How to travel from Kiel to Erfurt, Germany

The distance between Kiel and Erfurt is around 488km (303 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 25m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Kiel 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 ErfurtKiel if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+
train
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Hamburg Hbf then fly from Hamburg (HAM) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Erfurt Hbf.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Flight time2hrs
  • Typical cost
    €360($360)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

2
train
+
train
+

Train via Hamburg Hbf

Take the train to Hamburg Hbf and then to Erfurt Hbf.

  • Duration5h 5m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €130($130)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Hannover Hauptbahnhof/ZOB and then to Erfurt Central Bus Station.

  • Duration8h 50m
  • Departstwice a week
  • Typical cost
    €115($115)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Erfurt.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Distance488km (303 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kiel and Erfurt

There are several options for getting from Kiel to Erfurt by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €115 ($115) and will take around 8h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €360 ($360).

The distance between Kiel and Erfurt is around 488km (303 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 377km (234 miles)

It takes around 5h 10m to get from Kiel and Erfurt by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kiel to Erfurt is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 25m and will set you back approx €360 ($360).

The cheapest way to travel between Kiel and Erfurt, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €115 ($115) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Kiel and Erfurt. It typically takes around 5h 10m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Kiel and Erfurt with no changeovers required. The train runs once daily and takes 5h 10m.

Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Bahn Regional run train services between Kiel and Erfurt. Trains depart once daily and will take around 5h 10m, 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 Kiel and Erfurt. It typically takes around 8h 50m and departs twice a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Kiel to Erfurt. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Hannover Hauptbahnhof/ZOB. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 8h 50m.

FlixBus and Radina VIP run regular bus services between Kiel and Erfurt. Buses run twice a week and take around 8h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kiel to Erfurt. We recommend that you take the train to Hamburg Hbf then fly from Hamburg (HAM) to Leipzig (LEJ) then take the train to Erfurt Hbf. instead which will take 4h 25m.

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 Kiel and Erfurt. The distance is around 488km (303 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kiel to Erfurt is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 10m and will usually cost around €130 ($130).

How do I get from Kiel to Erfurt

Compare travel optionsbetween Kiel and Erfurt

Transport options from Kiel to Erfurt
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
4h 25m
€360($360)
hourly941km (584 miles)
Train to Hamburg Hbf, plane5h 20m
€370($370)
hourly798km (496 miles)
Train via Hamburg Hbf + 1 similar
5h 5m
€130($130)
hourly676km (420 miles)
Train5h 10m
€130($130)
once daily645km (401 miles)
Bus
8h 50m
€115($115)
twice a week580km (361 miles)
Drive
4h 30m
€81($81)
on demand488km (303 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kiel and Erfurt

Train operators

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