Day trip from Rimini to Bologna by train

Outbound 1 h 3 minAbout 6 h for your visit in Bologna
Costs for the dayabout €76.30 to €86.30 per person2 adults, recommended sights, with AI Tour Guide and foodWork out your costs ↓
Start the Bologna tourSee the day plan
Bologna

Bologna is an easy day trip from Rimini: direct trains take between about an hour and an hour and a half, and a train shortly after eight still gives you about six hours in the city. That is enough for the full walking tour from Piazza Maggiore to the leaning towers, an unhurried lunch of tagliatelle al ragù and a relaxed train home in the late afternoon.

Is a day trip from Rimini to Bologna worth it?

Yes, for most visitors. Rimini and Bologna lie on the same line, the old Roman Via Emilia laid out in 187 BC, and trains run between them all day, so the trip costs you little more than an hour each way. You leave the beach after breakfast and are standing on Piazza Maggiore by mid morning.

What Bologna gives you is everything Rimini does not: a dense medieval centre of arcaded streets, leaning towers and large basilicas, the old university, and a food culture that is the main reason many people come. Ragù here is served with tagliatelle, never spaghetti, and tortellini in brodo and mortadella belong on the same table. The one thing to plan around is the midday break of the churches, which is why the day starts early and puts lunch exactly where they close.

Who this day trip suits

  • Food lovers who want a proper Bolognese lunch in the city that gave the dish its name
  • First-time visitors to Bologna who want the main sights in one walk
  • Travellers based in Rimini who want a full day away from the beach
  • History fans curious about the old university, medieval towers and the Via Emilia
  • Walkers who enjoy exploring a compact centre on foot under the porticoes

Go if you want a city day of food, churches and medieval streets; if you came only for beach and pool time, or already know Bologna well, stay on the coast.

How to get from Rimini to Bologna by train

The train is the way to go: Trenitalia runs direct trains from Rimini station to Bologna Centrale throughout the day, with no change and no traffic to worry about. FlixBus also runs a handful of direct buses from Rimini (Centro Studi) to Bologna's central bus station, but they are slower and less frequent.

Train: Trenitalia Frecciarossa or Trenitalia Regionale

Trains leave from Rimini station, which sits close to both the historic centre and the beach, and arrive at Bologna Centrale. In the morning there are several departures an hour to choose from, and the ride takes between about an hour and an hour and a half: the high-speed Frecciarossa trains are the fastest, regional trains a little slower. Regional tickets have a fixed price and need no booking, but a paper regional ticket must be validated in the machine on the platform before you board, or you risk a fine. High-speed tickets are bound to a specific train and are usually cheaper when booked ahead.

Operator
Trenitalia Frecciarossa or Trenitalia Regionale
Route
Rimini → Bologna Centrale
Journey time
1 h 3 min
Morning departures
Monday and Sunday: 14 departures; Tuesday to Saturday: 13 departures
Travel fare
Outward €30; return €11.30 (€41.30 return total)

Tickets at Trenitalia ↗

From Bologna Centrale you walk south into the old centre towards Piazza Maggiore, where the tour starts. The day plan allows a generous margin for this first walk, and the free map navigation of the AI Tour Guide in your browser leads you to the square.

Timetable

departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:1209:151 h 3 min
Show all departures (18)
departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia06:1007:151 h 5 min
Rimini (Centro Studi) → Bologna (central bus station)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus06:2007:551 h 35 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia06:5308:261 h 33 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia07:0308:101 h 7 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia07:1008:151 h 5 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:0209:261 h 24 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:1209:151 h 3 min
Rimini (Centro Studi) → Bologna (central bus station)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus08:5510:301 h 35 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:5910:261 h 27 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday · Trenitalia09:3310:501 h 17 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia09:4711:011 h 14 min
Rimini (Centro Studi) → Bologna (central bus station)Wednesday to Thursday · FlixBus10:1011:401 h 30 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia10:1711:1558 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleSunday · Trenitalia10:5912:341 h 35 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia11:2012:1555 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia11:4713:001 h 13 min
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia12:1513:151 h
Rimini → Bologna CentraleMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia13:1514:151 h

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: FlixBus, as of 22 October 2026

departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia16:3418:051 h 31 min
Show all departures (22)
departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia12:0013:131 h 13 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday · Trenitalia12:1213:361 h 24 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia12:4513:4156 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia13:3415:011 h 27 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia13:4514:4156 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia14:0015:131 h 13 min
Bologna (central bus station) → Rimini (Centro Studi)Monday to Tuesday · FlixBus14:3016:051 h 35 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia14:4515:4156 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia15:4516:4156 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia16:0017:131 h 13 min
Bologna (central bus station) → Rimini (Centro Studi)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus16:2017:501 h 30 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia16:3418:051 h 31 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia16:4517:4156 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia16:5517:5459 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia17:3419:011 h 27 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia17:4518:491 h 4 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia18:0019:131 h 13 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia18:4519:4156 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia19:4520:491 h 4 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia20:4521:491 h 4 min
Bologna (central bus station) → Rimini (Centro Studi)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus20:4522:201 h 35 min
Bologna Centrale → RiminiMonday to Thursday · Trenitalia21:4522:4156 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: FlixBus, as of 22 October 2026

Rimini to Bologna day trip itinerary

Day plan for: Tue–Thu

The day is anchored by the churches' midday break: leave Rimini shortly after eight, see the interiors in the morning, eat while they are closed and spend the afternoon on the stops you see from outside.

