Cheapest€18.88
- BlaBlaCar BB343714:415h 47m20:28Essen FreiheitStuttgart SAB
Door to door 6h 31mCO2 10.4 kgChanges 0Changeable for a fee
Traveling from Essen to Stuttgart costs €18.88 at the cheapest and takes 3h 23m door to door at the fastest, across 2 modes and 10 operators. The route covers 385 km. Cheapest is by Coach, fastest is by Train.
At a glance
- Distance
- 385 km
- Fastest
- 3h 23m
- Average
- 4h 54m
- Services per day
- 40
- Cheapest
- €18.88
- CO2 per passenger
- 11.6 kg
Every way to make this journey
Journey times below are door to door, so they include getting to the terminal and away from it at the other end. Fares are the cheapest we currently sell on September 29, 2026.
| Mode | Door to door | Moving | At the ends | From | CO2 | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 3h 29m | 2h 45m | 44m | €48.19 | 12.7 kg | 20 |
| Coach | 5h 48m | 5h 4m | 44m | €21.63 | 10.4 kg | 20 |
- 3h 29mFastest, by Train
- €21.63Cheapest, by Coach
- 10.4 kgLowest CO2, by Coach
- 385 kmDistance traveled
The cheapest and the fastest on September 29, 2026
Two journeys we can sell today, with the service number each operator files them under.
Fastest€47.09
- SBB SB313918:362h 45m21:21Essen HauptbahnhofStuttgart Hauptbahnhof
Door to door 3h 29mCO2 12.7 kgChanges 0Refundable
Today's real departures
Live from the operators' own published timetables, through the open transit feeds they publish. Times and services are real. Fares are modeled until our booking connectors are live.
| Operator | Service | Departs | Arrives | Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB Fernverkehr AGdirect | ICE 517 | 09:26 | 12:11 | 3h 51m |
| DB Fernverkehr AG1 changes | ICE 1521 | 09:33 | 12:11 | 3h 22m |
| DB Fernverkehr AG1 changes | ICE 107 | 10:28 | 13:10 | 3h 42m |
| DB Regio AG NRW2 changes | RE42 (10126) | 09:45 | 13:10 | 3h 37m |
| DB Regio AG NRW1 changes | RE49 (30392) | 10:22 | 14:09 | 3h 47m |
| DB Fernverkehr AG1 changes | ICE 629 | 11:21 | 14:09 | 3h 40m |
Prices over the next three weeks
Live from our own engine, refreshed on every request. The cheapest days for each way of traveling are marked.
| Cheapest fare by mode and day for Essen to Stuttgart | ThuSep 10 | FriSep 11 | SatSep 12 | SunSep 13 | MonSep 14 | TueSep 15 | WedSep 16 | ThuSep 17 | FriSep 18 | SatSep 19 | SunSep 20 | MonSep 21 | TueSep 22 | WedSep 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | €48.03 | €38.13 | €42.53 | €30.43 | €26.58 | €26.03 | €29.33 | €28.23 | €26.03 | €26.58 | €24.93 | €22.18 | €21.63 | €22.73 |
| Train | €120.24 | €92.19 | €94.94 | €75.14 | €62.49 | €60.29 | €64.14 | €66.34 | €62.49 | €65.24 | €57.54 | €52.59 | €48.19 | €53.14 |
Cheapest day: 2026-09-29 · €18.88
The bus gets you into Stuttgart. It does not get you a bed, and neither do we.
Rooms within reach of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof
Hotels and apartments near downtown, most of them with free cancellation, on a map that shows what is walkable.
Search Stuttgart on Booking.comOr compare on Expedia
Partner links. We do not sell accommodation. We earn a commission when a booking completes, and it never changes what you pay.
When to book Essen to Stuttgart
The same search run across the whole booking window, so the shape of the curve is visible rather than described.
- €18.3390 days
- €16.6860 days
- €18.8845 days
- €18.3330 days
- €19.9821 days
- €22.7314 days
- €29.337 days
- €42.533 days
- €48.031 days
- Cheapest lead time
- Fares bottom out around 60 days ahead, at €16.68.
- How much it moves
- The gap between the cheapest and most expensive lead time is 188 percent. The most expensive point is €48.03, 1 days out.
- What that means
- Today sits inside the cheap window, which closes about 60 days before departure. Waiting from here has usually cost money on this corridor rather than saved it.
Book now Fares on this route are lowest around 60 days ahead. You are inside that window.
Which departure day costs least
Median cheapest fare for each weekday, taken across the next three weeks of real prices.
