Bologna Airport to City Center: Marconi Express, Bus Q and Taxi, With Official Fares (2026)

The fastest way from Bologna airport to city center is the Marconi Express monorail. It reaches Bologna Centrale station in about 7 minutes. Also, a metered taxi is the door-to-door alternative. At night, however, a city bus takes over.

Last updated: September 28, 2026

Then, once your bags are at the hotel, food is the reason most people come. Our page on a Bologna food tour compares two ways to taste the city on your first day.

Bologna airport to city center at a glance

In short, the monorail wins on speed and simplicity. Meanwhile, the taxi wins when you share it or sleep far from the station. So check your hotel address first, then pick the mode.

Which way from Bologna airport to the city center suits you

Choose the Marconi Express if you land between 5:40 and midnight and travel light or medium. Similarly, it suits hotels near the station, along Via dell’Indipendenza and around Piazza Maggiore.

Choose a taxi if you are three or four adults sharing, or you have a lot of luggage. Also pick it for hotels near Santo Stefano, Strada Maggiore or the Fiera district. For example, four adults pay €51.20 in monorail tickets. By contrast, a single taxi meter covers everyone, so it is worth asking the driver for an estimate first.

Choose bus Q if your flight lands after midnight, when the monorail is closed. It is also the cheapest ride, although it is slower than the monorail.

Choose a coach if, above all, you are heading straight to Florence, Modena or the Adriatic coast. In that case, you skip the city and its station altogether.

Marconi Express: the fastest route from Bologna airport to the city center

The monorail is the default link from Bologna airport to the city center. According to the Marconi Express site (checked September 2026), the ride takes about 7 minutes on a dedicated line. In addition, the airport’s own page says it runs from 5:40 to midnight, every day of the year. Trains leave every 7 to 15 minutes.

Where to find it at each end

• At the airport. Go up to the departures level. A covered walkway leads from there to the monorail station, according to the operator’s service page.
• At Bologna Centrale. The line ends inside the atrium on Via de’ Carracci, on the north side of the station. From the Piazza Medaglie d’Oro entrance, you reach it through the pedestrian underpasses.
• Accessibility. All stations are barrier-free, with wide gates, lifts and level boarding, the operator says.

Tickets, family fare and contactless

According to the official fares page (checked September 2026), a single costs €12.80 and a return costs €23.30. You must make the return trip within 30 days. There is also a family ticket at €25.60 one way. It covers up to two adults and three children aged 5 to 16. As a result, a family of four pays half the price of four singles.

• Tap and go. You can skip the ticket machine. Instead, tap a contactless bank card or phone at the Pay&Go gates. Each traveler needs their own card or ticket.
• Other ways to buy. The operator also sells tickets online, in the Muver and Roger apps and at station machines.
• A free bus ride. Every monorail ticket is also valid on TPER urban buses for 75 minutes after you pass the gates. So your onward bus from the station is included.

Check the service notices before you fly

However, the monorail sometimes closes for maintenance. For example, a notice of September 25, 2026 announced two closures. They run from September 29 to October 1 and from October 3 to 6, 2026. During those days, then, shuttle buses run from 5:40 to midnight. They leave from the ground floor at the arrivals exit and stop on Via Carracci at the station. The ride takes about 35 to 40 minutes, with a bus every 16 to 18 minutes. Monorail tickets stay valid, so you pay nothing extra.

Bus Q: from Bologna airport to the city center at night

TPER, the local transit company, replaced the old airport buses with line Q in May 2025. According to TPER (checked September 2026), the line uses the urban fare of €2.30 and runs every 30 minutes. By day, it links the airport with the Ospedale Maggiore hospital, west of the center. Between midnight and early morning, however, it runs to Bologna Centrale instead. The Marconi Express site points to bus Q from midnight to 5:40, when the monorail is closed.

• Night stop at the station. The airport lists the station stop as Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro, with a ride of about 30 minutes.
• Tickets. All urban tickets work on line Q, and so does a Marconi Express ticket, TPER says. You can also tap a contactless bank card on board.
• Older guides are out of date. Line Q replaced lines 940, 944 and 949, so ignore any advice that names them.

Once in town, the same urban ticket covers city buses. According to the TPER fares page (checked September 2026), it costs €2.30 and lasts 75 minutes. A 24-hour ticket costs €9.

Taxi from Bologna airport to the city center: how the fare works

Unlike Florence, however, Bologna has no fixed airport fare. Instead, the meter runs, and the city sets the rates. The City of Bologna tariff table has applied since January 1, 2025 (checked September 2026). Under it, the minimum charge from Bologna airport to the city center or anywhere else is €12.80. That amount includes the first 6 km. The station, by comparison, lies 6 km from the airport, according to the airport.

