Route guide

Rome → Bologna

303 km · Italy to Italy · Fastest: 2h by train · Cheapest: €17+ by bus

How to travel from Rome to Bologna

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

🚄Train

€33–95

Duration: 1h 41m

via Trenitalia (Frecciarossa), Italo

~4.2 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚌Bus

€17–41

Duration: 4h 20m

via FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus

~8.0 kg CO₂ per passenger

✈️Flight

Not practical for this route.

🚗Car

€36–67

Duration: 3h 22m

~52 kg CO₂ per passenger

Where they are on the map

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

Travel tips for this route

At 303 km this is a comfortable weekend trip — train or flight both work.
Direct or connecting trains cover this route. Advance fares (1–2 months out) drop prices significantly.
Both Rome 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.

Rome to Bologna — every option in detail

Rome to Bologna by train

Trains between Rome and Bologna run within the Italy national rail network. The typical end-to-end journey is around 1h 41m.

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

Train fares are dynamic — typical range is €33 to €95. 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 4.2 kg CO₂ per passenger by train vs roughly 47 kg by flight — taking the train saves ~43 kg on this distance.

Rome to Bologna by bus

Long-distance coaches connect Rome and Bologna with a typical journey of 4h 20m. Buses are usually the slowest mode for this corridor but consistently the cheapest.

Operators include FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.

Fares start from around €17 when booked in advance, rising to €41 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.

Rome to Bologna by flight

Flight is not a typical choice for this 303 km route.

Rome to Bologna by car

The driving distance from Rome to Bologna is approximately 348 km. At motorway speeds, plan on around 3h 22m of driving plus stops.

Fuel-only running cost is in the €36–67 range for a typical car. Toll roads may apply, especially in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland — budget extra accordingly.

Climate footprint: approximately 52 kg CO₂ per passenger assuming 1.5 occupants per car.

About this route

The distance between Rome and Bologna is approximately 303 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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