Bologna Centrale train station is no puny platform.
800 trains pass through each day carting just under 160,000 passengers. Two dozen platforms connect Italy in ways that would make even Rome blush. The train station in Bologna is in a perfect location to connect northern and southern Italy.
Looking for a high-speed way to get around Italy? Look to the trains at Bologna Centrale station.
Image Credit: Getty Images, claudiodivizia. Image Location: Bologna Centrale station, Bologna, Italy
What to know about Bologna Centrale station
Finding the right train station in Bologna is far from difficult, even if you’re not a pro at reading European train boards.
How many train stations are in Bologna?
Bologna is a major railway hub in Italy and has a number of regional train stations around the greater Bologna area, including Bologna Centrale, Bologna San Ruffillo, Casalecchio Garibaldi, and Bologna Borgo Panigale.
What is the main train station in Bologna?
The main train station in Bologna is Bologna Centrale. All of the regional trains as well as intercity and international trains run through this main railway hub. It is located on the northern end of the city center, one-mile away from Piazza Maggiore. Its address is: Piazza delle Medaglie d'Oro, 40121 Bologna.
Does Bologna airport have a train station?
No, the Bologna airport does not have a proper train station on its grounds, but it does have a dedicated monorail that runs directly into the city center called the Marconi Express.
How to get from Bologna airport to Bologna Centrale?
Getting from Bologna airport to Bologna Centrale is super easy. The Marconi Express monorail runs directly from Bologna airport to the train station Bologna Centrale. Running from 5:40 AM to midnight each day, taking between 7 to 15 minutes from Bologna airport to Bologna Centrale.
Does Bologna train station have luggage storage?
Yes, there is paid luggage storage available at Bologna train station. You’ll find it by following the signs to Piazzale Ovest (that’s “West Yard” in English).
Are there places to shop in Bologna train station?
Since it is the major train station in Bologna, you’ll find more than a newsstand and pharmacy in Bologna Centrale. Cosmetics, books, souvenirs, groceries, clothes, and even tobacco all have their own dedicated storefronts inside the Bologna train station.
What is there to eat at Bologna train station?
You won’t go hungry at Bologna Centrale train station with quick eats like Burger King, KFC, and a few pizza joints in the station. If you’d rather swap the finger-licking colonnello’s crispy chicken for something local, the Emilia Romagna Bistro has a menu of Italian dishes for you to sample.
Image Credit: Getty Images, bennymarty. Image Location: Bologna, Italy
Bologna Centrale: your guide to the Bologna train station
What to do, where to stay, and what to eat around Bologna train station.
Restaurants near Bologna train station
If there’s one meal you eat near Bologna train station, make it one from Ristorante I Portici. Its single Michelin star shines in every dish, from its raw red prawns and Mantuan pumpkin to its Romagnola tartare and sheep sirloin. Kome Ristorante Giapponese has all-you-can-eat sushi, because even in Italy it’s never a bad time to pinch a roll. To please any palate, Il Veliero Ristorante Pizzeria has a great selection of pizza, wine, and Bolognese cuisine.
Things to do near Bologna train station
Stepping off the platform at Bologna Centrale train station puts you a short walk from the historic center so the Piazza Maggiore is a convenient first stop. Head to the 17th-century Porta Galliera gateway then walk the Via dell’Indipendenza down to the Fontana del Nettuno and Palazzo Re Enzo. Pop into the Palazzo d’Accursio art museum, Museo Civico Medievale heritage museum, and Archaeological Museum of Bologna to get your history and culture fix.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Francesco Riccardo Iacomino. Image Location: Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy
Hotels near Bologna train station
Hotel I Portici, housing the Ristorante I Portici, lets you savor and sleep in the best Bologna has to offer. This luxury hotel has an Imperial Wellness Suite with views of the Parco del Pincio and a private wellness area stocked with a sauna, steam room, technogym, and more. 30 meters away from the train station in Bologna, Hotel Millenn is a little more unbuttoned yet still as comfy as can be. Don't mind where you lay your head in Bologna? Take a look at our guide to the best hotels in Bologna.
Ride the rails to Bologna
Think you can't add a slice of Italian Bologna to your stacked Italy itinerary? Think again. Download the Trainline app and grab cheap train tickets to these cities near Bologna:
- Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) to Bologna Centrale: ~ 35m
- Milan (Milano Centrale) to Bologna Centrale: ~ 59m
- Venice (Venezia Santa Lucia) to Bologna Central: ~ 1h 31m
- Rome (Roma Termini) to Bologna Centrale: ~ 2h 12m
- Bari (Bari Centrale) to Bologna Centrale: ~ 6h 12m
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, katleho Seisa. Image Location: Bologna Centrale station, Bologna, Italy
