Motor Valley in a day
Three famous marques have their homes around Bologna. Maranello has the Ferrari museum and the factory gates, Sant'Agata the Lamborghini showroom, and Borgo Panigale Ducati.
Set off early and all three fit into a single day with one driver. A day like that costs from €480, and the driver plans how long you spend at each stop.
Only interested in Maranello? It's €100 one way in a saloon, or €130 in a minivan.
Food country: Parma, Modena and the hills
The other reason to take a car for the day is food. In the morning, a Parmigiano dairy; in the afternoon, the attics of Modena where balsamic vinegar ages for years; in the evening, a trattoria in the hills. A food day with a driver costs from €440.
Modena is 45 km and 40 minutes away; Parma is 100 km, about an hour.
Trade fairs: Cersaie, Cosmoprof, EIMA
During the big fair weeks at BolognaFiere, cars in the city are as scarce as hotel rooms. We drive between the Fiera, hotels and restaurants at a price agreed in advance, and it doesn't rise even when the ride-hailing apps switch on surge pricing.
Book 3–5 days ahead.
The next big date is Cosmoprof Worldwide, 18–21 March 2027, Bologna's busiest exhibition week.
The old centre: ZTL and T-Days
Bologna's historic centre is a ZTL every day from 7:00 to 20:00, with entry monitored by cameras. Hotels and B&Bs register their guests' number plates, so tell us which hotel you're in.
At weekends the T-Days apply: from 8:00 on Saturday to 22:00 on Sunday, Via Rizzoli, Via Indipendenza and Via Ugo Bassi become pedestrian streets. On public holidays they're closed from 8:00 to 22:00.
If your hotel is on one of those streets, the driver drops you in the nearest side street.
Bologna Centrale station
At the station, cars meet passengers in the FS Park P3 "Sottopasso Maserati" car park. The first 30 minutes there are free, and it's open from 05:30 to 23:00. You can drive in from Via de' Carracci, on the high-speed side, or from Via Bovi Campeggi.
Lifts serve both the high-speed and the regular parts of the station. The main entrance to the regular station is on Piazza Medaglie d'Oro.
Rimini and the summer seaside
From June to September, the A14 to the coast is already jammed by nine in the morning. So for Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica we leave early, and you're by the sea in time for breakfast.
Rimini is 120 km and about 1 h 15 min away, at €205. Ravenna is nearer: 80 km, about an hour, €140.
Florence: car or train
The train to Florence takes 37 minutes, and for one person it's usually the better deal. The car, at €150, is worth it when there are three or more of you, you have lots of luggage, or you want to stop at the Barberino outlet on the way.
Fares from Bologna
Tap a row to book this route.
Motorway tolls and luggage are included, and a child seat is free. Book the return at the same time and it costs 10% less. You pay the driver on the spot, with no prepayment.
Other cities, Venice for example, aren't in the table. Enter the route in the booking form and the price appears right away.
Marconi airport is 9 km from the centre, and a saloon from there costs €80. If you're travelling alone, the Marconi Express monorail is also a good option, at €12.80 per person to the station. Meeting arrangements at the airport are on its own page.
Questions
How much is a car from Bologna to Maranello?
€100 in a saloon, €130 in a minivan for up to 8 people. About 50 minutes each way.
Will the price go up if I book for Cosmoprof week?
No. The price is fixed when you book. But do book 3–5 days ahead, or there may be no cars left.
Can the driver take me to a hotel on Via Indipendenza on a Saturday?
During T-Days the street is pedestrianised, so you'll be dropped in the side street next to it. The driver will help carry your luggage.
Can we leave for Rimini early in the morning?
Yes, and in summer that's the way to do it. The drive takes about 1 h 15 min, €205 in a saloon.