How to travel from Berlin to Hamburg, Germany

The distance between Berlin and Hamburg is around 280km (174 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 45m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Berlin to Hamburg by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out HamburgBerlin if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Hamburg Hbf.

  • Duration1h 45m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    €65($65)
Operated byDeutsche Bahn+ 3 others
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Hamburg central bus station.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    €18($18)
Operated byFlixBus+ 2 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Hamburg.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Distance282km (175 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Berlin and Hamburg

There are several options for getting from Berlin to Hamburg by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €18 ($18) and will take around 3h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €65 ($65).

The distance between Berlin and Hamburg is around 280km (174 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 254km (158 miles)

It takes around 1h 45m to get from Berlin and Hamburg by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Berlin to Hamburg is to take the train which takes around 1h 45m and will set you back approx €65 ($65).

The cheapest way to travel between Berlin and Hamburg, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €18 ($18) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Berlin and Hamburg. It typically takes around 1h 45m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Berlin and Hamburg with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 1h 45m.

Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Czech Railways and Hungarian Railways (MÁV) run train services between Berlin and Hamburg. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 45m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Berlin and Hamburg. It typically takes around 3h 15m and departs every 30 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Berlin and Hamburg with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 30 mins and takes 3h 15m.

FlixBus, Arda Tur and Racic Eurobus run regular bus services between Berlin and Hamburg. Buses run every 30 mins and take around 3h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Berlin to Hamburg. We recommend that you take the train to Hamburg Hbf. instead which will take 1h 45m.

The closest major airport to Hamburg is Hamburg Airport (HAM) (HAM) which is approximately 9km (6 miles) from Hamburg. Luebeck-Blankensee Airport (LBC) (LBC) and Bremen Airport (BRE) (BRE) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Berlin and Hamburg. The distance is around 282km (175 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Berlin to Hamburg is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 45m and will usually cost around €65 ($65).

How do I get from Berlin to Hamburg

Compare travel optionsbetween Berlin and Hamburg

Transport options from Berlin to Hamburg
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 45m
€65($65)
every 30 mins285km (177 miles)
Bus
3h 15m
€18($18)
every 30 mins280km (174 miles)
Drive
2h 40m
€37($37)
on demand282km (175 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Berlin and Hamburg

Bus companies

Airports near Hamburg

The following major airports near Hamburg offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.

HAM
Hamburg Airport (HAM)
International Airport
Distance
9km (6 miles) from Hamburg
LBC
Luebeck-Blankensee Airport (LBC)
Domestic Airport
Distance
54km (34 miles) from Hamburg
BRE
Bremen Airport (BRE)
International Airport
Distance
98km (61 miles) from Hamburg