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 prices starting from €4. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 56m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €4, and a train costs an average of €5.
Distance: 36 miles (58 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus |
|---|---|
€14 Average price | €5 Average price Cheapest |
1h 26m Average total duration Fastest 56m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 0m Average total duration 1h 30m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
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.
FlixBusCheapest
50428Fastest
ICE 616Other options
FlixTrainFlixTrainFlixTrainFlixBusFlixBus50448Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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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 $2 (€2) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Essen costing on average $7 (€5).
Other travel options to Essen take longer:
Bus takes on average 1h 25m.
- Around 14 buses per day.
- Around 13 trains 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 (Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar to go to Essen by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, National Express, Eurostar to go to Essen by train.
- 14 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
- 9 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, National Express, Eurostar.
Travelling from Cologne to Essen: related information
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