Suggestions for a quick stop in Germany between Amsterdam and Copenhagen

Flying is more efficient than the train on that route. The train to Schipol Airport from Amsterdam Centraal is quick and cheap. Copenhagen's airport is right on the city metro system, and even more convenient than Amsterdam.

It shouldn't cost more than $120/person for plane/train/metro tickets and take 4hrs total including transfers and adequate pre-flight wait time.

I would consider trains and a stop in Bremen or Hamburg if I could catch a Bundesliga match, but otherwise the only neat part about that long train route is when the train goes on the ferry.

As already said, flying is much faster and cheaper than the train. However if you are dead set on taking the train, then I would also suggest Lübeck as a stop in between. There is enough to see there for at least a day, but if it is only for an overnight stay to break up the train journey, then skip it and just fly.

I second Hamburg and Lubeck!

Thanks for the insights, folks. Incidentally, we'll have rail passes.

I'd stop over in Luebeck for sure; and taking the train, which goes on the ferry, is awesome!

Hillie, as a Dane I'm always a bit bemused when someone on this site mentions the train that goes an a ferry with such enthusiasm. To me it's jst a train that goes on a ferry, so what's the big deal? This used to be the way the major Danish islands where connected, before we build bridges everywhere (which are much more exiting in my opinion), so I guess the novelty factor is lost on us Danes. But hey, whatever floats your boat :-)

And Michael, if you have a train pass the journey makes a bit more sense, but you should still check out the costs involved (potential reservation fees etc.) compared to a cheap flight. If you decide to train it, makes sure to spend at least a day in Lübeck or wherever you decide to make the stop, so it's not just time wasted in transit.

Morten, sorry to confuse you, but the novelty factor of trains and trains on ferries exists for many Americans. Except for the northeast corridor and in big cities such as Chicago, etc., many of us just don't have the opportunity to ride trains on a regular basis. One of the things I love most about Europe is the train travel. And when the train goes onto a big ferry, and you take the elevator up to the restaurant and gift shop, and walk out on the open deck, and see hundreds of windmills in the distance, looking like they're coming right out of the water (obviously not, just low lying islands)...well, I find that interesting, and other travelers might, too. So, yeah, I'm pretty enthusiastic about trains! :)

I also was thrilled with the notion of the train being on a ferry. We specifically took the train from Copenhagen to Amsterdam in order to do this. Granted, it isn't something we would probably repeat, but it was kinda neat to be able to say that we had done it. We had already planned on the travel day being a down day to basically chill out and catch up on some reading. Most of the folks with whom we shared this experience also thought it was cool.

"...I'm always a bit bemused when someone on this site mentions the train that goes an a ferry with such enthusiasm." A passenger train on a ferry? Not around where I live, but then you might get excited about seeing far too many deer, just another herd of elk, a mountain lion or two or more bears.

Going on a train/ferry is one thing I have yet to do in spite having traveled extensively in North Germany but i never got around to Puttgarden for that train /ferry crossing into Denmark....another "must do" Even a ferry ride, overnight or longer, is a thrill.

I find it very interesting that people can get so exited by something thats seems normal in my part of the world. It's something i would have never expected foreign visitors to be exited about. Here in Denmark we have built huge bridge/tunnel connections just to be rid of these old train/ferry connections and we are very proud of these, such as the Great Belt link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Belt_Fixed_Link (The train does not go over the main bridge, but trough a tunnel, so it's a bit boring by train) and the Øresund connection to Sweden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%98resund_Bridge (you can cross it on a day trip to Malmø). Yet people get exited about these outdated ferries! Luckily for all you trainferry enthusiast, the talks about building a bridge between Rødby and Puttgarten seem to be on hold at the moment.

I think this one of the reasons why I love travelling and why I think it's important that people go travelling. You can get exited about things that are done differently in other societies and broaden your horizon a bit.