Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Berlin to Essen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Berlin to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €35 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 14m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €35, while a flight costs an average of €396.
Distance: 454 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€73 Average price | €35 Average price Cheapest | €396 Average price | €80 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 46m Average total duration 4h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 26m Average total duration 7h 56m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 14m Average total duration Fastest 2h 14m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 6h 9m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.4 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Berlin to Essen
Compare the available ways to get from Berlin to Essen, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Berlin to Essen:
A bus is €38 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Berlin to Essen costing on average €73.
A bus is €361 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Berlin to Essen costing on average €396.
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 46m.
Bus takes on average 8h 26m.
Travel optionsfrom Berlin to Essen
How to get from Berlin to Essen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Berlin to Essen is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixTrain7:32 AM 5h16 Berlin Südkreuz station 12:48 PM Essen Hbf €21 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
FlixTrain7:32 AM 5h16 Berlin Südkreuz station 12:48 PM Essen Hbf €21 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
EW80544:15 PM 1h05 Berlin Brandenburg Airport 5:20 PM Cologne Bonn Airport €130 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
FlixTrain7:24 AM 5h24 Berlin Hbf 12:48 PM Essen Hbf €21 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixTrain11:19 AM 5h29 Berlin Hbf 4:48 PM Essen Hbf €29 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixTrain11:03 AM 5h45 Berlin Südkreuz station 4:48 PM Essen Hbf €29 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus6:20 AM 8h25 Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) 2:45 PM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) €37 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus5:45 AM 9h00 Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz 2:45 PM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) €37 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus12:10 AM 6h40 Berlin, Kronprinzessinnenweg (Wannsee) 6:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) €38 1 One-way 0 transfers
EW75:15 PM 1h05 Berlin Brandenburg Airport 6:20 PM Cologne Bonn Airport €130 1 One-way 0 transfers
EW80442:50 PM 1h05 Berlin Brandenburg Airport 3:55 PM Dusseldorf Airport €140 1 One-way 0 transfers
EW90454:45 PM 1h05 Berlin Brandenburg Airport 5:50 PM Dusseldorf Airport €140 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Berlin to Essen
Travel to Essen easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Berlin to Essen.

This is compared to other travel options from Berlin to Essen:
A bus is €38 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Berlin to Essen costing on average €73.
A bus is €361 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Berlin to Essen costing on average €396.
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 46m.
Bus takes on average 8h 26m.
- Around 20 flights per day.
- Around 12 trains per day.
- Around 9 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Berlin and Essen as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Berlin Brandenburg Airport and arrive in Dusseldorf Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Berlin Hbf and arrive in Essen Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, British Airways, BA Cityflyer, Lufthansa City Airlines, CitizenPlane, Lufthansa Cityline, Air Baltic, TAP Portugal, Smartwings, Avion Express Malta, Air Dolomiti, Condor Flugdienst to go to Essen by flight.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, WestfalenBahn to go to Essen by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Essen by bus.
- 5 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Smartwings, Avion Express Malta.
- 10 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain.
- 9 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Berlin to Essen: related information
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