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Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Gelsenkirchen to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €6 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 37m. 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 €6, while a train costs an average of €26.
Distance: 40 miles (65 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€26 Average price | €6 Average price Cheapest | €12 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 37m Average total duration Fastest 1h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 17m Average total duration 1h 47m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 10m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.2kg 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.
Compare ways to travel from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne
Compare the available ways to get from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne:
A bus is €21 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne costing on average €26.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 17m.
You'll arrive about 3m sooner (1h 7m by train vs 1h 10m by car). Tickets start at around €26 compared to roughly €12 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 Gelsenkirchen to Cologne
How to get from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
7:55 AM 1h45 Gelsenkirchen 9:40 AM Cologne €5 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
7:55 AM 1h45 Gelsenkirchen 9:40 AM Cologne €5 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
7:55 AM 1h45 Gelsenkirchen 9:40 AM Cologne €5 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
8:00 PM 1h45 Gelsenkirchen 9:45 PM Cologne €5 1 One-way 0 transfers8:55 AM 1h45 Gelsenkirchen 10:40 AM Cologne €5 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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FAQs: Travel from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne
Travel to Cologne 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 Gelsenkirchen to Cologne.
This is compared to other travel options from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne:
A bus is €21 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne costing on average €26.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 17m.
- Around 7 trains per day.
- Around 2 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Gelsenkirchen and Cologne as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Gelsenkirchen Hbf and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus to go to Cologne by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Cologne by train.
- 2 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus.
- 5 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain.
Travelling from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne: related information
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