How to get from the Bologna Centrale to the Bologna “Guglielmo Marconi” Airport (BLQ) for less than €2.
The above photo is the Marconi Express replacement bus.
The Guglielmo Marconi Airport is just 7 km from the city centre.
The Marconi Express Monorail seems like a great and novel way to get there until you see the cost of a one-way ride: €12.80 (still correct as of April 2026):
It is undoubtedly very convenient: At peak times, there is a departure every 7 minutes, and it operates from 5.40 am to midnight, 365 days a year.
From midnight to 5:40 am, the bus Line Q runs between the airport and the Bologna Centrale.
But I was looking for an alternative way.
This is where Google Maps is the best resource for travellers, other than Nomadic Backpacker, of course.
Travellers need proper info, good intel and all the details (I was laughing in disbelief, I just saw an Insta reel of two brave travellers saying how you can save money by buying snacks from the supermarket rather than the airport restaurant).
So here’s how I got from Bologna Centrale to Bologna Airport.
I took a TrenItalia train from Bologna Centrale, direction Vignola, for just one stop to Bologna Borgo Panigale. The ride is just now €1.60 (fare increase as of April 2026) and takes four minutes.
Buying a ticket from Bologna Centrale to Bologna Borgo Panigale:
Ticket from Bologna Centrale to Bologna Borgo Panigale on Tren Italia:
Don’t forget to validate it:
Train from Bologna Centrale:
Bologna Borgo Panigale:
And then, this is genius, just walk the last bit!
Follow the path on Google Maps. It’s pretty straightforward.
Arrival at the Aeroporto G Marconi Bologna, just as the replacement bus (Marconi Express) was just leaving:
It was a 27-minute walk.
What a way to save €11.30. You’ll thank me later.
I had plenty of time to kill. Indeed, I had planned it that way. I have been travelling fast these last weeks. The hard part is keeping up with the blog.
