How to travel from Dortmund to Essen, Germany

The distance between Dortmund and Essen is around 34km (21 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 22min.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Dortmund to Essen by train, bus, taxi and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration22min
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €9($9)
Operated byNational Express+ 5 others
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Essen Hachestrasse.

  • Duration50min
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €55($55)
Operated by

East West Eurolines

+ 5 others
3
taxi
+

Taxi

Take a taxi to Essen.

  • Duration28min
  • Departson demand
  • Typical cost
    €100($100)
Operated by

TSO Taxi Mölders GmbH

+ 3 others
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Essen.

  • Duration28min
  • Distance38km (23 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Dortmund and Essen

There are several options for getting from Dortmund to Essen by train, bus, taxi and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around €9 ($9) and will take around 22min.

The distance between Dortmund and Essen is around 34km (21 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 32km (20 miles)

It takes around 22min to get from Dortmund and Essen by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 28min to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Dortmund to Essen is to take the train which takes around 22min and will set you back approx €9 ($9).

The cheapest way to travel between Dortmund and Essen, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around €9 ($9) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Dortmund and Essen. It typically takes around 22min and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Dortmund and Essen with no changeovers required. The train runs every 20 mins and takes 22min.

National Express, Deutsche Bahn, Abellio, Deutsche Bahn Regional, Eurobahn, FlixTrain and Thalys run train services between Dortmund and Essen. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 22min, 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 Dortmund and Essen. It typically takes around 50min and departs twice a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Dortmund and Essen with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice a week and takes 50min.

East West Eurolines run regular bus services between Dortmund and Essen. Buses run twice a week and take around 50min on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Dortmund to Essen. We recommend that you take the train to Essen Hbf. instead which will take 22min.

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 Dortmund and Essen. The distance is around 38km (23 miles) by road and it will take around 28min in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Dortmund to Essen is to take the train which takes, on average, 22min and will usually cost around €9 ($9).

How do I get from Dortmund to Essen

Compare travel optionsbetween Dortmund and Essen

Transport options from Dortmund to Essen
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
22min
€9($9)
every 20 mins34km (21 miles)
Bus
50min
€55($55)
hourly37km (23 miles)
Taxi
28min
€100($100)
on demand38km (23 miles)
Drive
28min
€7($7)
on demand38km (23 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Dortmund and Essen

Train operators

Bus companies

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