4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Essen to Kiel
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Essen to Kiel among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €43 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 8m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €43, while a flight costs an average of €449.
Distance: 236 miles (381 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€93 Average price | €43 Average price Cheapest | €449 Average price | €68 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 19m Average total duration 4h 49m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 59m Average total duration 7h 29m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 8m Average total duration Fastest 2h 8m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | 1.1 - 2.3kg 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 Essen to Kiel
Compare the available ways to get from Essen to Kiel, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Essen to Kiel:
A bus is €50 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Essen to Kiel costing on average €93.
A bus is €406 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Essen to Kiel costing on average €449.
Other travel options to Kiel take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 19m.
Bus takes on average 7h 59m.
You'll arrive about 25m sooner (4h 49m by train vs 5h 14m by car). Tickets start at around €93 compared to roughly €68 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Essen to Kiel
How to get from Essen to Kiel by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Essen to Kiel is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
9:35 PM 15h25 Essen 1:00 PM Kiel €35 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
9:35 PM 15h25 Essen 1:00 PM Kiel €35 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
11:15 PM 7h10 Essen 6:25 AM Kiel €48 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 Essen to Kiel
Travel to Kiel 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 Essen to Kiel.
This is compared to other travel options from Essen to Kiel:
A bus is €50 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Essen to Kiel costing on average €93.
A bus is €406 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Essen to Kiel costing on average €449.
Other travel options to Kiel take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 19m.
Bus takes on average 7h 59m.
- Around 14 flights per day.
- Around 7 trains per day.
- Around 2 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Essen and Kiel as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Dusseldorf Airport and arrive in Hamburg Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Essen Hbf and arrive in Kiel Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) and arrive in Kiel, ZOB.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, metronom, erixx to go to Kiel by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Kiel by bus.
- Travel with Lufthansa, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines, Condor Flugdienst, British Airways, GetJet Airlines to go to Kiel by flight.
- 3 direct flights per day with Eurowings, GetJet Airlines.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Essen to Kiel: related information
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