Route guide

Naples → Bologna

470 km · Italy to Italy · Fastest: 3h by train · Cheapest: €21+ by bus

How to travel from Naples to Bologna

There are 4 ways to travel between Naples and Bologna — compare duration, price and operators below.

🚄Train

€43–125

Duration: 2h 37m

via Trenitalia (Frecciarossa), Italo

~7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚌Bus

€21–53

Duration: 6h 43m

via FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus

~13 kg CO₂ per passenger

✈️Flight

€54–176

Duration: 3h 8m

via Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways

~73 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚗Car

€56–103

Duration: 5h 14m

~80 kg CO₂ per passenger

Where they are on the map

Naples and Bologna highlighted among the 50 European cities we cover. Map is schematic, not to scale.

Travel tips for this route

At 470 km this is a comfortable weekend trip — train or flight both work.
Both train and flight options exist. Trains often beat flights door-to-door under 600 km once you count airport overhead.
Both Naples and Bologna are in Italy — no border crossing, single currency, single rail network.
Long-distance coaches (FlixBus and similar) are typically 30–50% cheaper than train, but 2–3× slower.

Naples to Bologna — every option in detail

Naples to Bologna by train

Trains between Naples and Bologna run within the Italy national rail network. The typical end-to-end journey is around 2h 37m.

Operators on this corridor include Trenitalia (Frecciarossa), Italo.

Train fares are dynamic — typical range is €43 to €125. Advance-purchase tickets (1–2 months ahead) almost always beat walk-up prices.

On routes under 600 km like this one, train often beats flight door-to-door once you factor in airport check-in and transfers.

Climate footprint: about 7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger by train vs roughly 73 kg by flight — taking the train saves ~66 kg on this distance.

Naples to Bologna by bus

Long-distance coaches connect Naples and Bologna with a typical journey of 6h 43m. Buses are usually the slowest mode for this corridor but consistently the cheapest.

Operators include FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.

Fares start from around €21 when booked in advance, rising to €53 for last-minute travel.

Most modern coaches offer Wi-Fi, USB charging and reclining seats. Overnight services exist on longer corridors and can save a hotel night.

Naples to Bologna by flight

Flights between Naples and Bologna take around 1h in the air, but plan on roughly 3h 8m door-to-door once you add airport transfers, check-in and security.

Airlines on this route include Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways.

Typical fare range is €54–176. Low-cost carriers offer the cheapest base fares but charge separately for bags and seat selection.

Climate footprint: approximately 73 kg CO₂ per passenger for this flight.

Naples to Bologna by car

The driving distance from Naples to Bologna is approximately 541 km. At motorway speeds, plan on around 5h 14m of driving plus stops.

Fuel-only running cost is in the €56–103 range for a typical car. Toll roads may apply, especially in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland — budget extra accordingly.

Climate footprint: approximately 80 kg CO₂ per passenger assuming 1.5 occupants per car.

About this route

The distance between Naples and Bologna is approximately 470 kilometres. Direct or connecting trains link the two cities through the European rail network. Both cities have international airports with regular flight service. Long-distance coaches offer a budget-friendly alternative on this route. Estimates below reflect typical operator schedules and fare ranges; book in advance for the best prices.

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