Deutsche Bahn's flagship ICE 3 (Velaro) trains operate at 300 km/h between Germany's major cities. Routes include Frankfurt–Köln, Berlin–Munich (4h), Hamburg–Munich, and international services to Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna.
The ICE 3 (Intercity-Express 3, Class 403) entered service with Deutsche Bahn in 2000 and became the first ICE train capable of running on the newly opened Cologne to Frankfurt high-speed line at 300 km/h.
The ICE 3 (designated Class 403 by Deutsche Bahn) is Germany's flagship high-speed train, operating at up to 300 km/h on the country's high-speed lines. Introduced in 2000, it was the first ICE variant able to use the newly built Cologne to Frankfurt high-speed line, which opened the same year. The ICE 3 has since become the workhorse of DB's premium corridor network, running on routes including Frankfurt to Cologne, Frankfurt to Munich, Berlin to Munich, and international services to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
The train has a transparent cab design allowing passengers seated at the front and rear to see through the driver's cabin and look forward along the track, an unusual feature for any passenger train. Standard First Class coaches have leather seats in a 2+1 layout with power sockets at every seat. Second Class has a 2+2 layout with fold-down tray tables and power sockets on most rakes. A Bord Bistro restaurant car serves hot meals, sandwiches, coffee, and alcoholic drinks throughout the journey.
Journey times on key routes are: Frankfurt to Cologne in under 1 hour, Frankfurt to Munich in approximately 3 hours 15 minutes, and Berlin to Munich in 3 hours 55 minutes. The Munich services use the Nuremberg to Ingolstadt high-speed line (300 km/h) and the Augsburg to Munich section, enabling significant time savings over the old line through Augsburg.
Book ICE 3 tickets at bahn.de or the DB Navigator app. Super Saver fares (Sparpreis) are available from as little as 17.90 euros for Second Class if booked weeks in advance. A BahnCard 25 or BahnCard 50 provides 25 or 50 percent discount on most fares. On international services to Paris, coordination with SNCF means tickets can also be booked via Eurostar or SNCF Connect depending on the routing.
Travel tip: Reserve a specific seat when booking an ICE 3 ticket on bahn.de. Seat reservations are optional but worth the small extra fee (under 5 euros), especially on the Frankfurt to Cologne corridor which is heavily used by business travellers.
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Book ICE 3 Velaro tickets at bahn.de, the official Deutsche Bahn (DB) portal. Compare fares and seat availability before booking. Online booking typically opens 30 to 90 days before departure.
Book NowVisit any Deutsche Bahn (DB) booking office in person. Staff can help with seat selection, group bookings, and special assistance. Book early for popular departure times and holidays.
Contact Deutsche Bahn (DB) for schedule information, delay updates, and booking assistance via their official website or station helpdesk.
Visit Deutsche Bahn (DB)The full ICE 3 Velaro timetable is shown in the schedule table above with departure times at every stop. Confirm timings with Deutsche Bahn (DB) before travel as schedules can change between annual timetable revisions.
ICE 3 Velaro fares start from approximately EUR 29.9 for 2nd Class class and go up to EUR 59 for 1st Class. Higher-class fares include wider seating, climate control, and on long-distance services may include meals. Book through bahn.de for the latest published fares and to check current seat availability.
Tickets for ICE 3 Velaro are sold through bahn.de, the official Deutsche Bahn (DB) booking platform. Online booking opens between 30 and 180 days before departure depending on operator. Book in advance for the cheapest available fares. Tickets can also be purchased at station booking offices during opening hours, typically 08:00–20:00 daily.
The full stop list for ICE 3 Velaro is being expanded in our database. For the complete route stop sequence, check the official Deutsche Bahn (DB) timetable or website.
ICE 3 Velaro running days are shown in the hero section at the top of this page (badges indicate which days of the week the train operates). Some long-distance services run daily while others operate only on specific days (typically weekday-only or weekend-only). Operating days can change with the annual timetable revision (usually December) so verify current running days with Deutsche Bahn (DB) before booking, particularly for trips planned more than 6 months ahead.
Yes, bahn.de typically accepts international debit and credit cards from major card networks. Some operators require a local phone number for SMS confirmation — check the booking requirements before starting your reservation. Booking platforms display fares in the local currency of the operator.
ICE 3 Velaro offers 2 travel classes: 2nd Class, 1st Class. Economy or standard classes have reserved numbered seats at the lowest fare. Premium classes (business, first class, sleeper) add wider seats, climate control, and on overnight services berths for lying flat. The fare table on this page lists current published prices for each class.
Platform numbers are not pre-published — they are announced on station information displays between 20 and 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Arrive early at the originating station to check the platform allocation displays. At larger stations, platform numbers can also be viewed on the operator's app. If the train is delayed or rescheduled, the platform may change at short notice — always verify against station displays immediately before boarding.
Opens Deutsche Bahn (DB) official booking site