4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Munich to Essen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Munich to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €39 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 9m. 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 €39, while a flight costs an average of €126.
Distance: 306 miles (493 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€72 Average price | €126 Average price | €39 Average price Cheapest | €54 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 10m Average total duration 5h 40m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 9m Average total duration Fastest 1h 9m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 13h 41m Average total duration 13h 11m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 2m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions | 0.5 - 1.2kg 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Munich to Essen:
A bus is €32 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Munich to Essen costing on average €72.
A bus is €86 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Munich to Essen costing on average €126.
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 10m.
Bus takes on average 13h 41m.
You'll arrive about 1h 22m sooner (5h 40m by train vs 7h 2m by car). Tickets start at around €72 compared to roughly €54 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 Munich to Essen
How to get from Munich to Essen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Munich to Essen is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus2:00 AM9h50Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)11:50 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€401One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixBus2:00 AM9h50Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)11:50 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€401One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- EW90898:55 PM1h10Munich Airport10:05 PMDusseldorf Airport€1161One-way0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 596 · ICE 106 · 1022612:45 PM5h36Munich Hbf6:21 PMEssen Hbf€731One-way2 transfers
- ICE 916 · Bus RE112:20 PM5h42Munich Hbf6:02 PMEssen€821One-way1 transfer
- ICE 916 · S212:20 PM5h47Munich Hbf6:07 PMEssen Hbf€821One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus7:00 AM10h45Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)5:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€421One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus7:30 PM10h55Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)6:25 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€471One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus9:40 PM9h45Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)7:25 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€501One-way0 transfers
LH19726:35 AM1h10Munich Airport7:45 AMCologne Bonn Airport€1341One-way0 transfers
LH42188:10 AM1h10Munich Airport9:20 AMDusseldorf Airport€1581One-way0 transfers- LH41067:30 AM1h10Munich Airport8:40 AMDusseldorf Airport€1581One-way0 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 Munich 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 Munich to Essen.
This is compared to other travel options from Munich to Essen:
A bus is €32 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Munich to Essen costing on average €72.
A bus is €86 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Munich to Essen costing on average €126.
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 10m.
Bus takes on average 13h 41m.
- Around 24 flights per day.
- Around 16 buses per day.
- Around 12 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Munich and Essen as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Munich Airport and arrive in Dusseldorf Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Munich Hbf and arrive in Essen Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) to go to Essen by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline to go to Essen by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus, Trans Turist to go to Essen by bus.
- 3 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
- 16 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline.
- 7 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, Trans Turist.
Travelling from Munich to Essen: related information
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