- Must visit
Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen
Major museum complex for archaeology, world cultures, photography, and regional history. A top choice for breadth and high-quality exhibitions.
Cheapest price
€19
Average price
€26
Fastest journey
5 h 30 m
Average duration
6 h 32 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
241 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Essen to Mannheim is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Essen to Mannheim will cost around €26 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €19.
Of the 3 buses that leave Essen for Mannheim on Tue, Aug 04, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Tue, Aug 04 the direct buses cover the 241 km distance in an average of 6 h 32 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 30 m .
On Tue, Aug 04 the slowest buses will take 7 h 50 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.






Buses from Essen to Mannheim run on average 9 times per day, taking around 5h 40m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €15 if you book in advance.
There are 7 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:15, the last at 23:40. The fastest bus covers the 149 miles (241 km) distance in 5h 20m.
Distance 149 miles (241 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 40m |
Cheapest ticket price €15 |
Buses per day 9 |
Direct buses 7 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 12:15 AM |
Last bus 11:40 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 14 days |
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:15AM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 6h15 | Departure days Tue, Sun | Cheapest price €19 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:50AM | Arrival Time 04:45PM | Duration 5h55 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €30 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:25AM | Arrival Time 04:45PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price €20 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:15PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 7h50 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price €36 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:25PM | Arrival Time 05:45PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price €17 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 12:00AM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price €19 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:30PM | Arrival Time 01:00AM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €18 |
The table below shows live departures for Essen to Mannheim buses for today, Monday, August 3. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 6:30 PM Essen | 5h30 | 12:00 AM Mannheim | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Tuesday, August 4 | |||||
![]() | 5:15 AM Essen | 6h15 | 11:30 AM Mannheim | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 12:15 PM Essen | 7h50 | 8:05 PM Mannheim | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Discover the best of Mannheim — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Mannheim trip today.
Major museum complex for archaeology, world cultures, photography, and regional history. A top choice for breadth and high-quality exhibitions.
Renowned art museum with strong collections from the 19th century to contemporary work. The modern building is an attraction in itself.
Museum in the palace focused on theatre and music history. It highlights Mannheim’s influential court culture and performing arts traditions.
Elegant square around the water tower with fountains and gardens. It is Mannheim’s classic promenade and a central meeting place.
Large inner-city park with lawns, paths, and event spaces. It is ideal for relaxing between museums and major landmarks.
Historic grid center known as the Quadrate. Its unusual block system, shops, and urban energy define Mannheim’s distinctive city layout.
A Palatinate potato dish of sliced potatoes, bacon and onions baked until crisp. Common across Mannheim and the Rhine-Neckar region as hearty tavern food.
A classic from nearby Heidelberg and Mannheim: flour pancakes sliced into strips and served in strong beef broth. A comforting regional soup.
A sweet yeast pastry formed like a man, often enjoyed for St. Martin and Christmas markets in the region. A nostalgic local baked treat.
Refined modern European fine dining in a polished setting. Known for creative tasting menus and one of Mannheim's strongest gourmet reputations.
Elegant restaurant in the Jugendstil setting of the Dorint hotel. Offers classic French and regional dishes in a formal, old-world atmosphere.
Well-known market hall venue with lively communal seating, local specialties and casual drinks. Good for sampling regional food in a relaxed setting.
Moderate for Germany: hotels and dining are mid-priced, while local transit is reasonable. Cheaper than Munich or Frankfurt, but not a budget destination.
Service is usually included. Round up or add about 5-10% in restaurants, round up taxi fares, and leave small change at cafes if service was good.
Official public transport app
Mannheim ZOB (Heinrich-Von-Stephan-Straße) -> Mannheim Paradeplatz
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Essen to Mannheim by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Mannheim, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Essen to Mannheim buses use the Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) to Mannheim, ZOB (Heinrich-Von-Stephan-Straße) station pair. Use this guide to compare Essen and Mannheim bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need