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How to get fromEssen to Lucerneby train, bus, car, or plane

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There are 8 ways to get from Essen to Lucerne by train, bus, car, or plane

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Train

    best
    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Basel SBBtrain train 43
    2. Take the train from Basel SBB to Luzerntrain train Ic21 / ...
    6h 27m
    CHF 119–230

  2. Train, bus

    cheapest
    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Leverkusen Mittetrain train Re
    2. Take the bus from Leverkusen to Zurich Bus Stationbus bus
    3. Take the train from Zürich HB to Luzerntrain train Ir / ...
    13h 13m
    CHF 80–167

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Südviertel, Essen to Köln-Ehrenfeld Gleisbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Köln to Zürich Bus Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Zürich Hbf to Luzern, Bahnhofbus bus
    10h 30m

  4. Drive  642.7 km

    1. Drive from Essen to Lucernecar car 642.7 km
    5h 30m
    CHF 123–178

  5. Fly Düsseldorf International Airport to Zurich Airport, train

    1. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane DUS - ZRH
    2. Take the train from Zürich HB to Luzerntrain train
    4h 54m
    CHF 96–287

  6. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Zurich Airport, train

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane FRA - ZRH
    3. Take the train from Zürich HB to Luzerntrain train
    4h 48m
    CHF 148–315

  7. Train to Cologne Bonn Airport, fly to Zurich Airport, train

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Koeln/Bonn Flughafentrain train
    2. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane CGN - ZRH
    3. Take the train from Zürich HB to Luzerntrain train
    5h 41m
    CHF 99–255

  8. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Basel, train

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Basel (BSL)plane plane FRA - BSL
    3. Take the train from Basel SBB to Luzerntrain train
    5h 43m
    CHF 180–457

Essen to Lucerne by train

Calendar69Weekly Trains
Duration6h 27mAverage Duration
TicketCHF 119Cheapest Price
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Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Essen to Lucerne.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 661.5 km
  • Duration: 6h 27m

What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Lucerne, Switzerland?

You can take a train from Essen Hbf to Luzern via Basel SBB in around 6h 27m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Südviertel, Essen to Luzern, Bahnhof via Köln-Ehrenfeld Gleis, Köln Ehrenfeld Bf Ehrenfeld, Cologne Hbf, Köln, Zürich Bus Station, and Zürich Hbf in around 10h 30m.

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