Buses in Bologna: a Guide to TPER Routes and Tickets

At a Glance

Bologna has a comprehensive bus network run by TPER (Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna). If you are staying near Bologna Centrale, the good news is that much of the historic centre is walkable in under half an hour — we cover this in our guide to things to see near the station on foot. But for longer distances, the hills, the exhibition centre, or the outer neighbourhoods, the bus is the simplest option.

This guide explains how to pay, where the main routes stop, and what changes with the incoming tram. No complications: the goal is to get you moving without a second thought from your very first day.

How Much Is a Bus Ticket in Bologna

The price of an urban ticket depends on where and how you buy it. This is the thing that confuses most first-time visitors, so let’s start here.

All urban tickets are valid for 75 minutes from validation: within that time you can change buses as many times as you like, simply re-validating each time. These fares have been in effect since 1 March 2025.

Note on contactless: boarding and paying by holding your credit or debit card directly to the validator is the quickest option if you have no ticket. It costs the same as a ticket from a retailer (€2.30), not the coin rate.

If you are staying several days and use the bus frequently, consider the City Pass or a travel pass: a monthly impersonal pass costs €39. For a short stay, a few single tickets or the book of ten usually covers everything.

The Roger App: Buy and Validate from Your Phone

The most convenient way to avoid worrying about tickets is the Roger app, the official public transport app for Emilia-Romagna.

What it does:

• Buy your ticket on your smartphone with a credit card.
• Validate on board using your phone, via QR code.
• Digital tickets purchased in advance have no expiry until you validate them.
• Also works for journey planning, showing you route options.

Roger works across all major cities in Emilia-Romagna, Bologna included. It is especially handy if you arrive in the evening or on a Sunday, when retailers may be closed: download the app, register your card, and you are ready to board.

In Brief: the Three Easiest Ways to Pay

1. Roger app — buy and validate from your phone. Ideal if you are already used to transport apps.
2. Contactless card on board — hold the card to the validator, €2.30. Zero extra steps.
3. Ticket from a tobacconist — the classic paper ticket, validate as soon as you board.

Whichever method you choose, always validate as soon as you board: inspectors do check, and the fine is considerably more than the fare.

Routes from Bologna Centrale

The station is one of the main interchange hubs of the TPER network: in front of and around Bologna Centrale, numerous urban and suburban routes connect the station to the centre, the neighbourhoods, and the hills.

For guests staying a couple of minutes from the station, the key is not memorising route numbers but knowing how to look them up on the spot:

• On tper.it you will find the journey planner: enter your start and end points and it tells you which route to take and where.
• On the Roger app you get the same result on your phone, with timetables.
• At bus stops the route numbers and destinations are shown on the stop signs.

Why we don’t list route numbers here: during the tram works (see below) some routes and terminus points are temporarily altered. A fixed list would risk being out of date by the time you read it. It is better to check in real time on tper.it or Roger. This is also why, for destinations in the historic centre, walking is often the best option: no waiting, no transfers.

Where to Go by Bus (and Where to Walk Instead)

For the airport, note that the fast connection is the Marconi Express, a separate monorail with its own ticketing, not part of the TPER bus network. We cover it separately.

The Bologna Tram: What Changes in 2026

Bologna is building its first tram line, known as the Linea Rossa (Red Line). Work began in April 2023 and the line is expected to open in 2026, with a total construction period of approximately 38 months (April 2023 – June 2026).

What this means for visitors to Bologna:

• The route runs through Bologna Centrale. The line starts at Borgo Panigale, follows the via Emilia towards the centre, passes through the station, and continues to the exhibition area and CAAB/Pilastro.
• There is construction work across the city during the works. Some roads and stops change temporarily: this is why bus routes may vary.
• Once open, it will be a fast alternative to buses on one of the city’s busiest corridors.

If you are visiting in 2026, put it this way: the tram is good news for the future, but in the meantime construction can affect buses. Always check tper.it on the day.

A tip from your host: if your accommodation is near the station, the works affect you little — most tourist destinations remain walkable. For everything else, the Roger app keeps you updated in real time.

Practical Tips for Using the Bus in Bologna

Buy your ticket before you board. On board with coins it costs more (€2.50 vs €2.30) and you need the exact amount. A tobacconist, contactless card, or the Roger app all avoid the surcharge.

Validate immediately. The ticket is valid for 75 minutes from validation, not from purchase: with Roger and digital tickets you can buy in advance and validate only when you board.

Board from the indicated doors. On many routes boarding and validation follow the signs on board; follow the signage and the validators.

Keep an eye on tram works. Until the Linea Rossa opens, some routes may change. Up-to-date information is on tper.it and on Roger.

For the centre, consider walking. From near the station, Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers are about 18–22 minutes on foot, largely under the UNESCO porticoes. Often quicker than waiting for and changing buses.

If you arrive by car, remember that the centre is a ZTL (limited traffic zone): it is better to park outside and move around on foot or by bus. You will find everything in our guide to parking near the station.

FAQ

How much is a bus ticket in Bologna? The urban ticket costs €2.30 if bought from a retailer or paid on board with a contactless card, and €2.50 if paid on board with coins. With the City Pass (book of 10 journeys) it drops to €1.90 per journey.

How long is the ticket valid? 75 minutes from validation: within that time you can take several buses on different routes, re-validating each time.

How do I buy a ticket if the tobacconists are closed? Use the Roger app (buy and validate from your phone with a QR code) or pay on board by holding a contactless card to the validator, at the same price as a retailer ticket.

Do I have to take the bus to see the city centre? No. From near the station, Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers are reachable on foot in around 18–22 minutes, largely under the porticoes. Buses are mainly useful for destinations farther out (hills, exhibition centre, outer neighbourhoods).

Is the tram running yet? No. The Linea Rossa is under construction: work started in 2023 and the line is expected to open in 2026. In the meantime, construction may temporarily affect some bus routes.

How do I get to the airport by bus? The fast connection to Marconi Airport is the Marconi Express, a monorail with its own ticketing, separate from the TPER bus network. That is the one to use.

Check Availability — Your Room 20 m from the Station

At Bologna Station Suites you are 20 metres from Bologna Centrale: most of the centre is walkable, and for everything else you have buses, the Roger app, and — soon — the tram, right on your doorstep.

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