How much does a bus ticket from Essen to Cologne cost?

The bus ticket price from Essen to Cologne starts at R 94. The best way to find cheap bus tickets from Essen to Cologne is to book your tickets as early as possible. Prices tend to rise as your travel date approaches, so book in advance to secure the best prices!

How long is the bus ride from Essen to Cologne?

The average travel time between Essen and Cologne is around 1h 45m, although the fastest bus will take about 1h 40m. This is the time it takes to travel the 57 km that separates the two cities.

How many daily bus connections are there between Essen and Cologne?

The number of buses from Essen to Cologne can differ depending on the day of the week. On average, there are 3 on this route. Some buses run direct routes, while others have layovers. Simplify your bus trip from Essen to Cologne by comparing and selecting the bus that fits your travel style and budget on Busbud.

Which bus companies travel from Essen to Cologne?

When taking the bus from Essen to Cologne, you can travel comfortably and safely with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Essen to Cologne?

Buses travelling between Essen and Cologne leave from Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit or HBF and arrive at Cologne/Bonn Airport, Hbf, Gummersbacher Str..

Bus Essen to Cologne from R 83 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 17 November
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 20 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	21:00	Essen	1h 45m	22:45	Cologne/Bonn Airport	CheapestFastest

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 21 November
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: Yesterday at 7:29 PM 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 R 42, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3carpool per day

50mAverage duration

59 kmDistance

2kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average priceR 94 - R 441	Average duration1h 45m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 148 - R 1 435	Average duration56m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average priceR 42 - R 158	Average duration50m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511 327 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Based on 11327 reviews, the company was rated 3.5 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the temperature but often complained with the Wi-Fi. FlixBus ticket prices on this trip start at R 138

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

3.5/511 128 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.6

Cleanliness4.3

WiFi2.6

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

Where are the popular stops in Essen and Cologne?

Stops in Essen

A - Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit

B - HBF

C - Essen Hbf

D - Essen Bushaltestelle

E - Hachestraße

Stops in Cologne

A - Cologne/Bonn Airport

B - Hbf

C - Gummersbacher Str.

D - Riehl Zoo

E - Leverkusen Mitte

F - Rhein Energie Stadion

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Essen to Cologne by bus

How much does a bus ticket from Essen to Cologne cost?
The bus ticket price from Essen to Cologne starts at R 94. The best way to find cheap bus tickets from Essen to Cologne is to book your tickets as early as possible. Prices tend to rise as your travel date approaches, so book in advance to secure the best prices!
How long is the bus ride from Essen to Cologne?
The average travel time between Essen and Cologne is around 1h 45m, although the fastest bus will take about 1h 40m. This is the time it takes to travel the 57 km that separates the two cities.
How many daily bus connections are there between Essen and Cologne?
The number of buses from Essen to Cologne can differ depending on the day of the week. On average, there are 3 on this route. Some buses run direct routes, while others have layovers. Simplify your bus trip from Essen to Cologne by comparing and selecting the bus that fits your travel style and budget on Busbud.
Which bus companies travel from Essen to Cologne?
When taking the bus from Essen to Cologne, you can travel comfortably and safely with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Essen to Cologne?
Buses travelling between Essen and Cologne leave from Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit or HBF and arrive at Cologne/Bonn Airport, Hbf, Gummersbacher Str..

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

14/11

R 105

15/11

R 105

Today

R 83

17/11

R 84

18/11

R 83

19/11

R 83

20/11

R 84

21/11

R 84

The cheapest trip from Essen to Cologne was searched and found on 19 Nov 2025 with a price of R 83

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 R 83 to R 146 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 R 83, which is on 2025-11-19.