There are 5 ways to get from Essen to Calais by train (Eurostar, TGV), bus, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train
best- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Miditrain
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europetrain Tgv
- Take the train from Lille Flandres to Calais Villetrain Ter
6h 8m€130–225Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Essen central train station to Brussels-North train stationbus 081
- Take the bus from Brussels-North train station to Lillebus 328 / ...
- Take the train from Lille Europe to Calais Frethuntrain Ter
8h 11m€46–85Drive 399.2 km
- Drive from Essen to Calaiscar 399.2 km
4h 1m€62–89Train via Cologne
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbftrain 43 / ...
- Take the train from Koeln Hbf to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Miditrain
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europetrain Tgv
- Take the train from Lille Europe to Calais Villetrain Tgv
6h 35m€121–249Train via Tournai
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Bruxelles Miditrain Tha
- Take the train from Bruxelles-Midi to Tournaitrain Ic / ...
- Take the train from Lille Flandres to Calais Villetrain Ter
6h 59m€83–170
Essen to Calais by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Essen to Calais is to bus and train which costs €45 - €90 and takes 8h 11m.
The fastest way to get from Essen to Calais is to drive which takes 4h 1m and costs €60 - €90.
No, there is no direct train from Essen to Calais. However, there are services departing from Essen Hbf and arriving at Calais Ville via Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi and Lille Flandres. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 8m.
The distance between Essen and Calais is 511 km. The road distance is 399.2 km.
The best way to get from Essen to Calais without a car is to train which takes 6h 8m and costs €130 - €230.
It takes approximately 6h 8m to get from Essen to Calais, including transfers.
Essen to Calais train services, operated by Eurostar, depart from Essen Hbf station.
Essen to Calais train services, operated by Eurostar, arrive at Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi station.
Yes, the driving distance between Essen to Calais is 399 km. It takes approximately 4h 1m to drive from Essen to Calais.
Book your Essen to Calais train tickets online with Omio.
What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Calais, France?
You can take a train from Essen Hbf to Calais Ville via Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi, Lille Europe, Lille Europe, Gare Rue De Tournai, and Lille Flandres in around 6h 8m.
- Phone
- +44 (0)3432 186 186
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €85–160
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €22–40
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Koeln Hbf to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 56m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €65–120
- Website
- Eurostar
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europe
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Lille Europe to Calais Frethun
- Ave. Duration
- 28 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €20–35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europe
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Lille Europe to Calais Ville
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Rome2Rio's guide to Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF)
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Lille Flandres to Calais Ville
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €17–35
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Lille Europe to Calais Frethun
- Ave. Duration
- 29 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €16–35
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €12–25
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Essen Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €45–100
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Lille Flandres to Calais Ville
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €17–35
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €13–60
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Bruxelles-Midi to Tournai
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €13–28
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Essen central train station to Brussels-North train station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €19–35
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Brussels-North train station to Lille
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €9–16
- Website
- Flixbus
Want to know more about travelling around France
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
5 delightfully under-the-radar French towns you need to visit
Read the travel guide
Train travel in France: A guide to SNCF
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
There are 1304+ hotels available in Calais.

































