Berlin is about 3 hours each way by train, about 6.5 hours of travel round trip. On a typical 9-10 hour call you'd get only 1-3 hours in Berlin. Only do Berlin on your own with an 11-12+ hour call; otherwise enjoy Warnemünde and Rostock.
Where Warnemünde lies
WarnemündeCopenhagenHamburgKielOsloStockholmAarhusGdańskGothenburgHelsinkiKlaipėdaRigaSkagenTallinnVisbyWhere your ship docks
Ships dock at the Warnemünde cruise berths (P1-4, P7, P8), next to Warnemünde S-Bahn station. Some ships use the Rostock seaport (LP31/LP41), farther out.
Shuttle. Not needed for the station.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| S-Bahn from Warnemünde station to Rostock center | About 21 minutes | Unverified, local ticket |
| S-Bahn to Rostock Hbf, then RE5 regional (~2h40 direct) or Intercity (~2h05) to Berlin | About 3 hours 10 minutes door to door each way | Saver fare from about €18-25 each way (locked to one train); flexible fare more; Quer-durchs-Land day ticket €51 + €12 per extra person (weekdays from 09:00; not valid on Intercity) |
S-Bahn from Warnemünde station to Rostock center
- Walk to Warnemünde station by the pier.
- Take the S-Bahn to Rostock Hbf (every 7.5-15 minutes).
For Rostock Old Town, change to the tram at Rostock Hbf (unverified).
S-Bahn to Rostock Hbf, then RE5 regional (~2h40 direct) or Intercity (~2h05) to Berlin
- Book at bahn.com. Consider a flexible fare in case of delays.
- Walk 5 minutes to Warnemünde station.
- S-Bahn to Rostock Hbf (21 min).
- Train to Berlin.
- Return on a train that gets you back at least 1.5-2 hours before all-aboard.
German trains are often late. The ship will not wait. A ship's tour is protected; DIY is not.
What to see
Berlin: Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag
Icons of German history.
- How
- Train to Berlin Hbf, walk 15 minutes (unverified).
- Time
- Full long day
- Tickets
- Reichstag dome free but must be booked ahead
Berlin: Museum Island / Holocaust Memorial / Checkpoint Charlie
Major sights.
- How
- From Berlin Hbf by S-Bahn/bus.
- Time
- Pick 2-3
- Tickets
- Museums timed entry
Warnemünde promenade and lighthouse
Seaside resort and beach.
- How
- Walk.
- Time
- 1-2 hours
- Tickets
- Free
Rostock Old Town and St. Mary's Church
Hanseatic brick town and astronomical clock.
- How
- S-Bahn.
- Time
- 2-3 hours
- Tickets
- Church small fee (unverified)
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Berlin (only if 11-12+ hours in port): earliest train (example 06:03 Warnemünde: 09:13 Berlin Hbf); about 5 hours in Berlin; train back so you arrive Warnemünde 2 hours before all-aboard.
- Easier day: morning in Rostock Old Town by S-Bahn; afternoon walk the Warnemünde promenade and beach; aboard 30 minutes early.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Long train ride; rail delays common.
- Saver fares tie you to one train.
- Quick platform changes.
Do this
- Book Reichstag dome and museum entry times in advance.
- Many people choose the ship's Berlin tour for the 'ship waits' protection.
Fees, money and access
Accessibility
Station is next to the pier. Rostock and Berlin stations have elevators (unverified).
Money
Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted. Carry a little cash for small cafes, toilets, and markets. Some small German shops still prefer cash.
More of the The Baltic Capitals
Sources & what we could not confirm · 2 sources · checked 2026-11
- Rostock Port: cruise passenger FAQ
- Walk of Berlin: Warnemünde to Berlin by train (guide, not official)
- Train times and fares come from a Berlin tour guide site, not Deutsche Bahn (bahn.de could not be fetched); check bahn.com for your date
- S-Bahn fare
- Sources disagree on Berlin travel time: the Port of Rostock says about 2 hours by train or bus (https://www.rostock-port.de/en/ship-traffic/cruise-shipping/passenger-information); a Berlin tour site says about 3 hours 10 minutes. Check bahn.com for your date and plan on the longer figure.