When is the best time to visit How to get to Bologna?

The recommended time is March, April, May, June, September, October and November, when it is less crowded.

Is How to get to Bologna crowded?

How to get to Bologna is a not very crowded destination compared with the more touristy ones.

Where is How to get to Bologna?

How to get to Bologna is located in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

How to get to Bologna: trains, planes, cars and buses

How to get to Bologna

Bologna is the main railway hub of northern Italy, a strategic crossroads that makes it easily reachable from every direction. Capital of Emilia-Romagna, the city of porticoes is served by an international airport, high-speed rail, and a dense motorway network. Here are all the ways to reach it.

By train

Bologna Centrale is one of Italy's most important stations, sitting at the junction of the Milan-Rome and Venice-Florence high-speed lines. Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and Frecciargento connect Bologna to Milan in about 1 hour 5 minutes, Florence in 35 minutes, Rome in 2 hours, and Venice in 1 hour 25 minutes. Italo offers similar routes with competitive times.

The station sits in the historic centre, steps from Via Indipendenza and Piazza Maggiore. At the exit you will find urban bus stops and the people mover to the airport. For those arriving from smaller Emilian towns, regional trains connect Modena (25 minutes), Parma (55 minutes), Ferrara (30 minutes), and Ravenna (1 hour 15 minutes).

Local tip

Book high-speed tickets at least two weeks ahead: Economy and Super Economy fares can cost under 20 euros for routes like Milan-Bologna.

By plane

Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) lies just 6 km from the city centre, in the Borgo Panigale district. It connects to over 100 European destinations and some intercontinental ones, with flights by Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling, Lufthansa, and many others.

The most convenient link to the centre is the Marconi Express, an automated monorail reaching Centrale station in 7 minutes. The service costs about 11 euros one way and runs from 5:40 am to midnight. Alternatively, the BLQ shuttle bus reaches the station in about 20 minutes. A taxi from Marconi to the centre costs around 20-25 euros at a fixed rate.

Local tip

If your accommodation is near the Fiera district, take bus 35 from the airport instead of the Marconi Express: it drops you directly in the exhibition area without going through the centre.

By car

Bologna sits at Italy's most important motorway junction. The A1 (Autostrada del Sole) connects it to Milan and Rome, the A14 heads toward Rimini and the Adriatic coast, and the A13 runs north to Ferrara and Padua, while the ring road links all exits.

From Milan, allow about 2 hours 10 minutes (210 km). From Florence, 1 hour 30 minutes (105 km). From Rome, about 3 hours 45 minutes (380 km). From Venice, 2 hours (155 km).

Parking

The historic centre is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) with active cameras. The most convenient car parks are Parcheggio Tanari (near the station, covered), Parcheggio VIII Agosto (central, 5 minutes from Piazza Maggiore), and Parcheggio Riva Reno. Rates run from 2 to 3 euros per hour. To save money, use the free park-and-ride lots on the outskirts connected by bus.

By bus

Bologna's bus station sits in Piazza XX Settembre, next to the railway station. FlixBus connects Bologna with all major Italian cities and many European ones. From Rome the journey takes about 4 hours 30 minutes, from Milan 3 hours, from Florence 1 hour 45 minutes. Prices start at 5-9 euros when booked early.

MarinoBus and BusCenter offer connections with southern Italy, particularly Puglia, Calabria, and Sicily, often with overnight departures.

Local transport

TPER manages the urban and suburban bus network. A single ticket costs 1.50 euros and is valid for 75 minutes. The daily City Pass is available for about 5 euros. The most useful lines for tourists are 11 and 13 (station-centre link) and 20 (toward the university area).

Bologna is a perfect city to explore on foot: the historic centre is compact and 40 km of porticoes offer shelter in every season. For the hills, the San Luca Express mini-train runs from the centre to the famous Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.