How to travel from Essen to Bremerhaven, Germany

The distance between Essen and Bremerhaven is around 305km (190 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 45m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Essen to Bremerhaven 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 BremerhavenEssen if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to Bremen Hbf and then to Bremerhaven Hbf.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    €67($67)

1 similiar route

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

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plane
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Plane and Train

Fly from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Bremen (BRE) then take the train to Bremerhaven Hbf.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Flight time1h 45m
  • Typical cost
    €660($660)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Oldenburg(Oldb) ZOB and then to Bremerhaven Elbinger Platz.

  • Duration5h 5m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €16($16)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
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car
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Drive

Drive to Bremerhaven.

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Distance305km (190 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Essen and Bremerhaven

There are several options for getting from Essen to Bremerhaven by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €16 ($16) and will take around 5h 5m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €51 ($51).

The distance between Essen and Bremerhaven is around 305km (190 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 256km (159 miles)

It takes around 2h 55m to get from Essen and Bremerhaven by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Essen to Bremerhaven is to drive which takes around 2h 45m and will set you back approx €51 ($51).

The cheapest way to travel between Essen and Bremerhaven, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €16 ($16) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Essen and Bremerhaven. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Essen to Bremerhaven. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Dortmund Hbf and Bremen Hbf. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 2h 55m.

Deutsche Bahn, NordWestBahn, Deutsche Bahn Regional, VRR, Swiss Railways and FlixTrain run train services between Essen and Bremerhaven. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 2h 55m, 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 Essen and Bremerhaven. It typically takes around 5h 5m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Essen to Bremerhaven. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Oldenburg(Oldb) ZOB. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 5h 5m.

FlixBus and Gebken Reisen GmbH run regular bus services between Essen and Bremerhaven. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 5h 5m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Essen to Bremerhaven. We recommend that you fly from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Bremen (BRE) then take the train to Bremerhaven Hbf. instead which will take 3h 10m.

The closest major airport to Bremerhaven is Bremen Airport (BRE) (BRE) which is approximately 57km (35 miles) from Bremerhaven. Hamburg Airport (HAM) (HAM) and Luebeck-Blankensee Airport (LBC) (LBC) 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 Essen and Bremerhaven. The distance is around 305km (190 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Essen to Bremerhaven is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 55m and will usually cost around €67 ($67).

How do I get from Essen to Bremerhaven

Compare travel optionsbetween Essen and Bremerhaven

Transport options from Essen to Bremerhaven
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 55m
€67($67)
every 2 hours322km (200 miles)
Train via Osnabrück Hbf3h 20m
€70($70)
every 4 hours322km (200 miles)
Plane and Train + 4 similar
3h 10m
€660($660)
hourly565km (351 miles)
Train and Plane3h 35m
€265($265)
hourly647km (402 miles)
Fly to Hamburg (HAM), train3h 45m
€180($180)
every 3 hours568km (353 miles)
Train to Arnhem Centraal, plane4h 15m
€455($460)
every 4 hours558km (347 miles)
Train to Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf, plane4h 25m
€200($200)
every 3 hours648km (403 miles)
Bus
5h 5m
€16($16)
6 times a week340km (212 miles)
Drive
2h 45m
€51($51)
on demand305km (190 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Essen and Bremerhaven

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Bremerhaven

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

BRE
Bremen Airport (BRE)
International Airport
Distance
57km (35 miles) from Bremerhaven
HAM
Hamburg Airport (HAM)
International Airport
Distance
94km (58 miles) from Bremerhaven
LBC
Luebeck-Blankensee Airport (LBC)
Domestic Airport
Distance
142km (88 miles) from Bremerhaven