Bolonia Airport Transfers

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 centre. It is a relatively short journey, but it can be a real pain 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 at your disposal to get from Bologna airport to the city centre. Which is a fast intercity journey that can take place in different ways for all kinds of pockets and all kinds of needs.

The first thing you need to know about Bologna airport is that it is called Gugliemo Marconi. This place is characterised by being named after a local Nobel Prize winner and by being the epicentre for aircraft traffic for those wishing to visit the Emilia-Romagna region. It is located in the northeastern corner of Bologna and is fortunately quite close to the city centre. It has been a favourite accommodation area for many tourists.

Now, if you are looking for comfort at convenient fares when leaving Bologna airport to reach the city centre in a short time, then you have to opt for carpooling. This can be done in two ways, either through a web application in which a person offers their car to those travelling in the same direction as them or by paying for a vacancy inside a minibus or a private car.

Both alternatives are quite favourable 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. However, I would advise you to go for the city tours before opting for other options, as this is a city that has a lot to offer.

You should 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.

Interesting details

• Journey time: 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, non-stop trip to the centre of Bologna should take about 25 minutes at the most.
• Price: it all depends on the number of people interested in carpooling as well as on the time of the year. During busy tourist seasons, people are likely to take advantage of higher rideshare fares. However, the price is always around 10 euros per passenger.
• Advantages of using this method: ridesharing 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 transport: Uber's ridesharing options can be a good alternative, although the favourite option among Italian users and the one that will guarantee you the best chance of getting a ride is BlaBlaCar.

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

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

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

So this can be a good alternative if you have no 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 around 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 you should be in the city centre in about 25 minutes, although this time will be longer if you are in one of the residential neighbourhoods at the eastern end of Bologna.
• Price: A private transfer from Bologna airport to the city centre is undoubtedly the most expensive of the available options. The approximate price can vary between 90 and 200 euros depending on the type of vehicle ordered, the time of the year 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 when visiting Bologna you do not plan to make an exception to this rule then a private transfer is your best option.
• How to book this transport: there are different ways to book a private transfer from Bologna airport 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.

There is also the fact that Bologna is a city that is committed to modernisation 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 railway station.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this train is the fact that you do not 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 in the heart of the city at the most important railway station of the city. The frequency with which trains arrive at the airport is also important, as 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 the outward and return journeys are quite convenient and above all they 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 located in the city centre. So if your accommodation is close to Piazza Maggiore or within the central district of Bologna then you will have to opt for a taxi or a bus to get you to your hotel.

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

Interesting details

• Journeytime: The journey from the airport to the train station takes about eight minutes in total. Add another bus or taxi ride to your accommodation and it all depends on where that location is in the city. If it is right in the centre of Bologna, the whole transfer is likely to take about half an hour.
• Price: the fare may be subject to adjustment, but in general the one-way trip costs around 9 euros. That whereas if you are looking for a return 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 mobilises the most users when it comes to taking tourists from Bologna airport 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.

Buses have always been an alternative available for those looking to save money when travelling from an airport to the city centre and in the case of Bologna this is no exception. One of the options available to you would be to take the 944 bus 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 centre, but depending on the time and date you visit you would have to use an app like Google Maps to choose the most appropriate option.

If you are thinking of places where you can buy your bus ticket you should know that inside the airport itself there are vending machines as well as you could also use the official website for the city's public transport. The price of the bus transfer includes the connection that will take you to your accommodation, but this has to be done within 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 in the evening. At the same time, being such an economical alternative, you'll have plenty of money to spend on some of the best things to do in Bologna at night. These might be of interest to you depending on the type of trip you are planning.

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

Interesting details

• Journeytime: this transport alternative is the least convenient for those who are short on time. Waiting for the bus and making the necessary connection to get to the bus stop closest to your hotel could take you up to two hours in total.
• Price: the price of the bus ticket is about 4 euros.
• Advantages of using this method: the financial savings are drastic compared to other alternatives and at the same time it is a good way to familiarise 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 Bologna airport.

Finally, there is the fact that you also have the alternative of taking an Uber or taxi from Bologna airport to take you seam lessly to your accommodation in the city. This option will be just as fast as a private transfer, but 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 your ride if the demand is too significant due to an impressive arrival of tourists in the city. In a way the same happens with a taxi, as the number of vehicles available will depend on the number of people you have in front of you in the queue waiting at the airport exit.

Anyway you have to know that it is one of the best options among the things to do in spring in Bologna, as the tourist influx is not so significant and the prices go down because the demand is lower. On the other hand, it may not be one of the best things to do in Bologna at Christmas, as many people will think about using an Uber or a taxi to make it more comfortable at a time when thousands of people want the same thing.

Interesting details

• Duration of the trip: the trip by taxi or Uber will take exactly the same time as a private transfer. This means that you should find yourself in the city centre in about 30 minutes, even when there is traffic.
• Price: The approximate fare for an Uber or taxi will always depend on demand. In the case of taxis, as taximeters are used, you will probably always pay around 20 or 22 euros at the most.
• Advantages of using this method: a taxi or an Uber are alternatives that are usually available at all hours and at all times even if high demand can become a headache.
• How to book this transport: It is not advisable to book an Uber or taxi for the simple fact that there is no guarantee that you will arrive at the airport exactly when you want to. When you book an Uber or taxi in advance, you are likely to have to pay and that amount could be lost, which is not the case with a private transfer.