How to get to Bologna: plane, train, car.
History
Bologna is one of Italy's most central transport hubs: it's where the main motorways of Northern Italy meet the Milan-Rome-Naples and Turin-Venice High Speed rail lines. Getting there is easy from any direction.
What to see
By air. Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) is just 6 km from the centre, with domestic and international flights. It's connected to the central station by the Marconi Express, an automated people mover taking about 7 minutes, running from 5:40am to around 1am (after midnight and until 5:40am the connection is covered by night bus line Q). ⚠ The ticket price is variable and several recent sources rank it among the most expensive in Europe for the distance covered: check the current fare at marconiexpress.it before travelling, and consider a taxi (fixed airport-centre fare) as an alternative if travelling in a group.
By train. Bologna Centrale is one of Italy's busiest rail hubs, a junction of the Milan-Rome-Naples and Turin-Venice High Speed lines. Frequent direct connections to all major Italian cities.
By car. Bologna sits at the crossing of the A1 (Milan-Naples), A13 (Padua) and A14 (Adriatic) motorways. The old town is almost entirely a ZTL (restricted traffic zone): best to leave the car in one of the guarded car parks just outside the perimeter.
Did you know…
- Bologna Centrale is among Italy's main rail hubs, at the crossing of the two north-south and east-west High Speed lines.
- The Marconi Express, opened in 2020, is a fully automated electric people mover.
Practical information
| Hours | Marconi Express: monorail running 5:40am-around 1am, night bus line Q the rest of the time. Bologna Centrale: continuous regional and High Speed train service throughout the day. |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Marconi Express: variable fare, check marconiexpress.it (price has risen in recent years). Train: prices vary by booking advance and train type. |
| Accessibility | Airport, Marconi Express and Bologna Centrale all have accessible routes; the station offers RFI's Sala Blu service for assistance to people with reduced mobility. |
| Getting there | Marconi Airport (BLQ): 6 km from centre, connected by Marconi Express. Station: Bologna Centrale, High Speed hub. Car: A1/A13/A14 crossing, old town under ZTL. |
Tips for your visit
- If arriving by plane and travelling as a group, compare the Marconi Express cost with a taxi before choosing.
- If arriving by car, always check the ZTL boundaries before entering the centre: fines for unauthorised access are automatic (cameras).