The distance between Karlsruhe and Erfurt is around 388km (241 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.
We've found 6 different ways to get from Karlsruhe to Erfurt 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 Erfurt → Karlsruhe if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf then fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Erfurt Hbf.
Multiple operators
Take the train to Mannheim Hauptbahnhof and then to Erfurt Hbf.
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Frankfurt and then to Erfurt central train station.
There are several options for getting from Karlsruhe to Erfurt by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €18 ($18) and will take around 5h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €210 ($210).
The distance between Karlsruhe and Erfurt is around 388km (241 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 288km (179 miles)
It takes around 3h 35m to get from Karlsruhe and Erfurt by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 20m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Karlsruhe to Erfurt is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx €210 ($210).
The cheapest way to travel between Karlsruhe and Erfurt, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €18 ($18) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Karlsruhe and Erfurt. It typically takes around 3h 35m and departs twice a week.
Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Karlsruhe and Erfurt with no changeovers required. The train runs twice a week and takes 3h 35m.
Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity, Deutsche Bahn Regional, Süwex, TGV inOui, Trenitalia EuroCity, Swiss Railways, Deutsche Bahn Eurocity and Austrian Railways (ÖBB) run train services between Karlsruhe and Erfurt. Trains depart twice a week and will take around 3h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Karlsruhe and Erfurt. It typically takes around 5h 10m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Karlsruhe to Erfurt. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Frankfurt. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5h 10m.
FlixBus-de and FlixBus run regular bus services between Karlsruhe and Erfurt. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Karlsruhe to Erfurt. We recommend that you take the train to Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf then fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Erfurt Hbf. instead which will take 2h 40m.
The closest major airport to Erfurt is Erfurt Airport (ERF) (ERF) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from Erfurt. Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) (LEJ) and Kassel-Calden Airport (KSF) (KSF) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Karlsruhe and Erfurt. The distance is around 388km (241 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 20m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Karlsruhe to Erfurt is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 35m and will usually cost around €95 ($95).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane | 2h 40m | €210($210) | every 3 hours | 540km (336 miles) |
Train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof + 2 similar | 3h 15m | €110($110) | hourly | 393km (244 miles) |
Train via Frankfurt(Main)Hbf | 3h 20m | €105($105) | hourly | 393km (244 miles) |
Train | 3h 35m | €95($95) | 6 times a week | 393km (244 miles) |
Bus | 5h 10m | €18($18) | once daily | 409km (254 miles) |
Drive | 3h 20m | €51($51) | on demand | 388km (241 miles) |
Süwex
The following major airports near Erfurt offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.