The cheapest and fastest trains from Bologna Centrale to Palermo
Cheapest price
$149
Average price
$149
Fastest journey
17 h 39 m
Average duration
17 h 45 m
Trains per day
2
Distance
730 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Bologna Centrale to Palermo is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bologna Centrale to Palermo will cost around $149 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $149.
Of the 2 trains that leave Bologna Centrale for Palermo on Fri, May 08, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Fri, May 08 the direct trains cover the 730 km distance in an average of 17 h 45 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 17 h 39 m .
On Fri, May 08 the slowest trains will take 17 h 50 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
10:05 PM17h50Bologna Centrale3:55 PMPalermo$1491One-way0 transfers
12:33 AM17h39Bologna Centrale6:12 PMPalermo$1501One-way0 transfers
12:33 AM17h39Bologna Centrale6:12 PMPalermo$1501One-way0 transfers
10:05 PM17h50Bologna Centrale3:55 PMPalermo$1491One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Bologna Centrale to Palermo
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Bologna Centrale to Palermo among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $39. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 43m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $39, and a flight costs an average of $24.
Distance: 453 miles (730 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$140 Average price | $97 Average price Cheapest | $176 Average price | $153 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
15h 1m Average total duration 14h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 17h 24m Average total duration 16h 54m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 43m Average total duration Fastest 1h 43m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 24h 44m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Bologna Centrale to Palermo:
A bus is $43 (€35) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Bologna Centrale to Palermo costing on average $140 (€112).
A bus is $79 (€63) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Bologna Centrale to Palermo costing on average $176 (€141).
Other travel options to Palermo take longer:
Train takes on average 14h 31m.
Bus takes on average 16h 54m.
The journey is about 10h 13m faster (14h 31m by train vs 24h 44m by car) and roughly $12 (€10) cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($140 (€112) vs $153 (€122)). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with Intercity Notte.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Live departures
Bologna Centrale to Palermo train times
The table below shows live departures for Bologna Centrale to Palermo trains for today, Thursday, May 7. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 9:00 PM Bologna Centrale | 18h55 | 3:55 PM Palermo | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Friday, May 8 | |||||
![]() | 12:33 AM Bologna Centrale | 17h39 | 6:12 PM Palermo | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Bologna Centrale to Palermo by train, bus, or flight
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
May 08
May 09
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
May 14
Journey information
Overview: Train from Bologna Centrale to Palermo
Trains from Bologna Centrale to Palermo run on average 6 times per day, taking around 14h 31m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $75 (€60) but you can travel from only $24 (€19) by flight.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:33, the last at 22:39. The fastest train covers the 453 miles (730 km) distance in 17h 29m.
Distance 453 miles (730 km) |
Average train duration 14h 31m |
Cheapest ticket price $75 (€60) |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 17h 29m |
First train 12:33 AM |
Last train 10:39 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Train companies: Intercity Notte, Intercity, Italo from Bologna Centrale to Palermo trainsIntercity Notte, Intercity, Italo trains will get you between Bologna Centrale and Palermo from $24 (€19). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Intercity Notte
Intercity
Italo
FAQs: Trains from Bologna Centrale to Palermo
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bologna Centrale to Palermo by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Palermo, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Bologna Centrale to Palermo
- Mon - Sun: 06:00 - 21:00
- Free Wi-Fi.
- Luggage facility, open daily from 07:00 to 22:00, is located in front of binario 7 Ovest (Track 7 West).
- Burger King
- A Cafè
- VyTA Boulangerie
- Venchi
- Scambio
- Juice Bar
- KFC
- Dispensa Emilia
- Lavazza
- Mokà
- & more
- Accessible facilities including barrier-free restrooms, elevators and ramps. Sala Blu mobility assistance available from 07:45 to 22:30 with advanced one-hour notice.
- Starhotels Excelsior
- Millenn Hotel Bologna
- UNA Hotels
- Mon - Sun: 06:00 - 21:00
- Customer service center is on the ground floor and open every day from 06:30 to 23:00.
- Bus lines: 21, 25, 30, 36, 61, 62, 77, BLQ
- Monorail lines: Marconi Express
- Train lines: FR, FA, FB, IC, ICN, R, Italo, ÖBB EC, EN
Most popular train connections from Bologna Centrale
More options for your journey from Bologna Centrale to Palermo
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