Munich to Essen train with Deutsche Bahn (ICE,IC)

Tue 08 Sept
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Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Avanti West Coast
Great Western Railway
2,000+ travel companies
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Avanti West Coast
Great Western Railway
2,000+ travel companies
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Munich to Essen

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 08 Sept

Cheapest price on 08 Sept

£79

Average ticket price on 08 Sept

£101

Fastest journey on 08 Sept

5 h 33 m

Average journey duration on 08 Sept

6 h 10 m

Trains on 08 Sept

6

Distance

493 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Munich to Essen is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Munich to Essen will cost around £101 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £79.

Fast trains

To travel from Munich to Essen you need to make at least one change.

  • Deutsche BahnICE 1010 · ICE 926 · S6
    8:197h13
    Munich Hbf
    15:32Essen Hbf
    £791One-way
    2 changes
  • Deutsche BahnICE 1010 · ICE 926 · Bus RE1
    8:197h18
    Munich Hbf
    15:37Essen
    £791One-way
    2 changes
  • Deutsche BahnICE 1010 · S6
    8:195h33
    Munich Hbf
    13:52Essen Hbf
    £931One-way
    1 change
  • Deutsche BahnICE 690 · ICE 200 · 10218
    8:455h36
    Munich Hbf
    14:21Essen Hbf
    £1021One-way
    2 changes
  • Deutsche BahnICE 882 · 26718
    8:056h40
    Munich Hbf
    14:45Essen Hbf
    £1181One-way
    1 change

Travel Information

Compare train, coach and flight for Munich to Essen

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Munich to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £36 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 9m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £36, while a flight costs an average of £113.

Distance: 493 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Flight
Coach
Driving

£65

Average Price

£113

Average Price

£36

Average Price

Cheapest

£49

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

6h 10m

Average total duration

5h 40m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 9m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 9m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

13h 41m

Average total duration

13h 11m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

7h 2m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

1.5 - 3.0kg

CO2 emissions

0.5 - 1.2kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Deutsche Bahn

Most popular train company

Eurowings

Most popular airline

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Munich to Essen is a coach with an average price of £36.

This is compared to other travel options from Munich to Essen:

A coach is £29 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Munich to Essen costing on average £65.

A coach is £78 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Munich to Essen costing on average £113.

The fastest way to travel from Munich to Essen is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 9m.

Other travel options to Essen take longer:

Train takes on average 5h 40m.

Coach takes on average 13h 11m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Munich and Essen including taking a train, coach and flight.
Take the train. It's meaningfully faster than driving, and the time saved usually justifies the price.

You'll arrive about 1h 22m sooner (5h 40m by train vs 7h 2m by car). Tickets start at around £65 compared to roughly £49 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.

Direct services run with Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).

Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.

Live departures

Munich to Essen train times

The table below shows live departures for Munich to Essen trains for today, Monday 7 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
Deutsche BahnICE 588 · 26728
Delayed
11:32 13:10Munich Hbf
6h35
19:45 Essen Hbf
1 change
Deutsche BahnICE 624 · S6
Delayed
11:50 13:45Munich Hbf
5h47
19:32 Essen Hbf
1 change
Tuesday 8 September
Deutsche BahnICE 882 · 26718
On time
8:05 Munich Hbf
6h40
14:45 Essen Hbf
1 change
Deutsche BahnICE 1010 · ICE 926 · S6
On time
8:19 Munich Hbf
7h13
15:32 Essen Hbf
2 changes
Deutsche BahnICE 1010 · S6
On time
8:19 Munich Hbf
5h33
13:52 Essen Hbf
1 change
Deutsche BahnICE 1010 · ICE 926 · Bus RE1
On time
8:19 Munich Hbf
7h18
15:37 Essen
2 changes
Deutsche BahnICE 724 · S6
On time
8:45 Munich Hbf
5h47
14:32 Essen Hbf
1 change
Deutsche BahnICE 690 · ICE 200 · 10218
On time
8:45 Munich Hbf
5h36
14:21 Essen Hbf
2 changes

This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Munich to Essen 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.

Tue
08 Sept
Wed
09 Sept
Thu
10 Sept
Fri
11 Sept
Sat
12 Sept
Sun
13 Sept
Mon
14 Sept

Why should you book Munich to Essen trains with Omio?

Deutsche Bahn as well as Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) or Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) offer trains services from Munich to Essen.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Munich to Essen.

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 Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) or Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) to find the best option for your trip from Munich to Essen.
  • 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 Munich to Essen.

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 Munich to Essen.

Journey information

Overview: Train from Munich to Essen

GermanyGermany
GermanyGermany
Icon of train

Trains from Munich to Essen run on average 12 times per day, taking around 5h 40m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £17 if you book in advance.

