There are 13 ways to get from Cardiff to Essen by train (Eurostar), bus, train, car, car train, plane, or car ferry
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 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
- Take the train from London St Pancras Intl to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-MidiEil
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Koeln HbfIce
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf10 / ...
9h 11m€168–570Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Park Place to London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals507 / ...
- Take the bus from London Victoria to Duisburg central train stationN1328
18h 7m€63–167Bus, train
- Take the bus from Kingsway GD to Heathrow Terminal 5
- Take the train from London St. Pancras Int. to Rotterdam Centraal
- Take the bus from Rotterdam Central Station to Essen central train station023
13h 33m€104–335Drive, Eurotunnel
- Drive from Cardiff to Folkestone
- Take the car train from Folkestone to Calais-Fréthun
- Drive from Calais-Fréthun to Essen
8h 21mTrain to Bristol Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)BRS - DUS
7h 5m€119–296Train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to London Paddington
- Take the train from London St Pancras Intl to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-MidiEil
- Take the train from Bruxelles Midi to Essen HbfTha
9h 20m€170–553Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Port of Dover
- Take the car ferry from Port of Dover to Calais
- Drive from Calais to Essen
9h 29m€159–228Fly Cardiff Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)CWL - DUS
7h 35m€145–393Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)BHX - DUS
6h 8m€117–373Train to London Heathrow Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to London Paddington
- Fly from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)LHR - DUS
6h 8m€130–401Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)BRS - AMS
- Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Arnhem Centraal
- Take the train from Arnhem Centraal to Oberhausen Hbf
7h 33m€101–337Fly Cardiff Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, train
- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)CWL - AMS
- Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Arnhem Centraal
- Take the train from Arnhem Centraal to Oberhausen Hbf
7h 23m€117–424Train to London Heathrow Airport, fly to Cologne Bonn Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to London Paddington
- Fly from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)LHR - CGN
- Take the train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Essen Hbf
6h 48m€135–451
Cardiff to Essen by train and subway
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Essen is to bus which costs €60 - €170 and takes 18h 7m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Essen is to train and fly which takes 6h 8m and costs €110 - €380.
No, there is no direct bus from Cardiff to Essen station. However, there are services departing from Park Place and arriving at Essen central train station via London Victoria and Duisburg central train station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 18h 7m.
No, there is no direct train from Cardiff to Essen. However, there are services departing from Cardiff Central and arriving at Essen Hbf via Paddington, London St Pancras Intl, Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi and Köln Hbf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 11m.
The distance between Cardiff and Essen is 910 km.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Essen without a car is to train via Cologne which takes 9h 11m and costs €160 - €600.
It takes approximately 9h 11m to get from Cardiff to Essen, including transfers.
Cardiff to Essen bus services, operated by National Express, depart from Park Place station.
Cardiff to Essen train services, operated by Great Western Railway (GWR), depart from Cardiff Central station.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Essen is to train via Cologne which takes 9h 11m and costs €160 - €600. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €60 - €170 and takes 18h 7m, you could also fly, which costs €140 - €400 and takes 7h 35m.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Essen, Germany?
You can take a train from Cardiff Central to Essen Hbf via London Paddington, Paddington, King's Cross St. Pancras station, London St Pancras Intl, Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi, and Köln Hbf in around 9h 11m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Park Place to Essen central train station via London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals, London Victoria, and Duisburg central train station in around 18h 7m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–250
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–400
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–250
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–270
Flights from Bristol Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–240
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–400
- Website
- eurowings.com
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €60–220
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–190
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cologne Bonn Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €75–250
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–190
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cologne Bonn Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–210
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €45–170
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- €110–340
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–190
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €130–360
- Website
- airfrance.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Paris Charles de Gaulle
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €85–240
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–400
- Website
- swiss.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Zurich
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- €55–300
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- €80–390
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to London Paddington
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €40–100
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €14–27
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
- Phone
- +44 343 218 6186
- Website
- eurostar.com
Train from London St Pancras Intl to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €80–310
- 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
- €35–130
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
Train from Bruxelles Midi to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 43m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €45–140
- 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
- €30–70
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €13–28
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Arnhem Centraal to Oberhausen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €20–50
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €18–26
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- ns.nl
Train from London St. Pancras Int. to Rotterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €75–270
- Website
- https://www.ns.nl/en
- 2nd Class
- €75–120
- 1st Class
- €160–270
Train from Schiphol Airport to Arnhem Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €17–55
- Website
- https://www.ns.nl/en
- 2nd Class
- €17–25
- 1st Class
- €30–55
Train from Arnhem Centraal to Oberhausen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–50
- Website
- https://www.ns.nl/en
- 2nd Class
- €15–23
- 1st Class
- €29–50
- Phone
- +44 (0) 8443 35 35 35
- Website
- leshuttle.com
Car train from Folkestone to Calais-Fréthun
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €7–21
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–110
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- 069 450099650
- Kundenservice-Linie10@vias-online.de
- Website
- vias-online.de
Train from Arnhem Centraal to Oberhausen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €15–21
- Schedules at
- vias-online.de
- Phone
- 0221 13 999 444
- Website
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €15–22
- Schedules at
- nationalexpress.de
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- info@flixbus.de
- Website
- flixtrain.de
Train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €6–11
- Website
- https://www.flixtrain.com/
- Phone
- +49 9126 301 90 70
- fahrgaeste@train-rental.com
- Website
- train-rental.com
Train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- train-rental.com
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Essen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €15–22
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Kingsway GD to Heathrow Terminal 5
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €13–29
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Rotterdam Central Station to Essen central train station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €13–29
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from London Victoria to Duisburg central train station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €50–130
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Park Place to London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 42m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €9–30
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
- Phone
- +353 818 300 400
- info@irishferries.com
- Website
- irishferries.com
Car ferry from Port of Dover to Calais
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €35–45
- Website
- https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/Travel-to-Ireland
- Car
- €75–190
- On Foot
- €35–45
Want to know more about travelling around Germany
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass
Read the travel guide
The London Underground: Essential tips to navigate the Tube
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Cardiff to Essen bus services, operated by National Express, arrive at London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals.
Essen is 1h ahead of Cardiff. It is currently 12:30 PM in Cardiff and 1:30 PM in Essen.
Cardiff to Essen train services, operated by Great Western Railway (GWR), arrive at London Paddington station.
Book your Cardiff to Essen train tickets online with Omio.
There are 2552+ hotels available in Essen.

















































