Bus Zurich to Essen: Compare prices and save money

Compare all timetables for the bus from Zurich to Essen

Here is a selection of the cheapest bus trips from the schedule from Zurich to Essen from various bus operators like FlixBus for the next days.

today

tomorrow

Saturday

Sunday

$61

Monday

Tuesday

$47

Wednesday

Cheapest bus trips Sunday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
FlixBus	14h 5m	3:40 AM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	5:45 PM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$61	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/26/2026 3:40:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/26/2026 5:45:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $61 per person are available. Travel duration is 14h 5m
FlixBus	12h 40m	9:10 AM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	9:50 PM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$61	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/26/2026 9:10:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/26/2026 9:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $61 per person are available. Travel duration is 12h 40m
FlixBus	13h 20m	5:05 PM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	6:25 AM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$61	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/26/2026 5:05:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/27/2026 6:25:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $61 per person are available. Travel duration is 13h 20m
FlixBus	12h 50m	9:05 PM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	9:55 AM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$61	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/26/2026 9:05:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/27/2026 9:55:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $61 per person are available. Travel duration is 12h 50m
FlixBus	11h 55m	3:00 PM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	2:55 AM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$64	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/26/2026 3:00:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/27/2026 2:55:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $64 per person are available. Travel duration is 11h 55m

Did you know that if you travel from Zurich to Essen via Cologne/Bonn Airport, you can save more than $15? You can find the corresponding connections below.
- FlixBus
  
  12h 55m
  
  0
  
  6:50 AM
  
  Zurich
  Central Bus Station Sihlquai
  
  4:20 PM
  
  Cologne/Bonn Airport
  Cologne/Bonn Airport - Bus Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $42
  
  A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/27/2026 6:50:00 AM to Cologne/Bonn Airport - Bus Station, Cologne/Bonn Airport (Germany) arriving at 7/27/2026 4:20:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $42 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 30m
- BlaBlaCar Bus
  
  1h 45m
  
  0
  
  6:00 PM
  
  Cologne/Bonn Airport
  Cologne/Bonn Airport - Bus Station
  
  7:45 PM
  
  Essen
  Central Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $5
  
  A Bus from BlaBlaCar Bus goes from Cologne/Bonn Airport - Bus Station, Cologne/Bonn Airport (Germany) at 7/27/2026 6:00:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/27/2026 7:45:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $5 per person are available. Travel duration is 1h 45m
Travel time is 1h 0m longer, but you will save $15

Cheapest bus trips Tuesday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
FlixBus	12h 50m	9:05 PM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	9:55 AM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$47	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/28/2026 9:05:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/29/2026 9:55:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $47 per person are available. Travel duration is 12h 50m
FlixBus	16h 5m	1:45 AM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	5:50 PM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$48	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/28/2026 1:45:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/28/2026 5:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $48 per person are available. Travel duration is 16h 5m
FlixBus	13h 0m	6:50 AM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	7:50 PM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$48	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/28/2026 6:50:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/28/2026 7:50:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $48 per person are available. Travel duration is 13h 0m
FlixBus	13h 20m	5:05 PM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	6:25 AM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$48	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/28/2026 5:05:00 PM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/29/2026 6:25:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $48 per person are available. Travel duration is 13h 20m
FlixBus	12h 15m	11:25 AM	Zurich	Central Bus Station Sihlquai	11:40 PM	Essen	Central Station	Economy	$49	A Bus from FlixBus goes from Central Bus Station Sihlquai, Zurich (Switzerland) at 7/28/2026 11:25:00 AM to Central Station, Essen (Germany) arriving at 7/28/2026 11:40:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $49 per person are available. Travel duration is 12h 15m

Frequency of bus connections between Zurich and Essen

See here how frequent the connections between Zurich and Essen are, during different times and days of the week.

Sunday is the busiest day, with more than 8 daily buses from Zurich to Essen. Tuesday has instead the fewest connections, with only 6 daily coaches between Zurich and Essen.

The busiest time of the day is the Morning, with 5 buses from Zurich to Essen, while Night sees the fewest connections between Zurich and Essen, with 2 offers.

Test cheapest views

The cheapest bus for the 8/11/2026 costs just $46, from FlixBus

Facts about the bus from Zurich to Essen

Compare all providers like FlixBus that travel 7 times every day by bus from Zurich to Essen in one click! Book your bus ticket from Zurich to Essen starting from $46!

