Bolonia Airport Transfers

Knowing the transportation options is key to have a good logistics in a trip abroad. For this reason I invite you to familiarize yourself with the different transfer options that exist between the airport and the center of Bologna.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

10 min read

Bolonia Airport Transfers

Inside Bologna airport | Robyn Lee

The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is a city that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every week of the year. In fact it is one of the most important cities in northern Italy and therefore the best things to see and do in Bologna are constantly changing to diversify the cultural offer. In this context it is very appropriate to know how to get from the airport to the city center. Which is a relatively short journey, but that can become a martyrdom if you are not aware of the right options.

So I advise you to continue reading this compilation of alternatives that I have prepared for you. Each and every one of them are the different means you have at your disposal to move from the airport of Bologna to the city center. Which is a fast intercity trip that can be given in different ways for all kinds of pockets and all kinds of needs.

1. A shared transfer, comfort at a reasonable price

In Bologna| ©Marianna Kovaleva
In Bologna| ©Marianna Kovaleva

The first thing you need to know about Bologna airport is that it is called Gugliemo Marconi. This place is noted for being named after a local Nobel Prize winner and for being the epicenter for aircraft traffic for those who wish to visit the Emilia-Romagna region. It is located in the northeastern corner of Bologna and is fortunately quite close to the city center. It has been a favorite lodging area for many tourists.

Now, if you are looking for comfort at convenient rates when leaving Bologna airport to reach the city center in a short time, then you have to opt for shared rides. These can be given in two ways, either through a web application in which a person offers their car to those traveling towards the same direction as them or either by paying for a vacancy inside a minibus or a private car.

Both alternatives are quite favorable because they offer you comfort, speed and above all economic savings. This means that you can have more money to participate in other interesting things like the best tours of Bologna or even some of the best excursions from Bologna. Although the truth is that I advise you to bet on city tours before opting for other options, as this is a city that has a lot to offer.

You have to know that this alternative is more recommended for those who need to make several transfers if they opt for public transport or for those who feel that a private transfer is too expensive for them.

Details of interest

  • Duration of the trip: it all depends on the amount of traffic at the time of your arrival in the city as well as your exact location within the metropolitan area of Bologna. However, a shared ride without interruptions to the center of Bologna should take about 25 minutes at the most.
  • Price: it all depends on the number of people interested in sharing a ride as well as the time of the year. During busy tourist seasons, it is likely that people will take advantage of the opportunity to increase the price of a shared trip. However, the price always tends to be around 10 euros per passenger.
  • Advantages of using this method: a shared ride can be an excellent alternative to meet people and above all to leave the airport quickly in the comfort of a relatively private car.
  • How to book this transportation: Uber ridesharing options can be a good alternative although the favorite option among Italian users and that will guarantee you a better chance of getting a ride is BlaBlaCar.

Book the best tours in Bologna

2. A private transfer, comfort and exclusivity

Private transfer| ©Ricky Hernandez
Private transfer| ©Ricky Hernandez

On the other hand, there is the possibility of having a private transfer from the Bologna airport to the city center or any of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. This would be a transfer that has nothing to do with ridesharing apps or services that resemble the experience of taking a cab.

You have to know that this option is defined and stands out among other alternatives for offering a higher degree of comfort and exclusivity. Since we are talking about transfers that would be given in high-end vehicles. Or at least distinguished from the typical regular car that is used for the transfer of tourists.

In fact, when booking a private transfer from the airport of Bologna to some accommodation in the center of the city it is possible to choose from four-passenger cars to vehicles with the capacity for seven people. This makes it an ideal alternative for those who want to travel as a family and live a more exclusive and private situation.

So this can be a good alternative if you do not have budgetary constraints. In fact, private transfers could also be a good option to move within the city between the best museums in Bologna, in case the best tourist buses in Bologna or the idea of walking the city is not too interesting for you.

Interesting details

  • Duration of the trip: the duration of a private transfer would basically be the same as a shared transfer. This means that after about 25 minutes you should be in the city center, although this time will be longer if you are in one of the residential neighborhoods located in the eastern end of Bologna.
  • Price: a private transfer from Bologna airport to the city center is undoubtedly the most expensive alternative among the existing options. The approximate price can vary between 90 and 200 euros depending on the type of vehicle ordered, the time of the year in which you visit the city and the amount of time in advance you book the service.
  • Advantages of using this method: if you are interested in living a totally exclusive experience throughout your trip in Italy and at the time of visiting Bologna you do not plan an exception to this rule then a private transfer is your best option.
  • How to book this transportation: there are different ways to book a private transfer from the airport of Bologna to any point of your accommodation. Within that diversity of options the best bet will always be an online booking of the service, as sometimes there are free cancellations or easy adjustments to the itinerary.

Buy your tickets to the best tourist buses in Bologna

3. The train, the most modern option

Bologna Train| ©jaime antonio alvarez
Bologna Train| ©jaime antonio alvarez

There is also the fact that Bologna is a city that is committed to modernization and the use of public transport as an excellent form of urban mobility that reduces pollution on an increasing scale. It is in this context that the Marconi Express appears , which is an all-electric elevated train that connects Bologna airport with the city's central train station.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this train is the fact that you don't have to leave the airport to use it, you just have to leave the arrivals area. At the same time, in less than 8 minutes you are already in the urban heart of the city at the most important train station of the city. The frequency with which trains arrive at the airport is also important, since in high season there is a train every four minutes and in normal conditions a train should arrive at the airport every eight minutes.

