Why go
- City in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Served by Essen-Mülheim Airport (ESS).
History
Essen is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of 573,618 makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as the tenth-largest city of Germany. Essen lies in the larger Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, second largest by GDP in the EU, and is part of the cultural area of Rhineland. Due to its central location in the Ruhr, Essen is often regarded as the Ruhr's "secret capital".
Restaurants & places to go
292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 57 airlines, 147 direct destinations
- Air Berlin AB (737-800, A321, A330-200, A320, Dash 8-400, A319…) · 71 routes: Abu Dhabi, Alicante, Antalya, Arrecife, Barcelona, Belgrade, Berlin, Cagliari, Calvi, Cancun, Catania, Chicago*, Copenhagen, Djerba, Dresden, Enfidha, Faro, Florence, Fort Myers, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Gran Canaria, Guernsey, Hamburg, Helsinki*, Heraklion, Hurghada, Ibiza, Istanbul, Jersey, Kavala, Kerkyra/corfu, Kos, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Malaga, Marsa Alam, Menorca, Miami … +31 more
- Germanwings 4U (CRJ, A319, A320) · 38 routes: Ancona, Barcelona, Bari, Bastia, Bilbao, Cagliari, Cardiff, Catania, Dresden, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Geneva, Heraklion, Heringsdorf, Ibiza, Katowice, Lamezia, Leipzig, Lyon, Madrid, Milano, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Newquai, Nuernberg, Olbia, Palma de Mallorca, Poznan, Prague, Pristina, Split, Stockholm, Thessaloniki, Torino, Venice, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Zadar
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A320, A319, CRJ-900, A321, A340-300, 736…) · 38 routes: Antalya, Athens*, Beijing*, Berlin, Birmingham*, Bucharest*, Budapest, Chicago, Copenhagen*, Dubrovnik*, Frankfurt, Glasgow*, Gothenborg*, Graz*, Hamburg, Linz*, London, Malaga, Malta*, Manchester*, Moscow, Munich, Naples*, Newark, Newcastle*, Nice, Oslo*, Paris, Rome, Split*, St. Petersburg, Stockholm*, Thessaloniki*, Tokyo*, Valencia, Vienna, Warsaw*, Zurich
- Condor Flugdienst DE (757, 32S, 737-800) · 19 routes: Agadir, Antalya, Arrecife, Chania, Dalaman, Djerba, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Hurghada, Ibiza, Jerez, Kerkyra/corfu, Kos, Larnaca, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodos, Tenerife
- TUIfly X3 (737-800) · 14 routes: Antalya, Dalaman, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Hurghada, Jerez, Kerkyra/corfu, Kos, Palma de Mallorca, Patras, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Meridiana IG (A320) · 8 routes: Cagliari, Catania*, Florence*, Milano, Naples*, Olbia*, Rome*, Venice*
- American Airlines AA (330, A319, A320, 767-300) · 7 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Chicago, Fort Myers*, London*, Los Angeles*, Miami*, New York*
- Finnair AY (Dash 8-400, 737-800, A319, A320, 767-300, Embraer 190) · 6 routes: Catania*, Chicago, Copenhagen*, Florence*, Helsinki*, Salzburg*
- Germania ST (737-700, A321) · 5 routes: Erbil, Heraklion, Rhodos, Sulaymaniyah, Zonguldak
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A320, A319, A321) · 4 routes: Athens, Heraklion, Kalamata, Thessaloniki
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, 767-300, J31, AR8, Embraer 170) · 4 routes: Billund*, Chicago*, London, London
- Pegasus Airlines PC (737-800) · 4 routes: Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri
- Air France AF (318, A320, 76W, ERJ-145) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Nantes*, Paris
- Alitalia AZ (A320, 318, F70) · 3 routes: Amsterdam*, Catania, Paris*
- Austrian Airlines OS (Dash 8-400, Fokker 100, A319, A320, A321, CRJ-900) · 3 routes: Graz*, Linz*, Vienna*
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400, Embraer 175, Embraer 195) · 3 routes: Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, A321, 737-800, 767-300, 32S) · 3 routes: Barcelona*, Chicago*, Madrid*
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (736, 737-700, 717, 737-800, CRJ-900, CRJ-200…) · 3 routes: Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
- Tunisair TU (736, A320) · 3 routes: Djerba, Enfidha, Tunis
- Yangon Airways HK (A320) · 3 routes: Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Palma de Mallorca
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Moscow, St. Petersburg
- Croatia Airlines OU (A319) · 2 routes: Dubrovnik, Split
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (F70, 76W) · 2 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta*
- SunExpress XQ (737-800) · 2 routes: Antalya, Izmir
- Turkish Airlines TK (737-800, A321, 330, A330-200, A340-300) · 2 routes: Istanbul, Istanbul
- United Airlines UA (A340-300) · 2 routes: Chicago*, Newark*
- Aer Lingus EI (A320) · 1 route: Dublin
- Air Baltic BT (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Riga
- Air China CA (330) · 1 route: Beijing
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Air One AP (A320) · 1 route: Catania
- Air Serbia JU (A319) · 1 route: Belgrade
- Airlinair A5 (ERJ-145) · 1 route: Nantes
- All Nippon Airways NH (787-8) · 1 route: Tokyo
- China United Airlines HR (CNJ) · 1 route: Luxemburg
- Czech Airlines OK (A319, ATR 72) · 1 route: Prague
- Delta Air Lines DL (76W) · 1 route: Atlanta
- easyJet U2 (A319) · 1 route: London
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (A319, A320, A321) · 1 route: Frankfurt*
- Etihad Airways EY (A330-200, A330-300) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- Hainan Airlines HU (A320, 737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Berlin
