✓ Top Deals ✓ Compare all buses ✓ The One Simple Search

How to get from Dortmund to Essen

Compare Trains, Carpool and Buses with one click and find the best one for you
The Best Deals Save up to 70%
The Most Choices Millions of routes worldwide
Easy and Transparent Compare offers with 1 click

What is the best way to travel from Dortmund to Essen?

Looking for a trip? Compare all the available Trains, Carpool and Buses for the journey to Essen from Dortmund. Check between different modes of transportation, look for the cheapest tickets, fastest rides and most popular stations, and see all 2 available companies to find your perfect trip!
Car is the cheapest, while Train is the fastest way on this route
Transport type
Travel time
Cheapest price
Average price
Daily departures
Train
0h 22m
$19
$19
92
Car
0h 40m
$13
$13
1

What is the cheapest way to reach Essen from Dortmund?

You can get to Essen with just $13 by taking a Car from BlaBlaCar, but you can find many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for next few days here for you.

today
from $13
tomorrow
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
from $19

    Cheapest Carpool today

  • BlaBlaCar
    0h 40m
    0
    4:50 PM
    Dortmund Airport
    5:30 PM
    Essen
    0
    BlaBlaCar
    Economy
    from $13

    Cheapest Trains Friday

  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 23m
    0
    1:21 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    1:44 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 22m
    0
    1:45 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    2:07 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 23m
    0
    4:05 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    4:28 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 23m
    0
    4:35 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    4:58 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19

What are the fastest trips from Dortmund to Essen?

You can get to Essen from Dortmund in just 0h 22m with a Train from Deutsche Bahn. This is not the only option, and you can click on any of the offers below to compare it with the other modes of transportations.

today
from 0h 40m
tomorrow
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
from 0h 22m

    Fastest Carpool today

  • BlaBlaCar
    0h 40m
    0
    4:50 PM
    Dortmund Airport
    5:30 PM
    Essen
    0
    BlaBlaCar
    Economy
    from $13

    Fastest Trains Friday

  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 22m
    0
    1:45 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    2:07 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 23m
    0
    1:21 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    1:44 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 23m
    0
    4:05 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    4:28 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
  • Deutsche Bahn
    0h 23m
    0
    4:35 AM
    Dortmund
    Central Station
    4:58 AM
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from $19
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a Bus from Dortmund to Essen

What are the most popular stations in Dortmund and Essen?

In Dortmund, you will usually depart from Central Station, West Train Station or Asseln Mitte Train Station, while in Essen you will be arriving at Central Station, Freiheit Bus Stop or Hafenstr. Bus Stop, but there are many more stops to explore in both locations.

How do I decide? Some tips and tricks from our experience

Are you having trouble deciding on how to get to Essen from Dortmund? With 3 connections between 2 Train, Car and Bus operators, it can be difficult to find the one ride that will make you happy. But we have some tips that can help you make the best informed decision. First of all, the best trip is always the one that meets all your needs, so make a list of all the things that you want from this journey and look for something that will satisfy all of them. Here we will go through some of the factors mostly commonly taken into consideration.

Look for the lowest price

Ticket price is usually the main concern: even if you can afford to pay more, why do it if there are cheaper options? Saving on the trip means that you can spend more on the vacation itself! Between Dortmund and Essen, you can pay as low as $13 with a Car from BlaBlaCar.

Travel duration

Time is also an important factor. An earlier departure may allow you to see a beautiful sunset or relax before an important event. And remember, time is money, so paying more for a shorter trip may be well worth it. For longer distances, flights are without doubt the best options, but be mindful of airport times and possible delays: a high-speed train may end up cheaper and faster! Here the quicker option is definitely the Train from Deutsche Bahn: you will get to Essen in just 0h 22m.

Comfort makes all the difference

You should always take into account what your personal travelling preferences are. Is one hand luggage enough, or are you trasporting more? Would you like to have a snack during the journey? Can you relax in a busy compartment, or do you need space for yourself? Even among the same mode of transportation, different companies will offer you varying levels of comfort and amenities. The main operators connecting Dortmund and Essen are Deutsche Bahn and BlaBlaCar, but be sure to check what they have to offer!

Save money with deals, and always compare

One last tip? Even if you live in Dortmund and Essen is your only destination, it may be wise to check the offers from and to nearby cities or, if you are flyng, nearby airports. Check the trips from Dortmund Airport or to Gelsenkirchen, and look at flights from Dortmund Airport, and landing at Dusseldorf Airport. Comparing different routes may allow you to find deals or promotions you were not aware of. Consider also signing up to CheckMyBus to see even more exclusive promotions!

Which companies offer a trip from Dortmund to Essen?

The most popular companies between Dortmund and Essen, are Deutsche Bahn and BlaBlaCar. Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.

Train companies: Deutsche Bahn

All you need to know when you travel from Dortmund to Essen

Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Dortmund to Essen. See which seat classes are available, and what amenities are other advantages offered by the operators on your journey.

FAQs about the trip from Dortmund to Essen

How can I reach Essen from Dortmund?

Every day, there are on average 3 connections between Train, Car and Bus, with which you can get to Essen from Dortmund.

How far is Essen from Dortmund?

The distance between Dortmund and Essen is 19.9 miles.

What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Dortmund and Essen?

Trains and buses are by far the greenest options, with trains surpassing buses on longer routes. Planes will always be the worst polluters, especially in shorter flights, were the emissions from the takeoff and landing are less offset by the distance. On this particular route, a bus will emit, per person, a total of 1 kgs of CO2, a train 1 kgs, a car 5 kgs, and a flight 8 kgs.

What is the cheapest mode of transport from Dortmund to Essen?

You can get to Essen with just $13 by taking a Car from BlaBlaCar.

What is the fastest way to get from Dortmund to Essen?

While a plane is travelling fastest boarding and transfer to airport consumes a lot of time. Usually, high speed trains are better than flights if pure train travel time is below 4 hours. For this particular route, you can get to Essen in just 0h 22m with a Train from Deutsche Bahn.

More routes to Dortmund and to Essen

Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to Dortmund and to Essen. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!

The CheckMyBus App

Free Download

App Store
CheckMyBus App
Close
GPDR CheckMyBus shield

We value your privacy!

To show you the best bus offers, we and our partners use technical, analytical, and marketing cookies to personalize the ads. We remember your anonymized details to provide a personalized experience.