The fares for both one-way and round-trip trains are quite convenient and above all are a very appropriate option for those who have no problem with using public transport. However, the issue is that the train station is not exactly in the center of the city. So if your accommodation is near Piazza Maggiore or within the central district of Bologna then you will have to opt for a cab or a bus to get you to your hotel.

Either way, you should know that familiarizing yourself with the location of the Bologna train station is appropriate, as excursions to the outskirts of the city are one of the best things to do in Bologna during the fall. In fact it could be a good transportation alternative if you are interested in visiting some of the best automobile museums in Bologna. These are located in other nearby cities and are connected by Italy's excellent railway infrastructure.

Interesting details

  • Travel time: the trip as such from the airport to the train station takes about eight minutes in total. If you add another bus or cab ride to your accommodation it all depends on where in the city that place is located. If it is right in the center of Bologna, the whole transfer will probably take about half an hour.
  • Price: it is possible that the fare may have readjustments, but in general the one way trip costs about 9 euros approximately. That while if you are looking for a round trip ticket that you can use for your return to the airport then you could pay around 16 euros.
  • Advantages of using this method: this alternative is the most modern and the one that mobilizes more users when it comes to take tourists from the airport of Bologna to the city. At the same time it is a very economical and even entertaining experience considering how interesting a train with these characteristics can be.
  • How to book this transport: there is no need to book this means of transport and in fact it is characterized by the ease with which you can use it whenever you want.

4. A bus, slower but cheaper

Bologna bus| ©Robert Bartkowiak
Bologna bus| ©Robert Bartkowiak

Buses have always been an alternative available for those looking to save money when going from an airport to the city center and in the case of Bologna this is no exception. One of the options available to you would be to take bus 944 and then get off at the Ospedale Maggiore stop. That point will be a bit closer to a bunch of other city buses that will take you directly to the city center, but depending on the time and date you visit you would have to use an application like Google Maps to choose the most appropriate option.

If you think of places where you can buy the bus ticket you have to know that inside the airport itself there are vending machines as well as you could also use the official website for public transport in the city. The price of the bus transfer includes the connection that will take you to your accommodation, but this has to be up to 75 minutes after the first validation of the ticket.

A very convenient aspect of using the city buses from the airport to your hotel on your arrival in the city is that they usually run with a very convenient frequency from six in the morning until eight at night. At the same time, being such an economical alternative, you will have plenty of money to spend on some of the best things to do in Bologna at night. Which might interest you depending on the type of trip you are planning.

In fact, you could also invest your money savings in some of the best gastronomic tours in Bologna. These will allow you to get to know the flavors of the city as well as explore some of its most iconic sites.

Interesting details

  • Duration of the trip: this transportation alternative is the least convenient for those who are short on time. While waiting for the bus and making the necessary connection to get to the bus stop closest to your hotel, it could take up to two hours in total.
  • Price: the price of the bus ticket is about 4 euros approximately.
  • Advantages of using this method: the economic savings are drastic compared to other alternatives and at the same time it is a good way to familiarize yourself with the city's public bus system.
  • How to book this transport: this is not a bookable alternative, as it depends entirely on the arrival of the bus at the bus stop just outside the Bologna airport.

5. A cab or an Uber, the most frequent option

Using Uber| ©Dan Gold
Using Uber| ©Dan Gold

Finally, there is the fact that you also have the alternative of taking an Uber or a cab from Bologna airport that will take you without interruption to your accommodation in the city. This option will be just as fast as a private transfer, but it differs in the fact that it is not as exclusive and depends 100% on the demand of other tourists.

And in the case of an Uber you could spend 20, 30 or even 40 minutes waiting for someone to accept the trip if the demand is too significant due to an impressive arrival of tourists to the city. In a way the same happens with a cab, as the amount of vehicles available will depend on the amount of people you have ahead of you in the queue waiting at the airport exit.

Anyway you have to know that it is one of the best options within the things to do in spring in Bologna, as the tourist influx is not so significant and prices go down because the demand is lower. On the contrary, it may not be part of the best things to do in Bologna at Christmas, since many people will think of using an Uber or a cab to favor their comfort in a season when thousands of people want the same thing.

Interesting details

  • Duration of the trip: the trip by cab or an Uber will last exactly the same as a private transfer. Which means that in about 30 minutes approximately you should find yourself in the city center even when there is traffic.
  • Price: the approximate fare of an Uber or cab will always depend on demand. In the case of cabs as they run taximeters you will probably always pay around 20 or 22 euros at most.
  • Advantages of using this method: a cab or an Uber are alternatives that are usually available at all hours and at all times even if the high demand can become a headache.
  • How to book this transportation: it is not convenient to book an Uber or a cab for the simple fact that there is no guarantee that you will arrive at the airport exactly at the time you want. And when you book an Uber or cab in advance you will probably have to pay and that amount could be lost, which is not the case with a private transfer.