The cheapest and fastest trains from Essen to Basel
Cheapest price
$70
Average price
$75
Fastest journey
5 h 33 m
Average duration
7 h 24 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
435 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Essen to Basel is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Essen to Basel will cost around $75 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $70.
Of the 5 trains that leave Essen for Basel on Thu, Dec 18, 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Dec 18 the direct trains cover the 435 km distance in an average of 7 h 24 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 5 h 33 m .
On Thu, Dec 18 the slowest trains will take 14 h 15 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.










Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Essen to Basel
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Essen to Basel among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €23. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 5h 27m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €23, and a flight costs an average of €90.
Distance: 270 miles (435 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€74 Average price | €39 Average price Cheapest | €238 Average price |
5h 57m Average total duration Fastest 5h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 27m Average total duration 7h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 6m Average total duration 10h 6m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.3 - 2.6kg CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Essen to Basel train times
The table below shows live departures for Essen to Basel trains for today, Wednesday, December 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 103 | Delayed 7:51 AM 7:00 AMEssen Hbf | 4h48 | 12:23 PM 12:23 PMBasel SBB | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 103 · IC 2040 · ICE 105 | Delayed 7:51 AM 7:00 AMEssen Hbf | 6h48 | 1:48 PM Basel SBB | 2 transfers | |
ICE 915 · ICE 71 | On time 7:36 AM Essen Hbf | 4h45 | 12:21 PM Basel SBB | 1 transfer | |
ICE 621 · ICE 515 · ICE 279 | Delayed 7:53 AM Essen Hbf | 4h55 | 1:09 PM 1:09 PMBasel SBB | 2 transfers | |
ICE 105 | Delayed 9:04 AM 9:00 AMEssen Hbf | 4h48 | 1:48 PM Basel SBB | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 5:03 AM Essen | 14h15 | 7:18 PM Basel | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 6:00 AM Essen | 5h33 | 11:33 AM Basel | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:00 AM Essen | 5h55 | 12:55 PM Basel | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Essen to Basel by train, bus, or flight
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Dec 18
Dec 19
Dec 20
Dec 21
Dec 22
Dec 23
Dec 24
Why should you book Essen to Basel trains with Omio?
Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE) operates all train services from Essen to Basel. Omio is the only official third party seller for Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE) tickets.
Why book with Omio vs Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE)?
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE) with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Essen to Basel.
Why book with Omio over Trainline and Rail Europe?
- Official reseller: Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE) tickets can only be bought on Omio or Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE)'s website as Omio is the only official third party seller for Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE) tickets. Trainline, RailEurope, and Rail.Ninja do not sell Deutsche Bahn (ICE,EC,RE) tickets as they are not official sellers.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Essen to Basel.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Essen to Basel
Trains from Essen to Basel run on average 14 times per day, taking around 5h 27m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $31 (€24) but you can travel from only $28 (€23) by bus.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 01:05, the last at 23:23. The fastest train covers the 270 miles (435 km) distance in 4h 48m.
Distance 270 miles (435 km) |
Average train duration 5h 27m |
Cheapest ticket price $31 (€24) |
Trains per day 14 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 4h 48m |
First train 01:05 |
Last train 23:23 |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn from Essen to Basel trainsDeutsche Bahn trains will get you between Essen and Basel from $28 (€23). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Deutsche Bahn
A Bordrestaurant (restaurant car) where you can sit and eat.
A Bordbistro (bistro bar) with snacks, hot meals, and drinks to-go.
At-seat service in 1st class: staff will take your order and serve food/drinks directly to your seat.
Regional trains (RE / RB / S-Bahn):
No onboard catering.
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
Not included by default.
You can add a seat reservation when booking (recommended for busy routes).
Costs around €4.90 per seat (or €5.90 if booked separately later).
First Class:
Yes, always included in the ticket price.
Allowed for free if they can fit in a transport box (max. size: hand luggage).
Must stay in the box for the entire journey.
Large dogs:
Require a separate (paid) ticket — typically half the price of a regular second-class ticket.
Must be leashed and wear a muzzle while on the train.
Cannot sit on seats.
Assistance dogs:
Travel free of charge.
Do not need a muzzle or leash if medically not required.
Allowed to accompany the passenger at all times.
FAQs: Trains from Essen to Basel
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Essen to Basel by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Basel, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Essen to Basel
- Monday: 07:30 - 19:00
- Tuesday: 07:30 - 19:00
- Wednesday: 07:30 - 19:00
- Thursday: 07:30 - 19:00
- Friday: 07:30 - 19:00
- Saturday: 09:00 - 18:00
- Sunday: 09:00 - 18:00
- Bollywood Express - Pizza & More
- Kiepenkerl
- Cafe Extrablatt
- Tacos
- Ambassador
- Gästearpartment Dahl
- WG-Hotel im Unperfekthaus
- Motel One
- Bollywood Express - Pizza & More
- Haus Wilmes
- Mana Mana
- Karawane
- Webers
- Burger King
- Werner
- Bückmannsmühle
- Muckel-Eis
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week, accessible via Centralbahnstrasse.
- Restaurant Da Roberto
- Brasserie Bahnhof Basel
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 2
- Hotel Victoria
- Hotel Schweizerhof Basel
- GAIA Hotel
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- 800 places, covered
- Avis
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-5 for Swiss domestic trains
- Hall 2: platform 6-10 for international trains
- Hall 3: shopping and services area
- Tram: Line 1, Line 2, Line 8, Line 10, Line 11
- Bus: Several lines available
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week. Access via Schwarzwaldallee.
- Restaurant Les Gareçons
- Restaurant Bahn Kantine
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 1
- Hotel Alexander
- Hotel Wettstein
- Hotel Balade
- Located in the main hall
- 330 places, covered
- Avis
- Europcar
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms 1-4 for trains to Germany
- Hall 2: platforms 5-8 for regional trains within Switzerland
- Tram: Line 2, Line 6
- Bus: Several lines available
Most popular train connections from Essen
More options for your journey from Essen to Basel
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