Bologna to Venice train

Trains from Bologna to Venice

Travelers heading east from Emilia-Romagna to the Adriatic can take frequent direct trains from Bologna to Venice seven days a week. High-speed direct trains make the trip in around one hour and 30 minutes, with other services taking about 30 minutes longer. Two operators offer direct services to Venice at least twice an hour, with departures available from very early in the morning to late at night.

Bologna to Venice train times: Daily departures

Daily schedules include direct trains from Bologna to Venice Santa Lucia two to three times an hour from early morning to late evening, with an additional overnight Trenitalia connection in the early hours of the morning. Sunday timetables are very similar to the weekday service, with slightly fewer early morning departures. 

How long is the journey by train from Bologna to Venice?

The fastest direct train from Bologna to Venice is the early evening Trenitalia Frecciargento high-speed service, which takes one hour and 13 minutes to complete the 87-mile route east to the Adriatic city. Other Trenitalia and Italo high-speed services take from four to 30 minutes longer to reach Venice. Slower Trenitalia Intercity and Regionale services take between one hour 55 minutes and two hours five minutes to complete the trip. With frequent direct services, indirect connections aren't necessary on this route.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Bologna to Venice?

Departure train station: Bologna Centrale station is located on the northern edge of the historic center, about 15 minutes' walk from downtown, with numerous city bus routes making the trip in ten minutes. Facilities at the station include a cafeteria, mini-market, news vendors, ATMs, luggage storage lockers, and a first-class lounge.

Arrival train station: Venice Santa Lucia station is situated on the northern side of the lagoon city, with public transport connections provided by the vaporetto water bus service taking about 15 minutes for the ride to the center. The station concourse has a bar-restaurant, luggage storage facilities, ATMs, news vendors, and a gift store.

Which train companies travel from Bologna to Venice?

The Italian national rail operator Trenitalia provides a choice of direct trains from Bologna to Venice, with Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca high-speed options and Intercity, Intercity Notte, and Regionale departures providing slower connections. Private operator Italo also provides some daily direct high-speed trains from Bologna to Venice.

Trenitalia Bologna to Venice

Trenitalia's high-speed trains from Bologna to Venice depart hourly from early in the morning to late in the evening, with some additional services from other Italian cities calling at Bologna and increasing the frequency to Venice. High-speed trains are Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca services, with journey times between one hour 13 minutes and one hour 44 minutes. Slower Trenitalia Intercity and Regionale services depart from Bologna roughly every hour, with journey times of around two hours.

Italo Bologna to Venice

Private operator Italo provides high-speed direct trains from Bologna to Venice six times a day, with two morning departures, two afternoon trains, and two evening trains, with journey times of one hour and 32 minutes. 

Bologna to Venice trains: Services on board

Travelers taking a Trenitalia high-speed train from Bologna to Venice can choose from first- or second-class seating. Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains have onboard restaurants, and all trains have free WiFi and entertainment channels. Italo trains offer four classes - Smart, Comfort, Prima, and Club Executive - and the trains have cinema coaches, snack areas, and vending machines. Cyclists can take their bikes on board for free on Trenitalia and Italo trains if they are foldable or disassembled. Other bikes are allowed on Trenitalia Regionale and Intercity trains for a small fee.

Pets can travel in a carrier for free on all trains, while larger dogs are charged a 50% fare and must be muzzled on Trenitalia services. On Italo trains, larger dogs must be pre-booked, and there is a substantial fee. Trenitalia and Italo high-speed services offer dedicated spaces and accessible toilets for wheelchair users. Trenitalia staff provides assistance in boarding and alighting for passengers with limited mobility, with advance booking advisable.

How to find cheap train tickets from Bologna to Venice

With numerous train types and two operators, it's usually possible to find an economical fare for the train from Bologna to Venice. Trenitalia's slower trains are usually the cheapest option, but passengers who enjoy the comfort and speed of the faster trains can usually find a low fare by booking well in advance. The Omio booking platform allows travelers to make a quick comparison between prices for Trenitalia and Italo services. With frequent connections to Venice, travelers who are a little flexible with their schedule can often find substantial savings if they travel at off-peak times.