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Trip Summary
There are 3 daily trains from Essen to Karlsruhe. Traveling by train from Essen to Karlsruhe usually takes around 8 hours and 57 minutes, but the fastest FlixTrain train can make the trip in 7 hours and 47 minutes.
| Distance | 180 mi (290 km) |
| Fastest train | 7h 47m |
| Lowest price | £14.56 |
| Most frequent service | FlixTrain |
| Train lines | 1 |
Which train should you take from Essen to Karlsruhe?
FlixTrain is the one and only train line which connects Essen to Karlsruhe. However, there are 3 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixTrain | 3 | 8h 57m | £19.96 |
Part of the FlixBus family, FlixTrain launched in 2018 to offer affordable and sustainable train travel in Germany. Its trains provide Wi-Fi, power outlets, air conditioning, onboard restrooms, and access to an entertainment portal full of movies, games, and music. In addition, each passenger gets a guaranteed seat, so you don't have to worry about standing in any aisles. FlixTrain operates 3 daily trips to Karlsruhe from Essen. The train usually departs from Essen Hbf in Essen and arrives at Hinterm Hauptbahnhof in Karlsruhe after about 8 hours and 57 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Essen and Karlsruhe is approximately 180 miles, or 290 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 8 hours and 57 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 7 hours and 47 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains departing from Essen to Karlsruhe tend to have the most passengers on Tuesday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Tuesday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Essen at 09:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 18:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 3 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Karlsruhe to Essen.
City Information
Karlsruhe
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Pixabay
Karlsruhe is fondly referred to as the Fan-Shaped City. Even though it's at the northern edge of the Black Forest, Karlsruhe has some of the warmest weather in the country, so many visitors pick this city to experience a Mediterranean-inspired vacation in Germany. There are hundreds of fine museums, quirky galleries, and beautiful theatres in the area that are all worth checking out.
Karlsruhe is a hub for science and technology, but it has an artistic side, too. The ZKM is a unique art museum that displays contemporary video and audio installations in a former weapons factory. Hit up the Jakobus Theatre, Kammertheater Karlsruhe, or The Sandkorn Theatre for live music or theatrical performance.
Another can't-miss landmark is the Karlsruhe Palace, built in the 18th-century. Not only does the palace include stunning grounds and magnificent architecture, it also houses the Baden State Museum with exhibits about the region's history. Some of the best outdoor recreation sites are Badesee Epple, Rheinstrandbad Rappenwort, and Weingarten, offering blue waters for fishing, swimming, and sailing, respectively.
Karlsruhe is easy to reach from cities like Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt on Deutsche Bahn trains. FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Sindbad, Union Ivkoni, and Cazmatrans provide coach service to the city as well. The Karlsruhe/Baden Airport is not too far away, so you can travel to this warm destination from nearly anywhere.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Essen?
Main departure station: Essen Hbf
There is one train station in Essen.
All train stations in Essen:
Essen Hbf
Where is the train station in Karlsruhe?
Image credit: Hugh Llewelyn
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Hinterm Hauptbahnhof
Karlsruhe HBF is located in the centre of the city and serves many long-distance services, seeing around 60,000 passengers per day. Trains here travel to destinations including Berlin, Hamburg, and Basel, plus intercity services to Cologne, Nuremberg, and Munich. In the station entrance hall are two restaurants, a bakery, multiple shops, newsagents, toilets, and ticket offices. There are two hotels just outside the station, Schlosshotel Karlsruhe and B&B Karlsruhe, in case you're staying overnight. If you walk a short distance through the Stadtgarten (City Gardens), you'll be in the city center, packed with shops and restaurants.
Train stations in Karlsruhe:
Hinterm Hauptbahnhof
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Karlsruhe to Essen?
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