Milano / Milan / Mailand to Bologna by train

How to travel from Milan to Bologna by train

The Frecciarossa 1000 trains and most of the Frecciarossa services operated by Trenitalia on this route share Italy's fastest railway, the high-speed line between Milano and Bologna, with Italo trains.
On the high speed line, these trains have similar speeds, so the differences between them are to do with the on-board experiences, check out the 'Trains' guides below; and the fact that tickets for the Italo trains and Frecce trains can be purchased from different online booking agents - it's a route on which you can save by booking in advance.

However, some Frecce trains from Milano to Bologna still take the older route via Parma and Modena, so they're slower, because they don't travel at high speed and also make more station calls.
If ticket price and not speed is your key criteria, you can usually save money by taking these trains, but they are not as frequent as the high speed services.

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Routes

Option 1: taking the high speed trains operated by Trenitalia

Travel Information

Final Destination: Roma or Napoli or Salerno (and others)

Some of these trains also call at Milano Rogoredo and depending on where you'll be setting off from in Milano, taking the trains from this station can be time saver.
Milano Centrale is on the northern edge of the city centre, so trains initially head north and then make their way around the city, so that they can take the route south towards Bologna.

Local trains head to Milano Rogoredo from multiple stations in the city centre, including Milano Porta Venezia and Milano Porta Vittoria.

Milano Rogoredo is also on line M3 of the Milan Metro, but this line also serves Milano Centrale.

1 - 3 x trains per hour

Tickets

*Save by booking in advance: Yes, for more details on how to obtain the cheapest prices for Frecce trains see the guide to Italian rail tickets.

Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.

The faster (AV) train services between and Milano and Bologna is provided by

(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains

Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed up to 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are typically made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.

If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.

*Some Frecce and Italo trains depart from stations in Milano other Milano Centrale.
If you will be travelling from Milano Centrale then use this specific station when looking up tickets and prices.

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.

How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.

If you are happy to pay the €10 reservation fees, target these trains and avoid the slower Frecce trains; as the rail pass reservation fees are the same on those trains.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italia rail from €19 approx

Italia rail Guide

Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.

The Early Bird service

Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.

Trenitalia from €19 approx

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Trainline from €19 approx

Trainline Guide

Omio from €19 approx

Omio Guide

Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The three key advantages of using Omio are

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.

Save A Train from €19 approx

Save A Train Guide

Option 2: taking the high speed Italo trains

Travel Information

Final Destination: Roma or Napoli or Salerno or Reggio di Calabria

Most of these trains also call at Milano Rogoredo

Monday to Friday: 14 x trains per day
Saturday: 12 x trains
Sunday: 13 x trains

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

**Online bookings open: around 3 months ahead of the travel date

The high speed (AV) train service between Milano Centrale and Bologna is provided by

(1) these Italo trains
(2) alternative Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia

Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.

Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day - so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.

If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italo from €9 approx

Italo Guide

Happy rail from €9 approx

Happy rail Guide

Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.

Trainline from €9 approx

Trainline Guide

Omio from €9 approx

Omio Guide

Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The three key advantages of using Omio are

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.

Option 3: the slower, but typically cheaper Frecce services

Travel Information

Final Destination: Ancona or Lecce (or Taranto or Bari)

Most of these trains also call at Milano Rogoredo

These trains also call at: Parma and Modena

9 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

These trains are around an hour slower than the alternative high speed Frecce trainsm because they don't take the high speed line between Milano and Bologna.
However, if travelling at the cheapest possible price is your primary criteria, then these trains can be worth considering. 
The most heavily discounted tickets inevitably sell out faster on the faster Frecce trains, so these trains can be more than €10 cheaper.

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.

Though if you have a rail pass avoid taking these trains, as the €10 rail pass reservation fees are the same price on the alternative faster Frecciarossa trains.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €9 approx

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Italia rail from €9 approx

Italia rail Guide

Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.

The Early Bird service

Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - NoNot High Speed

Good to Know

Most of the 'Frecce' services from Milano which take the route down the Adriatic Coast don't use the high speed line on the section of their journeys between Milano and Bologna.

Option 4: Eurail and InterRail users can save

Travel Information

Final Destination: Terni or Napoli

These InterCity trains from Milano call in Bologna on route to their distant destinations in southern Italy.

4 or 5 x trains per day

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia *

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Trainline *

Trainline Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - NoNot High Speed

Good to Know

The ticket agents won't sell tickets for these trains which are usually scheduled to depart from Milano Centrale at 05:00; 07:05; 14:48 (not Sat); 15:05 and 17:40, but if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass they are a cheaper option for a Milano to Bologna rail journey, because they can be boarded without paying any reservation fees.

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