How to get from Brussels to Essen

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

Looking for a trip? Check and compare all the available Buses, Trains and Carpool to Essen from Brussels. Look at different modes of transportation, search for the cheapest tickets, fastest rides and most popular stations, and see all 3 available companies to find your perfect trip!
Bus is the cheapest, while Train is the fastest way on this route
Transport type
Travel time
Cheapest price
Average price
Daily departures
Bus
3h 35m
£14
£19
12
Train
3h 9m
£48
£59
62

What is the cheapest way to reach Essen from Brussels?

You can reach Essen with just £14 by taking a Bus from FlixBus, but there are many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for you for the next few days here.

Friday
from £17
Saturday
Sunday
from £21
Monday
from £14
Tuesday
Wednesday
from £14
Thursday
from £14

    Cheapest Buses Friday

  • BlaBlaCar Bus
    5h 35m
    0
    14:10
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    19:45
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Economy
    £17
  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £18
  • FlixBus
    5h 30m
    0
    15:55
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    21:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £20
  • FlixBus
    3h 35m
    0
    09:00
    Brussels
    North Station
    12:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £21
  • Cheapest Trains Friday

  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 10m
    0
    06:11
    Brussels
    Central Station
    09:21
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £65
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 9m
    0
    06:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    09:21
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £65
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 26m
    0
    08:11
    Brussels
    Central Station
    11:37
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £79

    Cheapest Buses Sunday

  • FlixBus
    3h 35m
    0
    09:00
    Brussels
    North Station
    12:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £21
  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £22
  • FlixBus
    5h 30m
    0
    15:55
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    21:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £24
  • BlaBlaCar Bus
    5h 25m
    0
    03:15
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    08:40
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Economy
    £26
  • Cheapest Trains Sunday

  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 9m
    0
    06:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    09:21
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £48
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 38m
    0
    20:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    23:50
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £48
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 28m
    0
    20:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    23:40
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £48

    Cheapest Buses Monday

  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    10:55
    Brussels
    North Station
    14:55
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14
  • FlixBus
    3h 50m
    0
    14:30
    Brussels
    North Station
    18:20
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £16
  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    21:25
    Brussels
    North Station
    01:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £16
  • FlixBus
    4h 25m
    0
    13:10
    Brussels
    North Station
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £17

    Cheapest Buses Wednesday

  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14

    Cheapest Buses Thursday

  • FlixBus
    3h 35m
    0
    09:00
    Brussels
    North Station
    12:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14
  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    10:55
    Brussels
    North Station
    14:55
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14
  • FlixBus
    3h 50m
    0
    14:30
    Brussels
    North Station
    18:20
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £15
  • FlixBus
    4h 5m
    0
    14:25
    Brussels
    North Station
    18:30
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £16

What are the fastest trips from Brussels to Essen?

You can get to Essen from Brussels in just 3h 9m with a Train from Deutsche Bahn. But this is just one option, click on any of the offers below to compare it with the other available modes of transportations.

Friday
from 3h 9m
Saturday
Sunday
from 3h 9m
Monday
from 3h 50m
Tuesday
Wednesday
from 3h 55m
Thursday
from 3h 35m

    Fastest Trains Friday

  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 9m
    0
    06:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    09:21
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £65
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 10m
    0
    06:11
    Brussels
    Central Station
    09:21
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £65
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 26m
    0
    08:11
    Brussels
    Central Station
    11:37
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £79
  • Fastest Buses Friday

  • FlixBus
    3h 35m
    0
    09:00
    Brussels
    North Station
    12:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £21
  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £18
  • BlaBlaCar Bus
    5h 25m
    0
    03:15
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    08:40
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Economy
    £34
  • FlixBus
    5h 30m
    0
    15:55
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    21:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £20

    Fastest Trains Sunday

  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 9m
    0
    06:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    09:21
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £48
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 28m
    0
    20:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    23:40
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £48
  • Deutsche Bahn
    3h 38m
    0
    20:12
    Brussels
    Central Station
    23:50
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    Deutsche Bahn
    Economy
    from £48
  • Fastest Buses Sunday

  • FlixBus
    3h 35m
    0
    09:00
    Brussels
    North Station
    12:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £21
  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £22
  • BlaBlaCar Bus
    5h 25m
    0
    03:15
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    08:40
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Economy
    £26
  • FlixBus
    5h 30m
    0
    15:55
    Brussels
    Midi Bus Station
    21:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £24

    Fastest Buses Monday

  • FlixBus
    3h 50m
    0
    14:30
    Brussels
    North Station
    18:20
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £16
  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £17
  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    10:55
    Brussels
    North Station
    14:55
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14
  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    21:25
    Brussels
    North Station
    01:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £16

    Fastest Buses Wednesday

  • FlixBus
    3h 55m
    0
    13:40
    Brussels Airport
    Brussels Airport
    17:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14

    Fastest Buses Thursday

  • FlixBus
    3h 35m
    0
    09:00
    Brussels
    North Station
    12:35
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14
  • FlixBus
    3h 50m
    0
    14:30
    Brussels
    North Station
    18:20
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £15
  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    10:55
    Brussels
    North Station
    14:55
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £14
  • FlixBus
    4h 0m
    0
    21:25
    Brussels
    North Station
    01:25
    Essen
    Central Station
    0
    FlixBus
    Economy
    £16
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a Bus from Brussels to Essen

What are the most popular stations in Brussels and Essen?

In Brussels, you will usually depart from Midi Bus Station, North Station or Gare Centrale, 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 Brussels? With 6 connections between 3 Bus, Train and Carpool 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 Brussels and Essen, you can pay as low as £14 with a Bus from FlixBus.

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 3h 9m.

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 Brussels and Essen are FlixBus, Deutsche Bahn and BlaBlaCar Bus, 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 Brussels 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 Saint-Gilles or to Gelsenkirchen, and look at flights from Brussels South Charleroi 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 Brussels to Essen?

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

Bus companies: FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus

Train companies: Deutsche Bahn

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

Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Brussels 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 Brussels to Essen

How can I reach Essen from Brussels?

Every day, there are on average 6 connections between Bus, Train and Carpool, with which you can get to Essen from Brussels.

How far is Essen from Brussels?

The distance between Brussels and Essen is 197.3 km.

What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Brussels 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 5 kgs of CO2, a train 7 kgs, a car 34 kgs, and a flight 49 kgs.

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

You can get to Essen with just £14 by taking a Bus from FlixBus.

What is the fastest way to get from Brussels 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 3h 9m with a Train from Deutsche Bahn.

More routes to Brussels and to Essen

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

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