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Buy a train ticket from Bologna to Florence ahead of time or not?

Posted by (Phoenix, AZ) on

I'm leaning towards not buying our tickets ahead of time but would love some feedback.

We arrive at BLQ from a layover at Heathrow around 6:30pm at night on 9/30. We'll take a taxi or Marconi Express (any opinions?) to Bologna Centrale and then a train to Florence. I hope at that time of the night we should be able to get a seat on a train (there are 4 trains between 9-10pm). We don't mind paying a little extra now for a refundable/changeable fare, I just don't know how easy that is to do. I.e. we're standing in a 3 hr customs line and I use the app to exchange our tix for a later time?

OR is it probably fine to buy a ticket on the next train when we arrive at Centrale. I have heard that trains can be full coming from Venice?

We'll have a similar situation coming back from Florence but during the daytime so even more trains to choose from. Just don't want to be waiting at the station for a long time in case trains are full.

Any advice is appreciated!

Posted by
7229 posts

Wait til you land
Delays happen

For the Florence to Bologna you can purchase Iin advance for a discount if you are firm on your dates and time

Get the Trenitalia app

Posted by
1144 posts

I'd wait until you land before buying a ticket because even if you buy a flexible ticket you'll need to go through the process of actually changing that ticket versus simply buying the next train that makes sense. Once you're in country and control your own schedule I would buy ahead of time and sacrifice some flexibility for knowing you have a ticket and potentially a discount.

I haven't taken the Marconi Express - it's virtually the same cost as a cab but it runs often enough and since you're trying to get to the train station so I think it's probably a good option without potential traffic hassles of a taxi.

Also - the Bologna train station is one of the few in Italy that does not have all the tracks laid out on one level. Our fast train was three stories under the ground and took a whole series of escalators to reach. Treat getting to you train more like an airport and leave plenty of time because it may take longer than you think.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Posted by
705 posts

Marconi express is better than a cab if you can take it. Contactless payment also. I prefer to cab because it is not involved in the traffic on the streets and much quicker and you are inside the train station and can find your way to your track. If you have the trenitalia app on your phone you can buy it when you land or even from the marconi express. You shouldn't have a problem getting a seat on the train.

Posted by
333 posts

Thank you all! We will wait until we arrive to purchase train tickets and go with the Marconi Express. I appreciate it!

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