Bologna airport to the city: monorail, taxi or car

How they compare

The Marconi Express

This is a monorail, not a train or a bus. People sometimes search for it as the "Marco Polo Express", but Marco Polo is Venice's airport; Bologna's monorail is named after Marconi airport.

It leaves the terminal every 7–15 minutes and runs until midnight. Bologna Centrale is 7 minutes away, and a single costs €12.80. If you're flying out of Bologna as well, buy a return: it's cheaper than two singles.

The monorail is fast and predictable, but it stops at the station, and you still have to get to your hotel from there. It suits people catching an onward train or staying near the station best.

Bus 944

The cheapest option at €6 and 30–40 minutes, but the bus only runs at certain times of day. If your flight lands outside those hours, you're left with the monorail, a taxi or a car booked ahead.

Taxis

Taxis wait at the rank outside the terminal. On the meter, the centre comes to €25–30 plus fees, and the trip takes about 20 minutes. On an ordinary day that's a sensible choice for two people with luggage.

Things get tricky during the big trade fairs, Cersaie and Cosmoprof for example: the queue at the rank grows several times over and there aren't enough cars. If you're going to a fair, book a car 3–5 days ahead. We fix its price at the time of booking, and the rush doesn't affect it.

A car with driver

€80 for a saloon for up to 3 people and €105 for a minivan for up to 8. That amount already covers motorway tolls, luggage and 60 minutes of waiting at the airport, and once the booking is confirmed it stays the same.

The driver waits in the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name. We keep track of your flight number and move the pick-up free of charge if the plane is late. The day before, you receive the driver's name and the car's number plate.

Bologna's old centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) every day from 7:00 to 20:00, with cameras recording every entry. A car with driver may go in if its plate is registered with the council, and hotels register their guests' cars. Name your hotel when you book and the driver will drop you at the entrance.

Working it out for a group

• One person: monorail €12.80 against €80 for the car. The monorail wins hands down.
• Three: three monorail tickets come to €38.40, a taxi to €25–30 plus fees, the car to €80. Here the taxi is the best deal.
• Four with suitcases: tickets total €51.20, but with a change at the station. A €105 minivan takes everyone to the door, with room for up to 8 pieces of luggage.
• A family with young children: we fit child seats for any age free of charge; add them to your booking.

Straight from the airport to Florence

By public transport it's the monorail to Centrale, then 37 minutes by train to Florence. A car with driver goes direct from the airport: 110 km, about 1 h 20 min, €150 for a saloon and €195 for a minivan. Modena and Maranello are even closer.

Tap a row to book this route.