Cheapest Bus	$46
Fastest Bus	11h 55m
Earliest Bus	3:40 AM
Latest Bus	9:40 PM
Daily Bus Routes	7 Ø
Distance	290.7 miles
Bus Companies	FlixBus

Cheapest bus connections from Zurich to Essen

Every day, 7 buses from 1 bus companies leave Zurich for Essen: in the table below, you will find the cheapest prices for a bus ticket for this route, starting from 07/23/2026 and for the following days.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday 07/19

Monday 07/20

Tuesday 07/21

Wednesday 07/22

Thursday 07/23

Friday 07/24

Saturday 07/25

Sunday 07/26

$89

Monday 07/27

Tuesday 07/28

$47

Wednesday 07/29

Thursday 07/30

$52

Friday 07/31

Saturday 08/01

Sunday 08/02

$54

Monday 08/03

$50

Tuesday 08/04

Wednesday 08/05

Thursday 08/06

Friday 08/07

$111

Saturday 08/08

$145

Sunday 08/09

$103

Monday 08/10

$80

Tuesday 08/11

$46

Wednesday 08/12

$88

Thursday 08/13

Friday 08/14

Saturday 08/15

The cheapest time to travel from Zurich to Essen

See here on which day and which time of the day you can find the cheapest bus ticket from Zurich to Essen, for the next 30 days.

With a price starting from $46, Tuesday is the cheapest day for a bus from Zurich to Essen. Sunday instead is the most expensive day with prices starting from $54.

Night is the cheapest day time for bus tickets from Zurich to Essen, with $46. Morning is the most expensive time of the day with prices starting from $48.

How to save money travelling from Zurich to Essen

Travel can be expensive, but it doesn't need to be! Do you want to avoid paying a terrible price for your trip? Then follow these quick steps to save money:

Book the ticket from Zurich to Essen in advance! The earlier you book, the cheaper usually the price is. Also, you will be sure to have a place on the bus from Zurich to Essen, compared instead if you buy it at the last moment, or directly at the station.

If you can, avoid travelling at peak times. Instead of weekend, try travelling during the week. Travelling in the evening or at night it’s also cheaper, and later buses from Zurich to Essen are also emptier.

All bus stations and stops in Zurich and Essen

In the map below, you can see where to find all bus stations in Zurich and Essen.

Central Bus Station Sihlquai

Ausstellungsstrasse 5

Kinkelstrasse

Goldauerstrasse

Central Polybahn

Rathaus

Freiheit Bus Stop

Rathaus Bus Stop

Am Porschepl.

Central Bus Station

Süd Bus Station

Am Grugapark

Bredeney Bus Stop

Compare the bus with other modes of transport

The bus is often the cheapest mode of transport, while other modes like train or flight are faster. Looking for quicker alternatives to travel from Zurich to Essen? Compare all modes of transports from Zurich to Essen.

Service and Comfort on the bus from Zurich to Essen

Want to know which seat classes are available on the buses from Zurich to Essen? Or which bus companies serve the route Zurich to Essen? Below you will find answers to your questions.

FAQs about the Zurich to Essen bus

How much does a Zurich Essen bus trip cost?

This depends on, among other things, the day and time of travel. The cheapest trip is available from $46 and takes 12h 50m to reach Essen. Compare offers to save money!

How much could I save by comparing buses from Zurich to Essen?

This route is offered by 1 companies with a range of ticket prices between $46 and $91. Thus, we recommend booking your ticket as early as possible to make sure you get the cheapest bus ticket to Essen.

On average, how many connections are available from Zurich to Essen each day?

Every day, the Zurich to Essen bus route is served by approximately 7 connections. With our search, you can compare bus times to find the perfect trip.

How long does a bus journey from Zurich to Essen take?

The fastest bus from Zurich to Essen is offered by FlixBus and takes 11h 55m. Bus tickets for this connection cost $64. In this context, bear in mind that the journey can take longer due to traffic.

What time is the first bus from Zurich to Essen?

The earliest bus arriving in Essen from Zurich starts at 3:40 AM. However, information regarding departure times may differ on weekends and holidays. Simply use our search to find exact times for your planned travel date.

What time is the last bus from Zurich to Essen?

The latest bus trip departing from Zurich for Essen starts at 9:40 PM. Please note that departure times may differ on weekends and holidays. So just use our search to find the exact times for your planned travel date.

Which bus companies operate the Zurich Essen route?

When traveling by bus from Zurich to Essen, passengers can travel with FlixBus. With our search, you can compare all available bus tickets to book the one that works for you.

Is there a direct bus between Zurich and Essen?

You can check all the direct connections between Zurich and Essen by using our search and looking at the Changes section in our filters. These are some of the companies which offer a direct bus: FlixBus.

What can I take with me on the Zurich to Essen bus route?

Depending on which provider you travel with, what you're allowed to bring with you can vary. Generally, you can take a suitcase and hand luggage with you on the Zurich Essen bus route free of charge. Simply use our search to find a bus that is best suited to your needs for your planned travel date.

What equipment is available for the Zurich Essen bus route?

The equipment on board differs depending on the provider. However, many long-distance buses have WiFi so you can tell your friends your exact location during the journey. To make traveling even more pleasant, air conditioning systems provide ventilation. It is best to use our search to get precise information about the equipment of the bus from Zurich to Essen on your planned travel date.

Available seat classes which are offered on the bus route Zurich to Essen

Economy

The cheapest option available for your ticket, it usually comes with reclinable seats and AC.

More bus routes to Zurich and to Essen

Here’s an overview of the most popular bus routes to Zurich and to Essen. Simply click on the connection of your choice, and you will find all the details about your bus route!