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Cheap bus tickets from Frankfurt to Essen

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Frankfurt to Essen Bus Schedule

Bus from Frankfurt to Essen: Journey Information

There are 15 intercity buses per day from Frankfurt to Essen. Traveling by bus from Frankfurt to Essen usually takes around 4 hours and 42 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 55 minutes.

Distance118 mi (190 km)
Shortest duration3h 55m
Cheapest price$14.97
Trips per day11
Most frequent serviceFlixBus
Bus lines1

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What bus companies travel from Frankfurt to Essen?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Frankfurt to Essen. FlixBus connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus154h 43m$24.96
  • First launched in Germany in 2013, FlixBus has become one of the largest intercity bus companies in Europe. Its fleet travels through nearly every country in Europe, including the U.K. FlixBus operates an average of 15 trips from Frankfurt am Main to Essen, and usually makes the trip in about 4 hours and 43 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Frankfurt to Essen

There are buses that can take you directly from Frankfurt to Essen. At this time, there are a number of bus trips where you can expect to spend part of the journey on a different vehicle, such as a shuttle or a train. Both types of tickets can be found when you search on Wanderu; the type of trip is indicated in the trip details.

The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 42 minutes to cover the 118 miles from Frankfurt to Essen. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 hours and 55 minutes. In other words, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax on the road. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in Essen. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.

The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Frankfurt to Essen, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 15 scheduled buses that travel from Frankfurt to Essen every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 11 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Frankfurt to Essen; ticket prices start at $42.15.

City Information

Frankfurt

Frankfurt - DEFRT-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Frankfurt - DEFRT-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Frankfurt - DEFRT-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Frankfurt is Germany's financial hub, home to the European Central Bank. This riverside city offers a variety of cultural and historical attractions scattered between its financial institutions and shops.

Your first stop should be Old Town, along the river Main. Once the center of the city, the Old Town district is now the site of the Römer, or city hall, along a row of picturesque timber houses. Stop in Kleinmarkthalle, a bustling indoor market, to grab a sausage for a snack before wandering through some of Old Town's museums: Saalgasse, Dommuseum, and Museum für Moderne Kunst (Museum MMK) will get you started. Two of Frankfurt's most prominent churches, St. Bartholomew Cathedral and St. Nicholas Church, are also in the area.

Food is always delightful in Frankfurt. Several Michelin-star restaurants will entice you, including Restaurant Lafleur, Restaurant Gustav, Restaurant Villa Merton, and Carmelo Greco. If you prefer more affordable dining and lively nightlife, head to the Bahnhofsviertel neighborhood near the city's train station.

The train station in Bahnhofsviertel serves national and international rail lines for Deutsche Bahn, DB Intercity, FlixTrain, vlexx, and Railjet. You can also reach Frankfurt easily on bus carriers like FlixBus and Sindbad. Plus, flying in and out of Frankfurt is a breeze, as the airport is one of the largest in Germany and the main hub for the Lufthansa airline.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Frankfurt?

Central Bus Station -{"city":"Frankfurt","country":"DE","postal":"60329","state":"HE","street1":"Mannheimer Straße"} - DEFRTDEFLX2-0

Image credit: Guilhem Vellut

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Main departure station: Central Bus Station

Frankfurt Central Bus Station, locally known as Busterminal Frankfurt, is the city's main bus terminal and is located directly next to Frankfurt HBF (the central train station). The terminal is a hub for bus services throughout Europe, like Flixbus, Sindbad, BlaBlaCar Bus, and Arda Tur. Nearby you will find a coffee shop, ATMs, toilets, and luggage storage. In the immediate vicinity, there is a Tokyo Inn and Ibis hotel, numerous restaurants, and a five-minute walk from the city center.

All bus stations in Frankfurt:

  • Central Bus Station

  • Frankfurt Main Airport P36

Where does the bus arrive in Essen?

Main arrival station: Train Station

Essen Hauptbahnhof (Freiheit) is Essen's central bus terminal located directly outside the main train station. Buses servicing the terminal include FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus, which travel to Hamburg six times daily and make regular trips to Munich, Mannheim, and Dusseldorf. The terminal stretches along Freiheit, with various seating areas and stops for different bus companies. Although there aren't many amenities on the road near the station besides a large multistory parking garage, the nearby train station and city center have plentiful shops, restaurants, and hotels. The station also has a Starbucks, McDonald's, and a Lidl supermarket. You can also find information and tickets for major bus services in the train station, although it is advisable to book in advance online.

All bus stations in Essen:

  • Train Station

  • Essen Hbf

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