How much is the train ticket from Frankfurt am Main to Essen?

The cheapest train tickets from Frankfurt am Main to Essen start from $19. The average price for this train route is around $95. 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 Frankfurt am Main to Essen?

The average train ride duration from Frankfurt am Main to Essen is 2h 37m, covering a distance of 119 miles (191 km). The quickest train can get you there in 1h 53m and is operated by Deutsche Bahn ICE .

Which train operators service the Frankfurt am Main to Essen route?

Several major train operators operate on this route with 48 trains available per day, including services from Deutsche Bahn ICE , Deutsche Bahn , FlixTrain , FlixBus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from Frankfurt am Main to Essen?

The earliest train departs from Frankfurt am Main to Essen at 6:00am. And the latest train departs at 8:09pm.

What is the best train operator from Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main to Essen from $18 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Frankfurt am Main to Essen on December 3
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
Flixbus + Flixtrain		4:15am	Frankfurt Hbf	4h 49m	9:04am	HBF	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Frankfurt am Main to Essen on December 4
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
Flixbus + Flixtrain		4:15am	Frankfurt Hbf	4h 49m	9:04am	HBF	CheapestFastest

Next departures for Frankfurt am Main to Essen on December 5
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Flixbus + Flixtrain	1:40am	FRA Frankfurt airport	5h 21m	7:01am	HBF	Cheapest
	12:09pm	Frankfurt Hbf	1h 53m	2:02pm	Essen Central Train Station	Fastest
Flixbus + Flixtrain	2:30am	Frankfurt Hbf	5h 22m	7:52am	HBF	No tags
S-Bahn + Deutsche Bahn ICE + Regional-Express	6:10am	Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt West	2h 40m	8:50am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags
S-Bahn + InterCity	6:25am	Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt West	3h 33m	9:58am	Essen Central Train Station	No tags

Next departures for Frankfurt am Main to Essen on December 7
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
Flixbus + Flixtrain		4:15am	Frankfurt Hbf	4h 49m	9:04am	HBF	CheapestFastest

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 2:59 PM CET.

Compare 3 ways to go from Frankfurt am Main 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 2 hours 30 minutes and with fares starting at just $12, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

24carpool per day

2h 30mAverage Duration

118 milesDistance

8kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$19 - $122	Average Duration20h 15m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$19 - $228	Average Duration2h 37m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$12 - $31	Average Duration2h 30m	CO₂ emissions 8kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Frankfurt am Main and Essen?

Frankfurt am Main

A
Südbahnhof
Hedderichstraße 51, 60594 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Visit page
B
Frankfurt Airport
Visit page

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

Deutsche Bahn

4/56 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness2.5

Cleanliness3.4

Wifi3.4

FlixTrain

3/516 reviews

Staff5

Timeliness2.7

Cleanliness4

Wifi1.3

FlixBus

3.5/511,498 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 Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main to Essen?
The cheapest train tickets from Frankfurt am Main to Essen start from $19. The average price for this train route is around $95. 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 Frankfurt am Main to Essen?
The average train ride duration from Frankfurt am Main to Essen is 2h 37m, covering a distance of 119 miles (191 km). The quickest train can get you there in 1h 53m and is operated by Deutsche Bahn ICE.
Which train operators service the Frankfurt am Main to Essen route?
Several major train operators operate on this route with 48 trains available per day, including services from Deutsche Bahn ICE, Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from Frankfurt am Main to Essen?
The earliest train departs from Frankfurt am Main to Essen at 6:00am. And the latest train departs at 8:09pm.
What is the best train operator from Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main 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

11/30

$162

12/01

$48

Today

$31

12/03

$36

12/04

$34

12/05

$43

12/06

No data

12/07

$18

The cheapest trip from Frankfurt am Main to Essen was searched and found on Dec 7, 2025 with a price of $18

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Frankfurt am Main to Essen, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $18 to $166 for a train ticket from Frankfurt am Main to Essen based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $18 which is on 2025-12-07.

Usually Deutsche Bahn ICE 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.