There are 5 ways to get from Essen to Jena by train, bus, 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 via Erfurt
best- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Erfurt Hbftrain 51
- Take the train from Erfurt Hbf to Jena Westtrain Rb
4h 49m€80–454Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Essen Hbf to Bielefeld, Brackwede Bahnhofbus Dnipro
- Take the bus from Bielefeld Brackwede train station to Jena bus stationbus N69
7h 2m€36–64Drive 377.8 km
- Drive from Essen to Jenacar 377.8 km
3h 44m€54–77Train
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Jena Westtrain 51
4h 58m€80–350Train via Kassel
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Kamentrain Re
- Take the train from Kamen to Kassel-Wilhelmshoehetrain Re
- Take the train from Kassel-Wilhelmshoehe to Heilbad Heiligenstadttrain Re
- Take the train from Heilbad Heiligenstadt to Jena Westtrain Re1
7h
Essen to Jena by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Essen to Jena is to bus which costs €35 - €65 and takes 7h 2m.
The fastest way to get from Essen to Jena is to drive which takes 3h 44m and costs €50 - €80.
No, there is no direct bus from Essen to Jena station. However, there are services departing from Essen Hbf and arriving at Jena bus station via Bielefeld Brackwede train station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 2m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Essen Hbf and arriving at Jena West. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 4h 58m.
The distance between Essen and Jena is 445 km. The road distance is 377.8 km.
The best way to get from Essen to Jena without a car is to train via Erfurt which takes 4h 49m and costs €80 - €460.
It takes approximately 4h 49m to get from Essen to Jena, including transfers.
Essen to Jena bus services, operated by East West Eurolines, depart from Essen Hbf station.
Essen to Jena train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Essen Hbf station.
The best way to get from Essen to Jena is to train via Erfurt which takes 4h 49m and costs €80 - €460. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €35 - €65 and takes 7h 2m.
What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Jena, Germany?
You can take a train from Essen Hbf to Jena West via Erfurt Hbf in around 4h 49m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Essen Hbf to Jena bus station via Bielefeld, Brackwede Bahnhof and Bielefeld Brackwede train station in around 7h 2m.
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Essen Hbf to Erfurt Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €70–320
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Erfurt Hbf to Jena West
- Ave. Duration
- 29 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €7–35
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Essen Hbf to Jena West
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 58m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €80–350
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
- Phone
- +49 37343 808037
- verein@pressnitztalbahn.de
- Website
- Preßnitztalbahn
Train from Erfurt Hbf to Jena West
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €110–140
- Schedules at
- Preßnitztalbahn
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
Train from Erfurt Hbf to Jena West
- Ave. Duration
- 28 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €10–18
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
Train from Heilbad Heiligenstadt to Jena West
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €35–65
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Essen Hbf to Kamen
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
Train from Kamen to Kassel-Wilhelmshoehe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 9m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- 0180 6 9 27 37 27
- info@eurobahn.de
- Website
- Eurobahn
Train from Essen Hbf to Kamen
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €11–17
- Website
- Eurobahn
- Phone
- +49 30 21300130
- info@abellio-mitteldeutschland.de
- Website
- Abellio GmbH
Train from Kassel-Wilhelmshoehe to Heilbad Heiligenstadt
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €13–18
- Schedules at
- Abellio GmbH
- Phone
- 0800 2235546
- Website
- ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH
Train from Kassel-Wilhelmshoehe to Heilbad Heiligenstadt
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €12–20
- Schedules at
- ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH
- Website
- LEO Express
Train from Kassel-Wilhelmshoehe to Heilbad Heiligenstadt
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Schedules at
- LEO Express
- Phone
- +380 98 815 4444
- support@ewe.ua
- Website
- East West Eurolines
Bus from Essen Hbf to Bielefeld, Brackwede Bahnhof
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €9–16
- Website
- East West Eurolines
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Essen Hbf to Bielefeld, Brackwede Bahnhof
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €11–20
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Bielefeld Brackwede train station to Jena bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €26–45
- Website
- Flixbus
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
Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Essen to Jena bus services, operated by East West Eurolines, arrive at Bielefeld, Brackwede Bahnhof station.
Essen to Jena train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Erfurt Hbf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Essen to Jena is 378 km. It takes approximately 3h 44m to drive from Essen to Jena.
Book your Essen to Jena train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Essen to Jena bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 538+ hotels available in Jena.






















