How to travel from Ulm to Essen, Germany

The distance between Ulm and Essen is around 495km (308 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.

10 routes found

We've found 10 different ways to get from Ulm to Essen 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 EssenUlm if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Ravensburg then fly from Friedrichshafen (FDH) to Dusseldorf (DUS).

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    €230($230)
Operated by

Multiple operators

5 similiar routes

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

2
train
+

Train

Take the train to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    €100($100)
Operated byDeutsche Bahn+ 2 others
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus to Essen Hbf

Take the bus to Essen Hbf.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €30($30)

1 similiar route

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

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Essen.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Distance509km (316 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ulm and Essen

There are several options for getting from Ulm to Essen by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €30 ($30) and will take around 9h 15m. 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 €230 ($230).

The distance between Ulm and Essen is around 495km (308 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 402km (249 miles)

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

The quickest way to get from Ulm to Essen is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx €230 ($230).

The cheapest way to travel between Ulm and Essen, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €30 ($30) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Ulm and Essen. It typically takes around 4h 10m and departs every 2 hours.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Ulm and Essen with no changeovers required. The train runs every 2 hours and takes 4h 10m.

Deutsche Bahn, Austrian Railways (ÖBB) and ÖBB Intercity run train services between Ulm and Essen. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 4h 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 Ulm and Essen. It typically takes around 9h 45m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Ulm and Essen with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 9h 45m.

Karat-S and FlixBus run regular bus services between Ulm and Essen. Buses run once daily and take around 9h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ulm to Essen. We recommend that you take the train to Ravensburg then fly from Friedrichshafen (FDH) to Dusseldorf (DUS). instead which will take 2h 40m.

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 Ulm and Essen. The distance is around 509km (316 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 Ulm to Essen is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 10m and will usually cost around €100 ($100).

How do I get from Ulm to Essen

Compare travel optionsbetween Ulm and Essen

Transport options from Ulm to Essen
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 5 similar
2h 40m
€230($230)
hourly584km (363 miles)
Train to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, plane3h 35m
€260($260)
hourly495km (308 miles)
Train to München Hbf, plane3h 40m
€240($240)
hourly711km (442 miles)
Train to München Hbf, plane3h 50m
€370($370)
hourly696km (433 miles)
Train to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, plane4hrs
€290($290)
hourly518km (322 miles)
Train to München Hbf, plane4hrs
€240($240)
hourly721km (448 miles)
Train
4h 10m
€100($100)
every 2 hours519km (323 miles)
Bus to Essen Hbf + 1 similar
9h 15m
€30($30)
once daily591km (367 miles)
Bus9h 45m
€55($55)
once daily594km (369 miles)
Drive
4h 30m
€84($84)
on demand509km (316 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Ulm and Essen

Train operators

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