The cheapest and fastest trains from Essen to Berlin
Cheapest price
£21
Average price
£65
Fastest journey
4 h
Average duration
4 h 3 m
Trains per day
24
Distance
454 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Essen to Berlin is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Essen to Berlin will cost around £65 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £21.
Of the 24 trains that leave Essen for Berlin every day 24 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 454 km distance in an average of 4 h 3 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 14 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
ICE 64519:194h22Essen Hbf23:41Berlin Hbf£211One-way0 changes
ICE 94720:214h28Essen Hbf0:49Berlin Hbf£211One-way0 changes
FlixTrain13:054h52Essen Hbf17:57Berlin Südkreuz station£271One-way0 changes
FlixTrain13:054h26Essen Hbf17:31Berlin Spandau£271One-way0 changes
FlixTrain17:044h42Essen Hbf21:46Berlin Südkreuz station£271One-way0 changes
ICE 54913:194h00Essen Hbf17:19Berlin Hbf£841One-way0 changes
ICE 64317:194h00Essen Hbf21:19Berlin Hbf£611One-way0 changes
ICE 5415:194h00Essen Hbf9:19Berlin Hbf£731One-way0 changes
ICE 5459:194h01Essen Hbf13:20Berlin Hbf£1111One-way0 changes
ICE 64115:194h14Essen Hbf19:33Berlin Hbf£671One-way0 changes
Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Essen to Berlin
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Essen to Berlin among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £19. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 10m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £19, and a flight costs an average of £74.
Distance: 454 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£46 Average Price | £32 Average Price Cheapest | £190 Average Price |
6h 2m Average total duration 5h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 21m Average total duration 5h 51m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 10m Average total duration Fastest 1h 10m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.4 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Essen to Berlin train times
The table below shows live departures for Essen to Berlin trains for today, Friday 17 July. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 1541 | Delayed 22:22 0:22Essen Hbf | 5h11 | 3:57 3:57Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 845 | On time 8:21 Essen Hbf | 4h18 | 12:39 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 1545 | Delayed 6:57 8:47Essen Hbf | 3h44 | 12:31 Berlin Spandau | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 9:04 Essen Hbf | 4h26 | 13:30 Berlin Spandau | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 9:04 Essen Hbf | 4h41 | 13:45 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 9:04 Essen Hbf | 5h01 | 14:05 Berlin Südkreuz station | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 545 | On time 9:19 Essen Hbf | 4h01 | 13:20 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 545 · ICE 555 | Delayed 9:19 Essen Hbf | 3h36 | 11:09 11:09Berlin Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 847 | On time 10:20 Essen Hbf | 4h21 | 14:41 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 1547 | On time 10:47 Essen Hbf | 3h44 | 14:31 Berlin Spandau | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 547 | On time 11:19 Essen Hbf | 4h15 | 15:34 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 849 | On time 12:21 Essen Hbf | 4h18 | 16:39 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 1053 | On time 12:32 Essen Hbf | 3h59 | 16:31 Berlin Spandau | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 13:05 Essen Hbf | 4h42 | 17:47 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 13:05 Essen Hbf | 4h51 | 17:56 Berlin Südkreuz station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 13:05 Essen Hbf | 4h25 | 17:30 Berlin Spandau | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 549 | On time 13:19 Essen Hbf | 4h01 | 17:20 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 941 | On time 14:21 Essen Hbf | 4h17 | 18:38 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 1549 | On time 14:44 Essen Hbf | 3h47 | 18:31 Berlin Spandau | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 641 | On time 15:19 Essen Hbf | 4h14 | 19:33 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 943 | On time 16:21 Essen Hbf | 4h20 | 20:41 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 17:04 Essen Hbf | 4h42 | 21:46 Berlin Südkreuz station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixTrain | 17:04 Essen Hbf | 4h30 | 21:34 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 643 | On time 17:19 Essen Hbf | 4h00 | 21:19 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 945 | On time 18:21 Essen Hbf | 4h30 | 22:51 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 645 | On time 19:19 Essen Hbf | 4h23 | 23:42 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 947 | On time 20:21 Essen Hbf | 4h00 | 0:21 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
| Saturday 18 July | |||||
ICE 541 | On time 5:19 Essen Hbf | 4h00 | 9:19 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 843 | On time 6:21 Essen Hbf | 4h18 | 10:39 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 543 | On time 7:19 Essen Hbf | 4h15 | 11:34 Berlin Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Essen to Berlin by train, coach or flight
Compare train, coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
18 Jul
19 Jul
20 Jul
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23 Jul
24 Jul
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Why should you book Essen to Berlin trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Deutsche Bahn?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Deutsche Bahn, but also compare tickets for the likes of FlixTrain or Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to find the best option for your trip from Essen to Berlin.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Deutsche Bahn with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Essen to Berlin.
Why book with Omio over Trainline or Wanderu?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Essen to Berlin.
How far in advance should I book train tickets from Essen to Berlin?
