How far is Essen from Cologne by coach?

The distance between Cologne and Essen by coach is approximately 36 miles (57 km).

What is the best way to go from Cologne to Essen without a car?

You can travel to Essen from Cologne by coach, which provides a smooth ride and an affordable and convenient trip. Depending on your preferences, another alternative is to explore ridesharing trips.

Bus Cologne to Essen from £4 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Cologne to Essen on 18 November
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	17:50	Cologne/Bonn Airport	1h 55m	19:45	Essen	Cheapest
Bus	22:30	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	1h 25m	23:55	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	Fastest
Bus	17:30	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	2h 20m	19:50	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	No tags
Bus	17:45	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	2h 15m	20:00	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	No tags
Bus	20:35	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	1h 35m	22:10	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	No tags

Next departures from Cologne to Essen on 21 November
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	06:40	Cologne/Bonn Airport	2h	08:40	Essen	Cheapest
Bus	22:30	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	1h 25m	23:55	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	Fastest
Bus	17:50	Cologne/Bonn Airport	1h 55m	19:45	Essen	No tags
Bus	04:45	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	1h 40m	06:25	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	No tags
Bus	05:10	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	2h	07:10	Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit	No tags

Next departures from Cologne to Essen on 22 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	06:40	Cologne/Bonn Airport	2h	08:40	Essen	Cheapest
	Bus	17:50	Cologne/Bonn Airport	1h 55m	19:45	Essen	Fastest

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 07:41 CET.

Compare 3 ways to travel from Cologne to Essen

We recommend carpooling

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

5carpool per day

50mAverage duration

37 milesDistance

2kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average price£5 - £22	Average duration1h 55m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£7 - £63	Average duration55m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average price£3 - £12	Average duration50m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,359 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

BlaBlaCar Bus

3.5/511,135 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 Cologne and Essen?

Stops in Cologne

A - Cologne/Bonn Airport

B - Hbf

C - Gummersbacher Str.

D - Riehl Zoo

E - Leverkusen Mitte

F - Rhein Energie Stadion

Stops in Essen

A - Essen Hauptbahnhof Freiheit

B - HBF

C - Essen Hbf

D - Essen Bushaltestelle

E - Hachestraße

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Cologne to Essen

How far is Essen from Cologne by coach?
The distance between Cologne and Essen by coach is approximately 36 miles (57 km).
What is the best way to go from Cologne to Essen without a car?
You can travel to Essen from Cologne by coach, which provides a smooth ride and an affordable and convenient trip. Depending on your preferences, another alternative is to explore ridesharing trips.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

16/11

£7

17/11

£5

Today

£4

19/11

£4

20/11

£4

21/11

£4

22/11

£4

23/11

£4

The cheapest trip from Cologne to Essen was searched and found on 19 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 Cologne to Essen as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from £4 to £7 for a bus ticket from Cologne to Essen based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £4, which is on 2025-11-19.

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.