The cheapest and fastest trains from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf
Cheapest price
$7
Average price
$34
Fastest journey
47 m
Average duration
48 m
Trains per day
19
Distance
57 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf will cost around $34 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $7.
Of the 19 trains that leave Cologne Hbf for Essen Hbf on Thu, Aug 06, 14 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Aug 06 the direct trains cover the 57 km distance in an average of 48 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 47 m .
On Thu, Aug 06 the slowest trains will take 48 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.
FlixTrain12:14 PM0h49Cologne Hbf1:03 PMEssen Hbf$71One-way0 transfers
FlixTrain4:14 PM0h48Cologne Hbf5:02 PMEssen Hbf$71One-way0 transfers
FlixTrain8:14 AM0h48Cologne Hbf9:02 AMEssen Hbf$71One-way0 transfers
FlixTrain9:01 AM0h52Cologne Hbf9:53 AMEssen Hbf$71One-way0 transfers
ICE 5458:25 AM0h53Cologne Hbf9:18 AMEssen Hbf$221One-way0 transfers
ICE 2049:11 AM0h47Cologne Hbf9:58 AMEssen Hbf$231One-way0 transfers
ICE 20211:11 AM0h47Cologne Hbf11:58 AMEssen Hbf$251One-way0 transfers
FlixTrain4:14 PM0h48Cologne Hbf5:02 PMEssen Hbf$71One-way0 transfers
FlixTrain8:14 AM0h48Cologne Hbf9:02 AMEssen Hbf$71One-way0 transfers
ICE 10368:45 AM0h48Cologne Hbf9:33 AMEssen Hbf$221One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $5. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 54m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $5, and a train costs an average of $7.
Distance: 35 miles (57 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$15 Average price | $6 Average price Cheapest | $18 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 24m Average total duration Fastest 54m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 8m Average total duration 1h 38m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 57m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf:
A bus is $9 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf costing on average $15.
Other travel options to Essen Hbf take longer:
Bus takes on average 1h 38m.
The journey is about 3m faster (54m by train vs 57m by car) and roughly $3 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($15 vs $18). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Live departures
Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf train times
The table below shows live departures for Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf trains for today, Wednesday, August 5. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 1028 | On time 4:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h53 | 4:58 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 541 | On time 4:16 AM Cologne Hbf | 1h02 | 5:18 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 208 | On time 5:11 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h47 | 5:58 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 843 | On time 5:26 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h54 | 6:20 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 618 | On time 6:11 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h47 | 6:58 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 543 | On time 6:25 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h53 | 7:18 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 206 | On time 7:11 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h47 | 7:58 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixTrain | 8:14 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h48 | 9:02 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 545 | On time 8:25 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h53 | 9:18 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1036 | On time 8:45 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h48 | 9:33 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixTrain | 9:01 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h52 | 9:53 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
26815 | 10:49 AM Cologne Hbf | 1h01 | 11:50 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 202 | On time 11:11 AM Cologne Hbf | 0h47 | 11:58 AM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
28514 · 10217 | 11:31 AM Cologne Hbf | 1h06 | 12:37 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
26817 | 11:49 AM Cologne Hbf | 1h01 | 12:50 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1747 | On time 12:01 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h13 | 1:14 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
S11 · ICE 726 | On time 12:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 0h59 | 1:06 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
89721 | 12:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h20 | 1:27 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixTrain | 4:14 PM Cologne Hbf | 0h48 | 5:02 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 106 | On time 5:11 PM Cologne Hbf | 0h47 | 5:58 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 2012 | On time 5:14 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h00 | 6:14 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
28526 · 10229 | 5:31 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h06 | 6:37 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
26829 | 5:49 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h01 | 6:50 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
89733 | 6:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h20 | 7:27 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
S11 · ICE 624 | On time 6:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 0h56 | 7:03 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
89737 | 8:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h20 | 9:27 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
S11 · ICE 620 | On time 8:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 0h55 | 9:02 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
10931 · ICE 912 | On time 8:22 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h00 | 9:22 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
28532 · 10235 | 8:31 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h06 | 9:37 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
26835 | 8:49 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h01 | 9:50 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
S6 · ICE 528 | On time 9:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 0h55 | 10:02 PM Essen Hbf | 1 transfer | |
89739 | 9:07 PM Cologne Hbf | 1h20 | 10:27 PM Essen Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf by train or bus
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Aug 05
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Aug 11
Why should you book Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Deutsche Bahn?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Deutsche Bahn, but also compare tickets for the likes of FlixTrain, Süwex or Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to find the best option for your trip from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Deutsche Bahn with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf.
Why book with Omio over Trainline or Wanderu?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf.
ReviewsReviews for the rail journey from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf

Journey information
Overview: Train from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf
Trains from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf run on average 7 times per day, taking around 54m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $7 but you can travel from only $5 by bus.
There are 5 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:09, the last at 21:27. The fastest train covers the 35 miles (57 km) distance in 26m.
Distance 35 miles (57 km) |
Average train duration 54m |
Cheapest ticket price $7 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 5 |
Fastest train 26m |
First train 12:09 AM |
Last train 9:27 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Süwex, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf trainsDeutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Süwex, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) trains will get you between Cologne Hbf and Essen Hbf from $5. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Deutsche Bahn
A Bordrestaurant (restaurant car) where you can sit and eat.
A Bordbistro (bistro bar) with snacks, hot meals, and drinks to-go.
At-seat service in 1st class: staff will take your order and serve food/drinks directly to your seat.
Regional trains (RE / RB / S-Bahn):
No onboard catering.
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
Not included by default.
You can add a seat reservation when booking (recommended for busy routes).
Costs around €4.90 per seat (or €5.90 if booked separately later).
First Class:
Yes, always included in the ticket price.
Allowed for free if they can fit in a transport box (max. size: hand luggage).
Must stay in the box for the entire journey.
Large dogs:
Require a separate (paid) ticket — typically half the price of a regular second-class ticket.
Must be leashed and wear a muzzle while on the train.
Cannot sit on seats.
Assistance dogs:
Travel free of charge.
Do not need a muzzle or leash if medically not required.
Allowed to accompany the passenger at all times.
FlixTrain
Süwex
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
FAQs: Trains from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Essen Hbf, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf
Most Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf trains use the Köln Hbf to Essen Hbf station pair. Use this guide to compare Cologne Hbf and Essen Hbf train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Getting to Köln Hbf from Cologne city centre
Köln Hbf is 1 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln Hbf train station facilities and services
Köln Hbf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: asiagourmet, Coffee Fellows, dean&david, Dunkin' Donuts, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Nordsee, Starbucks, Schweinske, & more
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes only. ATMs are available at Köln Hbf.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Köln Hbf. Information desks are one near the departure/arrival board and another near the escalators close to Platforms 4 and 5.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is there are luggage lockers in the station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Köln Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Köln Hbf: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln Hbf: Wheelchair accessible & mobility assistance staff. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Wyndham Koeln, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst.
Getting to Essen Hbf from Essen city centre
Essen Hbf train station facilities and services
Essen Hbf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Bollywood Express - Pizza & More, Kiepenkerl, Cafe Extrablatt, Tacos
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Essen Hbf. ATMs are available at Essen Hbf.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Essen Hbf. Information desks are available at Essen Hbf.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is available at Essen Hbf. Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Essen Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Essen Hbf: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Essen Hbf.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Ambassador, Gästearpartment Dahl, WG-Hotel im Unperfekthaus, Motel One.
More options for your journey from Cologne Hbf to Essen Hbf
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

