- Recommended
Museo del Santuario di San Francesco di Paola
Museum at the sanctuary presenting objects, documents, and devotional material linked to Saint Francis of Paola and the order he founded.
Cheapest price on Sep 19
€35
Average ticket price on Sep 19
€68
Fastest journey on Sep 19
5 h 40 m
Average journey duration on Sep 19
6 h 3 m
Trains on Sep 19
17
Distance
690 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Bologna to Paola is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bologna to Paola will cost around €68 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €35.
On Sat, Sep 19, we found 17 trains from Bologna to Paola, including 10 direct services.
On Sat, Sep 19 the direct trains cover the 690 km distance in an average of 6 h 3 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 5 h 40 m .
On Sat, Sep 19 the slowest trains will take 6 h 23 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.
Intercity 1589
Intercity 597+
InterCityNotte 795
Intercity 583 · Intercity 555
FRECCIAROSSA 8419
6143
FRECCIAROSSA 9639
FRECCIAROSSA 8519
FRECCIAROSSA 8419
FRECCIAROSSA 9623
6143Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Bologna to Paola among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €59 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 8h 13m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €59, while a train costs an average of €107.
Distance: 428 miles (690 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€107 Average price | €59 Average price Cheapest | €189 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
8h 13m Average total duration Fastest 7h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 12h 12m Average total duration 11h 42m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 46m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Bologna to Paola:
A bus is €47 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Bologna to Paola costing on average €107.
Other travel options to Paola take longer:
Bus takes on average 11h 42m.
The journey is about 1h 3m faster (7h 43m by train vs 8h 46m by car) and roughly €82 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (€107 vs €189). 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 Frecciarossa, Italo, Intercity Notte.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Bologna to Paola trains for tomorrow, Saturday, September 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8903 · 8947 | 8:42 AM Bologna Centrale | 8h34 | 5:16 PM Paola station | 1 transfer | |
Intercity 583 · Intercity 555 | 8:54 AM Bologna Centrale | 11h28 | 8:22 PM Paola station | 1 transfer | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9613+ Intercity 727 | 9:37 AM Bologna Centrale | 6h50 | 4:27 PM Paola station | 1 transfer | |
Intercity 1589 | 9:37 AM Bologna Centrale | 11h28 | 9:05 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
8947 | 9:57 AM Bologna Centrale | 7h19 | 5:16 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9583 | 10:27 AM Bologna Centrale | 6h43 | 5:10 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9623 | 12:07 PM Bologna Centrale | 6h14 | 6:21 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9587 | 12:27 PM Bologna Centrale | 7h01 | 7:28 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FRECCIAROSSA 8419 | 2:02 PM Bologna Centrale | 6h01 | 8:03 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9639 | 3:37 PM Bologna Centrale | 5h40 | 9:17 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FRECCIAROSSA 8519 | 3:47 PM Bologna Centrale | 5h56 | 9:43 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
6143 | 3:57 PM Bologna Centrale | 6h23 | 10:20 PM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
Intercity 597+ InterCityNotte 795 | 4:21 PM Bologna Centrale | 13h36 | 5:57 AM Paola station | 1 transfer | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9563 · FRECCIAROSSA 8418+ InterCityNotte 1959 | 8:27 PM Bologna Centrale | 11h22 | 7:49 AM Paola station | 2 transfers | |
InterCityNotte 1963 | 10:00 PM Bologna Centrale | 10h43 | 8:43 AM Paola station | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus 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.
Trains from Bologna to Paola run on average 15 times per day, taking around 7h 43m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at €31 but you can travel from only €22 by bus.
There are 8 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:01, the last at 23:57. The fastest train covers the 428 miles (690 km) distance in 5h 28m.
Distance 428 miles (690 km) |
Average train duration 7h 43m |
Cheapest ticket price €31 |
Trains per day 15 |
Direct trains 8 |
Fastest train 5h 28m |
First train 12:01 AM |
Last train 11:57 PM |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Paola — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Paola trip today.
Museum at the sanctuary presenting objects, documents, and devotional material linked to Saint Francis of Paola and the order he founded.
Exhibition space focused on the saint’s life, miracles, and historical memory, helpful for adding context before or after visiting the sanctuary.
Small local museum area within the sanctuary complex showing religious art and archival pieces connected to Paola’s most important heritage site.
The atmospheric old town with narrow lanes, churches, and traditional buildings, best explored on foot for local character and views.
Main civic square and social hub, framed by everyday town life and useful as a starting point for walks through central Paola.
Seafront walking area popular for sunsets and relaxed strolls, offering a pleasant contrast to the religious and historic sights inland.
Fileja are traditional Calabrian hand-rolled pasta, often served with rich goat or pork ragù. They are a hallmark of local home cooking and festive meals.
Lagane e ceci is an old southern dish of rustic pasta strips with chickpeas, valued for its peasant roots and comforting flavor across Calabria.
Surici fritti are lightly floured fried anchovies, popular on the Tyrrhenian coast near Paola. They are prized for freshness and simple seaside flavor.
Established seafood restaurant in Paola known for fresh fish dishes and classic Calabrian flavors in a relaxed, polished setting.
Well-known local restaurant offering traditional Calabrian cooking, pizza, and regional ingredients in a casual atmosphere.
Seafood-focused dining near the coast, appreciated for fresh catches, pasta, and a more refined atmosphere suited to a longer dinner.
Moderate for southern Italy. Hotels and trains are reasonable, while tourist-area dining costs more in peak season. Overall cheaper than Rome, Milan, or Amalfi.
Service is often included or modest. Round up or leave 5-10% at restaurants for good service. Taxis are usually rounded up. Small change is enough in cafes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bologna to Paola 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 Paola, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Bologna to Paola trains use the Bologna Centrale to Paola station pair. Use this guide to compare Bologna and Paola train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Bologna Centrale is 1 km from Bologna city centre. Public transport options include:
Bologna Centrale has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food options include: Burger King, A Cafè, VyTA Boulangerie, Venchi, Scambio, Juice Bar, KFC, Dispensa Emilia, Lavazza, Mokà, & more
Free Wi-Fi. . ATMs are aTM is located in the main hall.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 06:00 - 21:00. Information desks are customer service center is on the ground floor and open every day from 06:30 to 23:00.
Luggage storage is luggage facility, open daily from 07:00 to 22:00, is located in front of binario 7 Ovest (Track 7 West).
Available at Bologna Centrale: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bologna Centrale: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bologna Centrale: 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.
Nearby hotels include Starhotels Excelsior, Millenn Hotel Bologna, UNA Hotels.
Paola has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Ristorante La Piazzetta, Trattoria del Mare
Free.
Ticket office support is available at Paola. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Paola. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Paola: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Paola: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Paola: Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Blumentag, Hotel Sant'Agostino, Hotel Alhambra.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need