- €24.93Sun
- €22.18Mon
- €21.63Tue
- €22.73Wed
- €28.23Thu
- €26.03Fri
- €26.58Sat
How the fare moves month by month
The same journey priced on the fifteenth of each of the next six months.
- €26.03Sep
- €19.98Oct
- €18.33Nov
- €17.78Dec
- €17.78Jan
- €15.58Feb
The route
What the journey actually looks like
Direct or connecting, how far the route really runs, and what happens when a connection is missed.
- How far it really runs
- The route covers 385 km against 335 km in a straight line, a detour of 15 percent. Track and road geometry account for the difference.
- First and last departure
- The first service of the day leaves Essen at 06:15 and the last at 18:42, across 20 departures. The return direction keeps its own timetable, so the times back are not these times reversed.
Where you leave from and where you arrive
The stations, airports and ports each mode on this corridor actually uses.
Essen
Rail
- Essen Hauptbahnhof
- Essen Hbf
- Essen-Steele Süd
Bus
- Essen Freiheit
- Essen Hbf
Ferry
- Fahrgastschiffanleger Nordsternpark
- Fahrgastschiffanleger Zweigertbrücke
Stuttgart
Rail
- Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof
- Stuttgart Hbf
- Stuttgart-Sommerrain
Bus
- Stuttgart SAB
- Stuttgart-Airport-Busterminal
Air
- STR
Ferry
- Wasen
- Mühlgrün
The fare from STR into Stuttgart is the one price on this trip we cannot show you, because it is not ours.
Getting from STR into Stuttgart?
Settled in advance, so the ride into Stuttgart costs what it said it would rather than what the cab stand says.
Book a ride from STR with Welcome PickupsOr check Daytrip
Partner links. We do not operate transfers. We earn a commission on a booking, and the fare is the same as going direct.
Who runs this route
Speed, flexibility and what is on board. Nothing here is a rating, because we have not earned one.
| Operator | From | Fastest | Typical speed | Flexibility | On board |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BlaBlaCar | €18.88 | 5h 48m | 72 km/h | Changeable | Power outlets, Restrooms, Wi-Fi |
 bodo Verkehrsverbund | €19.98 | 5h 47m | 72 km/h | Changeable | Power outlets, Restrooms, Wi-Fi |
 DB Fernverkehr | €44.89 | 3h 23m | 140 km/h | Refundable | Power outlets, Wi-Fi |
 European Sleeper | €45.99 | 3h 23m | 140 km/h | Refundable | Power outlets, Sleeper berths, Wi-Fi |
 FlixBus | €19.43 | 5h 48m | 72 km/h | Changeable | Power outlets, Restrooms, Wi-Fi |
 Nmbs/sncb | €42.69 | 3h 23m | 140 km/h | Refundable | Power outlets, Wi-Fi |
 NVBW | €19.98 | 5h 50m | 72 km/h | Changeable | Power outlets, Restrooms, Wi-Fi |
 SBB | €43.79 | 3h 23m | 140 km/h | Refundable | Power outlets, Wi-Fi |
 SNCF | €41.04 | 3h 23m | 140 km/h | Refundable | Power outlets, Wi-Fi |
 VPE | €19.98 | 5h 47m | 72 km/h | Changeable | Power outlets, Restrooms, Wi-Fi |
Show all 10 operatorsShow fewer operators
What the fare is made of
Every part of the total, so the number at checkout is the number here.
| Part | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Operator fare | €14.00 | 74% |
| Taxes | €1.40 | 7% |
| Supplier fees | €1.49 | 8% |
| Our service fee | €1.99 | 11% |
| Total you pay | €18.88 | 100% |
The bus gets in hours before any room is ready. Holding a bag is not what we sell.
Somewhere to drop the bags in Stuttgart?
Stores, cafes and hotels that take luggage, with the hours on the map so you know what is still open when you come back.
Check Stuttgart on StasherOr try Bounce
Partner links. We do not run these networks. We earn a commission on a booking, and the price is the same as going direct.
Questions about Essen to Stuttgart
The questions people actually ask about this trip, answered from the same prices and times the page above is built on rather than written once and left to go stale.
How long does it take to get from Essen to Stuttgart?
The fastest journey from Essen to Stuttgart takes 3h 23m door to door, of which 2h 45m is spent moving, on the Train. Most services take around 4h 54m, because that average includes slower stopping services and journeys with a connection. Times include reaching the terminal and leaving it at the far end.
