Paige

Hello! We're off to Bologna soon so I'm hoping someone can help me out. What's the best way to get from the airport to the train station on a weekday night around 8pm? Our hotel is near the train station; is that a decent area? We're thinking about taking a day trip to another town in the area. Any recommendations and tips on how to get there? Thanks!

Geoff Hamer

I don't know about transport from the airport, but the area around Bologna station is OK. You can walk along one of the main shopping streets to the old city centre in about 15 minutes, or there are buses (remember to buy bus tickets from a tobacconists or similar outlet before getting on the bus). You can easily get to Verona, Venezia or Ravenna by train for a day trip (there's no need to book seats). There are often long queues at the station ticket windows, so buy tickets well before getting the train - tickets are valid two months so you can buy them well in advance (remember to stamp the ticket in the yellow machine before joining the train).

Paige

Thanks, Geoff. We've been to Venice, Verona and Florence so we're thinking we'll visit other towns nearby, like Parma, Modena, Ravenna or Ferrera (sp). We'll only have 1 day outside Bologna, so any recommendations?<BR><BR>I just found a better hotel (I think) for less than the other one I had booked. Has anyone stayed at the BEST WESTERN HOTEL SAN DONATO on VIA ZAMBONI? I'm assuming that's a good location, right?

rar

Hi there. That Best Western Hotel is actually right above/next to a rather loud club called Transylvania. I dunno if that would bother you, but it might be somewhat noisy. Via Zamboni is the student street basically, but that Hotel is a good location for exploring Bologna from. However it isnt really close to the train station.<BR><BR>Best way from train station to airport is probably taxi. There probably is a bus but I have never used that one.<BR><BR>Area around the train station is just fine. In fact anywhere in the downtown Bologna area is pretty safe.<BR><BR>Hope you at least spend one day here in Bologna. Just get on Via Indipendenza and walk into the heart of the city. Seeing Neptune's fountain, piazza Maggiore, and the duomo are musts. If looking at the duomo, take a walk down the left side and see where the duomo was left unfinished. There is literally a pipe sticking out of the wall, and a window only half finished (originally the duomo here was going to be larger than St. Peter's in Rome.. the pope didnt like that idea and built a large building, the Archiginnasio, right next to the duomo, blocking the duomo's expansion... as a result it's only the 5th largest cathedral in Europe).<BR><BR>Make sure to eat out one night at a good restaurant, Bologna is famous for the cuisine. Check out Da Gianni on Via Clavature, or Cesari on Via Carbonesi.<BR><BR>If I had 1 place to take a day trip from Bologna to, I would pick Ravenna, for their mosaics. Parma and Modena arent nearly as interesting.

Paige

Thanks! Is there a direct train from Bologna to Ravenna or is it better to take a bus?

rar

Just take the train, it goes directly there. Only about an hour trip.

Geoff Hamer

Last month when I was in Bologna, I did a day trip to Manova which has a beautifully preserved old town. By train, you normally have to change at Modena. You can check Italian train schedules on www.trenitalia.com.

Connie

There is a express bus from right in front of the train station to the airport. I will try to find the name for you.

Connie

If you look at a previous posting that I made a few weeks ago. Hotels in Bologna it may answer your questions about transportation to airport via taxi or aerobus.

Therese

Paige, it sounds like you've scored a nice hotel right in the center of things. I don't know how big an issue the discotheque will be, as I've not stayed there myself, but everything else about the location and the hotel looks great.<BR><BR>You're not very close to the train station, actually, but that's not a barrier to using the Aerobus as it makes a continuous loop from the airport to downtown (you'll get off at one of the downtown stops; show your driver the address of the hotel and he'll tell you which stop---the bus drivers don't usually speak English, but he'll know what you mean) to the train station and back to the airport. If you seen the two towers you're very close.<BR><BR>I've used the Aerobus on multiple occasions and never had a problem. You can buy your ticket on the bus directly, so no hassle with tickets. The taxi is also easy, obviously, but about 4 to 5 times more expensive. I found that the taxi offered no advantage time-wise.<BR><BR>There are about a million cool places to visit in the area. Do consider the possibility that trains won't be running (Italian for strike is "sciopero") and have a back-up for the day's plans.<BR><BR>Restaurants generally offer very good quality food. Even if you don't want to go high end you'll eat well. I had good suppers recently at Caffe Rosso and Serghei, both not far from your hotel. You can ask your concierge/desk clerk for directions.

Howard

Paige, when are you going? We'll be in Bologna this weekend. I can report back upon our return from Italy early November.

Sally

Actually, the train station is bit away from the really nice old center of Bologna. The nicest places to stay are at or very close to the Piazza Maggiore, which is the real center of Bologna: Hotels Orologio, Commercianti, Capello Rosso, Corona d'Oro. They may be a bit expensive though! Via Zamboni is also centrally located, but as a previous poster said it may be noisy and a bit messy. The only really unsavoury characters (nothing really threatening though!) I've seen in Bologna were at the Via Zamboni and Piazza Verdi off the Via Zamboni.

kavey

I am glad I found this thread - I just booked into the San Donato for a January trip.<BR><BR>We had a personal recommendation from a close friend who visited last year.<BR><BR>She mentioned the excellent location, standard rooms, very helpful staff and lovely terrace (though I imagine that will be closed in January).<BR><BR>She didn't mention noise from the club but I will certainly put in a request for a room on a higher floor.<BR><BR>Thanks for the heads up.<BR><BR>Kavey

Alice Twain

From the airport there is an express buss that will take you all the way to the center of Bologna and than to the railway station. The bus leaves every 15 minutes and costs 4 euro per person.

Howard

Alice is correct about the buses. However, if there are two or more of you, it pays to take a cab for 11-12 euro. For the two of us, it was worth the extra 4 euro for the comfort and convenience of a cab.

rar

Haha I live right on Piazza Verdi... needless to say it's one of the more &quot;flavorful&quot; piazzas in Bologna Really tho, I do have a strange fond affection for it.