Cheap bus tickets from Essen to Cologne
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Essen to Cologne?
There are usually 4 daily train trips available from Essen to Cologne.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price€6.42 | Avg. Price€8.21 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips9 | Daily Trips4 |
Duration | Duration1h 53m | Duration0h 58m |
Bus from Essen to Cologne: Journey Information
There are 9 intercity buses per day from Essen to Cologne. Traveling by bus from Essen to Cologne usually takes around one hour and 54 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus bus can make the trip in just one hour and 40 minutes.
| Distance | 36 mi (58 km) |
| Shortest duration | 1h 40m |
| Cheapest price | €3.99 |
| Trips per day | 9 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus |
| Bus lines | 1 |
What bus companies travel from Essen to Cologne?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Essen to Cologne. FlixBus connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus | 9 | 1h 54m | €6.39 |
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 9 trips from Essen to Cologne, and usually makes the trip in about 1 hours and 54 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 Essen to Cologne
The bus takes an average of one hour and 54 minutes to cover the 36 miles from Essen to Cologne. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 40 minutes. You'll have just enough time for a small nap on this relatively short bus trip. 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.
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Cologne at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, 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 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Essen to Cologne, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 9 scheduled buses that travel from Essen to Cologne every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Essen to Cologne without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Essen to Cologne; ticket prices start at €5.48.
City Information
Cologne
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Pixabay
There's no shortage of sights, culture, history, and adventure in Cologne, an alluring city on the Rhine. One of the most famous landmarks of the city is the Cologne Cathedral. This Gothic building and UNESCO World Heritage site remains the most iconic structure in the city. In fact, the Cologne Cathedral is the most visited landmark in Germany. Next door, the Museum Ludwig contrasts the cathedral's sense of history with an impressive collection of modern art, including works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
Cologne's breadth of museums also caters to a younger crowd. Families with children should head to the Cologne Chocolate Museum along the river or the Cologne Zoological Garden for memorable, kid-friendly experiences.
Foodies, rejoice! Cologne is home to mouthwatering German delicacies and upscale restaurants. Start your day with breakfast at Café Sehnsucht. For lunch, visit Herings Im Martinswinkel, and for dinner, head over to Bei Oma Kleinmann to feel like you're visiting your long-lost German grandmother.
Trains like Deutsche Bahn, DB Intercity, and FlixTrain connect Cologne to other major European cities, including Munich, Paris, and Vienna. You can also catch a bus from Cologne on FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Sindbad, Union Ivkoni, or Columbuzz. Plus, the Cologne Bonn Airport is a large, well-outfitted airport with daily international flights for travelers coming from afar.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Essen?
Main departure 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
Where does the bus arrive in Cologne?
Main arrival station: Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal 2
All buses from Essen arrive at one main station in Cologne.
All bus stations in Cologne:
Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal 2
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Need a return trip from Cologne to Essen?
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