pickthebus

Brussels ▸ Essen

Essen ▸ Brussels ⇄
9.3 a dayfastest 3h40☾ 1 overnight busBlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus🇧🇪 Belgium → 🇩🇪 Germany

Direct buses · no change

BrusselsLiègeAachenCologneLeverkusenDüsseldorfEssen· 198 km as the crow flies
  • 01:20 → 07:10
    FlixBus N79 ☾ Overnight
    Brussels South (Gare du Midi) → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Liège, Aachen, Cologne, Leverkusen…
    5h506 stops
    Runs: DailyThe night the clocks change (Sun 25 Oct: 01:20 → 06:10)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 03:15 → 08:40
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Brussels - Midi Train Station → Essen - Bus Station · via Liège, Cologne, Düsseldorf
    5h253 stops
    Runs: Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun (some weeks)The night the clocks change (Sun 25 Oct: 02:15 → 07:40)Book on BlaBlaCar Bus ↗
  • 06:00 → 09:40
    FlixBus N380 / N380A
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Düsseldorf
    3h401 stop
    Runs: Daily until Fri 30 Oct, not Sat 24 Oct, Sun 25 OctBook on FlixBus ↗
  • 06:05 → 09:45
    FlixBus N380
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Düsseldorf
    3h401 stop
    Runs: Only Mon 2 Nov, Tue 3 Nov, Fri 6 Nov, Sat 7 Nov, Sun 8 Nov…Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 08:45 → 12:25
    FlixBus N380
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Düsseldorf
    3h401 stop
    Runs: Only Sun 18 Oct, Sat 24 Oct, Sun 25 Oct, Sat 31 Oct, Sun 1 NovThe night the clocks change (Sun 25 Oct: 07:45 → 11:25)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 09:15 → 13:00
    FlixBus 081
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Düsseldorf
    3h452 stops
    Runs: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 10:55 → 14:55
    FlixBus N1360B
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Düsseldorf
    4h001 stop
    Runs: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 11:20 → 16:10
    FlixBus N1387
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Antwerp, Eindhoven, Duisburg
    4h503 stops
    Runs: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 13:15 → 18:45
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Brussels - North Train Station → Essen - Bus Station · via Antwerp, Eindhoven, Duisburg
    5h303 stops
    Runs: Thu to Sun (some weeks)Book on BlaBlaCar Bus ↗
  • 14:05 → 19:45
    BlaBlaCar Bus
    Brussels - Midi Train Station → Essen - Bus Station · via Liège, Cologne, Düsseldorf
    5h403 stops
  • 14:30 → 18:30
    FlixBus 081
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Roermond, Düsseldorf
    4h003 stops
    Runs: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 16:25 → 21:25
    FlixBus N1153
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf
    5h003 stops
    Runs: Wed, Fri, SunThe night the clocks change (Sun 25 Oct: 15:25 → 20:25)Book on FlixBus ↗
  • 17:10 → 21:05
    FlixBus 081
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Roermond, Düsseldorf
    3h553 stops
    Runs: Fri to SunBook on FlixBus ↗
  • 21:30 → 01:35+1
    FlixBus 1304
    Brussels-North train station → Essen central train station (Freiheit) · via Maastricht, Mönchengladbach, Duisburg
    4h053 stops
    Runs: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗

Local times at each stop. Times from official open data: FlixBus (file of 11 Oct 2026), BlaBlaCar Bus (file of 18 Oct 2026) and FlixBus UK (file of 11 Oct 2026). Checked Sun 18 Oct 2026; they cover 18 Oct to 14 Nov 2026. Timetables change, so check with the operator before you travel. Contains FlixBus timetable data (FlixMobility, transport.data.gouv.fr), ODbL 1.0. Contains BlaBlaCar Bus timetable data (transport.data.gouv.fr), ODbL 1.0. How we build this.

Quick answers

Is there a direct bus from Brussels to Essen?

Yes. 9.3 a day on average, with BlaBlaCar Bus and FlixBus, no change of bus (18 Oct to 14 Nov 2026).

How long is the bus from Brussels to Essen?

The fastest takes 3h40; the slowest 5h50, for 198 km as the crow flies.

When do the buses leave?

The earliest leaves at 01:20 and the latest at 21:30, local time in Brussels. Not every bus runs every day: pick a date above.

Is there a night bus from Brussels to Essen?

Yes: 1 overnight departure in the timetable, for example 01:20 arriving 07:10.