Essen to Cologne by train

Compare prices, times and book fast direct trains

Overview: trains from Essen to Cologne

Find the key information for travelling by train from Essen to Cologne, including journey times, fares and operators serving the route. Compare your options and plan the journey that works for you with Rail Europe.

First train 05:04 View journey
Last train 23:31 View journey
Avg changes 1
Fastest journey 2hr 56m View journey
Distance (km) 185
Trains / day 26 View all
Cheapest journey AU$94.90 View journey
Avg journey time 6hr 8m
Train operators 9

Travelling from Essen to Cologne by train

Considering a train trip from Essen to Cologne? This guide will walk you through everything — from the best routes to finding the cheapest train tickets — so you can enjoy a smooth, stress-free journey.

Train ticket cost for journeys between Essen and Cologne

Just like airline tickets, train fares vary by the operator, the number of stops, the time of day you travel, how far in advance you book and more. When it comes to timing, while the cheapest tickets on this route are typically AU$94.90, when booked a month in advance, tickets costs an average of , and when purchased a week in advance, tickets increase to .

How to find cheap train tickets

Booking early nearly always keeps more money in your pocket, but there are other ways to save big on tickets. Refer to our cheap train ticket guide to make sure you make the most out of your travel budget.

Train times for travel between Essen and Cologne

If you are taking the train from Essen to Cologne, you will have 26 trains each day (with a departure every 24 minutes) to choose from. Earlier risers can catch the first weekday train at 05:04. If you are looking to jump aboard the last train out of the station, the latest train departs at 23:31. On weekends, the first train departs at 05:35, and the last scheduled train of the day leaves at 22:33.

Essen to Cologne distance and train travel time

The total distance for this route is 185 kilometres, with the fastest trip taking 2 hours and 56 minutes.

How early can you book train tickets between Essen and Cologne?

Tickets along this route go on sale 8 months in advance. To be notified as soon as tickets are available, set up a booking alert with Rail Europe. We will send you an email notification when tickets are available.

Making your Essen to Cologne travels smooth and enjoyable

Explore our wide range of help articles for a hassle-free journey and find travel ideas from our city guide: Cologne.

FAQs about the train journey from Essen to Cologne

Want to know more about your journey from Essen to Cologne? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

The distance between Essen and Cologne is 185 kilometres.

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Child and youth passengers

The definition of "Child" and "Youth" varies by country and operator. This is why we ask for the age of young passengers.

Sometimes children below a certain age can travel without a seat for free. If you want to guarantee a seat for child passengers, enter '6' as the age of the child.

Read more about child and youth passenger ages. See also youth discounts and railcards.