The direct Paris–Berlin train: suspended
The direct train, a Deutsche Bahn ICE operated with SNCF, links Paris-Est to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 8 hours, via Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt. It was launched as the first high-speed link without a change between the two cities, with launch fares announced from €59.99 in second class.
But Deutsche Bahn has suspended the service since August 2025 because of faults in the trains' ETCS signalling software. According to information published at the end of September 2026, the suspension is extended at least until 31 October 2026, with no confirmed restart date beyond that. No direct tickets are therefore on sale for now: if you travel in the coming months you need to change trains, or take the night train.
Paris to Berlin with a change
Itineraries with one change run through Germany: Frankfurt, Mannheim, Cologne, Karlsruhe or Stuttgart depending on the timetable. Total durations range from about 8 h 20 to 8 h 50 according to the itineraries we consulted. The usual pattern: a TGV INOUI or an ICE from Paris into Germany, then an ICE to Berlin. Another option: go via Cologne, with the train from Paris-Nord and then an ICE to Berlin; compare timetables on the booking site before choosing.
A few tips:
- Book a single ticket for the whole journey (SNCF Connect or bahn.de): if the first train is late, the connection is better protected than with two separate tickets.
- Allow some margin at the change: in Germany, ICE delays are frequent, especially late in the day.
- Reserve a seat for the long stretches if you travel at a weekend or during the holidays.
- The Deutschlandticket (€63 a month) is not valid on long-distance ICE and IC trains: it only helps once you are in Berlin (see our guide to Berlin transport).
The Paris–Berlin night train
A night train has linked Paris and Berlin without a change since December 2023. Since March 2026 it has been run by European Sleeper, in place of the ÖBB Nightjet. According to the information consulted, it runs three times a week, from Paris to Berlin on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and in the other direction on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in about 16 hours (leaving in the late afternoon and arriving the next morning). It calls at Brussels-Midi and Liège, then Hamburg from July 2026. During the summer 2026 engineering works, some departures changed station in Paris (Gare de l'Est instead of Gare du Nord) and arrival in Berlin (Gesundbrunnen instead of the main station): check the station on your ticket. This train is an experience rather than a time saver, but it saves a night's hotel.
Arriving in Berlin
Most long-distance trains arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, right in the centre, from where the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses lead to the government quarter, Mitte and Museum Island. Our guide to Berlin's central station explains how to find your way around. A few minutes on foot away, the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate are easy to reach; the Hamburger Bahnhof, a former station turned contemporary art museum, is very close.
Train or plane?
Flying is faster on paper, but you must add the journeys to and from the airports and the waiting. For travellers who prefer to fly, our guide to Berlin airport (BER) explains how to reach the centre in about 23 minutes on the Airport Express train.
Going further
To plan your stay, see what to do in Berlin in one day or Berlin in 3 days, and for somewhere to sleep near the station, our guide where to stay in Berlin. The Futurium and the Tränenpalast are close to the central station.
