Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Milan to Bologna is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
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Fastest Journey
1 h 4 m
Average
1 h 4 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
201 km
Of the 5 trains that leave Milan for Bologna every day 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
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Distance | 124 miles (200 km) | |
Average train duration | 1 h 14 min | |
Average train ticket price | $20 (€18) | |
Train frequency | 54 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 54 direct trains a day | |
Train companies | Frecciarossa, Intercity, Intercity Notte, Italo, Frecciabianca, Regionale or Trenitalia |
Trains from Milan to Bologna cover the 124 miles (200 km) long route taking on average 1 h 14 min with our travel partners like Frecciarossa, Intercity, Intercity Notte, Italo, Frecciabianca, Regionale or Trenitalia. Normally, there are 54 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this route costs around $20 (€18), you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as $20 (€18). Travelers depart most frequently from Milano Centrale and arrive in Bologna Centrale.
Find the best trains to Bologna from Milan with Omio's travel partners Intercity, Frecciarossa and Italo from $20 (€18). We can find you the best deals, schedules and tickets when comparing and booking the best journey.
Step on board a Frecciarossa train and relax as you travel across Italy. Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa high-speed trains make about 200 connections across Italy per day, including major destinations like Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and Naples. These trains reach speeds up to 186 mph (300 kmh), so you can travel 124 miles (200 km) between Milan and Bologna quickly on a Frecciarossa high-speed train. There are four different classes to choose from: Standard, Premium, Business, and Executive. All Frecciarossa classes provide free WiFi access, power outlets, air conditioning, bathrooms, luggage storage, onboard entertainment, and restaurant and bar services to passengers.
We show you the latest Frecciarossa train schedule for the Milan to Bologna route, so you can select the best times for your upcoming trip. You can find other travel information on Omio for this route, such as departure and arrival train stations, journey times, number of stops, and cheap fares. You can select from three ticket types: Super Economy, Economy, and Base. Once you’ve picked your ticket, book a cheap train to Bologna from Milan with us today and enjoy your journey with Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa!
Milan to Bologna train information with Frecciarossa:
With over 60 trains departing from Milan to Bologna each day, it is easy to make the 125-mile (201 km) trip between the two cities. The journey by train takes from 2h 6min to 3h 38min depending on the type of train and route. Whether you’re traveling to the capital city of Northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region to sample the local cuisine or to wander among the terracotta buildings and medieval UNESCO heritage-listed porticoes, a visit to Bologna is sure to be a highlight of your travels.
Up to five trains depart every hour from Milan to Bologna between about 5:00 a.m. and around 10:05 p.m. High-speed trains depart about every 30min or more from about 6:10 a.m. until about 7:00 p.m. Trains run on this schedule every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. There are also three daily night trains on this route.
Most of the high-speed trains from Milan to Bologna make the journey in about 1h 14min. The Intercity and Regional trains take up to 3h 38min to complete the trip. These trains take longer because they travel a bit slower and make more stops; some of these routes require one transfer, which also adds time to the trip.
Departure train station: All but a few of the trains from Milan to Bologna depart from Milan’s Central Railway Station. The station is located about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the Duomo di Milano cathedral in the city’s center. It only takes about 6min to get from the cathedral via the #3 (Yellow) Metro line, which runs between Central Station and the cathedral. Central Station is a large station with shopping, restaurants, passenger lounges, ticket counters, luggage storage, currency exchange, restrooms, ATMs, postal machines, car rentals, travel agencies and a tourist information office. A handful of trains depart from Milan’s Rogoredo station to Bologna each day. This station is about 3.4 miles (5.4 km) from the Duomo di Milano in the city’s center. The easiest way to reach the station from the Duomo di Milano is to take an 11min ride on the #3 (Yellow) Metro line, which has stops at both the cathedral and the Rogoredo station. Facilities at the station include cafes and restaurants, restrooms, ATMs, a newsstand and parking. The station also serves the city’s subway line, and there are bus stops and a taxi stand outside the station. There are limited departures from Milan’s Porta Garibaldi station to Bologna each day. The station is about 1.5 miles (2.5km) from the Duomo. Passengers can reach the station from the cathedral via a 17min ride on the #2 tram or via the Metro, which requires a transfer. Using the #3 (Yellow) / #M2 (Green) Metro lines takes about 16min; the #1 (Red) / #M2 (Green) Metro lines takes about 15min. At this busy station, you’ll find free Wi-Fi, shopping and dining, ATMs, restrooms, ticket offices and luggage storage. Outside the station you’ll find parking, bus stops and a taxi stand. The M2 (Green) Metro travels through the station. Passengers should arrive at all stations at least 20min early to find the correct platform and allow time to board the train.
Arrival train station: All of the trains from Milan to Bologna arrive at the city’s Central Railway Station, which is about 0.9 miles (1.5 km) from the Piazza Maggiore in the center of the city. It is an 8min ride on the city’s A bus, which runs regularly from the station to the Piazza Maggiore. Station facilities include passenger lounges, shops and restaurants, restrooms, ATMs, travelers’ assistance (including services for people with disabilities), luggage storage and bicycle rentals. Taxies and buses stop just outside the station.
Trenitalia and Italo are the two train companies that offer direct routes on high-speed trains from Milan to Bologna. Trenitalia also offers additional routes with their Regionale, Intercity and Intercity night trains. Although some of these additional Trenitalia routes require one transfer, the vast majority are direct routes between the cities.
