There are 5 ways to get from Calais to Essen by train (TGV, Eurostar), train, bus, car, or train (Eurostar)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train via Cologne
best- Take the train from Calais Ville to Lille Flandrestrain Ter
- Take the train from Lille Europe to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Miditrain Tgv
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Koeln Hbftrain Ice
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbftrain 43 / ...
6h 10m€93–262Train, bus
cheapest- Take the train from Calais Frethun to Lille Europetrain Ter
- Take the bus from Lille to Brussels-North train stationbus 712 / ...
- Take the bus from Brussels-North train station to Essen central train stationbus 081
8h 47m€41–95Drive 399.7 km
- Drive from Calais to Essencar 399.7 km
4h€61–88Train
- Take the train from Calais Ville to Lille Flandrestrain Ter
- Take the train from Lille Europe to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Miditrain Tgv
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Essen Hbftrain
6h 26m€132–267Train #2
- Take the train from Calais Ville to Lille Flandrestrain Ter
- Take the train from Tournai to Bruxelles-Miditrain Ic / ...
- Take the train from Bruxelles Midi to Essen Hbftrain Tha
7h 18m€135–252
Calais to Essen by train and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Calais to Essen is to train and bus which costs €40 - €95 and takes 8h 47m.
The fastest way to get from Calais to Essen is to drive which takes 4h and costs €60 - €90.
No, there is no direct train from Calais to Essen. However, there are services departing from Calais Ville and arriving at Essen Hbf via Lille Europe, Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi and Köln Hbf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 10m.
The distance between Calais and Essen is 511 km. The road distance is 399.7 km.
The best way to get from Calais to Essen without a car is to train via Cologne which takes 6h 10m and costs €90 - €270.
It takes approximately 6h 10m to get from Calais to Essen, including transfers.
Calais to Essen train services, operated by Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), depart from Calais Ville station.
Calais to Essen train services, operated by Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), arrive at Lille Flandres station.
Yes, the driving distance between Calais to Essen is 400 km. It takes approximately 4h to drive from Calais to Essen.
Book your Calais to Essen train tickets online with Omio.
What companies run services between Calais, France and Essen, Germany?
You can take a train from Calais Ville to Essen Hbf via Lille Flandres, Lille Europe, Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi, and Köln Hbf in around 6h 10m.
Rome2Rio's guide to Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF)
Contact Details
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- track.effiliation.com
Train from Calais Ville to Lille Flandres
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–40
- Website
- https://track.effiliation.com/servlet/effi.redir?id_compteur=23007591&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sncf-connect.com%2Fen-en%2F
Train from Calais Frethun to Lille Europe
- Ave. Duration
- 28 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €15–40
- Website
- https://track.effiliation.com/servlet/effi.redir?id_compteur=23007591&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sncf-connect.com%2Fen-en%2F
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- sncf-connect.com
Train from Lille Europe to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en
- Phone
- +44 343 218 6186
- Website
- eurostar.com
Train from Lille Europe to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €30–60
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €70–120
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
Train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 58 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €26–45
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €95–170
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
Train from Bruxelles Midi to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €95–170
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
- Phone
- +49 30 311 682904
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €40–100
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €16–40
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €23–35
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +49 9126 301 90 70
- fahrgaeste@train-rental.com
- Website
- train-rental.com
Train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Schedules at
- train-rental.com
- Phone
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- belgiantrain.be
Train from Tournai to Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €19–35
- Website
- https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Lille to Brussels-North train station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €8–14
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Brussels-North train station to Essen central train station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €16–28
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +3-389-268-0068
- Website
- blablacar.co.uk
Bus from Lille to Brussels-North train station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €8–15
- Website
- https://www.blablacar.co.uk/bus
Bus from Brussels-North train station to Essen central train station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €16–35
- Website
- https://www.blablacar.co.uk/bus
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