There are 5 ways to get from Essen to Leuven by train (Eurostar), 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
best- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Liege-Guilleminstrain Thalys / ...
- Take the train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvaintrain Ic / ...
2h 51m€90–150Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Essen central train station to Maastrichtbus 181 / ...
- Take the bus from Maastricht to Leuven Stationbus N84 / ...
5h 10m€20–31Drive 200 km
- Drive from Essen to Leuvencar 200 km
2h 16m€38–55Train via Cologne
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbftrain 43 / ...
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bftrain 79
- Take the train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvaintrain Ic / ...
3h 11m€37–146Train via Aachen
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Aachen Hbftrain Re
- Take the train from Aachen, Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bftrain 79
- Take the train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvaintrain Ic / ...
3h 25m€45–205
Essen to Leuven by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Essen to Leuven is to bus which costs €19 - €35 and takes 5h 10m.
The fastest way to get from Essen to Leuven is to drive which takes 2h 16m and costs €35 - €55.
No, there is no direct bus from Essen station to Leuven station. However, there are services departing from Essen central train station and arriving at Leuven Station via Maastricht. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 10m.
No, there is no direct train from Essen to Leuven. However, there are services departing from Essen Hbf and arriving at Louvain via Liège-Guillemins. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2h 51m.
The distance between Essen and Leuven is 270 km. The road distance is 200 km.
The best way to get from Essen to Leuven without a car is to train which takes 2h 51m and costs €90 - €150.
It takes approximately 2h 51m to get from Essen to Leuven, including transfers.
Essen to Leuven bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Essen central train station.
Essen to Leuven train services, operated by Eurostar, depart from Essen Hbf station.
The best way to get from Essen to Leuven is to train which takes 2h 51m and costs €90 - €150. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €19 - €35 and takes 5h 10m.
What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Leuven, Belgium?
You can take a train from Essen Hbf to Louvain via Liège-Guillemins in around 2h 51m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Essen central train station to Leuven Station via Maastricht in around 5h 10m.
- Phone
- +44 (0)3432 186 186
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Liege-Guillemins
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €75–130
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €30–50
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Köln Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €45–75
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Aachen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €60–95
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Aachen, Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €19–35
- Website
- Eurostar
- Phone
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvain
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €12–20
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Köln Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 59 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvain
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €12–20
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Aachen, Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €9–14
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvain
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €12–20
- Website
- Belgian Railways
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvain
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €11–24
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €12–26
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €20–45
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvain
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €11–24
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Essen Hbf to Aachen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €25–55
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Aachen, Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 23 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €8–17
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Liège-Guillemins to Louvain
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €11–24
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
#/media/File:ICE_4_Berlin_Hauptbahnhof_(3).jpg "ICE 4 Berlin Hauptbahnhof")
- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- National Express
Train from Essen Hbf to Aachen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 59m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- FlixTrain GmbH
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €6–9
- Website
- FlixTrain GmbH
- Phone
- +49 9126 301 90 70
- [email protected]
- Website
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 39m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
Train from Essen Hbf to Aachen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 11m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–150
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
- Phone
- 0800-0232 545
- Website
- Arriva NL
Train from Aachen, Hbf to Liège, Guillemins Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €9–14
- Website
- Arriva NL
- Second Class Single
- €9–14
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Essen central train station to Maastricht
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €12–19
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Maastricht to Leuven Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €7–12
- Website
- Flixbus
Want to know more about travelling around Belgium
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
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Essen to Leuven bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Maastricht station.
Essen to Leuven train services, operated by Eurostar, arrive at Liege-Guillemins station.
Yes, the driving distance between Essen to Leuven is 200 km. It takes approximately 2h 16m to drive from Essen to Leuven.
Book your Essen to Leuven train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Essen to Leuven bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 1230+ hotels available in Leuven.