The Deutsche Bahn night network 2026
Deutsche Bahn actually pulled out of the night train business back in 2016 with its then City-Nightlines. And yet, for some time now, it has been operating a growing number of IC, ICE, and EC trains that run exclusively overnight. This makes it possible to cover long distances overnight (and ideally, sleeping or at least dozing). The trains also run from Germany to other countries, namely the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and seasonally even to Denmark.
Where can I book?
You can find all of Deutsche Bahn's night ICs/ICEs on our handy price comparison platform:
Which routes are there?
A PDF from Deutsche Bahn provides information on this. You can find it here. We've summarised the most important routes for you here:
From Berlin
- ICE 699 to Munich
- ICE 273 to Zurich via Frankfurt am Main
- IC 60408 to Zurich via Offenburg
- EC 431 to Krakow
- ICE 1540 to Cologne
From Hamburg
- IC 60471 to Basel and Zurich via Karlsruhe
- ICE 619/699 to Munich via Heidelberg
- ICE 1081 to Munich via Nuremberg
- ICE 619/699/921 to Frankfurt am Main
- RJ 479 to Prague
- RJ 386 to Copenhagen (seasonal, currently bookable until the end of August 2026)
From Munich
- IC 406 to Warsaw via Katowice
- ICE 618 to Hamburg via Ulm
- ICE 1080 to Hamburg via Hanover
- ICE 698 to Berlin via Ulm
- ICE 904 to Berlin via Nuremberg
From Zurich
- IC 60402 to Amsterdam via Cologne
- IC 60470 to Hamburg via Heidelberg
- IC 60409 to Berlin via Leipzig
- EC 459 to Prague via Riesa
From Prague
- EC 458 to Zurich via Riesa
- EC 460 to Toruń and Bydgoszcz
From Warsaw
- IC 440 to Szczecin (also from Lublin and Chełm)
From Cologne
From Frankfurt am Main
From Amsterdam
From Copenhagen
- RJ 387 to Hamburg, Berlin, and Prague (seasonal, currently bookable until the end of August 2026)
As we are currently working on expanding the connections on nightride.com, this list will grow in the future. Last updated: 31 July 2026.
Wait, are these really night trains?
Opinions are divided on that. As true night train fans, we'd say: yes and no, but leaning towards no. There are no couchette or sleeping cars; you travel in a seat. The lights usually stay on, and the journey isn't exactly comfortable – the author knows what he's talking about. Nevertheless, you can cover long distances overnight on these routes for a relatively low price. That's why we decided to include DB's offer on nightride.com as well.
What should I keep in mind?
The trains usually stop at quite a few stations where people get on and off. So there's always something going on, and privacy is pretty much non-existent. To get a bit of peace and quiet, 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 also more comfortable. You can't lock away your belongings, and theft is a real possibility (especially during stops in the middle of the night).
- Treat yourself to first class. The price differences are usually small, but the seats are a bit more comfortable, and there's more legroom and space.
- Book at least a month in advance. You can usually still find super saver fares, which are significantly cheaper than flexible tickets.
- Many trains have separate compartments (with doors) – try to reserve a seat in one of them. It's more comfortable and probably a bit safer, too.