Bologna, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Bologna - Transportation

Bologna Transportation

Bologna is a fairly compact city making it easy to get around. Most of the sights are within easy walking distance of one another with traffic not cluttered on the roads. Much of Bologna is for the pedestrians, with an efficient bus and railway service network. Alternatively, if you prefer to be driven around Bologna, there are plenty of taxis - although these can prove to be a more expensive option.

Road

Having a car in Bologna can be a hindrance, but is essential if you want to explore the surrounding Italian countryside. Parking within the city can be tricky too. Bologna's highways are well-networked, making the city accessible from Italy and bordering countries. Route A1 also called 'Highway of the Sun,' links Milan, Florence and Rome. Highway A13 connects the city to Trieste, Udine, Venice, Padua and Ferrara. The A14 heads directly from Bologna to Ancona, Bari, Rimini and Ravenna.

Car Rentals

Many renowned car hire companies have based their offices in Bologna such as Avis at Via Pietramellara 27d and Hertz at Via G Amendola 16. The legal age limit to drive in Bologna is above 23 and all drivers must possess either a valid EU licence or an International Driving Permit. Car rental in Bologna is expensive but basic insurance is included in the price of the car hire. For an additional premium, extra cover can be purchased and this will be highly beneficial to avoid any surplus charges in the case of an accident. The agency has the right to check a person’s driving record for violations before approving the rental.

Taxis

You can hail taxis from the street, but cabs can be hard to come by. Visitors have the option of either hiring a cab at a taxi rank or telephoning the city’s taxi co-operative.

Travelling by taxi in Bologna is expensive and passengers have to incur an additional charge levied according to luggage quantity, if travelling on Sundays and when they wish to journey between 10:00 pm - 7:00 am. If booking by telephone, passengers will be charged for the trip to the pick-up point. Taxi fares are calculated to include taxes and service charge - further tipping therefore is at the customer’s discretion. Try to negotiate the taxi fare in advance if possible, to avoid overcharging. You should only use the official licensed taxis in Bologna, which are clearly identified by the taxi sign on the roof and a numbered shield on the side.

Limousines

Luxury cars chauffeured by English-speaking drivers are offered at Essediesse (Via Jacopo della Lana 8), and Linea Blu (Via Corazza 3).

Bus

Bologna operates an efficient bus service. The bus station in Bologna is situated at the ATC (Azienda Trasporti Comunali) at Piazza XX Settembre and has services running every hour for Ferrara, Imola, Modena and Ravenna. There are also less frequent services to many other destinations in the region and some international buses to Amsterdam, Paris, London, Brussels, Prague and Warsaw. You can purchase bus tickets at many booths and tobacconists in Bologna. Bus route maps can also be purchased from the tourist office. Not all bus routes operate on Sundays.

On average, routes run daily between 6:30 am and 11:00 pm. Tickets allow the traveller to change buses or make a return journey within the hour. As it is with the trains, travellers must validate their bus tickets by punching them at the machine upon boarding the bus.

Buses offer access to Bologna at a leisurely pace. Overall fares are lower than other forms of public transportation. Some travellers may find long-distance bus travel uncomfortable due to the lack of sleeping accommodation.

Trains

The rail network offers a relaxing alternative for the traveller with time to spare. Advanced reservations are recommended to ensure reduced fares and availability of desired accommodation.

Bologna is a most important railway nucleus in Italy. Given its privileged position, it benefits from constant infrastructure developments. With the introduction of the high-speed train and improvements to the Intercity and Eurostar lines, daily connections are available not only to the rest of Italy, but also to major cities throughout Europe.

Trenitalia's EuroStar Trains provide the fastest service to and from Italy's major centres. They also provide a high-level of comfort for the more discerning traveller.

Trenitalia's Intercity Trains reach the most number of destinations throughout Italy. The service offers 120 trains a day, reaching over 212 stations throughout the country.

If you take the train in Italy, you have to stamp your ticket in one of the yellow machines before boarding the train, otherwise you risk a fine. Do remember that for ES (Eurostar) and IC (Intercity) trains, you have to pay extra. Be aware, trains in Bologna are sometimes rerouted to different platforms. This can happen up to a few minutes before departure and very often is only mentioned in Italian. Therefore, always ask before you get into the train and check on the announcement boards on each platform.

Bicycle and Scooter Hire

Bicycles and scooters are available for hire from Senzauto, at the train station in Piazza Medaglie d’Oro. Visitors should ask for ‘Noleggi Biciclette’ (Bicycle hire).

Air

Bologna is served by technologically advanced airports, namely Bologna International Airport (Guglielmo Marconi Airport) and Forli Airport (Società Esercizio Aeroporti). Guglielmo Marconi Airport is the 3rd largest in Italy and handles more than 3,000,000 passengers annually. The airport features many amenities, such as restaurants, duty-free shopping and baggage storage facilities. Guglielmo Marconi Airport, located north-west of the city at Borgo Panigale, is serviced mainly by European and intra-continental airlines. You can fly in from Rome, Venice, Pisa, Frankfurt, Paris, London etc.

Bologna Forli International Airport is a smaller airport serving both Bologna and the nearby town of Forli. Airlines such as Windjet, Skyline, Transatlantic and Ryanair all pick-up and drop-off passengers here; the airport also offers long-term parking facilities. Other airports in the neighbourhood of Bologna are Verona, Rimini and Florence.

Many charters with weekly frequency regularly connect Bologna with other cities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The airlines serving Bologna regularly are Air France, Air Littoral, Airone, Albania Airlines, Alitalia, Australian Airlines, British Airways, Crossair-Swissair, Lufthansa, Meridiana, Sabena, SAS, and Tap-Air Portugal.

Hotels in Bologna, Italy