How much is the bus ticket from Essen to Cologne?

The cheapest bus tickets from Essen to Cologne start from $6. The average price for this route is around $7. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Essen to Cologne?

The average bus trip duration from Essen to Cologne is 1h 45m, covering a distance of 40 miles (64 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 40m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the Essen to Cologne route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 3 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus , BlaBlaCar Bus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Essen to Cologne?

The earliest bus departs from Essen to Cologne at 5:20am. And the latest bus departs at 10:15pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Essen to Cologne?

A bus trip from Essen to Cologne generates an estimated 2 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Essen to Cologne?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is BlaBlaCar Bus , with an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars based on 11248 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Essen to Cologne?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.

Which bus company has the most timely service from Essen to Cologne?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Essen to Cologne?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is BlaBlaCar Bus , with a cleanliness rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Bus Essen to Cologne from $5 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on December 26
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	8:30pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	10:10pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	1:15pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h 25m	3:40pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	1:25pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 50m	3:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	3:50pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	5:35pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on December 27
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	9:55am	Essen	1h 45m	11:40am	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	8:30pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	10:10pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags
Bus	5:20am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h	7:20am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	6:10am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	8:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on December 28
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	9:55am	Essen	1h 45m	11:40am	Cologne/Bonn Airport	CheapestFastest
	Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on December 29
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	9:55am	Essen	1h 45m	11:40am	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	8:30pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	10:10pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags
Bus	5:20am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h	7:20am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	6:10am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	8:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on December 30
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	9:55am	Essen	1h 45m	11:40am	Cologne/Bonn Airport	CheapestFastest
	Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on December 31
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	9:55am	Essen	1h 45m	11:40am	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	10:15pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	11:55pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags
Bus	5:20am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h	7:20am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	6:10am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	8:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures for Essen to Cologne on January 1
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	9:55am	Essen	1h 45m	11:40am	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	8:30pm	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	10:10pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	9:00pm	Essen	1h 45m	10:45pm	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags
Bus	5:20am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h	7:20am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	6:15am	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	8:00am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 10:26 AM CET.

Compare 3 ways to go from Essen to Cologne

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Cologne. The journey takes about 50 minutes and with fares starting at just $4, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

7carpool per day

50mAverage Duration

37 milesDistance

2kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$6 - $13	Average Duration1h 45m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$10 - $47	Average Duration54m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$4 - $10	Average Duration50m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Essen and Cologne?

Stops in Essen

A
Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit
Freiheit 5A, 45127 Essen, Germany
Visit page
B
HBF
Am Hauptbahnhof 27, 45127 Essen, Germany
Visit page
C
Essen Hbf
Freiheit 4, 45127 Essen, Germany
Visit page
D
Essen Bushaltestelle
Essen, Germany
E
Hachestraße
Hachestraße 63, 45127 Essen, Germany

Stops in Cologne

A
Cologne/Bonn Airport
Visit page
B
Hbf
Bahnsteig Gleis 2 + 3, 50667 Köln, Germany
Visit page
C
Gummersbacher Str.
Gummersbacher Str. 31, 50679 Köln, Germany
Visit page
D
Riehl Zoo
Riehler Str. 168, 50735 Köln, Germany
E
Leverkusen Mitte
Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße, 51373 Leverkusen
F
Rhein Energie Stadion
Cologne,, Germany

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,742 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Flixbus Essen Cologne recent customer reviews

My flight was @ 14:20 and I saw 10: 50 to cologne airport, but after buying it I changed to 22:50. I wasted my money yesterday, I never use flix bus yesterday anymore

Ehichioya Austine E.

June 25, 2025

BlaBlaCar Bus

3.5/511,290 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.7

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

DE bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Greyhound, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Essen to Cologne by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Essen to Cologne?
The cheapest bus tickets from Essen to Cologne start from $6. The average price for this route is around $7. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Essen to Cologne?
The average bus trip duration from Essen to Cologne is 1h 45m, covering a distance of 40 miles (64 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 40m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Essen to Cologne route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 3 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Essen to Cologne?
The earliest bus departs from Essen to Cologne at 5:20am. And the latest bus departs at 10:15pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Essen to Cologne?
A bus trip from Essen to Cologne generates an estimated 2 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Essen to Cologne?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is BlaBlaCar Bus, with an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars based on 11248 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Essen to Cologne?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.
Which bus company has the most timely service from Essen to Cologne?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Essen to Cologne?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is BlaBlaCar Bus, with a cleanliness rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

12/24

$5

12/25

$22

Today

$7

12/27

$5

12/28

$5

12/29

$5

12/30

$5

12/31

$7

The cheapest trip from Essen to Cologne was searched and found on Dec 24, 2025 with a price of $5

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Essen to Cologne, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $5 to $22 for a bus ticket from Essen to Cologne based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $5 which is on 2025-12-27.

Usually FlixBus will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.