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How to get fromEssen to Zurichby train, bus, night train, car, or plane

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There are 9 ways to get from Essen to Zurich by train, bus, night train, 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 Zürich HBtrain train Ir36 / ...
    6h 12m
    CHF 128–519

  2. Bus

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to Zurich Bus Stationbus bus FlixBus N177 / ...
    11h 45m
    CHF 47–85

  3. Train, night train

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Solingen Hbftrain train S1
    2. Take the nighttrain from Solingen Hbf to Zuerich Hbnighttrain night train Nj
    10h 49m
    CHF 74–155

  4. Drive 591.7 km

    1. Drive from Essen to Zurichcar car 591.7 km
    5h 51m
    CHF 96–139

  5. Train, bus

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Leverkusen Mittetrain train Re
    2. Take the bus from Leverkusen to Zurich Bus Stationbus bus FlixBus N11
    12h 15m
    CHF 61–102

  6. Train to Düsseldorf International Airport, fly to Zurich Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafentrain train
    2. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane DUS - ZRH
    4h 10m
    CHF 82–222

  7. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Zurich Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane FRA - ZRH
    4h 11m
    CHF 121–378

  8. Train to Cologne Bonn Airport, fly to Zurich Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain train
    2. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane CGN - ZRH
    4h 46m
    CHF 91–250

  9. 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 Zürich HBtrain train
    5h 30m
    CHF 174–540

Essen to Zurich by train

Calendar59Weekly Trains
Duration6h 12mAverage Duration
TicketCHF 128Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Essen to Zurich.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 663.7 km
  • Duration: 6h 12m

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

You can take a train from Essen Hbf to Zürich HB via Basel SBB in around 6h 12m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to Zurich Bus Station twice daily. Tickets cost CHF 45–80 and the journey takes 10h 5m. GrandBus also services this route once daily.

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