UK cheaper than Berlin-direct.
Live rail status
Check today's Berlin-Munich status or general rail status the morning of travel. We sample delays on 14 popular routes daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Berlin and Hamburg?
Tight but doable. 2 nights in Berlin, 1 night in Hamburg, with the ICE journey occupying a few hours of day 3. You'll see the highlights, not the depth. If you can extend to 4 days, split as 2+2. Beyond a week, add Potsdam day trip from Berlin and Lübeck day trip from Hamburg.
How long is the train from Berlin to Hamburg?
Exactly 1 hour 45 minutes on the ICE — Germany's fastest intercity route after Berlin-Leipzig. Trains run roughly every hour from 06:00 to 22:00. Sparpreis (advance) fares are €19-€29 if booked 2-3 months ahead. Day-of flex fares jump to €79.
What's the best time of year for this itinerary?
Late May to early July and September are ideal — long days, pleasant temperatures, manageable crowds. August gets hot in Berlin (inner-city can hit 35°C) and tourist-heavy. November-March means shorter days but Christmas markets (late November-December 23) are magical. Hamburg is walkable year-round; Berlin's outdoor attractions are better in warm months.
Can I do this itinerary with a Deutschlandticket?
No — the Berlin-Hamburg ICE isn't covered. You'd need 8+ hours on regional trains changing at least 3 times. Not worth it for a short trip. Deutschlandticket is for slow regional exploration or monthly city-commute use, not intercity travel. See <a href="/guides/bahncard-vs-deutschlandticket/">comparison</a>.
Where should I stay in each city?
Berlin: Mitte (central, historical) or Prenzlauer Berg (hip, residential feel). Kreuzberg for nightlife. Avoid anything too far from an S-Bahn/U-Bahn station. Hamburg: St. Pauli (central, walkable to Reeperbahn and harbour) or Altstadt near Rathausmarkt. Both Hauptbahnhofs are hotel-dense and convenient for arrivals.
How much should I budget for 3 days including hotels?
Mid-range estimate per person: €480-€750. Breakdown: Hotels 2 nights Berlin + 1 Hamburg (3-star): €270-€450. ICE Berlin↔Hamburg: €19-€49. Public transport: 2 x 24h tickets (~€20). Food: €30-€50/day x 3 = €90-€150. Attractions: €30-€60. Add flight/train to get to Berlin on top.
Related
Berlin-Hamburg route detail · Berlin guide · Hamburg guide · Sparpreis tickets explained