There are actually two easy ways to travel from London to Berlin without flying: via Paris, or via Brussels.
Both involve a quick Eurostar trip, an afternoon exploring and then a night train to the German capital.
Here’s how to take the train from London to Berlin, including sample costs and things to do along the way!
I’ve used a dummy date in September to find these costs!
Step one: Eurostar to Paris or Brussels
Start your trip at London St Pancras station. From here, you’ll take the Eurostar.
You can take the Eurostar to either Paris or Brussels for this trip. It’s actually the same train that starts in Paris around 6pm and calls in at Brussels at around 9:45pm.
To decide on which city to head to, I’d recommend looking at costs of both the Eurostar itself and the onward sleeper train, factoring in whether you’d rather spend an evening in the city or extra time on the train, and of course which city you’d rather visit on the whole!
The most important thing to know when booking a Eurostar is that you need to reserve your spot in advance – prices raise dramatically closer to the date. If you book around 5-6 weeks in advance, you should be able to get some rates for £60-80 to either city.
For my dummy date in September, I have found a 07:30 train from London to Paris that costs £66 and arrives at 10:59, and an 08:15 that costs £64 and arrives at 11:13.
You can read more of my Eurostar tips here.
I’d recommend taking a morning train, so you arrive in Paris or Brussels at around lunchtime and have some time to explore the city!
Step two: Explore either city!
Both Paris and Brussels have plenty to do. Paris needs no introduction: the Eiffel Tour, Louvre and Seine walks make the city famous. As you’ll arrive in Gare du Nord, I can highly recommend a cafe close by called Cafe Tranquille.
Brussels, on the other hand, isn’t as well known as a tourist destination, but it’s well worth a stroll around the Grand Place and European Quarter, and of course be sure to stop and enjoy Belgian waffles and fries!
Step three: Sleeper train from Brussels or Paris to Berlin
The sleeper trains from Paris to Berlin leave from Gare de l’Est or Gare du Nord. I’d recommend storing your baggage at Gare du Nord when you arrive – then you’ll have it close to hand for the next day.
For my dummy date in September, I found the European Sleeper Train, which leaves Paris Gare du Nord, from £70 for a shared couchette carriage (up to five people in one carriage). Private cabins are a lot more expensive, around £277. It departs at 18:03 and arrives at 09:59.
It’s actually the same train that calls in at Brussels at 21:45. The price is slightly lower; around £60 for a shared couchette carriage and £251 for a private cabin.
This post is out of date and focuses on NightJet, which no longer serves this route, but you can take a look at my experience on the Paris to Berlin sleeper here.
Step four: Arrive in Berlin!
Whichever route you take, you’ll arrive in Berlin the following morning, just before 10am.
Berlin is one of my favourite cities in Europe, largely for all the fascinating history, but also the international community and resilient spirit that you’ll notice throughout the metropolis.
One of the most interesting things to learn about is the Berlin Wall; see my guide to the best Berlin Wall sites here.
And here’s my guide to planning a trip to Berlin, with a few things you should know!
Total costs
The total costs differ, depending on which route and class you opt for.
The cheapest would be £124 (via Brussels), or £136 (via Paris).
The most expensive would be £315 (via Brussels) or £343 (via Paris).
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