- Intersky 3L (Dash 8-300) · 1 route: Friedrichshafen
- Jet2.com LS (737-300) · 1 route: Leeds
- LOT Polish Airlines LO (Embraer 175) · 1 route: Warsaw
- Luxair LG (CNJ) · 1 route: Luxemburg*
- Mahan Air W5 (313) · 1 route: Tehran
- Montenegro Airlines YM (Fokker 100) · 1 route: Podgorica
- Nouvel Air Tunisie BJ (A320) · 1 route: Enfidha
- Qantas QF (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai*
- Rossiya-Russian Airlines FV (A319) · 1 route: St. Petersburg
- S7 Airlines S7 (737-800) · 1 route: Moscow*
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (Fokker 100, A320, A321, AR1) · 1 route: Zurich
- TAP Portugal TP (A319, A320) · 1 route: Lisbon
- Travel Service QS (A319, ATR 72) · 1 route: Prague
- US Airways US (767-300) · 1 route: Chicago
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320) · 1 route: Barcelona
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 26 airlines, 92 direct destinations
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320, CRJ) · 66 routes: Algier, Antalya, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Bastia, Berlin, Bologna, Budapest, Cagliari, Calvi, Catania, Dresden, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, El Aroui, Faro, Friedrichshafen, Gran Canaria, Hamburg, Heraklion, Heringsdorf, Ibiza, Istanbul, Jerez, Kavala, Kerkyra/corfu, Klagenfurt, Kos, Laage, Lamezia, Leipzig, Lisbon, London, London, Manchester, Marrakech, Milano, Mykonos … +26 more
- Air Berlin AB (737-800, 737-700, A320, A319, A321, A330-200) · 18 routes: Antalya, Arrecife, Berlin, Calvi, Enfidha, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Ibiza, Istanbul, Kerkyra/corfu, Kos, Malaga, Menorca, Munich, Olbia, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- TUIfly X3 (737-800) · 11 routes: Antalya, Boa Vista, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Kos, Munich, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800) · 5 routes: Alicante, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Oslo, Tenerife
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 5 routes: Faro, Gerona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- Austrian Airlines OS (A319, Fokker 100, A320, CRJ, F70) · 3 routes: Klagenfurt*, Salzburg*, Vienna*
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 3 routes: Gdansk, Katowice, Skopje
- Condor Flugdienst DE (757) · 2 routes: Antalya, Palma de Mallorca
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (Fokker 100, A319, A320, A321, Embraer 195, F70) · 2 routes: Munich, Vienna*
- Pegasus Airlines PC (737-800) · 2 routes: Ankara, Istanbul
- SunExpress XQ (737-800) · 2 routes: Antalya, Izmir
- Air Arabia Maroc 3O (A320) · 1 route: El Aroui
- Alitalia AZ (F70) · 1 route: Amsterdam*
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, 737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Berlin*
- easyJet U2 (A319) · 1 route: London
- Finnair AY (A319, A320, 737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Berlin*
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400, Embraer 175) · 1 route: Birmingham
- Hainan Airlines HU (A319, A320, A321, 737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Berlin
- Iran Air IR (313) · 1 route: Tehran
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (F70) · 1 route: Amsterdam*
- Meridiana IG (A320) · 1 route: Olbia
- SkyWork Airlines SX (D38) · 1 route: Bern
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A319, A320) · 1 route: Zurich
- Turkish Airlines TK (A320, A321) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Ural Airlines U6 (A320) · 1 route: Moscow
- Wizz Air Ukraine WU (A320) · 1 route: Kiev
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 38 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 38 routes: Alghero, Alicante, Almeria, Ancona, Arrecife, Bari, Bergamo, Beziers, Bologna, Cagliari, Chania, Edinburgh, Faro, Fes, Fuerteventura, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kerkyra/corfu, Lamezia, Lappeenranta, London, Malaga, Marrakech, Oujda, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Pescara, Pisa, Porto, Riga, Rome, Santander, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Treviso, Valencia, Zadar
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 11 airlines, 28 direct destinations
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 10 routes: Belgrade, Bucharest, Budapest, Cluj-napoca, Gdansk, Katowice, Skopje, Sofia, Timisoara, Vilnius
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 8 routes: Alghero, Faro, Gerona, Krakow, London, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Porto
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320) · 5 routes: Heringsdorf, Istanbul, Munich, Palma de Mallorca, Split
- SunExpress XQ (737-800) · 2 routes: Istanbul, Izmir
- Wizz Air Ukraine WU (A320) · 2 routes: Kiev, Lvov
- Air Berlin AB (737-800) · 1 route: Palma de Mallorca
- easyJet U2 (A319) · 1 route: London
- Germania ST (737-700) · 1 route: Zonguldak
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320) · 1 route: Barcelona
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A319) · 1 route: Munich
- Vueling Airlines VY (A319) · 1 route: Barcelona
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Essen-Mülheim Airport (ESS); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Fahrgastschiffanleger Zweigertbrücke, 6.4 km); routes include Weisse Flotte Wehr - Hügel, Weisse Flotte Hügel - Strandbad, Weisse Flotte Strandbad - Scheppen.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Essen. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Trains & rail
Coaches & shuttles
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.