  1. Morning08:12 – 09:15

    Take the direct train from Rimini shortly after 8, arrive at Bologna Centrale at around a quarter past nine and walk into the centre to Piazza Maggiore, with time for a coffee on the way.

    This train gets you to the square as the basilicas and the Archiginnasio open, without an early alarm.

  2. Tour09:45 – 12:45

    Open the tour in your browser on Piazza Maggiore. The AI Tour Guide greets you, tells the stories of the square and walks you on to the Basilica of San Petronio, the Archiginnasio with its anatomical theatre (the one ticket of the day), the Basilica of San Domenico, the Basilica di Santo Stefano, the Two Towers, seen from the street, and the Finestrella di via Piella, asking you questions along the way.

    San Domenico and Santo Stefano close for a midday break, so the morning is when you can go inside; keep an eye on the time so you reach Santo Stefano well before it closes.

    1. Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour1Piazza Maggiore
    2. Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour2Basilica of San Petronio
    3. Archiginnasio in Bologna, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour3Archiginnasio
    4. Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour4Basilica of San Domenico
    5. Basilica di Santo Stefano in Bologna, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour5Basilica di Santo Stefano
    6. Two Towers in Bologna, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour6Two Towers
    7. Finestrella di via Piella in Bologna, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour7Finestrella di via Piella

    Start the Bologna tour

  3. Lunch12:45 – 13:45

    Lunch after the Finestrella di via Piella and before the Neptune Fountain: tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo or a plate of mortadella in an osteria in the old streets. Pasta, not pizza, is what Bologna does best.

    The churches are closed now anyway, and the food is half the reason for the trip, so give it a full hour.

  4. Afternoon13:45 – 15:45

    The guide continues to the Neptune Fountain and Palazzo del Podestà, where the tour ends next to Piazza Maggiore. As an optional detour, the Salaborsa library, where Roman ruins lie under the floor and entry is free, fits into the hour or so of spare time before you need to leave.

    The afternoon stops are all outdoors, so the midday closures no longer matter and you can take them at an easy pace.

    1. Neptune Fountain in Bologna, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour8Neptune Fountain
    2. Palazzo del Podestà in Bologna, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour9Palazzo del Podestà
  5. Return15:45 – 18:05

    Leave Palazzo del Podestà by about a quarter to four, walk back to Bologna Centrale and take the direct train at around half past four, which reaches Rimini shortly after six.

    This leaves a comfortable buffer for the walk to the station and gets you back to the coast in time for the evening.

Arrival to return departure: 7 h 19 min. Time for your visit: about 6 h.

Arrival 09:15, tour start 09:45: 25 min to walk to the start, 5 min spare.

You get about six hours in Bologna; if you start late, shorten the end of the tour, because the last two stops stand right next to Piazza Maggiore, where you began.

Best day to visit Bologna from Rimini

  1. Monday: better not
  2. Tuesday: recommended
  3. Wednesday: recommended
  4. Thursday: recommended
  5. Friday
  6. Saturday
  7. Sunday: better not
  • Monday: The planned interior visits (Basilica di Santo Stefano) do not fit the opening hours on this day.
  • Sunday: The planned interior visits (Archiginnasio) do not fit the opening hours on this day.

Bologna walking tour in one day

The walking tour is how you see Bologna on this day: nine stops on a one-way loop of 2.9 km from Piazza Maggiore through the university quarter and past the leaning towers, ending back by the main square. It is about forty minutes of actual walking and roughly three and a half hours with time at the stops. The AI Tour Guide leads the walk as a conversation, telling you what happened in each place and following up on whatever catches your interest.

The Bologna tour: your guide leads you from stop to stop.
  1. Piazza Maggiore
  2. Basilica of San Petronio
  3. Archiginnasio
  4. Basilica of San Domenico
  5. Basilica di Santo Stefano
  6. Two Towers
  7. Finestrella di via Piella
  8. Neptune Fountain
  9. Palazzo del Podestà

Start the Bologna tour

Opening hours as of 1 October 2026.

  1. Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Stop 1

    Piazza Maggiore

    Bologna's main square, framed by the most important buildings of the medieval city.

    Price
    Free
  2. Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Stop 2

    Basilica of San Petronio

    The great basilica that dominates Piazza Maggiore and gives the square its face.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00–18:00 (last admission 17:50)
  3. Archiginnasio in Bologna, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Stop 3

    Archiginnasio

    Once the main building of the University of Bologna, today home to the municipal library and the wooden Anatomical Theatre.

    Hours
    Mon–Sat: 10:00–17:40
    Sun: closed
    Price
    €10
  4. Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Stop 4

    Basilica of San Domenico

    The resting place of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican order, whose shrine, the Arca di San Domenico, was begun by Nicola Pisano.

