There are 6 ways to get from Essen to Lille by train (Eurostar, TGV), bus, car, or train (Eurostar)
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 Thalys
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europetrain Tgv
4h 33m€135–220Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Essen - Bus Station to Lille - Europe Train Stationbus BlaBlaCar Bus
7h 30m€30–60Bus via Brussels
- Take the bus from Essen central train station to Brussels-North train stationbus N1387 / ...
- Take the bus from Brussels-North train station to Lillebus FlixBus N781 / ...
7h 15m€32–47Drive 321.1 km
- Drive from Essen to Lillecar 321.1 km
3h 17m€52–75Train via Cologne
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbftrain 43 / ...
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Miditrain 79
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europetrain Tgv
5h 3m€62–221Train via Tournai
- Take the train from Essen Hbf to Bruxelles Miditrain Tha
- Take the train from Bruxelles-Midi to Tournaitrain Trn / ...
5h 11m€130–210
Essen to Lille by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Essen to Lille is to bus via Brussels which costs €30 - €50 and takes 7h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Essen to Lille is to drive which takes 3h 17m and costs €50 - €75.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Essen - Bus Station station and arriving at Lille - Europe Train Station station. Services depart five times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 7h 30m.
No, there is no direct train from Essen to Lille. However, there are services departing from Essen Hbf and arriving at Lille Europe via Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 33m.
The distance between Essen and Lille is 408 km. The road distance is 321.1 km.
The best way to get from Essen to Lille without a car is to train which takes 4h 33m and costs €130 - €220.
It takes approximately 4h 33m to get from Essen to Lille, including transfers.
Essen to Lille bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Essen central train station.
Essen to Lille train services, operated by Eurostar, depart from Essen Hbf station.
The best way to get from Essen to Lille is to train which takes 4h 33m and costs €130 - €220. Alternatively, you can bus via Brussels, which costs €30 - €50 and takes 7h 15m.
What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Lille, France?
You can take a train from Essen Hbf to Lille Europe via Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi in around 4h 33m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Essen central train station to Lille via Brussels-North train station in around 7h 15m.
- Phone
- +44 (0)3432 186 186
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €110–190
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €28–50
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 52m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €80–140
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Essen Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €110–190
- 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
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Lille Europe
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- TGV inOui
- 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
- €13–29
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 52m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €35–85
- 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 21m
- 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
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 54m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €35–60
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Bruxelles-Midi to Tournai
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €14–22
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Essen central train station to Brussels-North train station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €21–35
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Brussels-North train station to Lille
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €10–15
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Essen - Bus Station to Lille - Europe Train Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €35–60
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- BlaBlaCar Bus
Bus from Essen - Bus Station to Lille - Europe Train Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €30–55
- Website
- BlaBlaCar Bus
Want to know more about travelling around France
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Booking & Getting There
Essen to Lille bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Brussels-North train station.
Essen to Lille train services, operated by Eurostar, arrive at Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi station.
Yes, the driving distance between Essen to Lille is 321 km. It takes approximately 3h 17m to drive from Essen to Lille.
Book your Essen to Lille train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Essen to Lille bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
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