How to travel from Kassel to Essen, Germany

The distance between Kassel and Essen is around 198km (123 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 1h 50m.

4 routes found

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

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

1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    €55($55)
Operated byNational Express+ 1 others

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €13($13)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Essen.

  • Duration1h 50m
  • Distance209km (130 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kassel and Essen

There are several options for getting from Kassel to Essen by bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €13 ($13) and will take around 2h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 1h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €35 ($35).

The distance between Kassel and Essen is around 198km (123 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 173km (107 miles)

It takes around 2h 50m to get from Kassel and Essen by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kassel to Essen is to drive which takes around 1h 50m and will set you back approx €35 ($35).

The cheapest way to travel between Kassel and Essen, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €13 ($13) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Kassel and Essen. It typically takes around 2h 45m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Kassel to Essen. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kassel Bahnhof Wilhelmshöhe. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 2h 45m.

National Express, Deutsche Bahn and Abellio run train services between Kassel and Essen. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 2h 45m, 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 Kassel and Essen. It typically takes around 2h 50m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Kassel and Essen with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 2h 50m.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Kassel and Essen. Buses run twice daily and take around 2h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kassel to Essen. We recommend that you take the bus to Essen Hbf. instead which will take 2h 50m.

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 Kassel and Essen. The distance is around 209km (130 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kassel to Essen is to take the bus which takes, on average, 2h 50m and will usually cost around €13 ($13).

How do I get from Kassel to Essen

Compare travel optionsbetween Kassel and Essen

Transport options from Kassel to Essen
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 45m
€55($55)
every 3 hours243km (151 miles)
Train to Essen Hbf2h 55m
€55($55)
every 4 hours243km (151 miles)
Bus
2h 50m
€13($13)
twice daily198km (123 miles)
Drive
1h 50m
€35($35)
on demand209km (130 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kassel 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