Traffic

Situated centrally in the Rhine/Ruhr region, Essen is connected to an extensive traffic network. From all over Germany and from abroad Essen is easy to reach from all directions by car, train, plane, and even by water.

Within the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr Essen provides a comprehensive local passenger transport service within the city and beyond, via its extensive links with the region.

By plane

The airports in the vicinity are marked on the map. If you want to see Essen and the surrounding area from the air, please contact LVE - LuftfahrtVerein Essen e. V.

Connection to Düsseldorf Airport:
Direct connection by S-Bahn S1 Essen Main Station - Düsseldorf Flughafen/Airport
(VRR ticket price level C)

Connection to Dortmund Airport:
From Main Station Essen by S-Bahn or Regionalexpress to Main Station Dortmund.
(VRR ticket price level C)

From Dortmund Hbf. e.g. by Stadtbahnlinie U47 to Dortmund-Aplerbeck and then by bus 440 to the airport.

Connection to Cologne/Bonn Airport:
From the Airport Cologne/Bonn you take express bus SB 170 to Cologne main station from where there are several connections to Essen by Deutsche Bahn (see below).

Connection to Münster/Osnabrück Airport:
From Münster/Osnabrück Airport take bus lines D 50, S 50 or R 51 to Münster main station from where you take the Regionalbahn RB42 or the IC to Essen.

Connection to Essen/Mülheim Airport:
From Main Station Essen by bus CE45 to Essen/Mülheim Airport.
(VRR ticket price level B)

The Essen/Mülheim Airport is located on the southern city boundary between the cities of Essen and Mülheim. As a medium-size business airport it is predominantly used for national and international medium distance traffic, and as an airport for private air traffic.

By train to Essen

If you want to travel to Essen by train, Die Bahn with its travel service will assist you.

Important city connections in the VRR area:
S-Bahn

S1 Düsseldorf Hbf. - D-Flughafen - Duisburg - Mülheim an der Ruhr - Essen - Bochum - Dortmund
S2 Dortmund - Herne - Recklinghausen - Wanne Eickel - Gelsenkirchen - Essen
S3 Oberhausen - Mülheim an der Ruhr - Essen - Hattingen
S6 Essen - Ratingen Ost - Düsseldorf - Langenfeld - Köln Hansaring
S9 Haltern - Marl - Gelsenkirchen Buer Nord - Gladbeck - Bottrop - Essen - Essen Steele Ost - Langenberg - Wuppertal Hbf

Regionalexpress

RE 1 Aachen - Düsseldorf - Essen - Bochum - Dortmund - Hamm
RE 2 Münster - Recklinghausen - Gelsenkirchen - Essen - Duisburg - Krefeld - Mönchengladbach
RE 6 Düsseldorf - Duisburg - Essen - Dortmund - Hamm - Bielefeld - Minden
RE 11 Düsseldorf - Duisburg - Essen - Dortmund - Hamm - Paderborn
RE 14 Essen - Bottrop - Dorsten - Rhade - Borken
RE 16 Essen - Bochum - Witten - Hagen - Finnentrop - Siegen

Regionalbahn

RB40 Essen - Bochum - Witten - Hagen - Iserlohn
RB42 Essen - Gelsenkirchen - Recklinghausen - Sythen - Münster

Essen by bus and tram

Together with a total of 27 public transport operators, the Essener Verkehrs-AG forms the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr. If you have questions regarding tickets, tariffs, and the timetable, please contact Fahrplanauskunft (timetable and travel enquiries).

Carsharing

"Intelligent Mobility" is the keyword here. In a cooperation between EVAG and stadtmobil-carsharing, Essen also has been providing passenger cars from Minis to medium size vehicles since 1 November 2000 to supplement bus and rail connections.

Advice, agreement forms and agreement conclusion in the EVAG customer service center. Please bring your personal identification card, driving licence, deposit, and poss. Ticket-2000 subscription / student card.

Details on the "Stadtmobil" stops, deposit required, and monthly stops are available from EVAG and stadtmobil.

Building sites in the city area

KOST, the "Koordinierungsstelle für Straßenbaumaßnahmen des Tiefbauamtes", provides an up-to-date overview of the building sites in the city area.

Information on current construction projects in the local public transport system is provided by EVAG.

Taxis in Essen

Use the standard federal telephone number for taxis 19410 to contact Taxi-Zentrale Essen (SDT code 0201).

Taxi with tourist guide:
A special offer is available from the Taxi-Zentrale Essen for all guests and interested persons: in MPV taxis for up to 7 persons or in normal car taxis, specially trained drivers offer individual and theme-oriented city tours, e.g. culture, architecture, technology, or nature in the city area of Essen.

The taxi with tourist guide costs from 50.00 Euro for two hours as well as 25.00 Euro for each additional hour started.

Parking in Essen city centre

  • City (core area): 01 - 15 mins 0.30 Euro, 16 - 31 mins 0,40 Euro, 31 - 90 mins 0,50 Euro per 15 mins (Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 8pm)

  • Extended city area: 01 - 15 mins 0.10 Euro, 16 - 30 mins 0,20 Euro, 31 - 120 mins 0,20 Euro per 15 mins (Mondays to Fridays from 10 am to 7pm, Saturdays from 10am to 4pm

    from automatic ticket machines.

  • On the edge of the city: parking discs.

Alternatively, you can use multi-storey car parks located in the city centre.

Cycling in Essen

In June 2010 metroradruhr as the biggest bike sharing system in Germany has started. Up to 3000 bikes are available to rent in ten cities of the Ruhr.

Traffic News NRW

If you are travelling by car in the vicinity of Essen, first obtain the current traffic news.

Essen by water

The Weiße Flotte by EVAG provides stress-free connections for leisure and recreation.

However, Essen does not only offer recreation, sport, and leisure activities on the Ruhr and Lake Baldeney. The Rhein-Herne-Kanal connects Essen with the Rhine and the German seaports. In matters of transport by water contact Hafen Essen for assistance.