By Train from München / Munich (Germany) to Bologna (Italy)

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date - usually

However, if you book more than 4 months ahead, you may only see more expensive tickets, than are typically offered on this route.

When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for the direct EC train -  these trains usually depart Munchen Hbf at 07:34 (Mon-Fri) and daily at 09:34 and 11:34.

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Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB Bahn and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets.

A step-by-step guide to booking train tickets on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.

There's also a guide to booking with an independent ticket agent.

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Rail Pass Users:

The seat reservation rules are different when using a rail pass to travel to Italy by these trains.

Rail pass users must make reservations prior to boarding, irrespective if you will be using a 1st or 2nd class pass.

However, this rail pass 'supplement' is not sold online by DB Bahn, but it can be arranged wihout payment of a booking fee at a Reisezentrum Travel desk at any hauptbahnhof station, including Munchen Hbf.

Or you can avoid paying this comparatively expensive rail reservation fee by taking this alternative journey option.

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Travelling from Munchen Ost station:

These trains will call at Munchen Ost station after they have departed from Munchen Hbf.

If the starting point of journey is in central Munich/Munchen (around Marienplatz), it will be a quicker trip if you join the train at Munchen Ost.

When making a booking online on DB Bahn, it uses ‘Munich (München)’ as a default for looking up journeys from the city in the ‘From’ box.

But it is possible to select München Ost as the ‘From’ station (you need to use the German spelling with the character (the umlaut) over the ‘u’).
You won’t save any money by booking from München Ost, but the departure time of your train from Munchen Ost will be on your ticket.

Booking agents, when looking up Munchen to Bologna journeys, will see that the fastest journey from Munchen is from Munchen Ost, so can assume that this is where you want to join the train.

If you're using an agent confirm whether your ticket has been booked from Munchen Hbf or Munchen Ost - particularly if you do want to join the train at Munchen Hbf.