There are 3 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:01, the last at 23:56. The fastest train covers the 493 km distance in 5h 3m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Distance
493 km
Average train duration
5h 40m
Cheapest ticket price
£17
Trains per day
12
Direct trains
3
Fastest train
5h 3m
First train
0:01
Last train
23:56
Cheapest Month
Feb
Cheapest Day
Mon
High Season
Oct - Dec
Low Season
Jan - Mar
Busiest Day
Tue
Least Busy Day
Sun
Best time to book
14 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information

Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) from Munich to Essen trainsDeutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) trains will get you between Munich and Essen from £17. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

Deutsche Bahn

About
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany’s main train operator, running around 40,000 domestic and international services each day. Its fleet includes a variety of train types: high-speed ICE (Intercity Express) trains, reaching up to 300 km/h; IC (Intercity) and EC (EuroCity) trains for long-distance travel; and IRE (Interregio-Express), RE (Regional Express), and RB (Regionalbahn) services for regional and local connections. While bathrooms are standard on all trains, amenities such as onboard restaurants and free Wi-Fi are available only on certain train types and routes. DB offers a wide range of fares, including Super Saver, Saver, and Flexible tickets, along with discount cards like the BahnCard 25, 50, and 100. Additional options include single tickets, day tickets, and group tickets. Popular routes include Berlin–Munich, Hamburg–Frankfurt, Cologne–Stuttgart, Berlin–Dresden, and Hamburg–Cologne, as well as numerous regional services across Germany.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Deutsche Bahn Duration
5h 3m
Cheapest Deutsche Bahn Price
£17
Luggage included
Passengers are allowed to bring hand luggage and one additional larger item free of charge, provided they can carry it themselves
Luggage storage
Luggage can be stored in overhead racks, under the seat, or in designated luggage areas near the doors or in the middle of the carriage.
Cancellation Policy
Tickets can be canceled based on their fare conditions as mentioned in what type of train tickets are refundable?
Refund
If DB cancels a train, passengers are entitled to a full refund of the ticket price.
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Most ICE and many IC/EC trains have:
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.
Seat reservation
Second Class:
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.
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
DB trains are equipped with facilities for passengers with reduced mobility, including wheelchair spaces, accessible restrooms, and assistance services.
Pets
Small pets (e.g. cats, small dogs, etc.):
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.
Quiet zone

Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) Duration
5h 2m
Cheapest Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) Price
£77
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) frequency
16 a day

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) Duration
5h 38m
Cheapest Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) Price
£249
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) frequency
1 a day

Complete guide to Essen

Things to do in Essen

Discover the best of Essen — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Essen trip today.

  • Must visit

Museum Folkwang

Major art museum with strong 19th- and 20th-century collections, posters and photography. A leading cultural stop in central Essen.

  • Must visit

Ruhr Museum

Industrial history museum in the former boiler house at Zollverein. Engaging displays explain coal, steel and daily life across the Ruhr.

  • Recommended

Red Dot Design Museum

Design museum inside the Zollverein complex, showing contemporary design, everyday objects and changing exhibitions in a dramatic industrial setting.

Euro (€)

Moderate for Germany. Hotels and dining are often slightly cheaper than Munich or Frankfurt, while local transport and everyday costs stay fairly manageable for visitors.

Average meal costs

Budget
€8-12 for fast food or a simple meal.
Mid-range
€18-30 per person for a restaurant meal.
Fine dining
€60+ per person for upscale dining.
Coffee
€2.80-4.50 for a cappuccino.

Tipping culture

Service is usually not included. In restaurants, round up or tip about 5-10%. For taxis, round up the fare. In cafés, small change or rounding up is customary.

FAQs: Munich to Essen train

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Munich to Essen 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 Essen, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
The cost of a train ticket from Munich to Essen can vary. The cheapest tickets are usually available from £17, while the average price tends to be around £65.
The train journey from Munich to Essen covers a distance of 493 km and takes approximately 5h 3m. Trains run 12 per day.
The train distance from Munich to Essen is 493 km.
The first train from Munich to Essen leaves at 0:01.
The last train from Munich to Essen departs at 23:56.
Trains from Munich to Essen run approximately 12 times per day.
Yes, there is a direct train between Munich and Essen. The service operates 3 times per day, provided by Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
To get from Munich to Essen, you can choose from several travel options including train, coach and flight.
There is no night train service from Munich to Essen.
The train station in Munich that goes to Essen is Munich Hbf, and it arrives at Essen Hbf.
The cheapest way to get from Munich to Essen is by train, costing approximately £17.
Booking trains from Munich to Essen in advance is advisable, especially during peak travel seasons or for long journeys, to ensure availability and secure better fares.
The train journey from Munich to Essen offers a mix of urban and rural scenery. Travellers can enjoy views of the Bavarian countryside, including rolling hills and charming villages, before transitioning to more industrial and urban landscapes as the train approaches the Ruhr area.
A day trip from Munich to Essen is not feasible as the journey takes 5h 3m each way. The distance between the two cities is 493 km, with train frequency being 15 per day.
To fully experience Essen's cultural and historical highlights, plan for 2 to 3 days.
Yes, you can take the train from Munich to Essen.

