Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Rome to Bologna is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Fastest Journey
1 h 59 m
Average
2 h 1 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
304 km
Of the 5 trains that leave Rome 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 | 188 miles (303 km) | |
Average train duration | 2 h 13 min | |
Average train ticket price | $32 (€28) | |
Train frequency | 81 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 81 direct trains a day | |
Train companies | Intercity, Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Italo, Intercity Notte or Regionale |
Trains from Rome to Bologna cover the 188 miles (303 km) long trip taking on average 2 h 13 min with our travel partners like Intercity, Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Italo, Intercity Notte or Regionale. Normally, there are 81 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this route costs around $32 (€28), you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as $27 (€24). Travelers depart most frequently from Roma Termini and arrive in Bologna Centrale.
Travel between Rome and Bologna from $27 (€24) with Omio’s train partners Frecciarossa, Intercity and Italo! You can find the best schedules and tickets when comparing and booking the most convenient route for you.
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 188 miles (303 km) from Rome to 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 Rome to Bologna route, so you can select the best times for your upcoming trip. You can find other travel information on Omio for this journey, 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 between Rome and Bologna with us today and enjoy your journey with Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa!
Rome to Bologna train information with Frecciarossa:
The 189 mile (304 km) journey by train from Rome to Bologna is a long but popular route, available all day with both high-speed and traditional services. You can make the journey in just over 2h using Italy’s latest high-speed trains, but the average trip duration is well over 3h from the Eternal City to the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region.
There are typically more than 50 total train routes operating seven days a week. The first trains are available as early as around 6 a.m. and run at least four times per hour until the middle of the evening. The various train companies spread their routes out over the day, so both high speed and slower trains should be available throughout the day. Departure time from Rome is typically only available up until the 7 p.m. hour, so no overnight trains are running.
The fastest of the high speed trains can make the direct 189 mile (304 km) journey in about 2h. The Intercity line has trip itineraries that make the journey in around 4h, also a direct trip with no transfers. Finally, you can opt for a long ride that requires transferring in Florence to save yourself some cash; but these tickets may take over 7h in total travel time.
Departure train station: The vast majority of routes will depart from the Rome Termini station in central Rome. The station is located right in central Rome, where you can also catch the Metro or local bus lines. It’s a big station to give yourself time to navigate it. There are a handful of itineraries available for you to depart from the Rome Tiburtina station, to the East of central Rome. If you need to travel from Tiburtina, you can filter routes by that station on Omio. There are scooter and rental car services at the station as well as a parking lot. There is a full mall attached to this station so you should be able to grab anything you need for your train from Rome to Bologna.
Arrival train station: Trains will arrive at the Bologna Centrale station, which is North of the city center by about a mile (1.5 km) The sister city of Bolognina is immediately to the North. The Stazione Centrale bus station and stops are right outside of the train station, so you can easily hop one to your destination. This is a small station compared to Rome, but you may find a grocery store as well as the typical small food and drink vendors. Parking, hotels and restaurants are all located near the station.
Italo and Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa and Frecciargento lines are all high speed trains that run direct, and have departures available throughout the day. Trenitalia Intercity also offer direct trains from Rome to Bologna, but take more than 4h and multiple stops. Trenitalia Regionale trains will most likely require a transfer at Florence or San Marino and could take up to 7h and have many more stops.
Italo is the newer high speed train line that serves all of Italy. Their routes from Rome to Bologna offer only direct, high speed trains, usually at least 10 per day that depart all throughout the day. Their average journey duration is 2h 20min.
Trenitalia, Italy’s national train service, has a variety of train lines and carriage types, including three that run long distance routes throughout Italy. The Frecce services have an average duration of 2h 20min. Trenitalia's Regionale trains are local trains that typically serve smaller routes between small cities or within larger cities. They will offer longer distance itineraries, but they take up to 8h and usually require transferring.
Italo high speed trains are new and comfortable, with all classes offering free WiFi, in-seat power, footrests and reclining seats.In addition to their standard "Smart" ticket, there are three additional first class tickets which offer a variety of additional amenities such as meal services, private lounge cars, and freebies. Italo offers wheelchair services for persons with disabilities, but you may need to contact the train company or the station ahead of time to schedule assistance. Seeing eye or guard dogs are allowed at any size, but if you want to bring a pet on board it has to weigh under 22lbs (10kg). The Trenitalia Frecciarossa high speed lines also offer WiFi, reclining seats, air conditioned cars and food and beverage cars. They offer three classes of ticket on most trains, from Super Economy to Economy and up to Standard. Luggage is included for free but must fit in the designated luggage areas and not block aisles or exit routes. Pets are allowed with heavy restrictions to where they may sit and what cars they may access. The ‘Sala Blu’ service for persons with disabilities is affiliated with Trenitalia and can be made available by appointment. The Trenitalia Intercity trains are equipped with both first and second class cars. All cars are air conditioned and have restrooms on board. Bikes are allowed onboard at no extra charge, but you may need to store non-folding bikes in a specific spot as specified by the conductor. The local trains under Trenitalia Regionale are all second class cars, with some first class cars available on their longer trips. You may bring a fold up bike free of charge, but a regular bike may require an additional fee. Almost all the train carriages will be air conditioned and offer low-entry steps for persons with disabilities.
If you want to find a deal amongst all the trains from Rome to Bologna, use the filters on the Omio search results to remove the high speed train line options, either by duration or by company. The results page should also highlight the cheapest and fastest routes automatically. Of course you should always try booking in advance and checking with flexible days, as some routes are cheaper depending on the day of the week and time.
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 Rome, you have various train station options to start your journey from including Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina and Roma Trastevere. When arriving in Bologna, you can end your trip in train stations like Bologna Centrale, Bologna Borgo Panigale and Bologna, Aeroporto.
Passengers board the train most frequently from Roma Termini, which is located around 1.6 miles (2.6 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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