How to travel from Zurich to Essen

Sat, Jun 20
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Deutsche Bahn
Eurowings
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Eurowings
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FlixBus
Swiss
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Zurich to Essen

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Zurich to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $43. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 14m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $43, and a flight costs an average of $81.

Distance: 290 miles (468 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Flight
Bus
Driving

$159

Average price

$186

Average price

$69

Average price

Cheapest

$186

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

6h 49m

Average total duration

6h 19m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 14m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 14m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

9h 13m

Average total duration

8h 43m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

6h 16m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

1.4 - 2.8kg

CO2 emissions

0.5 - 1.2kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Deutsche Bahn

Most popular train company

Eurowings

Most popular airline

BlaBlaCar

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.

The cheapest way to travel from Zurich to Essen is a bus with an average price of $69 (€56).

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

A bus is $90 (€74) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Zurich to Essen costing on average $159 (€130).

A bus is $117 (€96) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Zurich to Essen costing on average $186 (€152).

The fastest way to travel from Zurich to Essen is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 14m.

Other travel options to Essen take longer:

Train takes on average 6h 19m.

Bus takes on average 8h 43m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Zurich and Essen including taking a train, bus, and flight.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Zurich to Essen among Omio's users.

Travel options
from Zurich to Essen

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

Our recommendation

bus

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

  • FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBus
    5:25 PM13h00
    Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)
    6:25 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $441One-way
    1 transfer

Cheapest

  • FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBus
    5:25 PM13h00
    Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)
    6:25 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $441One-way
    1 transfer

Fastest

  • EurowingsEW763
    8:50 AM1h05
    Zurich Airport
    9:55 AMCologne Bonn Airport
    $1891One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • Deutsche BahnICE 372 · ICE 228 · ICE 518+TGVTGV 9210
    8:58 AM8h00
    Zurich HB
    4:58 PMEssen Hbf
    $1081One-way
    3 transfers
  • Deutsche BahnICE 372 · ICE 610+TGVTGV 9210
    8:58 AM6h00
    Zurich HB
    2:58 PMEssen Hbf
    $1101One-way
    2 transfers
  • Deutsche BahnIC 282 · ICE 610
    8:37 AM6h21
    Zurich HB
    2:58 PMEssen Hbf
    $1101One-way
    1 transfer
  • FlixBusFlixBus+FlixTrainFlixTrain
    9:25 PM12h28
    Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)
    9:53 AMEssen Hbf
    $451One-way
    1 transfer
  • FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBus
    9:25 PM12h30
    Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)
    9:55 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $451One-way
    1 transfer
  • BlaBlaCar Bus4739 · 50458
    11:59 PM18h56
    Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai)
    6:55 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)
    $871One-way
    1 transfer
  • KLMKL1926+KLM CityhopperKL1797
    7:25 PM12h15
    Zurich Airport
    7:40 AMDusseldorf Airport
    $1961One-way
    1 transfer
  • KLMKL1924+KLM CityhopperKL1797
    5:35 PM14h05
    Zurich Airport
    7:40 AMDusseldorf Airport
    $1961One-way
    1 transfer
  • SwissLH5751+LufthansaLH2034
    7:15 PM3h10
    Zurich Airport
    10:25 PMDusseldorf Airport
    $2451One-way
    1 transfer

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Zurich 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 Zurich to Essen.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Zurich and Essen including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Zurich to Essen is a bus with an average price of $69 (€56).

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

A bus is $90 (€74) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Zurich to Essen costing on average $159 (€130).

A bus is $117 (€96) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Zurich to Essen costing on average $186 (€152).

The fastest way to travel from Zurich to Essen is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 14m.

Other travel options to Essen take longer:

Train takes on average 6h 19m.

Bus takes on average 8h 43m.

The distance from Zurich to Essen is approximately 290 miles (468 km).
The average frequency per day from Zurich to Essen is:
  • Around 45 flights per day.
  • Around 8 trains per day.
  • Around 4 buses per day.

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

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Zurich to Essen:
  • Flights mostly depart from Zurich Airport and arrive in Dusseldorf Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Zurich HB and arrive in Essen Hbf.
  • Buses mostly depart from Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Zurich to Essen, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with BlaBlaCar, FlixBus to go to Essen by bus.
  • Travel with Deutsche Bahn, SBB, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to go to Essen by train.
  • Travel with Eurowings, Swiss, Tuifly, Edelweiss Air to go to Essen by flight.
Yes, there are direct services available from Zurich to Essen with the following travel companies:
  • 1 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar.
  • 11 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Swiss, Edelweiss Air.
Omio customers who travel from Zurich 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.

Travelling from Zurich to Essen: related information

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

HomeTravelTravel to GermanyTravel to EssenHow to travel from Zurich to Essen

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