Italy

How to get from Bologna to Reggio Emilia

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

⏱
FASTEST
1h
💶
From
4€
📍
Distance
61 km
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⚡ Quick answer

Checked offer from Bologna to Reggio Emilia: Bus, about 1h, from €4. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on October 27, 2026): FlixBus, Marino, Autolinee Federico; main departure point: Bologna Bus Station.

Distance: 61 km. Data updated on .

One option to get from Bologna to Reggio Emilia

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

Bus
1h – 1h 5min
4 – 6 €
View
🚌 Departure from Bologna
📍Buses from Bologna usually depart from the main Autostazione (coach station) next to Bologna Centrale railway station. It has ticket information, waiting areas and several boarding bays, so check your confirmation for the exact bay and operator.
🚇From the historic centre you can walk to the station area, or take a city bus heading to Stazione Centrale. A taxi is also easy to find near the main squares and is a sensible choice if you are carrying heavy luggage.
⏰Departures run throughout the day, with services from early morning to the evening. Frequency is higher on weekdays. Check the live timetable on this page for the exact times of your preferred date.
💸 Transport from 4€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 1h
🗓 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 €4 2
Marino Bus Bologna Bus Station €6 1
Autolinee Federico Bus Bologna Bus Station €22 1
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Practical tips

💡
Confirm your boarding point

Bologna has more than one stop for long-distance vehicles. Check the exact boarding point on your booking confirmation before leaving your accommodation, so you do not end up at the wrong stop with a departure about to leave.

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Book ahead, skip the last-minute premium

Fares are lowest when you book early. Last-minute tickets, especially on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, can cost more or sell out. Reserve online once your plans are fixed and keep the confirmation on your phone.

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Arrive a little early

Coaches leave on schedule and boarding points are not always signposted clearly. Arrive early enough to locate the right bay, check the destination display and load your luggage without rushing, especially if you carry a large suitcase.

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Keep your ticket handy

Have your e-ticket ready on your phone, with the screen brightness up and the file saved offline. Drivers often scan it at the door, and patchy mobile signal near busy terminals can slow you down if you need to reload it.

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Check your return in advance

If you plan a day trip, look at the last return departure before you go and book it too. Evening services can be fewer and fill up, and you will not want to be left searching for an alternative late in the day.

The journey experience

Bologna to Reggio Emilia is one of those short hops in Emilia-Romagna where you can stop overthinking. Both cities sit on the same flat, well-connected corridor along the Via Emilia, so the real question is not which mode to pick but where to board and when to book. If you want to see the options and compare them in one clear table, the page figures below give you the current times and prices at a glance.

The option verified for this route is the coach. It is simple, direct and usually the most economical way to travel, with comfortable reclining seats, luggage space under the vehicle and air conditioning on most services. Coaches also tend to drop you close to the town centre, which saves a connection once you arrive. You can book online and receive an instant confirmation on your phone, so there is nothing to print and no queue at a ticket window.

My advice: pick a departure time, book ahead if you are travelling on a weekend or in high season, and check the exact boarding point on your ticket before you leave. Bologna has more than one place where long-distance vehicles stop, so confirming the stop is the one detail that avoids stress. Once that is done, the journey itself is easy, and you can arrive relaxed and ready to explore Reggio Emilia.

Frequently asked questions — Bologna → Reggio Emilia

Why visit Reggio Emilia?

  • ✓ Admire the Piazza Prampolini and the Basilica della Ghiara, a Baroque jewel with its richly frescoed interior
  • ✓ Discover the Teatro Municipale Valli, the elegant 19th-century opera house, and the Tricolore Museum, birthplace of the Italian flag
  • ✓ Taste authentic Parmigiano Reggiano on a guided dairy visit, with cheese-ageing cellars and a tasting
  • ✓ Walk across Santiago Calatrava's white steel bridges at the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana high-speed station
  • ✓ Try local specialties such as cappelletti in brodo, erbazzone and gnocco fritto in a traditional trattoria
🌙
Recommended stay
1 to 2 nights — compact historic centre, easy to explore on foot, with dairy visits nearby

When to visit Reggio Emilia?

HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

April to June and September to October — mild weather, pleasant for walking and food tours, avoiding the humid summer heat

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

What to do in Reggio Emilia?

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

MUST-SEE
🏛️
Piazza Prampolini and Cathedral
The heart of Reggio Emilia, framed by the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Municipio, where the Italian tricolour was born in 1797. Visit early morning before the market crowds. The Duomo is free to enter, usually open 7:00–12:00 and 16:00–19:00. Stop for a coffee under the arcades.
🇮🇹
Sala del Tricolore Museum
Inside the Town Hall, this hall is where the Cispadane Republic adopted the green, white and red flag on 7 January 1797. The visit is short, around 20 minutes, and free. Check opening days at the tourist office, as access is often limited to certain mornings and weekends.
🎭
Teatro Municipale Valli
A neoclassical opera house from 1857 with a grand horseshoe auditorium and a columned façade on Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio. Guided tours are offered on selected days, often for around 5€. For an evening show, book a gallery seat from roughly 15€ for the best value.
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Parmigiano Reggiano Dairy Visit
Visit a caseificio in the surrounding countryside at dawn to watch the cheese being made in copper vats, followed by a tasting of 12, 24 and 36-month wheels. Visits cost roughly 10–20€ and require booking. A car is the easiest way to reach most dairies.
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Calatrava Bridges Architecture Walk
Santiago Calatrava designed three striking white bridges at the city's northern entrance, plus the Mediopadana high-speed station nearby. Go at sunset, when the steel arches glow, and combine it with a walk along the station's undulating glass gallery. Free, and 10 minutes by bus from the centre.
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Cappelletti and Erbazzone Tasting
Sample local specialities in a trattoria: cappelletti in capon broth, and erbazzone, a savoury pie of chard and Parmigiano. Lunch menus typically run 15–25€. Order a glass of sparkling Lambrusco to cut the richness, and book ahead on weekends since small family places fill up quickly.
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Canossa Castle Ruins
About 30 km southwest, these hilltop ruins are where Emperor Henry IV begged Pope Gregory VII's pardon in 1077. The small museum and panoramic views over the Apennine foothills make a worthwhile half-day. Entry is around 5€. A car is practically essential, as public transport is very limited.
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Collezione Maramotti Contemporary Art
A private contemporary art collection housed in the former Max Mara factory, with works from the 1945 onward. Visits are by guided tour only, free of charge, and must be booked in advance online. Tours run on set days, usually Thursday to Sunday, so plan your schedule around them.

How long to visit Reggio Emilia?

1 to 2 days

Reggio Emilia deserves 1 to 2 days. In one day, walk the compact historic centre (Piazza Prampolini, Basilica della Ghiara, Teatro Valli, the Tricolore sites) and taste Parmigiano Reggiano and gnocco fritto. With a second day, visit a dairy to see cheese being made and add a trip to Canossa Castle or the Apennine foothills. Book dairy visits in advance and come by train, as the centre is a limited traffic zone.

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