Getting around Bologna: A guide to public transport

Bologna has a vast and efficient transportation system. Read about the types and prices of public transport and the best alternatives.

Sofia

5 minute read

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Updated on 29 Oct 2024

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Living

Bologna's public transport system is easy to use and fairly reliable. The company that operates Bologna’s public transport is called TPER (Transporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna) and they do a great job of connecting you to the various Bologna neighbourhoods and nearby cities.

Discover the public transport fares and other alternatives in this guide.

Bologna has a good network of inter-city busses and trains that connect to major Italian destinations, such as Milan, Rome and Venice.

Surprisingly, Bologna doesn't have a working tram or metro unlike most major Italian cities. However, a Bologna tram network is currently under construction and it's first line (the Red line) is expected to be operational by 2026 with 3 more lines being added by 2030.

Bologna buses

The bus is the best public transport option in Bologna as it’s a convenient and cost-effective way to move around the city.

The buses connect the various neighbourhoods of Bologna to the city centre and vice versa. The average wait time is 30 minutes to 1 hour. Overall, you can be sure to reach your destination on time since buses in Bologna have reserved lanes on the roads.

What are the bus fares in Bologna?

The bus fares in Bologna are cheap compared to the bus fares in other northern Italian cities. A single-use bus ticket costs €1.50.

We recommend buying the ticket in advance at a machine not only because it’s cheaper but also because sometimes machines on the bus don’t work. The machines also only accept coins and don't give change.

Do not board a bus without a ticket because the fine for travelling without a ticket is €75 if you pay within 5 days, €100 if you’re late, and €6 if you foget your annual pass. Officials often don’t wear uniforms and it’s best not to risk it.

Get a seasonal ticket for cheaper travel throughout Bologna

As a frequent traveller or as an expat living in Bologna, it’s better to get a seasonal ticket (abbonamenti). There’re 3 types of seasonal tickets, all of which allow unlimited travel.

The monthly impersonal ticket is valid until the end of the month. Both the annual tickets are valid for 12 months. Both the impersonal seasonal tickets can be used by others, unlike the personal ticket.

How to get the seasonal ticket

To get any of the seasonal tickets, you need to apply for a personal identification card called the *MiMuovo. You can apply online or purchase it at certain locations, such as the Bologna bus station, or TPER Marconi points. You’ll need a valid ID, such as a passport.

The MiMuovo is valid for 5 years and costs €5.

Around 700 trains and 159,000 passengers pass through Bologna Centrale every day. To use the train, just head to the central station from where you can take a train to the wider Emilia-Romagna region or to other Italian cities.

To travel by trains within the Emilia-Romagna region, you can use the 9 lines operated by trenitaliaTPER on the FER network. To travel to the wider Emilia-Romagna region, you only need an extra-urban travel ticket and the cost depends on the zone you want to travel to.

To travel from Bologna to the rest of Italy, you can use the railway companies Italo and Trenitalia who operate the following trains – Frecciarossa, Frecciaargento, FrecciaBianca and Trenord.

Wondering how much train rides will cost you from Bologna? You’ll be able to reach Florence in less than 45 minutes by paying a minimum of €9.45 for a ticket. Similarly, you can reach Milan and Venice in less than 1.5 hours for less than €15 if you book tickets in advance.

No matter how you decide to travel, you’ll need to buy a TPER ticket to travel by bus or train. You can buy these tickets at:

• Official TPER points
• Official resellers (e.g. cigarette and newspaper stands)
• Self-service ticket issuing machine
• Onboard (This costs more)
• Muver app (Best for expats as it’s in English. Valid on Android)
• Roger app (Valid on Apple and Android)
• Internet (Only for subscription tickets)
• ATM (Only to top up subscription tickets)

Any ticket you buy is valid only after you validate the ticket upon entering the bus or at the train station.

T-Days are special days when parts of the streets in Bologna are exclusively open to pedestrians and cyclists to free up traffic in the centre. T-Days take on the place every weekend and on public holidays from 8:00 A.M. until 22:00 P.M.

The area under T-Days include: Via Rizzoli, Via Ugo Bassi, Via Independenza, Calzorelie, and more.

On these days, it’s best to walk or look for alternatives to the bus.

Bike, taxis and rental cars are other convenient options for getting around Bologna if you don't want to use public transportation.

Bike

Cycling is the most popular mode of transportation chosen by locals in Bologna. It’s also an excellent way to explore the city.

If you don’t own a bike, you can easily rent one at different rental shops throughout the city. Nearby the Central station, you’ll find public bike-sharing services, such as Ride Movi, which charge around €2.30 for the first 30 minutes of e-bike rental and around €2.10 for every 30 minutes after.

If you own a bike, make sure to buy a strong lock as bike theft is common, especially in the university area.

Taxi

The taxi is not popular in Bologna because the city centre is easily accessible by foot. However, taxis are useful if you travel late at night or are in a hurry.

Cotabo is Bologna's main taxi company, with a variety of cars available for booking via the company app or by phone. Taxis are available 24/7 and are usually parked in one of the designated parking lots near the Central Station, the airport, Via Indipendenza, Piazza Malpighi, and Piazza Maggiore.

In general, the fixed cost of a taxi is around €3.40 during the day and €6.10 at night. You can calculate an indicative price on the Cotabo app by entering your departure and arrival points.__

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