The short answer
- Fastest: the Intercity, about 2 hours (1h53 to 2h15 depending on the source).
- Cheapest: the RE5, slower (about 2h40), covered by the Deutschlandticket.
- Warnemünde: from Rostock Hbf, about 21 minutes by S-Bahn; a single ticket in the Rostock zone was noted at €3.00.
- Before you go: the autumn 2026 works change some trains, so check on the day.
Comparing the options
| Mode | Duration | Price seen | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intercity (DB) | about 2h to 2h15 | from €14.99 booked in advance (old listing) | around 27 connections a day, some diverted via Schwerin |
| RE5 (regional) | about 2h40 | Deutschlandticket valid | direct connection with the Rostock S-Bahn |
| Bus (Flixbus) | duration to confirm | often lower than the train | check on the operator's site |
| Car | about 2h30 (estimate, about 230 km) | fuel | via the A19 motorway |
The train prices noted date from 2024 on a reseller: do not take them for a current fare and check on bahn.de.
Works in autumn 2026
A press article says the RE5 and RE50 are interrupted from mid-October to 13 November 2026, with buses between Waren and Neustrelitz, and that restrictions last until 12 December 2026. Some Intercity line 17 trains are partly diverted via Schwerin. Other works affect the southern part of the line between 30 October and 6 November, including between Löwenberg and Berlin. Finally, with Berlin's Stadtbahn closed until 12 December 2026, Intercity trains from Dresden via Berlin to Rostock run via Ostkreuz. Add a margin to your journey.
Warnemünde and Rostock
Warnemünde is Rostock's seaside district, with its beach and harbour; the Rostock S-Bahn runs there from the central station. For a day return, leave Berlin early. Regional tickets and the Deutschlandticket's validity are explained on the page AB, ABC and Deutschlandticket tickets, and the departure station on the page about Berlin's main station.
Where to sleep in Rostock
To sleep there, compare hotels in Rostock on your dates. Other escapes from Berlin are described in excursions from Berlin, and for the north, Berlin to Hamburg by train.
