Italy

How to get from Bologna to Pisa

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
2h 30min
💶
From
10€
📍
Distance
115 km
Powered by 12Go system
⚡ Quick answer

Best option from Bologna to Pisa: Bus — both the fastest and the cheapest, about 2h 30min, from €10. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on October 27, 2026): FlixBus, Marino; main departure point: Bologna Bus Station.

Distance: 115 km. Data updated on .

There are 2 ways to get from Bologna to Pisa

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Bus
2h 30min – 2h 35min
CHEAPEST FASTEST
10 – 12 €
View
Flight (1 stop)
2h 50min
43 €
View
✈️ Also compare flights on Trip.com ›
🚌 Departure from Bologna
📍Coaches in Bologna generally leave from the Autostazione, the city's main coach station next to Bologna Centrale railway station. Check your ticket for the exact stop and platform, as details can change between operators.
🚇From the historic centre, you can reach the station on foot via Via dell'Indipendenza, or take a city bus towards Bologna Centrale. A taxi is also easy to find and convenient if you are carrying heavy luggage.
⏰Departures run several times a day, mostly from morning to evening. Exact first and last times depend on the operator and the date, so check the timetable on this page when booking.
💸 Transport from 10€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 2h 30min
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on October 27, 2026 for a departure on November 17, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
FlixBus Bus Bologna Bus Station €10 2
Marino Bus Bologna Bus Station €24 1
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Practical tips

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Compare before you book

Check the comparison table on this page before paying. The coach is usually the cheaper option, so you avoid overpaying for a last-minute choice when a more affordable seat is available.

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Confirm the departure stop

Bologna has more than one place where long-distance transport leaves from. Read your booking confirmation carefully and note the exact departure point so you do not end up at the wrong stop.

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Book ahead in high season

In summer and on holiday weekends, popular departures fill up. Book your coach seat a few days ahead to secure your preferred time and avoid being left with a late or inconvenient departure.

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Think twice about the flight

A flight with a stopover adds airport transfers, check-in and security. Unless it fits a wider itinerary, the coach is simpler and keeps you in the city centres at both ends.

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Arrive early with your ticket ready

Arrive at the stop ahead of departure with your e-ticket on your phone. Keep a copy offline in case of weak signal, and have your luggage ready to load without a rush.

The journey experience

Getting from Bologna to Pisa is a simple hop across northern Italy, but knowing which option suits you saves time and money. You are choosing between a coach and a flight with a connection, and the comparison table on this page puts durations, price ranges and frequency side by side so you can decide at a glance.

The coach is the straightforward choice for independent travellers without a car. It runs point to point, avoids the hassle of changing between stations, and usually comes out as the cheapest way to make the trip. Seats are comfortable enough for a daytime journey, with room for luggage in the hold. The flight with a connection is a different proposition: it involves airport check-in, security and a stopover, so it only makes sense if the schedule happens to fit your wider plans or you are already holding a flight ticket for another leg.

For most travellers, the coach is the smart pick: it is predictable, budget-friendly and easy to book online with instant confirmation. Check which stop the departure leaves from before you set off, as large Italian cities often have more than one pick-up point, and book ahead in high season so you get the time you want. Once you have your ticket, the rest is easy, and you will be in Pisa ready to see the Leaning Tower.

Frequently asked questions — Bologna → Pisa

Why visit Pisa?

  • ✓ Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa and enjoy panoramic views over Piazza dei Miracoli
  • ✓ Admire the Duomo, Baptistery and Camposanto, whose Baptistery is famed for its remarkable acoustics
  • ✓ Stroll along the Arno river to the tiny Gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina
  • ✓ Discover Piazza dei Cavalieri and the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore, founded by Napoleon
  • ✓ Savour local specialities like cecina (chickpea flatbread) and torta co' bischeri in the Borgo Stretto district
🌙
Recommended stay
1 to 2 nights — main sights are compact and easily seen in a day, with time to spare for the evening

When to visit Pisa?

MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

April to June and September to October — mild temperatures and fewer crowds than the hot, busy summer months

Jan 😞
Feb 😞
Mar 😐
Apr 😊
May 😊
Jun 😐
Jul 😞
Aug 😞
Sep 😊
Oct 😊
Nov 😞
Dec 😞
📍
In Pisa — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in Pisa
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in Pisa?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
🗼
Climb the Leaning Tower
Pisa's icon on Piazza dei Miracoli. Entry is by timed slot, with 30 steps per group and no bags allowed (free cloakroom). Book online, ideally a few days ahead in season. Tickets start around 20€. Go at opening or late afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
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Cathedral and Baptistery visit
The Romanesque Duomo has a striking striped marble interior and Giovanni Pisano's pulpit. In the Baptistery, the guard sings to demonstrate the famous acoustics, usually on the hour. A combined ticket starts around 10€ and the Duomo is often cheaper than the tower. Dress modestly.
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Camposanto Monumentale cloister
This quiet cemetery cloister, said to hold soil from Golgotha, is covered in medieval frescoes, including the Triumph of Death. Bomb damage in 1944 destroyed part of them, and restored fragments remain. It is calmer than the tower area. Allow 40 minutes. Included in combined tickets from about 10€.
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Museo Nazionale di San Matteo
Housed in a former Benedictine convent along the Arno, this museum holds Tuscan paintings and sculpture from the 12th to 17th centuries, with works by Masaccio, Simone Martini and Donatello. It is rarely crowded. Entry is around 5€. Closed on some afternoons and Mondays, so check hours first.
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Stroll the Arno lungarni
Walk the riverside lungarni from Ponte di Mezzo to the tiny Gothic Santa Maria della Spina chapel, a jewel of pinnacles on the water. Go at sunset, when the pastel facades glow. It is free, takes about an hour, and is ideal before an aperitivo nearby.
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Piazza delle Vettovaglie market
The covered market, with its arcades, is Pisa's food hub. Morning stalls sell cheese, cured meats, olives and produce, while surrounding bars fill at aperitivo time. Arrive before 1pm for the best choice. Pick up a panino with local prosciutto for around 5€ and eat it on the square.
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Taste Pisan cecina and tordelli
Try cecina, a thin chickpea flatbread baked in a wood oven, often stuffed in a focaccia sandwich known as 'ò stiaccino. Pair it with a glass of local Chianti or Vernaccia. Seek out small trattorias away from the tower, where a hearty meal costs around 15€ to 25€.
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Botanical Garden and San Rossore
Founded in 1544, Pisa's botanical garden is among Europe's oldest university gardens, a peaceful retreat near the center, with entry around 5€. For more nature, rent a bike and ride into Parco di San Rossore, a coastal reserve of pine forest and wildlife, reachable by bus or bike in about 20 minutes.

How long to visit Pisa?

1 to 2 days

Pisa is easily seen in half a day to one day: the Piazza dei Miracoli (Leaning Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto) takes 2 to 3 hours, then add the Borgo Stretto, Piazza dei Cavalieri and the Lungarni. With 2 days, add the San Rossore park or the beaches of Marina di Pisa. Book your Tower time slot online in advance, and consider pairing Pisa with Lucca or Florence for a longer stay.

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