Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Budapest to Essen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Budapest to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $106 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 25m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.3 - 0.9kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $106, while a flight costs an average of $561.
Distance: 603 miles (972 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$144 Average price | $561 Average price | $106 Average price Cheapest | $251 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
13h 20m Average total duration 12h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 25m Average total duration Fastest 3h 25m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 20h 14m Average total duration 19h 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 12h 13m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.9 - 5.8kg CO2 emissions | 1.0 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus company | 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 Budapest to Essen
Compare the available ways to get from Budapest to Essen, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Budapest to Essen:
A bus is $38 (€32) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Budapest to Essen costing on average $144 (€121).
A bus is $456 (€382) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Budapest to Essen costing on average $561 (€471).
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 13h 20m.
Bus takes on average 20h 14m.
Tickets start at around $144 (€121) compared to roughly $251 (€211) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $108 (€91). The journey takes 12h 50m versus 12h 13m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Travel optionsfrom Budapest to Essen
How to get from Budapest to Essen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Budapest to Essen is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus+
FlixTrain11:45 PM 21h03 Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás 8:48 PM Essen Hbf $83 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
FlixBus+
FlixTrain11:45 PM 21h03 Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás 8:48 PM Essen Hbf $83 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
EW97858:25 PM 1h50 Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport 10:15 PM Dusseldorf Airport $357 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
R 4632 · EC 140 · RJX 19976 · ICE 1168:40 AM 13h31 Budapest-Deli 10:11 PM Essen Hbf $121 1 One-way 6 transfers
EC 140 · RJX 19976 · ICE 116 · ICE 7848:30 AM 13h41 Budapest Keleti 10:11 PM Essen Hbf $121 1 One-way 5 transfers
R 4632 · EC 140 · RJX 19976 · ICE 1168:40 AM 14h27 Budapest-Deli 11:07 PM Essen Hbf $140 1 One-way 6 transfers
FlixBus+
FlixTrain11:30 PM 21h18 Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar 8:48 PM Essen Hbf $83 1 One-way 1 transfer
FlixBus · FlixBus1:45 PM 22h05 Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar 11:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) $85 1 One-way 1 transfer
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus7:15 PM 22h35 Budapest, Keleti Vasútállomás (Kerepesi út) 5:50 PM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) $86 1 One-way 2 transfers
LO538 · LO4056:00 PM 4h30 Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport 10:30 PM Dusseldorf Airport $229 1 One-way 1 transfer
LO536 · LO40712:55 PM 6h10 Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport 7:05 PM Dusseldorf Airport $229 1 One-way 1 transfer
LO534 · LO4079:45 AM 9h20 Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport 7:05 PM Dusseldorf Airport $229 1 One-way 1 transfer
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 Budapest 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 Budapest to Essen.

This is compared to other travel options from Budapest to Essen:
A bus is $38 (€32) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Budapest to Essen costing on average $144 (€121).
A bus is $456 (€382) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Budapest to Essen costing on average $561 (€471).
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 13h 20m.
Bus takes on average 20h 14m.
- Around 60 flights per day.
- Around 17 buses per day.
- Around 8 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Budapest and Essen as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport and arrive in Dusseldorf Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Budapest Keleti and arrive in Essen Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Essen by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | Nightjet, ÖBB | ICE, EuroNight to go to Essen by train.
- Travel with KLM, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Lot Polish Airlines, Air France, Eurowings, Sas Airways, British Airways, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Air Baltic, Lufthansa City Airlines, KLM Cityhopper, Helvetic Airways, Avion Express Malta, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa Cityline, CitizenPlane, Air Dolomiti, Smartwings to go to Essen by flight.
- 2 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 2 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Avion Express Malta, Smartwings.
Travelling from Budapest to Essen: related information
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