Travelling from Amsterdam Centraal to Hamburg hbf – Do I need to be there early to check in?
Nov 29
Oli asked:
Is there a check in and passport control procedure for international trains in mainland europe?
I’m going to be travelling Amsterdam to Hamburg, Hamburg to Copenhagen, Prague to Bratislava, and Budapest to Split by train.
All of these involve a border crossing. Is there a ‘check in’ process?
Is passport control done at the departure station like with eurostar or at the border crossing?
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Is there a check in and passport control procedure for international trains in mainland europe?
I’m going to be travelling Amsterdam to Hamburg, Hamburg to Copenhagen, Prague to Bratislava, and Budapest to Split by train.
All of these involve a border crossing. Is there a ‘check in’ process?
Is passport control done at the departure station like with eurostar or at the border crossing?
Website content
I have traveled back and forth from Amsterdam to Germany many times (with German ICs or ICEs) and there has never been a check-in-procedure at departure. The train departs as any other train does too, so no need to be there early! However, there were passport and sometimes also customs checks (especially regarding drugs on the train from The Netherlands into Germany) at the border (the first stop after the border), but not always. The procedure takes place as the train rolls along, so there are no delays involved. I have also been on the train from Hamburg to Copenhagen, and again there was a passport control at the border. As for your other routes, I don’t know about Eastern Europe, but I would assume it’s the same. Have a great trip!
No, the Netherlands and Germany are both Schengen countries. There isn’t a check in process like on planes. You show up and get on the train. Even in the days before the border checks were eliminated, there were agents that came on the train at the border and checked documents rather than doing that as a check in process. As Mrs Dalloway said, this is no longer done all the time. My first international train trip in Europe was from Amsterdam to Hamburg. You may run into some border checks on the Budapest to Split portion of the trip. If you’re in a sleeping compartment on an international night train in the Schengen area, the conductor will take your passport and return it in the morning. If you’re in seats, there might be a check at borders.
Great news: there is no more any border crossing between these countries, thanks to the Shengen Agreement. Since you mentioned Eurostar, I assume you will be boarding in London then your passport will be checked before entering the terminal, then you will be allowed to travel within the Shengen zone.
All the countries mentioned being in the Shengen zone, one may travel from one country to the other without border control.
Sounds great, but remember one remains liable to be controlled by customs officers anywhere inside the zone.
Between Amsterdam and Hamburg, if the train is an ICE train, you will need prior reservation (and there is a surcharge).
Apart of that there are usually no check-in and passport procedures before boarding the trains.