What's the distance between Essen and Cologne by coach?

The journey from Essen to Cologne by coach covers an approximate distance of 36 miles (57 km).

How can I get from Essen to Cologne without driving?

You can reach Cologne from Essen by coach, as there are regular services between the two locations. Depending on your preferences, carpooling can also be considered as an option.

Bus Essen to Cologne from £4 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 20 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	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 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

Next departures from Essen to Cologne on 25 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

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 20:23 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.

3carpool 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 - £36	Average duration57m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average price£3 - £10	Average duration50m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,380 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Based on 11380 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

3.5/511,143 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 by bus from Essen to Cologne

What's the distance between Essen and Cologne by coach?
The journey from Essen to Cologne by coach covers an approximate distance of 36 miles (57 km).
How can I get from Essen to Cologne without driving?
You can reach Cologne from Essen by coach, as there are regular services between the two locations. Depending on your preferences, carpooling can also be considered as an option.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

18/11

£5

19/11

£5

Today

£4

21/11

£4

22/11

£4

23/11

£4

24/11

£4

25/11

£4

The cheapest trip from Essen to Cologne was searched and found on 20 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 £7 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 2025-11-21.