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How to get from Bologna to Venice
High-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains link Bologna Centrale and Venezia Santa Lucia in about 1 h 30, while regional trains take about 2 h for around €15. Santa Lucia station is on the Grand Canal, so you step straight into the city.
Best option: Train. Trains are frequent and arrive at Santa Lucia on the Grand Canal, avoiding Venice's car parks entirely.
All the ways to make the trip
| How | Time | How often | Price* | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| train Trenitalia Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed trains from Bologna Centrale to Venezia Santa Lucia | about 1 h 25 – 1 h 35 | one or more per hour | about €15–40 depending on how early you book | Make sure your ticket is to Venezia Santa Lucia, not just Venezia Mestre. |
| train Trenitalia regional trains (Regionale Veloce) from Bologna Centrale to Venezia Santa Lucia via Ferrara and Padua | about 2 h | roughly hourly | about €15 | Fixed price, no reservation needed. |
| car A13 motorway via Ferrara and Padua, then the Ponte della Libertà to Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto | about 1 h 45 | fuel plus about €12 in tolls, plus parking | Parking in Venice is expensive; consider parking in Mestre and taking the train or bus across. | |
| bus Long-distance buses (e.g. FlixBus) to Venice Tronchetto or Mestre | about 2 h – 2 h 30 | a few a day | about €8–20 | Cheaper but slower than the train. |
*Approximate prices and times for 2026. Timetables change by season: check with the operator before you travel.
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Tips
- Check whether the Venice day-tripper access fee applies on your date and pay it online in advance.
- Buy a vaporetto ticket at Santa Lucia if you want to ride the Grand Canal.
- Regional trains are a good back-up if high-speed fares are high on the day.
- Padua or Ferrara make easy stops on the way by regional train.
Common questions
How long is the train from Bologna to Venice?
High-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains take about 1 hour 25 to 1 hour 35 minutes from Bologna Centrale to Venezia Santa Lucia. Regional trains take about 2 hours, stopping at Ferrara, Rovigo and Padua. Both reach Santa Lucia, which opens straight onto the Grand Canal.
Can I visit Venice as a day trip from Bologna?
Yes. With trains of about an hour and a half and frequent departures, you can spend a full day walking from Santa Lucia to the Rialto and St Mark's Square and return in the evening. On some peak days Venice charges day visitors an access fee, so check the city's website before you go.
Should I drive from Bologna to Venice?
Usually not. Cars cannot enter Venice's historic centre, and parking at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto is expensive and fills up in summer. The drive takes about 1 hour 45 on the A13 plus tolls. If you have a car, parking in Mestre and taking a train or bus across the bridge is cheaper.
Do I need to book the train ahead?
For regional trains, no: the fare is fixed and you can buy on the day. For Frecciarossa and Italo, booking a few days ahead gets much lower fares, and on summer weekends and holidays some trains sell out. Tickets are sold in the operators' apps and at station machines.
Compiled by TonyPlan from operator and transport information and travel knowledge; updated 2026-10-05. Anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.