The ICEs offer reservations, but do not require them, except on the limited number of ICE Sprinters (trains running NONSTOP between Frankfurt and Berlin and vice versa once in the morning and once in the evening) and also to Hamburg and perhaps Munich. At other times, the slightly less expressy ICEs running generally every hour between major cities will not require reservations. On most days, there will be plenty of seats, so the reservation expense seems a bit foolhardy when you have an entire car to yourself. But on busy days around holidays, or in 2nd class, reservations make more sense.

German ICEs also have great restaurant cars offering meals at virtually all hours during the business day. Trains with a bistro car do not, however, have the full meals.