Getting There By Air:Bologna-G Marconi International Airport (BLQ)
Tel: 051 647 9615.
Website:
www.bologna-airport.it Bologna airport is located 6km (4 miles) northwest of the city center. There are two passenger terminals. All arrivals are to terminal A. European and domestic departures use terminal A, while international departures use terminal B.
Approximate flight times to Bologna: From London is 2 hours 10 minutes; from New York is 9 hours 35 minutes;
from Los Angeles is 12 hours and 50 minutes; from Toronto is 10 hours and 10 minutes and from Sydney is 20 hours 20 minutes.
Airport facilities: Facilities include a bureau de change, bank, Help Phone service, restaurant, snack bars and a smattering of shops selling traditional Italian gifts.
Avis,
Europcar and
Hertz provide car hire services. VIP lounges are available for business travelers.
Transport to the city: The
Aerobus (tel: 051 290 290) runs to Bologna train station every 15 minutes 0600-2340 (journey time - 20 minutes). Tickets are available for purchase on the bus. Taxis (tel: 051 372 727) to the city center cost around €15-18, depending on traffic.
Getting There By Road:Italy has an excellent selection of
autostrade (A) (motorways), the main north-south link being the
autostrada del sole, which links Milan with Naples in the south of Italy. Speed limits on motorways are 130kph (81mph) for cars of 1100cc or more and 110kph (68mph) for smaller cars and all cars when conditions are wet. All motorways are tolled. Travelers on a budget might prefer the
strade statali (SS), which are often fast, multi-lane carriageways that are toll free. The speed limit on these roads is 90kph (56mph).
Strade provinciale are perfect for exploring Italy’s hidden countryside.
The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%, random breath tests can be imposed and there are severe penalties for drink driving. By law, both driver and passenger must wear their seatbelts, if fitted, or face an on-the-spot fine. Speeding and driving through a red light also incur fines. Car lights must be switched on at any time on
autostrade and
strade statali. The minimum age for driving is 18 and all those not in possession of an EU license must carry an International Driving Permit. EU nationals taking their own car will need an International Insurance Certificate, also known as a
Carta Verde (Green Card).
Automobile Club Italian (ACI) (tel: (06) 491 115) provides further information.
Emergency breakdown service:
ACI 803 116
Routes to the city: Bologna is linked to Milan, Florence and Rome by the A1. The A13 arrives directly from Venice and Padua and the A14 links Bologna to the coastal towns of Ravenna and Rimini.
Approximate driving times to Bologna: from Milan is 2.5 hours; Florence is 1.5 hour; Rome is 3.5 hours.
Coach services: There are over 30 coach service providers operating to and from Bologna’s coach terminal,
Autostazione di Bologna, Piazza XX Settembre 6 (tel: 051 245 400; website:
www.autostazionebo.it), just around the corner from the train station.
Pullman (coaches) from regional centers such as Ferrara and Modena arrive at this station. There are also long-distance services from Milan and Ancona and international services from London, Paris and Frankfurt. Facilities at the coach station include a restaurant, ATM, hairdressers, and newsagent.
Getting There By Rail:The Italian state railway,
Ferrovie dello Stato (tel: 892 021; website:
www.trenitalia.it), is both economical and efficient. Bologna’s train station, Bologna Centrale, is located at Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, in the north of the city. Facilities in the station include car hire, banks, bars, restaurants, newspaper stands and a pharmacy. Passengers must validate their tickets by stamping them in the yellow machines, located on the platform, before boarding, to avoid having to pay a fine. Supplements might be charged, depending on the type of train taken (
Diretto, Interregionale, Espresso, Intercity or
Eurostar).
Rail services: Bologna Centrale is one of Italy’s main crossroads for both national and international trains. Work is well underway to quadruple the number of platforms and to build a second station, thus increasing the level of service and halving travel times on the main lines. At present, the fastest service linking Bologna with Milan (journey time - 2 hours), Florence (journey time - 1 hour), Rome (journey time - 3 hours) and Naples (journey time - 5 hours) is the high-speed
Eurostar. The
EuroCity train service links Bologna with more than 40 other European destinations including Paris, Basel and Brussels.
Getting Around:Public TransportBologna’s efficient
bus system, run by the
Trasporti Pubblici Bologna (
ATC) (tel: 051 290 290; website:
www.atc.bo.it), has information booths in the train and coach stations and on Via Marconi. Bus maps are also available from the tourist office (see
Sightseeing). On average, routes run daily between 0630 and 2300. Tickets allow the traveller to change buses or make a return journey within the hour. As it is with the
trains (see
Getting There by Rail), travelers must validate their bus tickets by punching them in the machine upon boarding the bus.
Better value is the
Citypass, which permits eight journeys (each punch covers the holder for one hour), or the
Day Ticket,
which is valid for 24 hours from the time of validation. A monthly
pass also exists. Tickets and passes can be purchased at
tabacchi, bars, newspaper kiosks and tourist information offices.
TaxisTaxis can be hailed on the street but rarely stop. It is better for tourists to hire them at taxi ranks (Piazza Maggiore and the train station) or to telephone the city’s taxi cooperative,
CoTaBo (tel: 051 372 727) or
CAT (tel: 051 534 141).
Taxis in Bologna are expensive, with supplements for luggage and for traveling late at night (2200-0700) or on Sunday. If booking by telephone, passengers will be charged for the trip to the pick-up point. Taxi fares are calculated to include taxes and service - further tipping therefore is at the customer’s discretion.
Driving in the CityThere is no real need for a car in Bologna’s compact
centro storico (city center) and parking can be tricky. The area is also closed to private cars 0700-2000 daily, including Sunday and public holidays. A special ticket is available to guests staying in city hotels. This is obtainable from hotel management and allows the holder to park in the city center from 0800-2400 on weekdays and holidays or in the area immediately around the city center from 0800-1800 weekdays. It also allows for free transport on buses, valid for 24 hours and for one person. The hotel validates these tickets with a stamp stating date and time. To reach the city center, drivers should follow the
centro sign off the
tangenziale (ring road), which links Bologna to the motorway. Full details of the city’s park and ride scheme, which operates at the major car parks outside the restricted area, is available from
ATC (see above).
Car HireMost major car hire companies have offices in the city, including
Avis, Via Pietramellara 27d (tel: 051 255 024; website:
www.avis.com) and
Hertz, Via G Amendola 16 (tel: 051 254 830; website:
www.hertz.com), as well at the airport. Drivers must be 23 and 25 years old respectively and carry either a valid EU license or an International Driving Permit. Car hire in Bologna is expensive. Basic insurance is included in the price, although extra cover can be purchased in order to avoid any excess charges in the case of an accident.
Bicycle HireBicycles and scooters are available for hire from
Senzauto, at the train station in Piazza Medaglie d’Oro (tel: 051 251 401; website:
www.senzauto.com). Visitors should ask for
Noleggi Biciclette (bicycle hire).
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