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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Cologne, Munich, and Berlin

7-day rail trip through Cologne, Munich, and Berlin

Illustration of Cologne, Munich, and Berlin

Railbookers runs Cologne, Munich, and Berlin, a 7-day, 6-night independent rail vacation connecting three German cities on a single high-speed ICE rail line. The trip opens with one night in Cologne, with time to climb the Gothic Dom Cathedral or take a riverboat cruise along the Rhine, before the ICE train travels southeast to Munich for two nights. There, a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour takes in Marienplatz, the Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall, and the Viktualienmarkt. Another ICE train continues north to Berlin for the final three nights, where a Berlin City Card gives discounted entry to 200 attractions, including the TV Tower, Sanssouci Palace, and the Checkpoint Charlie museum, plus views from the top of the Reichstag and Berlin Wall remnants. With self-guided sightseeing throughout and no escorted tours, the trip suits independent explorers and first-time rail travelers wanting a simple three-city introduction to Germany.

What to know before you look closer

  • There are 18 accommodation options listed across tiers and cities rather than one fixed hotel per stop; the specific property depends on the tier selected.
  • Only one night is spent in Cologne before moving on, compared with 2 nights in Munich and 3 in Berlin.
  • No escorted day tours are included beyond the Munich hop-on, hop-off pass and the Berlin City Card; Cologne is entirely self-guided.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Cologne

    Your Journey Begins in Cologne

    Check in at your hotel for an overnight stay. See the Gothic Dom cathedral, take a riverboat cruise along the Rhine, or visit the Chocolate Museum.

  2. Day 2overnight: Munich

    Cologne to Munich

    Travel south east from Cologne to Munich on a high-speed ICE service. Check in for a two-night stay. Explore the Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace, or the Frauenkirche.

  3. Day 3overnight: Munich

    Munich

    Hop-on hop-off city bus tour of Munich - Marienplatz, Hofbrauhaus, Viktualienmarkt and more.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Berlin

    Munich to Berlin

    Journey north on a high-speed ICE train to Berlin. Check in for a three-night stay. Peruse the shops on Potsdamer Platz.

  5. Day 5overnight: Berlin

    Berlin

    Explore the city with your Berlin city card - discounts at 200 highlights and attractions including the TV Tower, Sanssouci Palace, and Checkpoint Charlie museum.

  6. Day 6overnight: Berlin

    Berlin

    Take in views from the top of the Reichstag, visit Berlin Zoo, stroll through the Tiergarten, or dine at the revolving restaurant atop the Fernsehturm/TV Tower.

  7. Day 7

    Your Journey Ends in Berlin

    After breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1The Gothic Dom Cathedral can be climbed for views over Cologne, alongside a riverboat cruise along the Rhine.
  • Day 2A high-speed ICE train carries travelers southeast from Cologne to Munich.
  • Day 4A high-speed ICE train continues north from Munich to Berlin.
  • Day 5A Berlin City Card gives discounts at 200 attractions, including the TV Tower, Sanssouci Palace, and the Checkpoint Charlie museum.
  • Day 6Views from the top of the Reichstag, a stroll through the Tiergarten, and dinner at the revolving restaurant atop the Fernsehturm are all options on the final full day.

Included

  • Rail travel as per itinerary
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Cologne
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Munich
  • 3 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Berlin
  • Hop on Hop Off Sightseeing Tour of Munich
  • Berlin City Card

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. High-speed ICE trains connect Cologne to Munich on day 2 and Munich to Berlin on day 4.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is an independent rail vacation. Sightseeing runs on a hop-on, hop-off pass in Munich and a discount City Card in Berlin, rather than an escorted guide.
What is included?
Rail travel as per the itinerary, 1 night's hotel stay with breakfast in Cologne, 2 nights in Munich, 3 nights in Berlin, a Munich hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, and a Berlin City Card.
What does the Berlin City Card cover?
Discounts at 200 highlights and attractions, including the TV Tower, Sanssouci Palace, and the Checkpoint Charlie museum.
What hotels are used?
The package draws from 18 accommodation options, including Hilton Cologne, Pullman Cologne, and Maritim Koln Hotel in Cologne, and Sofitel Munich Bayerpost and Mercure Hotel Muenchen City Center in Munich; the exact hotel depends on the tier chosen.

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