How to travel from Lille to Essen

Sat, Sep 19
+ Add return
Travel by train, bus with
BlaBlaCar Bus
Intercity
Eurostar
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
1,000+ more
BlaBlaCar Bus
Intercity
Eurostar
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
1,000+ more
QR-Code
Scan to get our free app
Use our app to get live travel updates and book mobile tickets for trains, buses, flights, and ferries.
App Store
rate4.9
42K ratings
Google Play
rate4.6
136K reviews

Travel Information

Compare train and bus for Lille to Essen

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Lille to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $52 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 4h 43m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the bus is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.3 - 0.7kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $52, while a train costs an average of $128.

Distance: 180 miles (291 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Driving

$128

Average price

$52

Average price

Cheapest

$65

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

4h 43m

Average total duration

Fastest

4h 13m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

7h 13m

Average total duration

6h 43m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 20m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

-

CO2 emissions

0.3 - 0.7kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

-

CO2 emissions

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Lille to Essen is a bus with an average price of $52.

This is compared to other travel options from Lille to Essen:

A bus is $76 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Lille to Essen costing on average $128.

The fastest way to travel from Lille to Essen is by train with an average journey time of 4h 43m.

Other travel options to Essen take longer:

Bus takes on average 7h 13m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Lille and Essen including taking a train and bus.
We recommend using the bus as it is the most popular way to get from Lille to Essen among Omio's users.
Take the bus. It's the cheapest way to make this trip, and the price gap is usually bigger than people expect.

Tickets start at around $52 compared to roughly $65 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $13. The journey takes 6h 43m versus 4h 20m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.

Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.

Travel options
from Lille to Essen

How to get from Lille to Essen by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Lille to Essen is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • BlaBlaCar Bus51121
    11:50 AM6h55
    Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe)
    6:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $261One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • BlaBlaCar Bus51121
    11:50 AM6h55
    Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe)
    6:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $261One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • FlixBusFlixBus
    7:00 AM5h25
    Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe)
    12:25 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $361One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • BlaBlaCar Bus50428
    12:25 PM7h20
    Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe)
    7:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $311One-way
    0 transfers
  • BlaBlaCar Bus50448
    1:45 AM6h55
    Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe)
    8:40 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $371One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    9:25 AM6h45
    Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe)
    4:10 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $371One-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

Compare train and bus 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.

Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23
Thu
Sep 24
Fri
Sep 25

More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

FAQs: Travel from Lille 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 Lille to Essen.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between Lille and Essen including taking a train and bus.
The cheapest way to travel from Lille to Essen is a bus with an average price of $31.

This is compared to other travel options from Lille to Essen:

A bus is $97 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Lille to Essen costing on average $128.

The fastest way to travel from Lille to Essen is by train with an average journey time of 4h 43m.

Other travel options to Essen take longer:

Bus takes on average 6h 22m.

The distance from Lille to Essen is approximately 180 miles (291 km).
The average frequency per day from Lille to Essen is:
  • Around 7 buses per day.
  • Around 4 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Lille and Essen as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Lille to Essen:
  • Trains mostly depart from Lille-Europe and arrive in Essen Hbf.
  • Buses mostly depart from Lille, Boulevard de Turin (Gare Lille Europe) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Lille to Essen, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Intercity, Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, Regionalbahn, Regional to go to Essen by train.
  • Travel with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus to go to Essen by bus.
Yes, there is a direct route available from Lille to Essen:
  • 4 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus.
Omio customers who travel from Lille to Essen often also extend their vacation to go to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Munich. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Essen and these popular destinations at a great price.
Most travelers need at least three days in Essen to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.
To explore Essen's key attractions, such as the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, Museum Folkwang, and Grugapark, a stay of 2 to 3 days is generally sufficient.

Travelling from Lille to Essen: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to GermanyTravel to EssenHow to travel from Lille to Essen

The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy

We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.

ios-badge
android-badge
Hand With Phone