    Hours
    Mon–Fri: 07:00–13:00, 15:30–20:00
    Sat: 07:15–13:00, 15:30–19:30
    Sun: 07:55–12:30, 15:30–19:00
    Price
    Free
  5. Basilica di Santo Stefano in Bologna, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Stop 5

    Basilica di Santo Stefano

    Not one church but a whole complex of religious buildings joined together around courtyards and cloisters.

    Hours
    Mon: 18:00–19:30
    Tue–Sat: 07:30–12:30, 14:30–19:30
    Sun: 08:30–13:00, 15:00–19:30
    Price
    Free
  6. Two Towers in Bologna, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Stop 6

    Two Towers

    The two leaning towers that became the symbol of Bologna, seen from the street while their interiors are closed.

    Status
    Currently closed
  7. Finestrella di via Piella in Bologna, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour
    7Stop 7

    Finestrella di via Piella

    Finestrella means little window: an easily missed stop on via Piella, away from the big squares, where the guide tells you what lies behind it.

    Price
    Free
  8. Neptune Fountain in Bologna, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour
    8Stop 8

    Neptune Fountain

    The monumental civic fountain of Piazza del Nettuno, right next to Piazza Maggiore.

    Price
    Free
  9. Palazzo del Podestà in Bologna, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour
    9Stop 9

    Palazzo del Podestà

    The old palace facing Piazza Maggiore beside the Palazzo Comunale and San Petronio, with the Voltone passage underneath that you can walk through freely.

    Price
    Free
AI Tour Guide in Bologna

Your guide for the Bologna tour

In Bologna the AI Tour Guide leads you from Piazza Maggiore past San Petronio and the old university to the leaning towers, telling the stories of each place as you walk. It talks with you, asks what caught your eye and remembers whether you care more for saints, scholars or food, then shapes the rest of the walk around that. You start it in your browser when you reach Piazza Maggiore.

stops
9
route
2.9 km
walking only
39 min
with visits
3 h 35 min
  • 100 free credits to start
  • €19.99 once for the whole group
  • Travel and admission tickets are not included
Start the Bologna tourSee the whole tour →

Rimini to Bologna day trip cost

The day costs three things: the train there and back, one paid visit and lunch. The Archiginnasio with its anatomical theatre is the only ticket worth planning for, since the churches on the route are free to enter and the other stops are seen from outside.

Adults
Children

One device is enough for the whole group: two people listen on two connected headphones, larger groups use the phone speaker.

Cost breakdown

Costs for 2 adults · planned visits

Travel there and backTrenitalia Frecciarossa or Trenitalia RegionaleEstimated fare as of 22 October 2026. The price may differ depending on the connection.2 adults × €41.30€82.60
SightsArchiginnasio: Palace + Anatomical Theatre (audio-guided visit)2 adults × €10€20
AI Tour Guide touronce for the whole group€19.99
Food (estimate)€15 to €25 per person€30 to €50
Total€152.59 to €172.59
Split between peopleabout €76.30 to €86.30 per person
Sights
  • €10
Buffer and private guide

Regional trains cost the same whenever you buy, so if you prefer the faster Frecciarossa, book it ahead to keep the fare down; the walk from the station into the centre costs nothing.

Prices as of October 2026.

Getting back from Bologna to Rimini

The way back is the same line in reverse: walk from Palazzo del Podestà to Bologna Centrale and take a direct train to Rimini. Leave the last stop a good three quarters of an hour before your train, which covers the walk to the station and leaves time to find your platform.

Direct trains run all afternoon and evening, so you can easily stay on for an early dinner and take a later one. For a comfortable evening, aim to be on a train by around seven; after nine the choice thins out quickly.

If you run late, drop the end of the tour first, since the final stops stand beside Piazza Maggiore and you have already seen that corner of the city. If you miss the last sensible direct train, later trains still run towards Rimini, but they arrive close to midnight or, on Saturdays, after it, so ask at the station which one is running that day.

Recommended returnTrenitalia: departs 16:34, arrives 18:05Leave the last stop of the tour by 15:45

Latest return that fits the day: 21:45

  • Trenitalia from Bologna Centrale, Monday to Thursday: departs 21:45, arrives 22:41

Questions about the day trip from Rimini to Bologna

Do I need to book the train from Rimini to Bologna in advance?

Not for regional trains: they have a fixed price, you can buy on the day, and you only need to validate a paper ticket on the platform before boarding. High-speed trains run on reserved seats and are usually cheaper when booked ahead.

Can I climb the Asinelli tower?

Not at the moment: the interiors of both towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, are closed to visitors. The tour stops at the Two Towers and you see them from the street.

How does the Archiginnasio visit work?

The palace and the Anatomical Theatre are seen on an audio-guided visit of about forty minutes, with entries at set intervals, so you may wait a few minutes before yours. It is closed on Sundays, and the day plan puts it in the morning half of the tour.

Is this day trip suitable for children?

The walk is compact, much of it on squares and through arcaded streets, and children under 12 enter the Archiginnasio free. Plan lunch as a real break, as the tour sets it between the Finestrella di via Piella and the Neptune Fountain.

Sources

Timetables, fares and opening hours come from these operators:

Image credits
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