ReviewsReviews for the rail journey from Essen to Berlin

Journey information
Overview: Train from Essen to Berlin
Trains from Essen to Berlin run on average 12 times per day, taking around 5h 32m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £17 if you book in advance.
There are 10 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:02, the last at 23:58. The fastest train covers the 454 km distance in 3h 55m.
Distance 454 km |
Average train duration 5h 32m |
Cheapest ticket price £17 |
Trains per day 12 |
Direct trains 10 |
Fastest train 3h 55m |
First train 0:02 |
Last train 23:58 |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 28 days |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) from Essen to Berlin trainsDeutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) trains will get you between Essen and Berlin from £17. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Deutsche Bahn
A Bordrestaurant (restaurant car) where you can sit and eat.
A Bordbistro (bistro bar) with snacks, hot meals, and drinks to-go.
At-seat service in 1st class: staff will take your order and serve food/drinks directly to your seat.
Regional trains (RE / RB / S-Bahn):
No onboard catering.
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
Not included by default.
You can add a seat reservation when booking (recommended for busy routes).
Costs around €4.90 per seat (or €5.90 if booked separately later).
First Class:
Yes, always included in the ticket price.
Allowed for free if they can fit in a transport box (max. size: hand luggage).
Must stay in the box for the entire journey.
Large dogs:
Require a separate (paid) ticket — typically half the price of a regular second-class ticket.
Must be leashed and wear a muzzle while on the train.
Cannot sit on seats.
Assistance dogs:
Travel free of charge.
Do not need a muzzle or leash if medically not required.
Allowed to accompany the passenger at all times.
FlixTrain
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
FAQs: Essen to Berlin train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Essen to Berlin by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Berlin, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Essen and Berlin
Most Essen to Berlin trains use the Essen Hbf to Berlin Hbf station pair, with some services arriving at Berlin Spandau. Use this guide to compare Essen and Berlin train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Which Essen station do trains to Berlin leave from?
Getting to Essen Hbf from Essen city centre
Essen Hbf train station facilities and services
Essen Hbf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Bollywood Express - Pizza & More, Kiepenkerl, Cafe Extrablatt, Tacos
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Essen Hbf. ATMs are available at Essen Hbf.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Essen Hbf. Information desks are available at Essen Hbf.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is available at Essen Hbf. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Essen Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Essen Hbf: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Essen Hbf.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Ambassador, Gästearpartment Dahl, WG-Hotel im Unperfekthaus, Motel One.
Getting to Essen West from Essen city centre
Essen West is 2 km from Essen city centre. Public transport options include:
Essen West train station facilities and services
Essen West has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Pizzeria Don Camillo, Lindos, Zur Platte, Arman Döner
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Essen West. ATMs are available at Essen West.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Essen West. Information desks are available at Essen West.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is available at Essen West. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Essen West: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Essen West: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Essen West.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include McDreams.
Which Berlin station do trains from Essen arrive at?
Getting to Berlin Hbf from Berlin city centre
Berlin Hbf is 2 km from Berlin city centre. Public transport options include:
Berlin Hbf train station facilities and services
Berlin Hbf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: backWERK, Burger King, Costa Coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, Einstein Kaffee, Le Crobag, McDonald's, Hans im Glück, Pret A Manger, Starbucks, & many more
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Free WiFi (30 minutes limit). ATMs are available at Berlin Hbf.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Berlin Hbf. Information desks are located on the ground level near the Europaplatz exit.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is luggage lockers are located on Level 1 near Platforms 13/14.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Berlin Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Berlin Hbf: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Berlin Hbf: Elevators, escalators, step-free access. Contact the Mobility Service Center at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof, IntercityHotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Motel One Berlin Hauptbahnof.
Getting to Berlin Spandau from Berlin city centre
Berlin Spandau is 14 km from Berlin city centre. Public transport options include:
Berlin Spandau train station facilities and services
Berlin Spandau has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Unvernunft, Taverna Teloneio, Burger King, Hasir
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Berlin Spandau. ATMs are available at Berlin Spandau.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Berlin Spandau. Information desks are available at Berlin Spandau.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is available at Berlin Spandau. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Berlin Spandau: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Berlin Spandau: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Berlin Spandau.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Hotel Benn, Hotel Herbst, Hotel Lindenufer, Hotel Ibis Berlin Spandau.
Getting to Berlin Südkreuz from Berlin city centre
Berlin Südkreuz is 6 km from Berlin city centre. Public transport options include:
Berlin Südkreuz train station facilities and services
Berlin Südkreuz has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Biertempel 2, McDonald's, Eis Bär, Cafe Mon Cherie
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Berlin Südkreuz. ATMs are available at Berlin Südkreuz.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Berlin Südkreuz. Information desks are available at Berlin Südkreuz.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is available at Berlin Südkreuz. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Berlin Südkreuz: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Berlin Südkreuz: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Berlin Südkreuz.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Appartements Eisemann.
More options for your journey from Essen to Berlin
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