Rome2Rio

How to get fromEssen to Bolognaby plane, train, bus, night train, car, or car train

Find Transport to Bologna

See all options

There are 10 ways to get from Essen to Bologna by plane, train, bus, night train, car, or car train

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly Düsseldorf International Airport to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport

    best
    1. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)plane plane DUS - BLQ
    4h 19m
    €91–286

  2. Train to Cologne Bonn Airport, fly to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport

    cheapest
    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Koeln/Bonn Flughafentrain train
    2. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)plane plane CGN - BLQ
    5h 11m
    €71–252

  3. Train

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Basel SBBtrain train 43
    2. Take the train from Basel SBB to Luganotrain train Ec
    3. Take the train from Lugano to Milano Centraletrain train
    4. Take the train from Milano Centrale to Bologna centraletrain train
    12h 10m
    €163–406

  4. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Essen central train station to Bologna Centralebus bus N537
    17h 20m
    €100–150

  5. Train, night train

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to München Hbftrain train 47 / ...
    2. Take the nighttrain from Muenchen Hbf to Bologna Centralenighttrain night train Nj
    15h 43m
    €148–343

  6. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)plane plane FRA - BLQ
    5h 23m
    €136–343

  7. Fly Düsseldorf International Airport to Venice Marco Polo Airport, train

    1. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)plane plane DUS - VCE
    2. Take the train from Venezia Mestre to Bologna centraletrain train
    6h 7m
    €91–263

  8. Train, bus

    1. Take the train from Essen Hbf to Wuppertal Oberbarmen Bftrain train S9
    2. Take the bus from Wuppertal Berliner Strasse to Bologna - Servizio Due Madonnebus bus
    21h 34m
    €157–221

  9. Drive  1,095.3 km

    1. Drive from Essen to Bolognacar car 1,095.3 km
    10h 9m
    €204–294

  10. Drive, car train

    1. Drive from Essen to Fuldacar car
    2. Take the cartrain from Fulda to Bad Gasteincartrain train
    3. Drive from Bad Gastein to Bolognacar car
    16h 4m
    €234–327

Essen to Bologna by bus

Calendar8Weekly Buses
Duration17h 20mAverage Duration
Ticket€100Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Essen to Bologna.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 864.3 km
  • Duration: 4h 19m

What companies run services between Essen, Germany and Bologna, Italy?

Eurowings, Swiss, and four other airlines fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a train from Essen Hbf to Bologna centrale via Basel SBB, Lugano, and Milano Centrale in around 12h 10m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around Italy

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Italy Travel Guides

Read the travel guideItaly Travel Guides

Booking & Getting There