Milan to Bologna train with Frecciarossa

Trains from Milan to Bologna

Travelling from Milan to Bologna by train is a popular choice for many travellers and locals alike. You'll find a vast number of trains operating along this route daily provided by two train companies. Trenitalia operates the more frequent trains, while Italo operates high_speed trains throughout the day. The majority of the trains will travel from Milan Centrale to Bologna Centrale directly but you will find a couple of trips from Milan Rogoredo to Bologna Centrale that have a single stopover in Piacenza en route. These trips start as early as 05:15 a.m. each morning and operate a few times an hour between then and when the last train departs late in the evening. You'll have a choice of intercity trains, high_speed trains, regional trains, and night trains operating throughout the day with various travel times and routes available.

Milan to Bologna Train Time: Daily Departures

Thanks to the popularity of the route between Milan and Bologna, there is no shortage of train trips between the destinations. Trenitalia operates most of the trains and they start at around 05:15 a.m. most mornings and run numerous times an hour from then until around 10:15 p.m. each evening when the last night train leaves Milan Rogoredo railway station. Italo is another train company providing services for this route, with an average of around 19 trains per day. Italo's first train departs around 05:40 a.m. every morning and the last train leaves Milan Centrale station and around 08:40 p.m. each evening.

How long is the journey by train from Milan to Bologna?

The travel time from Milan to Bologna depends mostly on the type of train you take between the destinations. The majority of the trains have a direct route from Milan Centrale to Bologna Centrale. If you're on a high_speed train between these two stations, expect a travel time close to 1h 05 min with the Trenitalia trains, and closer to 1h 15min if you're on an Italo high_speed train. Intercity or Regional trains travelling between these two stations typically take close to 2h 50min if there are no changeovers. Milan Rogoredo to Bologna with a changeover en route tend to take close to 3h 30min. There are direct high_speed trains during the day that travel from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Bologna Centrale, which tend to take around 1h 30min.

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Abbaye d'Abbeville. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Milan to Bologna?

Departure train station: The most popular departure station for these routes is Milan Centrale, which is located in the heart of the city centre and easily connected to the rest of the city through train lines, buses, trams, and taxis. The station is home to a wide range of facilities and services that includes assistance for those travelling with disabilities, accessible and standard restrooms, bars, restaurants, ATMs, currency exchange services, ticketing offices, waiting rooms, WiFi, and an information centre. You'll also be able to either hire a car or pick up a taxi outside of the station. Both Rogoredo and Garibaldi are lesser_known stations and located further away from the city centre. There are also much fewer trips available from these stations.

Arrival train station: Your arrival station for all of these trips will be the Bologna Centrale station, which is one of the busiest stations in Italy and is the hub of transportation in Bologna. It's located on the northern outskirts of central Bologna and is easily accessible through trains and buses. You'll find most of the services in the station located on the ground floor, such as Sala Blu for disabled travellers, a pharmacy, an internet point, luggage services, bicycle rental, bars, restaurants, cafes, fast_food kiosks, as well as sundries shops. You'll find the restrooms on the central underpass.

Which train companies travel from Milan to Bologna?

There are two different train companies operating routes between Milan and Bologna. The less frequent of the two is Italo, a popular high_speed train provider in the country. All Italo trains are direct high_speed journeys from Milan Centrale to Bologna Centrale and will take around 1h 15min. Trenitalia is the other operator. They're the primary operator in Italy and is owned by the government. Trenitalia provides a wide range of train services throughout Italy, including this route.

Trenitalia trains from Milan to Bologna

Trenitalia is owned by the Italian government and serves as the primary train operator in the country. They offer close to 70 trips a day from Milan to Bologna across a variety of routes. You'll find high_speed trains that travel directly from Milan Centrale to Bologna Centrale in around 1h, high_speed trains from Rogoredo to Bologna in just under 1h 30min, and intercity trains that take close to 2h 50min. There are night trains in the evening from Rogoredo, Garibaldi, and Milan Centrale that all take close to 2h 20min and there are regional trains with changeovers en route that take almost 3h 30min.

Italo trains from Milan to Bologna

Italo is a popular train operator in Italy offering high_speed trains that travel directly between the main train stations in cities. They offer close to 20 trips a day from Milan to Bologna, all travelling the same route with a travel time close to 1h 15min.

Train Milan to Bologna: Services on Board

If you're hopping on a train from Milan to Bologna and want some extra room, consider booking a first_class ticket. This will give you access to food and beverages when available, more comfortable seating, extra legroom, charging stations, WiFi, and a foldable table to eat at or work at if needed. You'll be allowed to take no more than one large piece of stowaway luggage, as well as carry on luggage like a laptop bag or handbag. If you're hoping to take pets with you, bear in mind you cannot take more than two small ones and they have to be in a carrier for the whole trip. Foldable bicycles are typically allowed on board, provided they fit in the luggage compartment but if you need to take a non_foldable bike, you'll have to call ahead and book a space if they're available.

Night trains Milan

There are four night trains operating routes between Milan and Bologna. You'll find two of them departing from Milan Rogoredo, one departing from Garibaldi, and the other one departing from Centrale. The night train around 08:30 p.m. tends to have two changeovers en route and will travel from Rogoredo to Bologna in about 3h 40min, arriving just after midnight. The average travel time for the other three trains is close to 2h 20mins. Two of them are direct routes and the last train of the evening stops over at Milano Lambrate en route.

Traveling by train: Sustainable journey

Currently, taking a train is the most eco_friendly way to travel between destinations unless you're prepared to bike or walk. Trains only account for around 3% of the global transport emissions and taking a train can reduce your CO2 emissions by almost 70% compared to planes or cars. Trains provide less noise pollution. They also use space more efficiently, with the ability to transport hundreds more passengers in a single strip compared to planes and cars.

How to find cheap train tickets from Milan to Bologna?

Check out the Omio Magazine to pick up some tips on how best to travel if you're looking to be more efficient. When booking on Omio, make sure you filter the results page according to price to get the best deals. Try to book your tickets far in advance. The closer you get to the leave date, the more expensive they are. Be flexible with your search dates, you'll often find different deals on different days.

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Abbaye d'Abbeville. Source: Shutterstock

To Bologna by train—travel tips

Bologna sits as the vibrant capital of the Emilia_Romagna region in northern Italy and is home to a vast array of historical sights to check out, streets to meander through, bustling nightlife to get involved in, and local cuisine to enjoy. You'll have a plethora of things to keep you busy while in the city. Considered by many to be the most underrated city in Italy, a trip here is sure to delight the senses. Keep these things in mind when heading to Bologna.

• Take a Bologna Food Tour and experience the variety of local cuisine on hand
• Venture out and go shopping at the famous Quadrilatero
• Wander around the Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city centre and browse the historical buildings along the edges
• Experience the leaning towers of Bologna
• Explore the Archiginnasio, once the main buildings of the Bologna University that now serves as the incredible Anatomical Theatre
• Taste local wines at historic wine bars like Enoteca Storica Faccioli
• Join other walkers, runners, and those on a pilgrimage walk up to Monte della Guardia and San Luca