popular train stations

Important Stations and Airports in Munich and Essen

Most Munich to Essen trains use the München Hbf to Essen Hbf station pair, with some services arriving at Essen, Kruppstraße / Am Thyssenhaus. Use this guide to compare Munich and Essen train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.

Departure train stations in Munich
Arrival train stations in Essen

Which Munich station do trains to Essen leave from?

Trains from Munich to Essen leave from München Hbf. The station is 1 km from Munich city centre at Bayerstraße 10A, 80335 Munich, Germany.
München HbfBayerstraße 10A, 80335 Munich, GermanyWifiLockersShoppingParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLoungeLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingBike RentalCar RentalInformation Desk
City-centre transport

Getting to München Hbf from Munich city centre

München Hbf is 1 km from Munich city centre. Public transport options include:

Bus100 · 15m · every ~11 min
Tram21 · 12m · £2 · every ~12 min

München Hbf train station facilities and services

München 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: Cantina Estación Mediterrano, Rischart Bakery, Ditsch Pretzels, backWERK, Cafe-Shop, Le Crobag, Yorma's, Coffee Fellows, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, & many more

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes. . ATMs are available at München Hbf.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at München Hbf. Information desks are there is an information desk located on the main concourse near the food court.

Luggage and lost property

Luggage storage is the station has luggage lockers. Lost and found is available at the station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at München Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Bike and car services

Available at München Hbf: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at München Hbf: Accessibility equipment, elevators, & mobility service. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].

Shops, hotels and contact

Nearby hotels include a&o München Hauptbahnhof, IntercityHotel München, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost.

München-PasingMünchen-Pasing, Pasinger Bahnhofsplatz 7-9 6-10, 81241 MünchenWifiLockersShoppingParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLoungeLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingBike RentalCar RentalInformation Desk
City-centre transport

Getting to München-Pasing from Munich city centre

München-Pasing is 8 km from Munich city centre. Public transport options include:

TrainRe72, Re96 · 5m · £2 · every ~2 min
Rb · 7m · £2
S3, S8, S6, S5, S4, S2 · 13m · £2 · every ~37 min
Tram19, N19 · 33m · £3 · every ~13 min

München-Pasing train station facilities and services

München-Pasing 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: Burger King, McDonald's, Hunsinger in der Goldenen Gans, Orexi Taverna

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Wi-Fi is available at München-Pasing. ATMs are available at München-Pasing.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at München-Pasing. Information desks are available at München-Pasing.

Luggage and lost property

Luggage storage is available at München-Pasing. Lost and found is available at the station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at München-Pasing: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Bike and car services

Available at München-Pasing: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at München-Pasing.

Shops, hotels and contact

Nearby hotels include Guenstigwohnen24.de, Jagdschloss Residenz, Hotel Miano.

München OstMünchen Ost, Orleansplatz 11, 81667 MünchenWifiLockersShoppingParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLoungeLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingBike RentalCar RentalInformation Desk
City-centre transport

Getting to München Ost from Munich city centre

München Ost is 2 km from Munich city centre. Public transport options include:

TrainS8, S1, S2, S3, S6, S4, S5 · 5m · £0.90 · every ~61 min
Drf, 961, 963, 965, 967, 969 · 8m · £2 · every ~1 min
Bus62 · 11m · every ~15 min
N45 · 22m · £3
Tram21, N19 · 17m · £3 · every ~13 min
SubwayU5 · 4m · £3 · every ~20 min

München Ost train station facilities and services

München Ost 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: Haidhauser Augustiner, Burger King, Tassilogarten, Mitani

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Wi-Fi is available at München Ost. ATMs are available at München Ost.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at München Ost. Information desks are available at München Ost.

Luggage and lost property

Luggage storage is available at München Ost. Lost and found is available at the station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at München Ost: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Bike and car services

Available at München Ost: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at München Ost.

Shops, hotels and contact

Nearby hotels include Hilton Munich City, MOMA1890, Mk Hotel, Hotel Pension Christl.

More options for your journey from Munich to Essen

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

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