What is the best way to travel from Kiel to Essen?
Looking for a trip? Compare all the available Trains and Buses for the journey to Essen from Kiel. 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!
What is the cheapest way to reach Essen from Kiel?
You can get to Essen with just $21 by taking a Train from Deutsche Bahn, but you can find many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for next few days here for you.
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Deutsche Bahn5h 6m03:08 AMKielCentral Station8:14 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 3:08:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 8:14:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $21 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 6m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 3m04:02 AMKielCentral Station9:05 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 4:02:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 9:05:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $21 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 3m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 9m05:05 AMKielCentral Station10:14 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 5:05:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 10:14:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $21 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 9m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 28m05:37 PMKielCentral Station11:05 PMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 5:37:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 11:05:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $32 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 28m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 45m09:05 PMKielCentral Station2:50 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 9:05:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/25/2026 2:50:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $32 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 45m
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FlixBus10h 20m02:30 AMKielCentral Bus Station12:50 PMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 2:30:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 12:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $23 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 20m
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FlixBus7h 15m010:25 PMKielCentral Bus Station5:40 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 10:25:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/25/2026 5:40:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $32 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 15m
Cheapest Trains Thursday
Cheapest Buses Thursday
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FlixBus7h 15m010:25 PMKielCentral Bus Station5:40 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/25/2026 10:25:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/26/2026 5:40:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $33 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 15m
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FlixBus10h 20m02:30 AMKielCentral Bus Station12:50 PMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/25/2026 2:30:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/25/2026 12:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $36 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 20m
Cheapest Buses Friday
What are the fastest trips from Kiel to Essen?
You can get to Essen from Kiel in just 5h 3m 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.
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Deutsche Bahn5h 3m04:02 AMKielCentral Station9:05 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 4:02:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 9:05:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $21 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 3m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 6m03:08 AMKielCentral Station8:14 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 3:08:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 8:14:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $21 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 6m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 9m05:05 AMKielCentral Station10:14 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 5:05:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 10:14:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $21 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 9m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 28m05:37 PMKielCentral Station11:05 PMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 5:37:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 11:05:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $32 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 28m
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Deutsche Bahn5h 45m09:05 PMKielCentral Station2:50 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Deutsche Bahn goes from Central Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 9:05:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/25/2026 2:50:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $32 per person are available. Travel duration is 5h 45m
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FlixBus7h 15m010:25 PMKielCentral Bus Station5:40 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 10:25:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/25/2026 5:40:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $32 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 15m
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FlixBus10h 20m02:30 AMKielCentral Bus Station12:50 PMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/24/2026 2:30:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/24/2026 12:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $23 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 20m
Fastest Trains Thursday
Fastest Buses Thursday
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FlixBus7h 15m010:25 PMKielCentral Bus Station5:40 AMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/25/2026 10:25:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/26/2026 5:40:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $33 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 15m
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FlixBus10h 20m02:30 AMKielCentral Bus Station12:50 PMEssenCentral Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station, Kiel (Germany) at 9/25/2026 2:30:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 9/25/2026 12:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $36 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 20m
Fastest Buses Friday
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a
Bus from Kiel to Essen
What are the most popular stations in Kiel and Essen?
In Kiel, you will usually depart from Norwegenkai Bus Stop, Central Bus Station or Central Station, while in Essen you will be arriving at Hafenstr. Bus Stop, Freiheit Bus Stop or Central Station, 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 Kiel? With 4 connections between 2 Train 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 Kiel and Essen, you can pay as low as $21 with a Train from Deutsche Bahn.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 5h 3m.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 Kiel and Essen are Deutsche Bahn and FlixBus, 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 Kiel 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 Kronshagen or to Gelsenkirchen, and look at flights from , 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 Kiel to Essen?
The most popular companies between Kiel and Essen, are Deutsche Bahn and FlixBus. Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.
Bus companies: FlixBus
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn
All you need to know when you travel from Kiel to Essen
Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Kiel 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 Kiel to Essen
How can I reach Essen from Kiel?
Every day, there are on average 4 connections between Train and Bus, with which you can get to Essen from Kiel.
How far is Essen from Kiel?
The distance between Kiel and Essen is 236.8 miles.
What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Kiel 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 10 kgs of CO2, a train 13 kgs, a car 65 kgs, and a flight 94 kgs.
What is the cheapest mode of transport from Kiel to Essen?
You can get to Essen with just $21 by taking a Train from Deutsche Bahn.
What is the fastest way to get from Kiel 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 5h 3m with a Train from Deutsche Bahn.
More routes to Kiel and to Essen
Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to Kiel and to Essen. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!
