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Cross-border route · Europe
Paris–Frankfurt–Munique by train
By train from Paris to Munich via Frankfurt and Nuremberg: TGV and ICE connect France to southern Germany from central station to central station.
France
Germany
4 cities 2 countries
In the photo: Roof of Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof station, Frankfurt
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The route
What is Paris–Frankfurt–Munique by train
The high-speed TGV trains, operated by SNCF, and ICE, by Deutsche Bahn, link Paris to Frankfurt in about 4 hours, without changing trains. The train departs from Gare de l'Est in Paris, crosses the border near Forbach and stops in Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern and Mannheim before reaching Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, the central station. From Frankfurt, ICE trains continue to Munique in about 3 hours, passing through Würzburg and Nuremberg.
It's a way to combine France and Germany in one trip, from central station to central station. Both countries are in the Schengen area and use the euro: there is no routine passport control between them.
The most common approach is to split the journey: a few days in Paris, one or two in Frankfurt, with an excursion to the Rhine Valley or Heidelberg, one day in Nuremberg and finishing in Munique. For those who want to go direct, there is also the TGV Paris–Munique, which usually departs once or twice a day from Gare de l'Est and goes via Estrasburgo, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart and Augsburgo, taking about 6 hours.
The map
4 cities in 2 countries
Outlines: Natural Earth, public domain. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
The journey
City by city
Distances and times are approximate: check before you set out.
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1 · France
Paris
The route begins at Gare de l'Est, in the 10th arrondissement, next to Gare du Nord and linked to the metro and RER. Paris requires at least three days: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Montmartre and the Seine.
→ Frankfurt cerca de 4h TGV ou ICE direto, da Gare de l'Est a Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, com paradas em Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern e Mannheim (alguns horários param também em Forbach).
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2 · Germany
Frankfurt
The train reaches Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, about 4 hours from Paris. Before that it stops in Mannheim, about a 15-minute train ride from Heidelberg, with its castle and the old bridge over the Neckar. In Frankfurt, the Römerberg square, the cathedral, the museum embankment on the Main and the viewpoint of the Main Tower. Rüdesheim and the Rhine Valley are about 1 hour by train.
→ Nuremberg cerca de 2h ICE da Deutsche Bahn, passando por Würzburg. Os trens costumam sair de hora em hora.
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3 · Germany
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is about 2 hours by ICE from Frankfurt, via Würzburg. The old town, surrounded by walls, has the imperial castle, the market square and Albrecht Dürer's house. Bamberg is less than an hour by train.
→ Munique cerca de 1h10 ICE pela linha de alta velocidade via Ingolstadt; há também trens regionais, mais lentos.
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4 · Germany
Munique
The end of the line is München Hauptbahnhof, in the center. Munique requires at least three days: the Marienplatz with the town hall clock, the Residenz, the English Garden, the beer halls and the Nymphenburg Palace. From there you can reach Bavaria's castles and the Alps.
How to travel
The way and the tickets
By train, with tickets bought in advance. On the Paris–Frankfurt section the train has assigned seating and there is no check-in: just arrive at the station, find the train on the departures board and board before departure. Within Germany, ICE trains run frequently and seat reservations are optional.
Best time to go
When to go: month by month
From May to September: long days, open-air beer gardens and boat trips on the Rhine. Munique's Oktoberfest usually starts in the second half of September and ends in early October. In December, Christmas markets, with Nuremberg's among the best known.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Planning
Planning the trip
How many days
Paris–Frankfurt takes about 4 hours, and Frankfurt–Munique about 3 hours. To see all four cities, allow 8 to 12 days; with 6 days, stay in Paris, Frankfurt and Munique.
Who it is for
For those who want to see France and Germany without flying, for couples and families, and for those who enjoy historic cities, museums and beer halls.
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Paris–Frankfurt–Munique by train
Quanto tempo leva o trem de Paris a Frankfurt e a Munique?
De Paris a Frankfurt, cerca de 4 horas no trem direto. De Frankfurt a Munique, cerca de 3 horas de ICE, passando por Nuremberg. O TGV direto de Paris a Munique, por Estrasburgo e Stuttgart, leva cerca de 6 horas.
Quantos trens diretos há entre Paris e Frankfurt?
Costumam ser seis por dia em cada sentido, alternando TGV e ICE. Entre Frankfurt e Munique, os ICE saem com muito mais frequência. Confira os horários da sua data no site da SNCF ou da Deutsche Bahn.
O trem tem check-in?
Não. Basta chegar à estação, achar o trem no painel de partidas e embarcar. Na Alemanha, o painel da plataforma mostra em que setor (A, B, C...) para cada vagão: vale olhar antes de o trem chegar.
Posso descer numa cidade e seguir viagem depois?
Sim, com passagens separadas para cada trecho. É a forma mais comum de fazer a rota, com alguns dias em cada cidade.
Vale usar o passe Eurail?
O passe vale nesses trens. No trecho entre a França e a Alemanha, a reserva de assento é obrigatória e paga à parte; dentro da Alemanha, nos ICE, a reserva é opcional. Para poucos trechos, compare com as passagens compradas com antecedência.