Bologna Airport to City Center: Marconi Express Monorail, Line Q Bus and Night Line 944

The Marconi Express monorail takes 7 minutes from the airport to Bologna central station, and Line Q is the bus that costs €2.30. After midnight the night line 944 takes over for the trip to the station.

At a glance

• Recommended line: Marconi Express monorail to Bologna central station
• Travel time: 7 minutes by monorail, 30 minutes by Line Q daytime shuttle to Ospedale Maggiore
• Fare: €2.30 on Line Q, €4 on night line 944
• Night departures from the airport (line 944): 12:15, 12:45, 1:15, 1:45, 4:30 and 5:00 a.m.
• Frequency: every 30 minutes on Line Q
• Departure point: Marconi Express station, reached from the terminal by a covered walkway

What is the best way to get from Bologna Airport to the city center?

The monorail is the quickest way to the station, at 7 minutes. Line Q suits a small budget at €2.30, and line 944 covers the night hours for €4. Another option, the Marconi Express 949 bus, runs straight to piazza Malpighi in the center.

• Marconi Express monorail: 7 minutes · airport to central station · for speed and for anyone with luggage, since the route is entirely sheltered
• Line Q: 30 minutes to Ospedale Maggiore · €2.30 · every 30 minutes · for budget travelers
• Line 944 night bus: 6 departures between 12:15 and 5:00 a.m. · €4 · for late arrivals
• Marconi Express 949 bus: no intermediate stops to piazza Malpighi · runs 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., one run every 33 minutes · discounted single fare €9.80

By profile: for budget, take Line Q. For a late arrival, line 944 is the one to count on.

How do you take the metro or bus from Bologna Airport?

The Marconi Express monorail links the airport to Bologna central station in about 7 minutes, and a covered walkway joins its airport station to the terminal. The monorail is elevated, runs on its own dedicated track and does not meet road traffic. The Marconi Express station is connected to the terminal by a covered walkway.

Line Q has a daytime shuttle that runs between the airport and Ospedale Maggiore, with a travel time of 30 minutes and a bus every 30 minutes. At Ospedale Maggiore you can change to lines including 19, 23, 81, 91, 86, 87, 83, 92, 576, 646 and 651 toward the center or the railway station. The night shuttle of Line Q runs between the airport and the railway station at Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro. After midnight it also stops at the Piazzale servizi at the airport.

• Line Q, urban fare: €2.30
• Night line 944: €4
• Marconi Express 949, discounted single fare: €9.80

Monorail tickets are sold on the Marconi Express website, on the Roger and Muver apps, at ticket machines in the stations and in the baggage claim area of the airport, and in stores at the airport, the railway station and the city center. Families (up to 2 adults and 3 children between 5 and 16) and groups of 10 or more get a discount that is only available online, so book that before you fly.

Its terminus is piazza Malpighi, and the Marconi Express 949 bus makes no stops on the way.

How much is a taxi from Bologna Airport to the city center?

Ask the driver for the price before you set off. The monorail takes about 7 minutes. The Line Q shuttle costs the €2.30 urban fare and runs every 30 minutes. A taxi makes sense for a group sharing the cost, for heavy luggage or after the last night departure at 5:00 a.m. has gone.

Arriving late at Bologna Airport: what are your options?

After midnight, line 944 guarantees 6 trips from the airport to the station, at €4. They leave at 12:15, 12:45, 1:15, 1:45, 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. The Line Q night shuttle also runs to the railway station, and after midnight it stops at the Piazzale servizi. If you land after the 1:45 a.m. departure, book a transfer ahead or sleep near the airport and take the 4:30 a.m. run.

Renting a car at Bologna Airport

Much of the historic center is a ZTL, a restricted traffic zone, enforced by the Sirio video surveillance system every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pedestrian areas and zone T are limited 24 hours a day. According to the U.S. State Department, authorities fine drivers without the proper permits in historic downtown areas, and fines are sent to the driver’s home in the United States. Seat belt use is mandatory, and outside cities you must always use headlights. Rural roads are generally narrow and often have no guardrails, and drivers often pass on the autostrada at high speeds. If you’re stopped in a car registered abroad, be ready to pay a ticket in cash in local currency.