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Everything about the "Nacht-ICs" of Deutsche Bahn

At nightride.com, you can find around 28 DB night train routes. But are these really "true" night trains? And what else should you know?
timo
Timo Grossenbacher14 February 2025 — 2 min read

Deutsche Bahn officially exited the night train business in 2016 with its then City-Nightline services. However, for some time now, it has operated an increasing number of IC, ICE, and EC trains that exclusively run at night. This allows you to cover long distances overnight (ideally sleeping or at least dozing). These trains run from Germany to other countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and even seasonally to Denmark.

Wait, are these really night trains?

There’s some debate about this. As true night train fans, we would say: Sort of, with a tendency toward "no." There are no sleeper or couchette cars, you travel sitting down. The lights usually stay on, and the ride isn’t particularly cozy – the author knows what they're talking about. Nevertheless, you can travel long distances overnight on these lines at a relatively low price. That’s why we’ve decided to include DB’s offerings on nightride.com.

What should I keep in mind?

These trains usually stop at many stations where people get on and off. So, it’s always bustling, and privacy is a no-go. To get some rest, we recommend the following:

  • A sleep mask and earplugs (or even better: noise-cancelling headphones) are a must.
  • Travel in groups; it's safer and more comfortable. You can’t lock your belongings, and thefts (especially during night stops) are possible.
  • Treat yourself to first class. The price difference is usually small, but the seats are a bit more comfortable, with more legroom and space.
  • Book at least a month in advance. That way, you’ll often find Super-Saver prices, which are much cheaper than flexible tickets.
  • Many trains have separate compartments (with doors) – make sure you can reserve a seat there. It’s cozier and likely safer.

What routes are available?

A PDF from Deutsche Bahn provides more information on this. You can find it here. Below, we’ve summarized the most important routes for you:

From Berlin:

From Hamburg:

From Munich:

From Vienna:

From Zurich:

Since we are currently expanding the connections on nightride.com, this list will grow in the future. Last update: January 26, 2025.