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Transit from Berlin to Paris early in April: rail or air?

At the last minute, I decided to add five days to my month-of-March European trip and spend those days in Paris. Berlin is my last stop before then, and I am trying to decide how to make the transit.

I much prefer train travel, and neither cost nor time is an issue. But I do notice that rail from Berlin to Paris is about 8 1/2 hours including two stops. I’m in no hurry to get there, but that long on a train can be pretty tiring.

For people who have done the trip, what is your preference and why?

Also, for those recommending air, how long in advance should a person book the flight? Also, do you have a preferred carrier? Is there one that you would avoid?

Thank you very much.

Posted by
6118 posts

Not sure why anyone would take a train requiring over 8 hours and multiple changes when they can take a nonstop flight taking less than 2 hours. Book the flight when you know your dates.

And I like trains in Europe.

Posted by
22099 posts

There is a direct train in 8 hours with 4 stops.
The Glacier Express is 7 3/4 hours. Scenery might be a bit better though.

Posted by
3742 posts

Young train connection - not so many passengers so far.

Carrier: AirFrance and EasyJet

If flight I recommend to book asap. I guess prices will only go up.

Posted by
967 posts

OP - as Sam said there is a direct train from Berlin to Paris, usually ICE9590 that departs Berlin Hbf at 11:54 and arrives at Paris Est at 19:59. The train only makes stops at Berlin Spandau, Frankfurt Süd, Karlsruhe Hbf, and Strasbourg. You can find the train on both the Bahn and SNCF Connect websites.

Not sure why anyone would take a train requiring over 8 hours and multiple changes when they can take a nonstop flight taking less than 2 hours.

Maybe because we all travel for different reasons and enjoy different things. Once I am in Europe I prefer and enjoy the train journeys. I want to see the journey, the change in the geography and I feel more of a connection to my travels. Later in the year I am planning a train journey from Prague to London over two days. The first day will be 12 hours to Brussels.

Posted by
1612 posts

Once I am in Europe I prefer and enjoy the train journeys. I want to see the journey, the change in the geography and I feel more of a connection to my travels.

This is a wonderful perspective, and one that we usually share. With that said, last summer we traveled from Munich to Lecce, a trip of over 14 hours with a change of trains in Bologna. We should have flown, even though our Eurail pass included the fare (seat reservations were about 30 euros for the two of us, as I recall). The train from Utrecht to Berlin didn't start out to be a long trip, but it ended up being well over 8 hours as a result of German train delays. German trains were the worst we experienced last summer, by a very wide margin

Honestly, 5 to 6 hours by rail is probably about our max, unless it's a route with incredible scenery such as the Norway route from Oslo to Bergen. The Glacier Express would also qualify; hope to take it someday.

Posted by
967 posts

This is a wonderful perspective, and one that we usually share. With that said, last summer we traveled from Munich to Lecce, a trip of over 14 hours with a change of trains in Bologna. We should have flown,...Honestly, 5 to 6 hours by rail is probably about our max,...

Sure I hear ya. It's why we all have to hike our own hike. Twelve/Thirteen hours is an easy drive to Nashville. I love the journeys. Rail/sail London to Dublin, London to Amsterdam, Portsmouth to Bayeux, or 8 hours from Bayeux to Utrecht with a station change in Paris and a connection in Brussels. I remember all of these fondly and would not trade the experiences for anything.

And I apologize to the OP for dumping on his thread.

Posted by
1888 posts

Fly. Vacation time is to valuable to waste on an 8+ hour train ride.

Posted by
7354 posts

If time isn't an issue, the train is a great way to see a bit more about what Germany and France looks like, the towns and cities that you might not otherwise see. But making a stop along the way is also a great idea, there are many great places well worth a visit that would make a great overnight stop.

If you want to save valuabe vacation time, there is also a direct overnight train between Berlin and Paris. Go to bed in Germany in the evening and wake up in France in the morning.

Posted by
2944 posts

Not sure why anyone would take a train requiring over 8 hours and
multiple changes when they can take a nonstop flight taking less than
2 hours.

Interestingly the direct train is regularly full, with most passengers making the entire trip. So it would appear that there are a lot of people that prefer a train ride.

Plane is going to be more lik 4/5 hours if you factor in everything. For me, a travel day is going to be dominated by travel no matter what. I don't care much how long I need to get somewhere, as long as I can leave after breakfast and arrive before dinner. And on a train I can work. I regularly visit customers all over Europe and prefer going by train. I travel outward on Monday, spend Tuesday till Thursday at the customer, and travel back on Friday. And I charge them 5 days for that :-)

Posted by
1653 posts

People choose the train over flying for environmental reasons. It feels like there is more awareness of this in Europe than the US.

Posted by
15380 posts

I did this route last summer by night train. What surprised me was that it was more crowded than I thought would be the case.

This summer I'll be doing this route again. No flight for me, and I will take the night train , which has 2 changes, one in Offenburg, just before 6 AM and the other in Metz. All in all , over 10 hours but I am not pressed for time and can break up the route.