How to travel from Munich to Bologna by train

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München / Munich to Bologna by train

The direct train(s) from Munich to Bologna, which provide a highly useful connection when travelling from southern Germany to northern Italy, also happen to take a beautiful route through the Alps and Dolomites.

Bologna is the main hub of the Italian rail network, so connect there for a swathe of fabulous destinations, which have no direct trains from Germany, including Ravenna, Modena, Parma, Naples and Lecce
(In the summer months this train has its journey extended to Rimini and Ancona).

Also if you'd rather travel by day to Florence and Rome than take the direct night train from Munchen, you can also connect in Bologna for those cities.

Routes you can take to go from München / Munich to Bologna

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to München / Munich Journey guides for travel from Bologna

Route Information

Option 1: taking the direct daytime trains

Station Guides

München Hbf/Munich main station Rail Station Guide

The main departure hall is to the right, the Ovest entrance is on the far left

Bologna Centrale Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

6hr 33min - 6hr 46min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

Mon-Fri = 3 x trains per day

Sat/Sun = 2 x trains per day

Is the journey from Munich / München to Bologna direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.

Is this journey scenic?
Between Kufstein and Trento it is exceptional! check the 'Journey Information' for photos and videos.

What other tourist locations are along this route from Munich / München to Bologna?
Innsbruck and Bolzano and Trento

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Bologna Centrale from München Hbf on this journey option?

Before 14:15 on Monday to Friday
Before 16:20 on Saturday to Sunday
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Bologna?
The station is located on the northern edge of the city centre.

Bus line 25 links the main Bologna Central (Stazione FS) with the main square in the heart of the city - leave the bus at the 'Rizzoli' stop.
Bus line / route A connects the AV station to the city centre.

When is the usual approximate latest departure from München Hbf to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf?
Before 13:35 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to get to the station in Munich / München?
Frequent local (S-Bahn) trains travel from stations in the city centre - and multiple tram and metro lines are also available.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for this journey?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for this train?
Typically up to 4 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.

What are the child ticket terms for this train?
Up to four children aged 15 and under can travel for free when accompanied by a fare paying Adult.

Does the ticket for this train include assigned seats?
Yes - See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for this journey?
Yes - See the rail pass reservation guide for info on the multiple booking options.

Is catering available on this train?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant car.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.

What else is good to know about Italian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Italy.

What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.

Travel Information

These trains usually depart Munchen Hbf and daily at around 09:30 and 13:20 .

Final Destination: Bologna or Ancona

These trains also call at: Verona

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), you'll have a quicker trip if you join the train at Munchen Ost.

The overnight train:

The 'overnight' train from Munchen/Munich to Bologna is scheduled to arrive there at the painfully early time of 05:19 - and you'll miss out on experiencing the delights of this daytime trip!

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

A First Class seating saloon on a New Generation Railjet train

Railjet New Generation (International) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesNot High SpeedLandscape (Hills / Mountains)

Good to Know

The new generation Railjet trains are now scheduled to be used for all departures.

Journey description:

The train journey between Rosenheim and Verona is one of the most incredible in Europe, but sit on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) to see the best of the stunning views.

Though the first of the scenic highlights, when the train follows the River Inn from Kuftstein into Innsbruck, is on the left.

But the most incredible part of the journey is that between Innsbruck and the border at Brennero.

in winter:

in summer: And as can be seen in these videos, the best of the views on this part of the train ride can be seen on the right.

Though the fabulous views continue after the train exits the Brenner Tunnel and begins to travel through Italy.

Between Brennero and Verona the railway route primarily travels through a massive valley, by the River Adige and on this part of the journey, there are some great views to be had from either side of the train.

The train will reverse direction on departure from Verona and the part of the journey from there to Bologna, is actually exceptionally uninteresting.

Between Rosenheim and Worgl

Between Worgl and Innsbruck

Innsbruck to Brennero in winter

Innsbruck to Brennero in summer

The view from the rear window in the last coach

Crossing the border into Italy

Between Bolzano and Trento

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Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but this period of time is shorter when looking up journeys in August to October.

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

A choice of tickets

Three types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
One type of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa.

A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:

Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
Flexpreis Europa tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.

The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis Europa tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

The Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Munchen city centre and Munchen Hbf.

Booking on the DB website

You can find these direct trains more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.

Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.

Travelling from Munchen Ost station:

When making a booking online on DB 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.
So 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.

Rail Pass Users:

When taking this journey [when using 'global' Eurail or InterRail passes]https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/reservations/trains-with-additional-supplements) a supplement is required of €15 in 1st class and €10 in 2nd class.
However, the supplement is not a seat reservation

You can purchase the supplements on the Eurail reservation service or the InterRail reservation service and a seat reservation will also be included - though you will be charged a €2 booking fee per reservation, per person.

If you book the supplement for journeys to Italy by these trains, at the Reisezentrum desk at Munchen Hbf (or at any hauptbahnhof in Germany), you won't be charged a booking fee, but will also have to pay seat reservation charges of €4.90 in 2nd class and €5.90 in 1st class

If you pay for the seat reservation online on the DB (German Railways) website, it won't include the supplement that's charged for journeys to Italy.
When you have occupied your reserved seat you can buy the supplement from the train conductor, but when doing so there is an additional charge of €5.

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

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This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

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How to travel from Munich to Bologna by train

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München / Munich to Bologna by train