Italo’s state-of-the-art high-speed trains depart hourly from Milan to Bologna every day. Service begins around 6:40 a.m. and continues through about 5:40 p.m., and all of the routes are direct routes that complete the journey in about 1h 14min. Italo’s three types of tickets offer a variety of options for travelers. Their Low Cost ticket is the least expensive ticket type. For a fee, changes can be made to the departure date and time up to 3 days in advance of your trip. This ticket is non-refundable. Economy tickets offer more flexibility, allowing changes up to 3min before departure (for a fee) and partial refunds if your trip is cancelled. With this ticket, passengers who miss their train have up to 3h after the originally scheduled departure time to purchase a seat on the next train. Italo’s Flex tickets offer the most flexibility with free changes, 3h to book tickets for the next train if you miss your train, and refunds (for a fee).
Trenitalia’s trains from Milan to Bologna run morning to night, seven days a week (including holidays). The high-speed Frecciarossa trains run approximately twice per hour from about 6:10 a.m. to about 7:00 p.m. on direct routes between the cities. On these trains, passengers arrive at their destination in about 1h 14min. Trenitalia’s Intercity and Regionale Veloce trains also offer direct trips regularly throughout the day. These trains run a bit slower, but they still complete the journey in under 3h. There are usually three Intercity night trains that depart daily, with the last departure scheduled for around 9:20 p.m. The rest of the Trenitalia routes are serviced by Regionale trains that require one transfer and may take up to 3h 38min to complete the trip. A vast majority of the Trenitalia trains depart from Milan’s Central Station, but a few of the Regionale trains depart from the Rogoredo Station, and a couple of the Veloce trains depart in the late evening from the Porta Garibaldi Station. All of the trains arrive at Bologna’s Central Station. Trenitalia has three ticket types, offering passengers a variety of pricing and flexibility. The least expensive ticket is the Super Economy ticket. These tickets are non-refundable and cannot be combined with other discounts, and passengers cannot make any changes to the travel dates or times. Trenitalia’s Economy ticket allows for one free change of travel date and/or time without a fee. The company’s Base ticket is the most flexible option as passengers can make unlimited changes for free, and it is refundable (with a cancellation fee) as long as the cancellation occurs prior to the scheduled departure.
There are four levels of class services on Italo’s trains: Smart, Comfort, Prima and Club Executive. Regardless of the class level, all passengers get comfortable seats, free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets, and access to a movie car and vending machines that have hot drinks, cold drinks and snacks. Each passenger may travel with one carry-on bag and up to two pieces of large luggage. The carry-on item must fit in your lap and be kept either under the seat in front of you or on the overhead rack. Each large luggage item must be less than 35 x 28 x 12 in (90 cm x 70 cm x 30 cm) and be kept in the designated luggage area of the train car. Passengers may also bring a bicycle, which counts as one of the large luggage pieces as it must be folded or disassembled and kept in the luggage compartment (preferably in a bag). Italo allows pets on board the trains. Pets that weigh up to 22lbs (10kg) must travel in a crate while on board. Pet tickets are available for larger dogs, which are allowed on board provided there is room on the train and they wear a muzzle and are leashed while on board. The pet tickets can be purchased by contacting customer service. Additional fees or restrictions do not apply to guide dogs. Passengers with disabilities should contact customer service if they need special accommodations while traveling. There are four levels of class services on Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa trains: Standard, Premium, Business and Executive. Travel amenities on board all Frecciarossa trains include comfortable seating; free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets and an entertainment portal available at each seat; and restrooms and baby-changing stations in each passenger car. There are two levels of class services on the Intercity trains: First Class and Second Class. The Intercity Night trains are equipped with comfortable accommodations for sleeping. The Regionale trains typically only offer second-class service. There are no fees or restrictions for luggage on Trenitalia’s trains provided it fits in the designated compartments and is kept out of the aisles. Bikes are considered luggage and must be folded or disassembled and stored in a bag with the luggage. Fully assembled bikes are only allowed on select Regionale trains that are equipped with special bike compartments, and there is a small fee to use this service. Pets that can travel in a crate that is less than 27.5 x 20 x 12 in (70 x 50 x 30 cm) are welcome on board. Larger dogs are also allowed on the train if they wear a muzzle and leash while on board; there is a small fee for larger dogs. Guide dogs are exempt from restrictions and fees. Passengers who need to make special travel accommodations because of a disability should contact Trenitalia’s customer service at least 24h before departing.
There are many ways to find cheap train tickets from Milan to Bologna, especially if you are flexible with your travel days and times. Passengers who purchase same-day round-trip tickets will get a discount on Italo trains. Passengers who can travel on a Saturday can score two-for-one tickets on Trenitalia trains. The Regionale and Intercity trains may not get you to your destination as quickly as the high-speed trains, but the tickets are often up to 50% cheaper. Groups traveling with children may be eligible for family discounts, while groups of two to five people may be eligible for adult group discounts. Discounted tickets might be available for seniors over 60 years and students. Also, the farther in advance that you can book your ticket, the more money you’ll save.
The rule of buying in advance to save money is not only valid when booking a flight but also for train travel. Train tickets are generally on sale 6 months before the departure date. Some train booking tips from us:
When departing from Milan, you have various train station options to start your journey from including Milano Centrale, Milano Porta Garibaldi and Milano Rogoredo. When arriving in Bologna, you can end your route in train stations like Bologna Centrale, Bologna Borgo Panigale and Bologna, Aeroporto.
Passengers board the train most frequently from Milano Centrale, which is located around 2.3 miles (3.7 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Bologna Centrale, located 1.6 miles (2.5 km) away from the city centre.
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