Essen sits on the main rail network of the Ruhr, with frequent ICE and IC trains from Cologne (45 minutes), Düsseldorf (30 minutes), and Dortmund (25 minutes). The nearest international airport is Düsseldorf Airport, with train connections from the airport directly into Essen taking about 40 minutes.
Essen Hauptbahnhof is well-connected to the local S-Bahn and U-Bahn network. By car, the city is accessible via the A40 (east-west) and A52 motorways. Parking in the city centre can be difficult during working hours; the park-and-ride system at the outer rail stations is practical and cheap.