How to travel from Karlsruhe to Erfurt, Germany

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.

6 routes found

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 ErfurtKarlsruhe if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf then fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Erfurt Hbf.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    €210($210)
Operated by

Multiple operators

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Train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof

Take the train to Mannheim Hauptbahnhof and then to Erfurt Hbf.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €110($110)

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
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Bus

Take the bus to Frankfurt and then to Erfurt central train station.

  • Duration5h 10m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €18($18)
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Drive

Drive to Erfurt.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Distance388km (241 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Karlsruhe and Erfurt

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.

Train travel

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.

Bus travel

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.

Flights and Airlines

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.

Drive yourself

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).

How do I get from Karlsruhe to Erfurt

Compare travel optionsbetween Karlsruhe and Erfurt

Transport options from Karlsruhe to Erfurt
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
2h 40m
€210($210)
every 3 hours540km (336 miles)
Train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof + 2 similar
3h 15m
€110($110)
hourly393km (244 miles)
Train via Frankfurt(Main)Hbf3h 20m
€105($105)
hourly393km (244 miles)
Train3h 35m
€95($95)
6 times a week393km (244 miles)
Bus
5h 10m
€18($18)
once daily409km (254 miles)
Drive
3h 20m
€51($51)
on demand388km (241 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Karlsruhe and Erfurt

Train operators

Bus companies

Airlines

Airports near Erfurt

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

ERF
Erfurt Airport (ERF)
Domestic Airport
Distance
5km (3 miles) from Erfurt
LEJ
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ)
International Airport
Distance
97km (60 miles) from Erfurt
KSF
Kassel-Calden Airport (KSF)
International Airport
Distance
125km (77 miles) from Erfurt