Next departures
| Operated by | Vehicle type | Departure time | Departure location | Trip duration | Arrival time | Arrival location | Recommended | Price and booking link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Harburg | HBF | Cheapest | |||||
| Harburg | HBF | Fastest | |||||
 | Hamburg Hbf | Essen Central Train Station | No tags | |||||
| Hamburg Hbf | Essen Central Train Station | No tags | |||||
Deutsche Bahn ICE + S-Bahn | Hamburg Hbf | Essen Central Train Station | No tags |
Last refresh of the prices: Today at 7:12 AM CET.
Compare 3 ways to travel from Hamburg to Essen
Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Essen. The journey takes about 3 hours 40 minutes and with fares starting at just R 328, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.
Where are the popular train stations and stops in Hamburg and Essen?
Hamburg
- A
Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)
Bahnsteig Gleis 7 + 8, 20099 Hamburg, Germany - BHörstener Str. 1, 21079 Hamburg, Germany
- D
Hamburg Altona
Bahnhof Altona, Scheel-Plessen-Straße 17, 22765 Hamburg, Germany
Essen
- AAm Hauptbahnhof 27, 45127 Essen, Germany
- BFreiheit 5A, 45127 Essen, Germany
Train Companies
Frequently asked questions about travelling from Hamburg to Essen by train
Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or differ at the time of your trip.
How much is the train ticket from Hamburg to Essen?
The cheapest train tickets from Hamburg to Essen start from R 310. The average price for this train route is around R 873. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Hamburg to Essen?
The average train journey time from Hamburg to Essen is 3h 12m, covering a distance of 310 km. The quickest train can get you there in 2h 43m and is operated by Deutsche Bahn ICE.
Which train operators serve the Hamburg to Essen route?
Several major train operators serve this route, with 15 trains available per day, including services from Deutsche Bahn ICE, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn, FlixBus.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Hamburg to Essen?
The earliest train from Hamburg to Essen departs at 06:01. And the latest train departs at 22:46.
Which is the best train operator from Hamburg to Essen?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated train operator on this route is Deutsche Bahn ICE, with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars based on 10 reviews.
Which train operator has the best Wi-Fi from Hamburg to Essen?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the train operator Deutsche Bahn has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.
Which train operator offers the most punctual service from Hamburg to Essen?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual train operator on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which train operator has the cleanest trains from Hamburg to Essen?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the train operator with the cleanest trains on this route is Deutsche Bahn ICE, with a cleanliness rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars.
Find cheapest prices for trains
Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.
The cheapest trip from Hamburg to Essen was searched and found on 09 Dec 2025 with a price of R 413To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Hamburg to Essen as early as possible.
You can expect to pay from R 413 to R 3 295 for a train ticket from Hamburg to Essen based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 415, which is on 2025-12-15.
Usually Deutsche Bahn ICE, Deutsche Bahn will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.
