How to travel from Essen to Jena, Germany

The distance between Essen and Jena is around 402km (250 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 3h 40m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Essen to Jena 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 JenaEssen if you're planning a return trip.

1
plane
+
train
+

Plane and Train

Fly from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Jena Paradies.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Flight time2hrs
  • Typical cost
    €365($365)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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 Jena West.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €90($90)
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Kassel Bahnhof Wilhelmshöhe and then to Jena Busbahnhof.

  • Duration6hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €26($26)

1 similiar route

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

🚀 Fastest
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Jena.

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Distance429km (266 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Essen and Jena

There are several options for getting from Essen to Jena by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €26 ($26) and will take around 6hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 3h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €71 ($71).

The distance between Essen and Jena is around 402km (250 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 324km (201 miles)

It takes around 4h 55m to get from Essen and Jena by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Essen to Jena is to drive which takes around 3h 40m and will set you back approx €71 ($71).

The cheapest way to travel between Essen and Jena, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €26 ($26) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Essen and Jena. It typically takes around 4h 55m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Essen and Jena with no changeovers required. The train runs twice daily and takes 4h 55m.

Deutsche Bahn run train services between Essen and Jena. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 4h 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 Jena. It typically takes around 6hrs and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Essen and Jena with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 8h 20m.

FlixBus and Radina VIP run regular bus services between Essen and Jena. Buses run once daily and take around 6hrs 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 Jena. We recommend that you fly from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Jena Paradies. instead which will take 4h 10m.

The closest major airport to Jena is Erfurt Airport (ERF) (ERF) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Jena. Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) (LEJ) and Dresden Airport (DRS) (DRS) 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 Jena. The distance is around 429km (266 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Essen to Jena is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 55m and will usually cost around €90 ($90).

How do I get from Essen to Jena

Compare travel optionsbetween Essen and Jena

Transport options from Essen to Jena
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 1 similar
4h 10m
€365($365)
hourly967km (601 miles)
Train and Plane4h 15m
€260($260)
hourly649km (403 miles)
Train
4h 55m
€90($90)
twice daily445km (277 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
6hrs
€26($26)
once daily402km (250 miles)
Bus to Jena, Busbahnhof8h 20m
€26($26)
once daily494km (307 miles)
Drive
3h 40m
€71($71)
on demand429km (266 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Essen and Jena

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Jena

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

ERF
Erfurt Airport (ERF)
Domestic Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Jena
LEJ
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ)
International Airport
Distance
70km (44 miles) from Jena
DRS
Dresden Airport (DRS)
International Airport
Distance
154km (96 miles) from Jena