Route guide

Milan → Bologna

201 km · Italy to Italy · Fastest: 1h by train · Cheapest: €14+ by bus

How to travel from Milan to Bologna

There are 3 ways to travel between Milan and Bologna — compare duration, price and operators below.

🚄Train

€27–76

Duration: 1h 7m

via Trenitalia (Frecciarossa), Italo

~2.8 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚌Bus

€14–34

Duration: 2h 52m

via FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus

~6.0 kg CO₂ per passenger

✈️Flight

Not practical for this route.

🚗Car

€24–44

Duration: 2h 14m

~34 kg CO₂ per passenger

Where they are on the map

Milan and Bologna highlighted among the 50 European cities we cover. Map is schematic, not to scale.

Travel tips for this route

At 201 km this is short-haul — feasible as a day trip if you start early.
Direct or connecting trains cover this route. Advance fares (1–2 months out) drop prices significantly.
Both Milan and Bologna are in Italy — no border crossing, single currency, single rail network.
Long-distance coaches (FlixBus and similar) are typically 30–50% cheaper than train, but 2–3× slower.

Milan to Bologna — every option in detail

Milan to Bologna by train

Trains between Milan and Bologna run within the Italy national rail network. The typical end-to-end journey is around 1h 7m.

Operators on this corridor include Trenitalia (Frecciarossa), Italo.

Train fares are dynamic — typical range is €27 to €76. Advance-purchase tickets (1–2 months ahead) almost always beat walk-up prices.

On routes under 600 km like this one, train often beats flight door-to-door once you factor in airport check-in and transfers.

Climate footprint: about 2.8 kg CO₂ per passenger by train vs roughly 31 kg by flight — taking the train saves ~28 kg on this distance.

Milan to Bologna by bus

Long-distance coaches connect Milan and Bologna with a typical journey of 2h 52m. Buses are usually the slowest mode for this corridor but consistently the cheapest.

Operators include FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.

Fares start from around €14 when booked in advance, rising to €34 for last-minute travel.

Most modern coaches offer Wi-Fi, USB charging and reclining seats. Overnight services exist on longer corridors and can save a hotel night.

Milan to Bologna by flight

Flight is not a typical choice for this 201 km route.

Milan to Bologna by car

The driving distance from Milan to Bologna is approximately 231 km. At motorway speeds, plan on around 2h 14m of driving plus stops.

Fuel-only running cost is in the €24–44 range for a typical car. Toll roads may apply, especially in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland — budget extra accordingly.

Climate footprint: approximately 34 kg CO₂ per passenger assuming 1.5 occupants per car.

About this route

The distance between Milan and Bologna is approximately 201 kilometres. Direct or connecting trains link the two cities through the European rail network. Long-distance coaches offer a budget-friendly alternative on this route. Estimates below reflect typical operator schedules and fare ranges; book in advance for the best prices.

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