A trip from Bologna Airport to the city center may take you from as little as 7 minutes to an hour and cost from €4 to about €50. The cheapest way to reach the train station is to take a public bus. The fastest way is to use an electric shuttle Marconi Express, which arrives in Bologna Centrale in only 7 minutes. The most convenient way is to take a taxi or a private transfer, which may cost less than Marconi Express depending on the number of passengers.
Marconi Express - the fastest way to get from Bologna Airport to Bologna Centrale
Monorail train Marconi Express reaches the train station Bologna Centrale in only 7 minutes. It runs from 5:40am to midnight. The website says it’s available 365 days a year, however occasionally it may stop and provide a substitute bus. We recommend checking up-to-date information on the Marconi Express website.
A single ticket to Marconi Express costs €12,80, while a return ticket from the airport of Bologna to the train station and back is €23,30. The discount is valid, if the return is made within 30 days from the outward journey. Children under the age of four can travel for free. Marconi Express also provides discounts for families and groups.
You can buy tickets using automatic vending machines at the departure stations, in various ticketing offices (for example, ‘’Bologna Welcome” information points), and with the Roger App. It’s also possible to access the station directly by putting a contactless credit card or device on incoming and outcoming gates.
To reach the service at the airport, follow ‘’Marconi Express’’ signs once you’ve left the arrivals area. You will find the station on the first (departures) floor. To go from Bologna Centrale to the airport, you can access the entrance at the train station from the Caracci street.
Marconi Express became operational in November 2020 replacing previously used Aerobus - BLQ. At the moment, Bologna airport shuttle bus is no longer available.
Public 944 - the cheapest way to get from Bologna Airport to the city centre
The cheapest way to reach the city centre of Bologna is to take a bus line 944 that departs directly from the airport and arrives at Ospedale Maggiore. A single bus ticket costs only €4 and you can buy it with a vending machine at the last exit, in front of the bus stop. Remember to validate the ticket once onboard.
The ticket for line 944 is valid for 75 minutes and you can use it for more than one ride. If you take another bus with the same ticket, it’s necessary to validate it again.
Hint: twice a day at 00:15 and 00:45 bus line 944 goes directly from Bologna airport to central station (Bologna Centrale).
Airport taxi
You will find a taxi line on the left when you exit the airport. The waiting time is usually short, but it may increase after midnight when Marconi Express isn’t available. If you don’t feel like waiting, you may order a car using the Uber app, but the cost tends to be higher.
If you are two, three or four adults, a taxi from Bologna airport to the city centre is generally more economic than Marconi Express. The fare of airport taxis depends on the period, traffic, number of passengers and baggage items. It will cost approximately €20-25 to get from the airport of Bologna to the train station or any other address in the city center. The same trip with Marconi Express would cost about €25-€50.
To get from Bologna Centrale to the airport, you can find a taxi in front of the train station. Other taxi ranks in the center of Bologna are located in Piazza Malpighi and Piazza Re Enzo. Alternatively, you can order a taxi by calling +39 051 372727 or +39 051 4590 or with one of the apps: TaxiClick, Taxi CAT or Uber.
Transfer (chauffered car rental services)
You can either order a transfer on your own or ask the hosts of your accommodation in Bologna to do it for you. This can be especially useful if you arrive after midnight, when the shuttle train isn’t available and it takes more time to get a taxi.
If you stay in one of our apartments in Bologna, we can organize a transfer for you. The driver will wait for you in the arrivals area and will bring you directly to the apartment. For more information, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp.
From Guglielmo Marconi Airport to Florence, Rimini and other destinations
Bologna International Airport is well connected to many cities in Italy. From here you can take a bus to Ferrara, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and Rimini in the Emilia Romagna region and Florence in nearby Tuscany. Please note that we don’t recommend skipping Bologna 🙂.
You will find more information on all the bus connections and buy aiport bus tickets here. To reach other cities in Italy, you will need to take a train from Bologna Centrale.
Luggage storage in Bologna
If you land early and need to drop off your bags, you can take advantage of the luggage storage in the center of Bologna, at Via Monte Grappa, 22. It's a self-service luggage deposit with automatic lockers open every day from 08:00 till 22:00.
The rates start from 5 euro per medium locker, which can contain 2 cabin size suitcases and one or two backpacks. There's no need to book the service in advance - you can visit the luggage storage directly and book onsite.