How much is the train ticket from Hamburg to Essen?

The cheapest train tickets from Hamburg to Essen start from $18. The average price for this train route is around $51. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Hamburg to Essen?

The average train ride duration from Hamburg to Essen is 3h 12m, covering a distance of 192 miles (310 km). The quickest train can get you there in 2h 43m and is operated by Deutsche Bahn ICE .

Which train operators service the Hamburg to Essen route?

Several major train operators operate on this route with 15 trains available per day, including services from Deutsche Bahn ICE , FlixTrain , Deutsche Bahn , FlixBus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from Hamburg to Essen?

The earliest train departs from Hamburg to Essen at 6:01am. And the latest train departs at 10:46pm.

What 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 best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.

Which train operator has the most timely service from Hamburg to Essen?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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.

Train Hamburg to Essen from $18 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Hamburg to Essen on December 12
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	9:01am	Harburg	3h	12:01pm	HBF	Cheapest
	3:01pm	Harburg	2h 59m	6:00pm	HBF	Fastest
	6:06am	Hamburg Hbf	3h 29m	9:35am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags
	12:50pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 11m	4:01pm	Essen Central Train Station	No tags
Deutsche Bahn ICE + S-Bahn	6:46pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 49m	10:35pm	Essen Central Train Station	No tags

Next departures for Hamburg to Essen on December 13
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	3:01pm	Harburg	2h 59m	6:00pm	HBF	CheapestFastest
Flixbus + Flixtrain	5:45am	HAM Airport	7h 3m	12:48pm	HBF	No tags
	9:01am	Harburg	3h	12:01pm	HBF	No tags
	6:46am	Hamburg Hbf	3h 12m	9:58am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags
	12:50pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 11m	4:01pm	Essen Central Train Station	No tags

Next departures for Hamburg to Essen on December 14
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Flixbus + Flixtrain	5:45am	HAM Airport	7h 3m	12:48pm	HBF	Cheapest
	12:09pm	Hamburg Hbf	2h 45m	2:54pm	Essen Central Train Station	Fastest
	11:01am	Harburg	2h 59m	2:00pm	HBF	No tags
	6:01am	Hamburg Hbf	3h 34m	9:35am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags
	1:12pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 11m	4:23pm	Essen Central Train Station	No tags

Next departures for Hamburg to Essen on December 15
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	7:45pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 13m	10:58pm	Essen Central Train Station	Cheapest
	8:09am	Hamburg Hbf	2h 45m	10:54am	Essen Central Train Station	Fastest
Flixbus + Flixtrain	5:45am	HAM Airport	7h 3m	12:48pm	HBF	No tags
	2:50pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 10m	6:00pm	HBF	No tags
	6:01am	Hamburg Hbf	3h 34m	9:35am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags

Next departures for Hamburg to Essen on December 18
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Flixbus + Flixtrain	5:45am	HAM Airport	7h 3m	12:48pm	HBF	Cheapest
	8:09am	Hamburg Hbf	2h 45m	10:54am	Essen Central Train Station	Fastest
	2:50pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 10m	6:00pm	HBF	No tags
	6:01am	Hamburg Hbf	3h 34m	9:35am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags
	1:12pm	Hamburg Hbf	3h 11m	4:23pm	Essen Central Train Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 7:12 AM CET.

Compare 3 ways to go from Hamburg to Essen

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Essen. The journey takes about 3 hours 40 minutes and with fares starting at just $19, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

9carpool per day

3h 40mAverage Duration

192 milesDistance

13kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$18 - $107	Average Duration8h 35m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$18 - $168	Average Duration3h 12m	CO₂ emissions 7kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$19 - $67	Average Duration3h 40m	CO₂ emissions 13kg CO₂e

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
Visit page
B
Harburg
Hörstener Str. 1, 21079 Hamburg, Germany
Visit page
C
Hamburg Airport
Visit page
D
Hamburg Altona
Bahnhof Altona, Scheel-Plessen-Straße 17, 22765 Hamburg, Germany

Essen

A
HBF
Am Hauptbahnhof 27, 45127 Essen, Germany
Visit page
B
Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit
Freiheit 5A, 45127 Essen, Germany
Visit page

Train Companies

Deutsche Bahn ICE

4/510 reviews

Timeliness2.5

Cleanliness5

FlixTrain

3/517 reviews

Staff5

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi1.1

Deutsche Bahn

4/56 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness2.5

Cleanliness3.4

Wifi3.4

FlixBus

3.5/511,577 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Train and bus companies in DE:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn, Renfe, Deutsche Bahn ICE, VIA Rail Canada, RegioJet

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Hamburg to Essen by train

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary 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 $18. The average price for this train route is around $51. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Hamburg to Essen?
The average train ride duration from Hamburg to Essen is 3h 12m, covering a distance of 192 miles (310 km). The quickest train can get you there in 2h 43m and is operated by Deutsche Bahn ICE.
Which train operators service the Hamburg to Essen route?
Several major train operators operate on this route with 15 trains available per day, including services from Deutsche Bahn ICE, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from Hamburg to Essen?
The earliest train departs from Hamburg to Essen at 6:01am. And the latest train departs at 10:46pm.
What 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 best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.
Which train operator has the most timely service from Hamburg to Essen?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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.

Best price found

12/09

$24

12/10

No data

Today

$29

12/12

$39

12/13

$32

12/14

$43

12/15

$24

12/16

No data

The cheapest trip from Hamburg to Essen was searched and found on Dec 9, 2025 with a price of $24

To 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 $24 to $191 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 $24 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.