4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cologne to Essen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $8 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 25m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $8, while a train costs an average of $34.
Distance: 36 miles (58 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$34 Average price | $8 Average price Cheapest | $13 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 25m Average total duration Fastest 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 25m Average total duration 1h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 3m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Essen:
A bus is $26 (€21) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Essen costing on average $34 (€28).
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 25m.
You'll arrive about 8m sooner (55m by train vs 1h 3m by car). Tickets start at around $34 (€28) compared to roughly $13 (€11) in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Essen
How to get from Cologne to Essen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Essen is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
504286:00 PM1h45Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)7:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)$61One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- 504286:00 PM1h45Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)7:45 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)$61One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- ICE 220 · 636058:49 AM1h06Cologne Hbf9:55 AMEssen Hbf$321One-way1 transfer
Other options
- ICE 545 · S68:25 AM1h17Cologne Hbf9:42 AMEssen Hbf$221One-way1 transfer
- ICE 616 · S98:11 AM1h29Cologne Hbf9:40 AMEssen Hbf$221One-way1 transfer
- IC 2306 · Bus RE18:01 AM1h36Cologne Hbf9:37 AMEssen$221One-way1 transfer
- 504486:40 AM2h00Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)8:40 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)$81One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus11:35 PM1h35Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)1:10 AMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)$91One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus10:20 PM1h35Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)11:55 PMEssen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)$91One-way0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Essen
Travel to Essen easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Cologne to Essen.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Essen:
A bus is $26 (€21) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Essen costing on average $34 (€28).
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 25m.
- Around 12 trains per day.
- Around 12 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Essen as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Essen Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus to go to Essen by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Essen by train.
- 12 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus.
- 8 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain.
Travelling from Cologne to Essen: related information
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