How to travel from Berlin to Essen, Germany

The distance between Berlin and Essen is around 494km (307 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 25m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Berlin to Essen by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out EssenBerlin if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Berlin Brandenburg (BER) to Dusseldorf (DUS) then take the train to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration2h 25m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €125($125)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
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Train

Take the train to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration3h 50m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €100($100)
Operated byDeutsche Bahn+ 1 others
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration7hrs
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    €29($29)
Operated byFlixBus+ 1 others
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Essen.

  • Duration4h 40m
  • Distance529km (329 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Berlin and Essen

There are several options for getting from Berlin to Essen by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €29 ($29) and will take around 7hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €125 ($125).

The distance between Berlin and Essen is around 494km (307 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 452km (281 miles)

It takes around 3h 50m to get from Berlin and Essen by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Berlin to Essen is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 25m and will set you back approx €125 ($125).

The cheapest way to travel between Berlin and Essen, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €29 ($29) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Berlin and Essen. It typically takes around 3h 50m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Berlin and Essen with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 3h 50m.

Deutsche Bahn and FlixTrain run train services between Berlin and Essen. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 50m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Berlin and Essen. It typically takes around 7hrs and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Berlin and Essen with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 7hrs.

FlixBus and EuroClub run regular bus services between Berlin and Essen. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 7hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Berlin to Essen. We recommend that you fly from Berlin Brandenburg (BER) to Dusseldorf (DUS) then take the train to Essen Hbf. instead which will take 2h 25m.

The closest major airport to Essen is Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) (DUS) which is approximately 26km (16 miles) from Essen. Dortmund Airport (DTM) (DTM) and Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) (CGN) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Berlin and Essen. The distance is around 529km (329 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Berlin to Essen is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 50m and will usually cost around €100 ($100).

How do I get from Berlin to Essen

Compare travel optionsbetween Berlin and Essen

Transport options from Berlin to Essen
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 2 similar
2h 25m
€125($125)
every 15 mins552km (343 miles)
Fly to Cologne Bonn (CGN), Train3h 35m
€130($130)
hourly611km (379 miles)
Train and Plane3h 45m
€215($215)
hourly713km (443 miles)
Train
3h 50m
€100($100)
hourly494km (307 miles)
Bus
7hrs
€29($29)
4 times a day528km (328 miles)
Drive
4h 40m
€88($88)
on demand529km (329 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Berlin and Essen

Airports near Essen

The following major airports near Essen offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.

DUS
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
International Airport
Distance
26km (16 miles) from Essen
DTM
Dortmund Airport (DTM)
International Airport
Distance
42km (26 miles) from Essen
CGN
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
International Airport
Distance
65km (40 miles) from Essen