By train
Due to its central location and geography, Bologna has emerged as the main rail transport hub of northern Italy, making it very well-connected with other major Italian centers. From the 14th of December 2008 the new high speed railway line is available from/to Milan, shortening the journey to 65 minutes. Bologna is also 37 minutes from Florence, 2 hours 20 from Rome, 2 hours from Venice, 1 hour from Ferrara, etc. The new high speed train line between Rome and Bologna is now fully available and can make trips much faster.
There is also an overnight sleeper service from Paris Bercy to Bologna. Departs Paris 6:52PM in the evening, and arrives Bologna at 6AM. Return departs Bologna 10:30PM arrives Paris 9:06AM.
By plane
Bologna's closest airport is Guglielmo Marconi Bologna International Airport IATA: BLQ (http://www.bologna-airport.it/), just a few minutes from the city center, served by taxi and a special bus line called the Aerobus. A taxi from the airport to the center costs about â¬15. An Aerobus Ticket costs â¬6, and it stops outside the main terminus building. The ticket is also valid during 1 hour on the other busses in Bologna. Bus 54 goes towards the west suburbs of Bologna, and will get you on to the 'main' routes. Another bus stop is about 10 minutes walk from the airport bus stop name: Birra - other side of the elevated motorway and you can board bus 81 and 91 which have an end stop at Bologna Central Train Station. Bus tickets are valid for 60 minutes travel and cost â¬1,5. Go to the website of the local bus company, ATC, and you will find maps that show all routes including the airport.
Ryanair (http://www.ryanair.com) flies to Bologna Gugliemo Marconi. British Airways and Turkish Airlines have 2 or 3 flights per day depending on season from/to London Gatwick (http://www.ba.com) and from/to Istanbul Ataturk (http://www.thy.com) respectively.
Marconi Airport also has numerous international connections available, including nonstop flights to Amsterdam, Brussels National, Charleroi Brussels South, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Vienna, and Zagreb limited dates; in 2011 only from September onwards.
By car
The city is at the junction of the A1, A14 and A13 highways, and so is easily accessible from anywhere in Italy. Most traffic from Milan would exit the A1 and take the Tangenziale, but beware this road at rush hour because it is horrendously packed. Expect to use 2 hours from the A1 exit to the Tangenziale to the center at certain peak times over summer busy weekends, especially at the beginning and end of August.