• Supplements. The table adds €2.20 on public holidays from 6:00 to 22:00 and €3.15 at night from 22:00 to 6:00. In addition, each suitcase adds €0.60.
• Time. A ride to the center takes about 20 minutes, according to Bologna Welcome, the city’s tourist board.
• Booking by phone. The airport taxi page lists two local cooperatives: Cotabo (+39 051 372727) and CAT (+39 051 4590).
• Use licensed cabs only. Take a taxi from the official rank, and ask for an estimate to your hotel before you set off.

Meanwhile, tipping is optional. For local habits, see our guide to tipping in Italy. Before you check in, also look up the city tax in our guide to the Italy tourist tax.

Where to stay: pick your route by hotel area

In practice, the right route from Bologna airport to the city center depends on your street. The old center is compact and walkable. Still, cobbles and porticoes slow down big suitcases. So if your hotel sits on the far side of the Two Towers, the taxi is often the simpler choice. For your days by area, see our Bologna itinerary. Also, our list of things to do in Bologna covers the sights.

Affiliate links: if you book through them, Italy2Love earns a commission at no extra cost to you.

Driving and coaches: when to skip the city center

Renting a car at the airport makes sense only if you leave the city right away. In fact, the historic center is a limited traffic zone, or ZTL. According to Bologna Welcome (checked September 2026), it applies from 7:00 to 20:00 every day. Also, electronic Sirio cameras watch the gates. In addition, Via Rizzoli, Via dell’Indipendenza and Via Ugo Bassi are closed to private cars around the clock. Hotels can arrange access for guests, so ask yours before you drive in. Our guides to driving in Italy and car rental in Italy explain the rest.

However, not every trip from Bologna airport ends in the city center. The airport’s bus page (checked September 2026) lists direct coaches to other cities. For example, they reach Florence in about 90 minutes, Modena in about 50 and Ferrara in about 60. Cesena and Rimini, on the coast, take about 90 minutes. Fares and times are set by each operator, so check before you fly.

Onward trains from Bologna Centrale

Bologna Centrale is one of Italy’s main rail hubs. As a result, many travelers go from Bologna airport to the city center only to catch a train. Most high-speed trains to Florence, Milan, Venice and Rome use the underground platforms. So allow extra time for escalators and signs between the monorail and your train.

Travel times and fares vary by train and by booking date. For how the ticket types work, see our guide to trains in Italy. Bologna also sits on the route in our Florence to Venice train guide. Flying into Florence instead? Then see Florence airport to the city center.

Day trips from Bologna by theme

Bologna makes an easy base for Emilia-Romagna. For example, Modena is the home of traditional balsamic vinegar. Our page on a Modena balsamic vinegar tour compares two visits to producers. Car fans head to Maranello instead, and our page on a Ferrari tour in Maranello covers the options. For the full picture of museums and factory visits, read our Motor Valley guide.

Meanwhile, Ravenna holds some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in Europe. Our page on a Ravenna mosaics tour compares guided visits. Finally, Parma is the place for Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto, as our Parma food tours guide explains. Heading on to Ravenna? Our guide to a Ravenna day trip covers the direct train from Bologna Centrale.

Tours and experiences for your first days in Bologna

These experience pages on our site suit a first stay in Bologna, with prices and ratings read on Viator:

• Bologna food tour: markets, shops and local specialties in the old center.
• Bologna cooking class: learn to make fresh pasta by hand.
• Modena balsamic vinegar tour: a day trip to a producer near Modena.
• Ferrari tour in Maranello: the Motor Valley’s most famous name.
• Ravenna mosaics tour: the UNESCO-listed mosaics of Ravenna.
• Parma food tour with Parmigiano and prosciutto: cheese and ham at the source.

For more choice, see our best food tours in Bologna. Also, browse all experiences and tours in Italy.

Bologna airport to city center: frequently asked questions

How long does it take from Bologna airport to the city center?

The Marconi Express monorail takes about 7 minutes to Bologna Centrale, according to the operator (checked September 2026). By contrast, a taxi to the center takes about 20 minutes, according to Bologna Welcome.

How much is the Marconi Express from Bologna airport?

A single costs €12.80 and a return €23.30, used within 30 days. Also, a family ticket for up to two adults and three children aged 5 to 16 costs €25.60.

Is there a fixed taxi fare from Bologna airport to the city center?

No. Taxis use the meter, with a minimum of €12.80 from the airport that includes the first 6 km. Night, holiday and luggage supplements apply, according to the City of Bologna table.

How do I get from Bologna airport to the city at night?

The monorail runs from 5:40 to midnight. Outside those hours, take TPER bus line Q to the station at the €2.30 urban fare, or a taxi.

Does the Marconi Express ticket include a city bus?

Yes. According to the operator, every monorail ticket is also valid on TPER urban buses for 75 minutes.