How much does it cost to travel from Essen to Stuttgart?
The cheapest fare from Essen to Stuttgart is €18.88, checked on September 29, 2026. A typical fare across the next three weeks is €50.31. Both figures are the total for one passenger, including taxes, supplier fees and our service fee, so nothing is added at checkout.
What is the cheapest way to get from Essen to Stuttgart?
The cheapest way from Essen to Stuttgart is by Coach, at €21.63 for one passenger on September 29, 2026. That journey takes 5h 48m door to door. Cheaper is rarely faster on this corridor, and the comparison table on this page shows what each mode costs against what it saves.
What is the fastest way to get from Essen to Stuttgart?
The fastest way from Essen to Stuttgart is by Train, at 3h 29m door to door. Only 2h 45m of that is spent moving; the remaining 44m is reaching the terminal and leaving it at the far end. The cheapest fare on that mode is €48.19.
When should I book Essen to Stuttgart?
Fares from Essen to Stuttgart bottom out around 60 days before departure, at €16.68. Across the whole booking window the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive lead time is 188 percent, measured on September 29, 2026. Booking inside the last week has consistently cost more on this corridor.
Which day of the week is cheapest for Essen to Stuttgart?
Tuesday is the cheapest day to depart from Essen to Stuttgart, at €21.63. That is the median of 21 priced departure days across the next three weeks, checked on September 29, 2026. Shifting a departure by one day is usually worth more than shifting the booking by one week.
Which month is cheapest for Essen to Stuttgart?
February is the cheapest of the next 6 months to travel from Essen to Stuttgart, at €15.58 for one passenger. Each month is priced on its fifteenth, so the comparison is like for like rather than a mix of weekends and midweek departures.
Who runs service from Essen to Stuttgart?
10 operators sell services from Essen to Stuttgart across 2 modes: BlaBlaCar, bodo Verkehrsverbund, DB Fernverkehr, European Sleeper, FlixBus, Nmbs/sncb. Journey times, fares and fare conditions differ between them, and the operator table on this page compares all of them on speed, flexibility and what is provided on board.
Is there a direct service from Essen to Stuttgart?
Every service we sell from Essen to Stuttgart is direct, with around 40 departures a day and a fastest journey of 3h 23m door to door. No connection is needed, so there is no missed connection risk to plan around on this corridor.
How much CO2 does the journey from Essen to Stuttgart produce?
Traveling from Essen to Stuttgart by Coach produces about 10.4 kg of CO2 per passenger, the lowest of any mode on this corridor. The same journey by Train produces about 12.7 kg, roughly 1 times as much for one passenger.
Which station or terminal do services from Essen to Stuttgart use?
Services from Essen to Stuttgart by Train leave from Essen Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof. Allow about 44m in total for reaching the departure terminal and leaving the arrival one, which is already included in every door to door time on this page.
Can I change or refund a ticket from Essen to Stuttgart?
10 of the 10 operators we sell from Essen to Stuttgart allow a change or a refund. A change on a changeable fare costs €5.00. The operator table on this page names which is which, and the condition is shown again before you pay.
Where these numbers come from
Derived from service area No carrier record names this exact pair. The operators listed publish a service area covering both places at a distance their mode plausibly carries people, which is evidence that the corridor is served and not evidence of a specific service. Pages state which, because presenting the two as the same thing would be dishonest.
Schedules, seat counts and fares are generated by our own model until the supplier contracts are signed. Places, coordinates, operators, which operator serves which pair, and every distance are real. We would rather say that on every page than let a modeled number pass for a filed one.
Defined in full at Door to door, Fares, The booking window, Carbon, Distances
- On this page
- Every figure above was computed for Essen to Stuttgart on September 9, 2026: 385 km of route against 335 km in a straight line, 40 services a day, 10 operators, a cheapest fare of €18.88, and 3h 23m door to door on the fastest mode. The return direction is computed separately and its numbers are not these numbers.
Plenty of what is worth seeing sits outside Stuttgart and elsewhere in Germany. None of it is ours to sell.
What to book in Stuttgart before you go
The tickets worth having in advance, because the line at the door is usually the whole morning.
See Stuttgart on GetYourGuideOr browse Viator
Partner links. We do not sell tours or tickets. We earn a commission on a booking, and it never changes the price.
Other ways to make this journey
Arriving in Stuttgart
Leaving Stuttgart
- 222Places you can leave for
- 41Countries
- 76Operators
Plan a trip from here
Ask Ori for the same corridor under a different constraint, or for a longer trip that starts on it.