Bologna Airport to Verona

Will this be your first entry into Schengen?
Assuming it is not i would guess you’d be on your way fairly quickly

Sorry Christine, I should have stated that we'll be coming from Amsterdam.

Thanks for your response

No experience personally but I would think the tram is quicker and cheaper
Less than 10 min to Bologna Centrale

Is there a fixed taxi rate?
Looks like 15-20 min depending on traffic

ETA
Never mind! Gosh that tram seems expensive!

Assuming that's 8:40pm the cost difference is probably a wash for two people with the taxi being potentially cheaper. It's generally 25 euros into the city center and the train station is outside the worst of the internal traffic. If you mean 8:40am you may be in for more traffic headed into the city.

The monorail is kind of creaky but dependable at takes 8 minutes or so - the biggest factor in wait time is whether one is at the station or if you just miss it then you need to wait for it to come back.

One thing to be aware of is the fast trains in Bologna leave from 3 levels below ground and take an airplane type transfer to get to so allow at least 15 minutes extra time to get down the series of escalators and more if you want to take the elevators because they are confusing and only go one floor at a time. Unlike every other Italian train station I've been to you should never linger if you are taking a fast train. Head straight to the gate because you'll get lost at least once if you haven't done it before.

Just checking midweek dates - assuming this is pm - it looks like midweek .Italo has a 9:46pm and Trenitalia has 10:16pm. Base fare is 26-33e so you could just bite the bullet and know you'll pay that much when you show up or buy a cheaper ticket and possibly end up losing that money on a gamble. Regardless I would get the apps for both companies so you can buy tickets on the fly as you need them.

Have a great trip, Verona is lovely,
=Tod

Tod, thanks for the info. Actually, it's 8:40, not 20:40. I thought I had read recently that a taxi was ~$16 whereas the tram was $12+/person. Not a big enough difference to matter as much as ease of use and reliability. And we are unfortunately well aware of Bologna's station, having been in the bottom level when our train was canceled and we needed to get back up to the second level in a matter of minutes.

We'd have $20-$25 wrapped up in early tickets whereas waiting they will be $55-$80, so I'm willing to risk it. Just trying to thread that needle so we get there without stressing but not so early that we stand around a long time. Was thinking somewhere around 10:00 at the earliest. And yes, we have the apps from prior trips.

Thanks again.

I think the taxi to the tram is kind of 50/50. If the tram is there when you get there it's fast and easy but it you need to wait and traffic is minimal the taxi will be as fast and probably a bit cheaper. Honestly I'm surprised how creaky and simple the tram is considering it is new but it works and has only one quick stop going to and from the airport. So far when going into the city we've used cabs and heading to/from the airport we've done the tram, but I wouldn't criticize someone for making the other choice.

If you know Bologna then you can probably make a good estimation on time. I think 10:00 is probably as early as I would plan on. Be sure to check that the train you're looking at is nonstop. The 10:00 I see for a weekday in September has a stop and arrives later in Verona than the .Italo that leaves at 10:46. But only the trains that run the day you're arriving matter.

I've spent a fair amount of time in Verona if you want some tips, enjoy,
=Tod

Thanks again, Tod. I've read your posts on Verona multiple times. It's one of the reasons we're going there!

I’ve never taken the Marconi Express Peoplemover. I’ve always opted for the taxi. There is often a line for the Marconi Express and it’s 12.80€ per person one way now, so, for two people, the taxi is probably less money, because, even with traffic (which you will likely encounter at that time), it is going to cost you only about 25€. The taxi ride is about 20 min (up to 30 min with traffic). The Marconi Express is faster (11 min), but you need to factor the wait to get on one.

WARNING! Avoid the Marconi express! I love most trains and always choose trains if given the choice, but this was a nightmare. The small bubbly contraption that you step into is like a cut off portion of a subway train, not like a real airport train at all. Several times it seemed as if it would fly off the rails and tumble into the wasteland below, as it jumped around, convulsed and shook violently. How can anything so new be so conspicuously shoddy. Italy is not known for having the worlds safest infrastructure.
Bologna is also bad place for the trainlover in general as the Florence shuttle turned out to be buried in a tunnel deep, deep, deep underground. Goodbye daylight, hello claustrophobia. 97% of the journey was in the deepest darkest bowels of the earth with no view whatsoever, just eternal blackness. Train travel is not what it used to be. Cramped plane cabins but without the view. Need to get out when there's an emergency? Good luck!!!

Wow, now I feel lucky to have survived taking the Marconi express as many times as I have. I will admit it doesn't completely seem like something built recently - like "Why do people get on and off on the same side?" Has no one ridden the Heathrow tube where people get out one side and then the other doors open and then people get on? But I never remember being in fear for my life.

Well @Phrank now I really hope you enjoy Verona - that's a lot of pressure. I had never been there and I was so surprised by the city. And I continue to be surprised by how different Italian cities are from one another. Florence, Bologna and Verona are all so different but are an hour or less apart by fast train these days. I understand why from the history but it continues to amaze me.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Regarding buying tickets:
- Easiest is to just not buy a ticket in advance, and then when you are at the station buy a ticket for the next train.

• Alternatively buy a "base" ticket for a train sufficiently after your arrive, eg 4hours or so. Then once you are at the Bologna train station just use the app to move the train ticket to an earlier train.

Hiredman, please don't ride on the Marconi Express again, as it must only be a question of time before there is a fatal accident, except it can't be an accident when the whole city of Bologna likely knows about it. I'm dreading the day we will read about it in the news. The bubbly contraption only has room for around 9 people at the most, so unless it falls from the viaduct onto some house or a bus casualties will be limited. I doubt very much whether tracks in this derelict state would be authorized for passenger transport in other European countries. Perhaps this should be reported to the authorities somehow, assuming that they don't know already, which is unlikely, and that they care at all.

If you have no checked bags and you're not connecting in AMS, then 10am is probably fine. 20 minutes to get out of the airport, then 30 minutes worst case to get to the train station, plus an extra 30 minutes of buffer. If you have a bag, I'd probably say 11am.

If you're connecting in AMS from a long-haul flight, it might be better just to wait until you arrive if you're okay with the base fare. You could also buy a semi flexible fare and adjust it (and pay the fare difference) as needed.