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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 €5 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 €5, while a train costs an average of €15.
Distance: 40 miles (65 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€15 Average price | €5 Average price Cheapest | €12 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 37m Average total duration Fastest 1h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 4m Average total duration 1h 34m 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne:
A bus is €10 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne costing on average €15.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 4m.
You'll arrive about 3m sooner (1h 7m by train vs 1h 10m by car). Tickets start at around €15 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.
504499:00 PM1h45Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)10:45 PMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)€41One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- 504499:00 PM1h45Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)10:45 PMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)€41One-way0 transfers
Fastest
FlixTrain12:46 PM0h56Gelsenkirchen Hbf1:42 PMCologne Hbf€61One-way0 transfers
Other options
- FlixTrain5:51 PM1h07Gelsenkirchen Hbf6:58 PMCologne Hbf€61One-way0 transfers
- FlixTrain11:51 AM1h07Gelsenkirchen Hbf12:58 PMCologne Hbf€61One-way0 transfers
- FlixTrain4:46 PM0h57Gelsenkirchen Hbf5:43 PMCologne Hbf€61One-way0 transfers
- 504299:55 AM1h45Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof)11:40 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)€41One-way0 transfers
Find 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 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 €10 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne costing on average €15.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 4m.
- Around 10 buses per day.
- Around 8 trains 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 Bochum, Hbf and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus to go to Cologne by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Train Charter Services, VIAS Rail GmbH, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional), Eurobahn to go to Cologne by train.
- 10 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar, FlixBus.
- 3 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
Travelling from Gelsenkirchen to Cologne: related information
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