Germany

How to get from Munich to Hamburg

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
1h 20min
💶
From
34€
📍
Distance
612 km
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⚡ Quick answer

Fastest way from Munich to Hamburg: Flight, about 1h 20min (from €127). Cheapest: Bus, from €34 (about 13h 35min). Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on November 10, 2026): Lufthansa, Eurowings, FlixBus; main departure point: Munich Airport.

Distance: 612 km. Data updated on .

There are 2 ways to get from Munich to Hamburg

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Flight
1h 20min
FASTEST
127 – 294 €
View
Bus
13h 35min – 15h 10min
CHEAPEST
34 – 35 €
View
🚌 Departure from Munich
📍Buses to Hamburg generally leave from Munich's central bus station (ZOB) near Hackerbrücke, close to the main station. It has a waiting area, toilets and a few shops. Flights leave from Munich Airport, outside the city.
🚇For the bus station, take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to Hackerbrücke or Hauptbahnhof, then walk a short distance. For the airport, the S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 run from the city centre, and taxis are also available.
⏰Bus departures are offered at several times of the day, including evening services for an overnight trip. Flights run on multiple daily rotations. Check the booking page for the exact times on your date.
💸 Transport from 34€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 1h 20min
⭐ Recommended: Flight — 127€
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on November 10, 2026 for a departure on December 1, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
FlixBus Bus Munich Central Bus Station €34 5
Eurowings Flight Munich Airport €127 9
Lufthansa Flight Munich Airport €196 28
Condor Flight Munich Airport €202 4
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Practical tips

💡
Compare before you pay

Check the comparison table for both modes on your exact date. On this route the gap between bus and plane is large, so a quick side-by-side look prevents overpaying for speed you do not need, or saving too little.

💡
Book the bus early

Bus fares are low and fairly stable, but the cheapest seats go first on busy dates such as weekends and holidays. Booking ahead secures your seat and protects you from last-minute price increases.

💡
Book flights well ahead

Flight prices swing widely depending on date and demand. Booking early usually gets you far closer to the lowest fare, while a last-minute ticket can cost several times more than the bus.

💡
Confirm the departure point

Munich has more than one departure point, and the airport is not in the city centre. Read your e-ticket carefully for the exact stop or terminal name before leaving, to avoid heading to the wrong place.

💡
Plan your arrival in Hamburg

Check where you arrive and how to reach your accommodation before you travel. Keep a margin on the day, and if you continue to Copenhagen or Amsterdam, avoid tight connections after a long journey.

The journey experience

Getting from Munich to Hamburg is one of the longest domestic legs in Germany, so choosing the right mode matters more than on most routes. The good news: you can decide quickly. This page puts the options side by side in one clear table, so you can see at a glance what is worth it for your budget and your schedule.

Two options are covered here. The plane is the fast choice: it links the two cities in a single hop and spares you a full day of travelling, which suits you if time is tight or you have onward plans in northern Europe such as Copenhagen. The long-distance bus is the budget choice. Seats are reclining, most coaches offer Wi-Fi and power sockets, and an overnight departure can save you a night's accommodation. It is a long ride, but it is simple, with no connections to manage.

Our advice: if your priority is the lowest price and you do not mind a long journey, take the bus and book early. If you want to arrive fresh and make the most of your days in Hamburg, the plane is worth the extra cost, especially when booked well in advance. Always check the exact departure point on your e-ticket, since stops and airports differ from the city centre. Booking online gives you instant confirmation, so you can travel with peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions — Munich → Hamburg

Why visit Hamburg?

  • ✓ Stroll through the Speicherstadt, the world's largest timber-piled warehouse district, and visit Miniatur Wunderland
  • ✓ Attend a concert at the Elbphilharmonie and enjoy the free Plaza viewing platform over the harbour
  • ✓ Take a harbour cruise or ride the HVV ferry line 62 along the Elbe past the Landungsbrücken and container terminals
  • ✓ Experience the nightlife of St. Pauli and the Reeperbahn, then eat a fish roll at the Fischmarkt on Sunday morning
  • ✓ Walk the Elbstrand beach in Övelgönne and admire the villas and museum ships of the Elbchaussee
🌙
Recommended stay
2 to 3 nights — enough to cover the harbour, the Speicherstadt and St. Pauli at an easy pace

When to visit Hamburg?

TEMPERATE OCEANIC CLIMATE

May to September — mild, longest days and outdoor terraces, though showers are frequent year-round, so bring a light rain jacket

Jan 😞
Feb 😞
Mar 😐
Apr 😐
May 😊
Jun 😊
Jul 😊
Aug 😊
Sep 😊
Oct 😐
Nov 😞
Dec 😞
📍
In Hamburg — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in Hamburg
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in Hamburg?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
🎶
Elbphilharmonie Plaza and concert
Hamburg's glass concert hall rises above the harbour. The public Plaza viewing deck is free, but you need a timed ticket, booked online or at the kiosk. Go at sunset for the best light. Concert tickets start around 15€ and sell out weeks ahead, so reserve early.
🏛️
Speicherstadt warehouse district walk
The world's largest warehouse complex on timber piles, a UNESCO site, with red-brick buildings along canals. Walk it early morning or at dusk when the lights come on and crowds thin. Combine with a 1-hour canal boat tour from around 20€ to see the façades from the water.
🚢
Port of Hamburg harbour cruise
One of Europe's biggest ports is best seen from the water, with container giants and dry docks up close. Boats leave from the Landungsbrücken piers. A one-hour tour costs from about 20€. Public ferry line 62 covers the same route for the price of a normal transit ticket.
🐟
Fischmarkt Sunday morning
Held every Sunday from 5:00 (from 7:00 in winter) until 9:30, this market mixes fish stalls, loud vendors and live bands in the old auction hall. Try a Fischbrötchen for about 5€. Arrive before 8:00 to catch the full atmosphere, and bring cash.
⚓
Miniatur Wunderland model world
The world's largest model railway, with airports, Alpine valleys and a working miniature Hamburg. Tickets cost around 24€ for adults. Book a timed slot online, as queues are long, and visit on a weekday morning or late evening. Allow at least three hours.
⛪
St. Nikolai memorial and tower
The ruined spire of St. Nikolai, left standing as a WWII memorial, hides a museum in its crypt and a glass lift up to a 76-metre viewing platform. Entry is about 8€. The view over the Old Town is quieter than from the Elbphilharmonie.
🍻
St. Pauli and Reeperbahn evening
The Reeperbahn is lively after 21:00, but the side streets of St. Pauli have the better bars and live music clubs. Visit the Beatles-Platz, then try a local Astra beer for about 3€ in a corner pub. Keep valuables close and avoid the busiest strip late at night.
🌳
Blankenese village and Elbe stairs
A former fishing village on the Elbe, with around 5,000 steps winding between white houses on a wooded hillside. Take the S1 train to Blankenese, wander down to the river beach, and walk the shore path. Pause at a café with a river view. Wear sturdy shoes.

How long to visit Hamburg?

2 to 4 days

Allow 3 days to cover Hamburg properly. In 2 days, focus on the Speicherstadt, HafenCity with the Elbphilharmonie plaza, the harbour and a evening on the Reeperbahn. With a third day, add the Alster lake, the Fischmarkt (Sunday morning) and a museum such as the Miniatur Wunderland. Buy a day ticket for public transport and book Miniatur Wunderland online to skip the queues.

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