The cheapest and fastest buses from Berlin to Essen
Cheapest price
€22
Average price
€27
Fastest journey
4 h 30 m
Average duration
5 h 16 m
Buses per day
15
Distance
454 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Berlin to Essen is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Berlin to Essen will cost around €27 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €22.
Of the 15 buses that leave Berlin for Essen on Thu, Nov 13, 15 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Nov 13 the direct buses cover the 454 km distance in an average of 5 h 16 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 4 h 30 m .
On Thu, Nov 13 the slowest buses will take 6 h 10 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus




Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Berlin to Essen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Berlin to Essen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €24. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 10m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €24, and a flight costs an average of €50.
Distance: 454 km
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€37 Average price Cheapest | €54 Average price | €174 Average price |
7h 7m Average total duration 6h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 39m Average total duration 5h 9m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 10m Average total duration Fastest 1h 10m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.5 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.4 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Berlin to Essen bus times
The table below shows live departures for Berlin to Essen buses for today, Wednesday, November 12. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 9:20 AM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 8h35 | 5:55 PM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:35 PM Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz | 7h15 | 5:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:55 PM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 6h55 | 5:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:10 PM Berlin, Kronprinzessinnenweg (Wannsee) | 6h40 | 5:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, November 13 | |||||
FlixBus | 2:20 AM Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz | 7h25 | 9:45 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:35 AM Berlin, Alexanderplatz | 9h15 | 11:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:40 AM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 7h05 | 9:45 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 3:00 AM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 8h50 | 11:50 AM Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof) | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Berlin to Essen by train, bus, or flight
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Nov 13
Nov 14
Nov 15
Nov 16
Nov 17
Nov 18
Nov 19
Nov 20
Nov 21
Nov 22
Nov 23
Nov 24
Nov 25
Nov 26
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Nov 29
Nov 30
Dec 01
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Dec 03
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Berlin to Essen
Buses from Berlin to Essen run on average 12 times per day, taking around 6h 37m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €24 but you can travel from only €20 by train.
There are 12 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:10, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 454 km distance in 6h 55m.
Distance 454 km |
Average bus duration 6h 37m |
Cheapest ticket price €24 |
Buses per day 12 |
Direct buses 12 |
Fastest bus 6h 55m |
First bus 00:10 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Bus providers: BlaBlaCar, FlixBus from Berlin to EssenYou can travel by bus between Berlin to Essen with BlaBlaCar, FlixBus for as low as €20. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
BlaBlaCar
FAQs: Bus from Berlin to Essen
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Berlin to Essen by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Essen, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Passengers board the coach most frequently from Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB), which is located around 6.6 miles (10.6 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Essen, Freiheit (Hauptbahnhof), located 0.7 miles (1.2 km) away from the city centre.
To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Berlin to Essen, follow these tips:
Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Berlin to Essen
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: M46, 106, 204 Train: S2, S25, S41, S42
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- McDonald's (in the station)
- Vapiano (in the station)
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 120, 123, 142, 147, 245 Metro: U55 Train: S3, S5, S7, S9
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafeteria Berlin (in the station)
- Schnitzel Express (0.5 km)
- Currywurst Haus (0.7 km).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: M49, 139 Metro: U2 Train: S41, S42, S46
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 120, 123, 142, 147, 245 Metro: U55 Train: S3, S5, S7, S9
Most popular bus connections from Berlin
More options for your journey from Berlin to Essen
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