1st Class
- Free Wi-Fi
- Power plugs
- Extra legroom
- Quiet zone
- Lounge Access
Cheapest price on 13 Sept
£10
Average ticket price on 13 Sept
£41
Fastest journey on 13 Sept
1 h 45 m
Average journey duration on 13 Sept
1 h 59 m
Trains on 13 Sept
3
Distance
68 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Essen to Brussels is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Essen to Brussels will cost around £41 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £10.
On Sun 13 Sept, we found 3 trains from Essen to Brussels, including 3 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 68 km distance in an average of 1 h 59 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 45 m .
The slowest trains will take 2 h 28 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.






Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Essen to Brussels among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £14 For those with little time, consider booking a coach, which has an average total journey time of 1h 5m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £14, while a coach costs an average of £22.
Distance: 68 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£14 Average Price Cheapest | £22 Average Price | £35 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 7m Average total duration 1h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 5m Average total duration Fastest 35m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 40m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Essen to Brussels:
A train is £7 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Essen to Brussels costing on average £22.
Other travel options to Brussels take longer:
Train takes on average 1h 37m.
The journey is about 3m faster (1h 37m by train vs 1h 40m by car) and roughly £20 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£14 vs £35). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with Intercity, Eurostar.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Essen to Brussels trains for today, Saturday 12 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 10:39 Essen | 2h27 | 13:06 Brussels | 0 changesdirect | |
| Sunday 13 September | |||||
![]() | 8:32 Essen | 1h45 | 10:17 Brussels | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:38 Essen | 2h28 | 11:06 Brussels | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 9:32 Essen | 1h45 | 11:17 Brussels | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train 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.
Trains from Essen to Brussels run on average 18 times per day, taking around 1h 37m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £9 if you book in advance.
There are 6 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:01, the last at 23:56. The fastest train covers the 68 km distance in 1h 36m.
Distance 68 km |
Average train duration 1h 37m |
Cheapest ticket price £9 |
Trains per day 18 |
Direct trains 6 |
Fastest train 1h 36m |
First train 0:01 |
Last train 23:56 |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 1 day |
Compare Intercity classes and the amenities included in each one.
Compare EuroCity classes and the amenities included in each one.
Compare Eurostar classes and the amenities included in each one.



Compare Regional classes and the amenities included in each one.
Compare SNCB | BUS classes and the amenities included in each one.
Discover the best of Brussels — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Brussels trip today.
Compact museum dedicated to René Magritte, presenting paintings, archives and context for Belgium’s celebrated Surrealist artist.
Major fine arts museum with Flemish, Belgian and European works, ideal for tracing artistic developments across centuries.
Art Nouveau house designed by Victor Horta, offering an intimate look at architecture, interiors and decorative detail.
Historic square packed with ornate façades, seasonal events and evening illumination; a natural starting point for exploring the centre.
A characterful shopping arcade with glass roof, elegant details and a classic route for a refined walk in the centre.
Landscaped hill with gardens, fountains and one of Brussels’ most rewarding skyline views near the upper town museums.
Moules-frites pairs North Sea mussels with crisp chips. It is a Brussels brasserie classic, especially popular in cooler months.
Stoemp is mashed potatoes mixed with seasonal vegetables, often served with sausage or bacon. It is a comforting Brussels staple.
Carbonnade flamande is a slow-cooked beef and onion stew made with Belgian beer. It is a beloved hearty dish in Brussels cafés.
Refined Belgian dining in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, known for well-presented regional dishes and a polished atmosphere.
Traditional restaurant famed for mussels, oysters and other Belgian seafood dishes in a lively, classic brasserie setting.
Long-running brasserie serving stoemp, carbonnade and other Belgian staples in an elegant Art Nouveau-inspired dining room.
Moderate for Western Europe: hotels and restaurants are not cheap, but public transport is reasonable and budget eats are easy to find.
Service is usually included. Round up or leave 5-10% for excellent restaurant service. Taxis are often rounded up. Small change is appreciated in cafés, but not expected.
Official public transport app
Brussels-Midi -> Grand-Place, Brussels
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Essen to Brussels 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 Brussels, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Essen to Brussels trains use the Essen to Bruxelles-Central station pair, with some services arriving at Bruxelles-Midi. Use this guide to compare Essen and Brussels train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Essen has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Essen.
ATMs are available at Essen.
Available at Essen: Parking.
Available at Essen: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Essen.
Wildert is 3 km from Essen city centre. Public transport options include:
Wildert has practical services for this route, including Dining, ATM, Accessibility and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Wildert.
ATMs are available at Wildert.
Available at Wildert: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Wildert.
Bruxelles-Central 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 options include: Starbucks, Brasserie 28 Brewery, Panos, Delitraiteur Eat & Go
Free Wi-Fi available in Starbucks. ATMs are aTM machine is downstairs from the main entrance on the right side.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 06:15 - 22:00. Information desks are travel Center / information desk is located on the left side from the main entrance.
Luggage storage is luggage lockers are located on Level 0 near Platforms 1 and 2.
Available at Bruxelles-Central: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bruxelles-Central: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bruxelles-Central: Station has a wide range of facilities for passengers with limited mobility: elevators and escalators to platforms, wheelchair lifts and mobile ramps, barrier-free toilets and accessible parking spaces. Additional assistance can be contacted via the SNCB Mobility Call Center.
Nearby hotels include Hilton Brussels Grand Palace, Hotel NH Brussels Carrefour de l'Europe, Hôtel The Moon.
Bruxelles-Midi 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 options include: Pullman Hotel Bar, Quick Gare du Midi, Subway, EXKi Zuid, Starbucks, Häagen-Dazs, Sbarro, The Coffee Club, The Belgian Chocolate House, PAUL, & many more
Wi-Fi is available for a fee. ATMs are available at Bruxelles-Midi.
Ticket office support is available at Bruxelles-Midi. Information desks are located in the main concourse and next to the international platforms.
Luggage storage is baggage storage facility is located across from the Thalys business lounge.
Available at Bruxelles-Midi: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bruxelles-Midi: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bruxelles-Midi: Station has a wide range of facilities for passengers with reduced mobility: elevators and escalators to all platforms, wheelchair lifts and mobile ramps, disabled toilet and parking spaces. Additional assistance can be contacted via the SNCB Mobility Call Center.
Nearby hotels include Les Lofts De Styliste, Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi, Pullman Brussels Centre Midi.
Brussels-Nord is 1 km from Brussels city centre. Public transport options include:
Brussels-Nord has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, Information Desk and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Chabrol Brasserie, Winok Café, Félix Wine Bar
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Brussels-Nord. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Brussels-Nord. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Brussels-Nord: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Brussels-Nord: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Brussels-Nord: Elevators, ramps.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Progress, Hilton Brussels City, Hotel Siru.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need