4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Vienna to Essen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Vienna to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €60 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 33m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.2 - 0.7kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €60, while a flight costs an average of €108.
Distance: 472 miles (761 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€95 Average price | €108 Average price | €60 Average price Cheapest | €67 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
9h 19m Average total duration 8h 49m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 33m Average total duration Fastest 2h 33m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 13h 32m Average total duration 13h 2m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.3 - 4.6kg CO2 emissions | 0.8 - 1.9kg 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 Vienna to Essen:
A bus is €35 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Vienna to Essen costing on average €95.
A bus is €48 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Vienna to Essen costing on average €108.
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 9h 19m.
Bus takes on average 13h 32m.
You'll arrive about 25m sooner (8h 49m by train vs 9h 14m by car). Tickets start at around €95 compared to roughly €67 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 Vienna to Essen
How to get from Vienna to Essen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Vienna to Essen is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- RJX 68 · ICE 618 · 267076:28 PM12h43Vienna7:11 AMEssen Hbf€461One-way2 transfers
Cheapest
- RJX 68 · ICE 618 · 267076:28 PM12h43Vienna7:11 AMEssen Hbf€461One-way2 transfers
Fastest
EW97578:00 PM1h30Vienna International Airport9:30 PMDusseldorf Airport€1951One-way0 transfers
Other options
- RJX 68 · ICE 618 · S66:28 PM13h04Vienna7:32 AMEssen Hbf€591One-way2 transfers
- RJX 68 · ICE 618 · Bus RE16:28 PM13h09Vienna7:37 AMEssen€591One-way2 transfers
- RJX 19916 · EC 114 · ICE 910 · 268391:28 PM10h22Vienna11:50 PMEssen Hbf€711One-way3 transfers
- FlixBus · FlixBus11:30 PM17h20Vienna, International Busterminal (VIB)4:50 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€461One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus1:00 PM16h00Vienna, Central Station Südtiroler Platz5:00 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€471One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus9:15 PM17h30Vienna, International Busterminal (VIB)2:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)€471One-way1 transfer
- FR 94804:50 PM1h40Vienna International Airport6:30 PMCologne Bonn Airport€1341One-way0 transfers
- EW7753 · EW90394:00 PM4h35Vienna International Airport8:35 PMDusseldorf Airport€1701One-way1 transfer
- EW7751 · EW70668:55 AM7h25Vienna International Airport4:20 PMDusseldorf Airport€1901One-way1 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 Vienna 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 Vienna to Essen.
This is compared to other travel options from Vienna to Essen:
A bus is €35 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Vienna to Essen costing on average €95.
A bus is €48 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Vienna to Essen costing on average €108.
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Train takes on average 9h 19m.
Bus takes on average 13h 32m.
- Around 51 flights per day.
- Around 24 trains per day.
- Around 17 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Vienna and Essen as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Vienna International Airport and arrive in Dusseldorf Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Vienna Hbf and arrive in Essen Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Vienna, International Busterminal (VIB) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with Malta Air, Ryanair, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Air Baltic, Smartwings, Buzz to go to Essen by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar to go to Essen by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | Nightjet, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | InterCity, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to go to Essen by train.
- 14 direct flights per day with Malta Air, Ryanair, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Air Baltic, Smartwings, Buzz.
- 2 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
- 2 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
Travelling from Vienna to Essen: related information
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