Fast trains are a convenient way to travel between Paris in France and several cities in Germany including Frankfurt am Main, Saarbrücken, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg, and Munich (München). Both French SNCF TGV and German Deutsche Bahn ICE trains operate on these railway routes. Traveling times from Paris are around four hours to Frankfurt or Stuttgart while it takes six hours by train from Paris to Munich.
High-Speed TGV and ICE Trains from Paris to Frankfurt am Main
High-speed trains offer the most convenient and often the fastest transportation between Paris and Frankfurt am Main. High-speed French Trains à Grande Vitesse (TGV) and German Inter-City-Express (ICE) trains travel the distance from Paris-Gare de l’Est and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof in just less than four hours.
Usually five trains per day travel on the Paris to Frankfurt route – three or four German ICE trains and one or two French TGV trains. Trains depart from Paris-Gare de l’Est station and most stop en route at Forbach near the French-German border. All trains stop in Germany at Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, and Mannheim before reaching the final terminus at Frankfurt main train station. Both Frankfurt and Mannheim are major railway junctions with excellent onward connections to other parts of Germany.
Train traveling times from Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof are 0h40 to Mannheim, 1h22 to Kaiserslautern, 2h00 to Saarbrücken, 2h08 to Forbach, and 3h49 to Paris-Gare de l’Est.
High-Speed TGV Trains from Paris to Stuttgart and Munich via Strasbourg
High-speed trains offer fast and convenient connections between Paris and cities in southern Germany including Stuttgart, Augsburg, Ulm, and Munich (München). The southern route is mostly operated by French TGV trains but occasionally German Railways ICE trains also travel on this route.
Most days, six TGV trains run from Paris-Gare de l’Est to Stuttgart in around four hours. Most but not all of these trains stop en route in Strasbourg and Karlsruhe. One or two TGV trains per day go all the way from Paris to Munich but very good ICE connections are available from Stuttgart to Munich for TGV passengers having to transfer in Stuttgart.
Train traveling times from Paris-Gare de l’Est are 2h20 to Strasbourg, 3h00 to Karlsruhe, 3h30 to Stuttgart, 4h30 to Ulm, 5h40 to Augsburg, and 6h25 to München Hauptbahnhof.
City Night Liner Trains from Paris to Munich
It is possible to travel overnight by train from Paris-Gare de l’Est to Munich Hauptbahnhof. The luxurious City Night Liner (CNL) trains operate on this route most nights.
The CNL sleeper train departs Paris just after 8 pm to reach Munich shortly after 7 am. The return trains depart from Munich shortly before 11 pm to reach Paris after 9 am. The train stops en route at Augsburg, Ulm, Stuttgart, and Saarbrücken.
Booking Tickets for TGV and ICE Trains from Paris to Germany
Tickets for the high-speed trains traveling between Paris and German cities can be reserved through all the normal channels. The full-fare, standard second-class ticket from Frankfurt / Stuttgart to Paris is €106 one way (€135 from Paris to Munich). However, discounted and savings fares for advance reservations are available with €59 more common and €39 possible if the Europa-Special fare is available.
Reservations are obligatory for travel on all TGV trains as well as German Railways ICE trains when traveling in France. Most ICE trains do not require reservations when traveling inside Germany. Bicycles may be transported unpacked on some TGV trains but not on ICE trains.
Transfers from Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est in Paris is fairly easy and fastest done by walking. This allow passengers on Eurostar trains from London or TGV-Thalys trains from Brussels to easily connect to TGV and ICE trains heading for Germany or TGV Lyria trains to Switzerland.
Henk Bekker - Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer currently living on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Join the Conversation