How much is the bus ticket from Essen to Cologne?

The cheapest coach tickets from Essen to Cologne start from £5. The average price for this route is around £6. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Essen to Cologne?

The average bus journey time from Essen to Cologne is 1h 45m, covering a distance of 40 miles. The fastest bus can take 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 05:20. And the latest bus departs at 22:15.

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

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

Which 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 11143 reviews.

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

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

Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Essen to Cologne?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual 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 £4 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 29 November
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	20:30	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	22:10	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	13:15	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h 25m	15:40	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	13:25	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 50m	15:15	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	15:50	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	17:35	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 30 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	09:55	Essen	1h 45m	11:40	Cologne/Bonn Airport	CheapestFastest
	Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 1 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	09:55	Essen	1h 45m	11:40	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	22:15	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	23:55	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags
Bus	06:10	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	08:05	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	06:15	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	08:00	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 3 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	20:30	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	22:10	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	06:10	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	08:05	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	06:15	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	08:00	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	06:20	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h 5m	08:25	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 4 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	20:30	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	22:10	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	06:10	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	08:05	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	06:15	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	08:00	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	06:20	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	2h 5m	08:25	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 6 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	09:55	Essen	1h 45m	11:40	Cologne/Bonn Airport	Cheapest
Bus	20:30	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 40m	22:10	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	Fastest
Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	No tags
Bus	06:10	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 55m	08:05	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags
Bus	06:15	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	1h 45m	08:00	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 10:18 CET.

Compare 3 ways to travel from Essen to Cologne

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Cologne. The journey takes about 50 minutes and with fares starting at just £3, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

4carpool per day

50mAverage duration

37 milesDistance

2kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average price£5 - £11	Average duration1h 45m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£7 - £35	Average duration58m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average price£3 - £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

3.5/511,472 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Based on 11472 reviews, the company was rated 3.5 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the Wi-Fi. FlixBus ticket prices on this trip start at £7

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.

25 June 2025

BlaBlaCar Bus

3.5/511,171 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.6

Cleanliness4.3

WiFi2.6

DE Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Essen to Cologne

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

How much is the bus ticket from Essen to Cologne?
The cheapest coach tickets from Essen to Cologne start from £5. The average price for this route is around £6. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Essen to Cologne?
The average bus journey time from Essen to Cologne is 1h 45m, covering a distance of 40 miles. The fastest bus can take 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 05:20. And the latest bus departs at 22:15.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Essen to Cologne?
A bus journey from Essen to Cologne produces an estimated 2 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
Which 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 11143 reviews.
Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Essen to Cologne?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Essen to Cologne?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual 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

27/11

£5

28/11

£5

Today

£5

30/11

£4

01/12

£4

02/12

£4

03/12

£4

04/12

£4

The cheapest trip from Essen to Cologne was searched and found on 30 Nov 2025 with a price of £4

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 £4 to £6 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 £4, which is on 2025-11-30.

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.