Bologna is a very large transport hub: from here you can easily and quickly reach many cities and villages of both the south and the north of Italy. Among the most popular destinations from Bologna, Florence leads: the distance between cities is just over 100 km, and you can safely expect to visit the “Cradle of the Renaissance” within one day. That is why BlogoItaliano decided to separately consider how it is most convenient and profitable to get from Bologna to Florence and back.
From Bologna to Florence by train
The best option to quickly get from Bologna to Florence is the train. Regular communication on the route is very busy: only direct flights can be counted several dozen daily.
As a rule, express trains from Bologna to Florence leave several times per hour. You will have to spend no more than 40 minutes on the way. The first flight - at 6 a.m., the last - at 21:25.
Trains depart from Bologna Centrale Station and arrive at various train stations in Florence. Always make sure that the station in Florence is preferably Santa Maria Novella - this is the central station of the city, which is within walking distance of all the main attractions.
Express trains are the most convenient form of transport on the Bologna - Florence route
Express cars are equipped with seats, like on airplanes, with air conditioning and outlets. The fare varies depending on the class of the place and the possibilities of return in case of change of plans. Standard ticket prices start at 15 Euro. During periods of sales, it can be a little cheaper, and when buying at the checkout immediately before departure, it can be more expensive.
Check the current schedule and buy train tickets for Bologna-Florence most conveniently on the site Omio.ru. The resource tracks the prices of all major railway companies in Italy, and therefore here more likely to find a good deal. In addition, it allows you to search for tickets in Russian and has a Russian-language support service, and prices are the same as at the box office.
The main plus of buying tickets online in advance is the price. On the day of departure on many Italian routes, ticket prices "soar" almost twice. In this way, the sooner you buy a ticket, the lower its cost.
BlogoItaliano recorded a separate video in 2017 about what you might encounter at the station, hoping to buy a ticket just before departure, in 2017. It is noteworthy that it concerns just the Bologna-Florence route.
In addition to express trains, Bologna-Florence trains also run intercity and regional trains. Tickets for these trains are a bit cheaper, but there are a few nuances:
- Intercity trains with the abbreviation “IC” (“InterCity”) do not go to the central station of Florence, you will have to change trains and spend extra money and time, and it will not be so comfortable to go, especially at the height of the hot summer.
- Regional "R" class trains, in fact, are ordinary electric trains: solid seats, a common carriage, frequent stops. Travel time can increase from 40 minutes to one and a half to two hours. Yes, and such a composition goes much less frequently.
- Schedules of trains of classes R and IC are much more often subject to changes in favor of express trains, therefore situations already arise at the station often when a train can be “knocked out” from the schedule for an hour or more.
Regional trains are much slower and express
| Check schedule and availability of tickets ››› |
How to get from Bologna to Florence by bus
Another way to get from Bologna to Florence and back is to use the bus. About 10 companies carry passengers in this direction. Most buses depart from Bologna Central Bus Station. In Florence, there are much more places where routes depart, so it always makes sense to clarify information about the departure point in advance. The distance between cities can be overcome in 1.5-2 hours.
You can get from Bologna to Florence by bus
The most famous carrier on the route is Flixbus. Every day he carries out about 8 flights between cities. You can check the current schedule for the dates of your trip and the cost of tickets on this page.
The Bologna - Florence route by car
The distance between Bologna and Florence is only 108 km. You can overcome this path by car in less than 2 hours.
You can rent a car both in the city center and at the airport. When renting for long periods, the cost of an economy class car may well be from 8-10 Euros per day of rental. To save money, it is better to rent a car through one of the international price comparison services (for example, Rentalcars). Such systems in online mode monitor the data of the largest car rentals in the city and allow you to find the most advantageous offers in a matter of seconds.
Try the system in action and estimate the cost of renting a car for the dates of your trip it is possible on this link.
There are 2 main routes available for movement. Their main difference is in the duration of toll roads. According to viamichelin, in the faster option, you will have to spend about 30 Euros on the autobahn, and about two in the slower (2019).
It should also be prepared for the fact that in the center of Florence, as well as in the historical center of Bologna, there are restricted traffic zones marked with the ZTL sign. Travelers are not allowed in these areas; travel can result in a substantial fine. You can park your car in the parking lot outside the historic center or in the underground parking, including at the central train station.
You can get from Bologna to Florence by taxi
You can also always book a transfer from Bologna to Florence and back. True, its price will be slightly higher than the previously considered options.
Arrival in Florence
Despite its modest size, the city's population is about 400 thousand people, Florence is one of the richest sights in the cities of the World. Ideally lay on it no less two days, and with a visit to the surroundings - from 4.
If you have little time, then it is better to watch Florence with a guide - so you will learn much more. Contact and Blogoitaliano feedback on a guide in Florence can be found in this article.
If the guide is not included in your plans and you are used to watching everything on your own, we recommend our article What to see in Florence on your own in 1 day. It already has ready-made ideas on how to better organize your time.
Finally, both in Bologna and in Florence, the location of your hotel is very important. If you are poorly oriented in the city, we have made several selections of housing near the main attractions:
- A selection of hotels in the heart of Florence around the main cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
- A selection of hotels in the center of Bologna around the main square of Maggiore
Other useful articles:
- 5 most interesting excursions in Florence
- Academy Gallery in Florence: Mission Impossible
- Palazzo Vecchio: where did the oligarchs of the Renaissance live
- Uffizi Gallery in Florence: history, opening hours, tickets
- What to visit in Florence. The most interesting places with free entrance
