Innsbruck to Bologna by train

How to take the stunning rail journey from Innsbruck to Bologna

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Routes

From Innsbruck Hbf to Bologna Centrale

Travel Information

Final Destination: Bologna (or Rimini, summer only)

Connect in Bologna for destinations to the south including Ancona, Firenze/Florence, Roma and Napoli.

These trains also call at: Trento and Verona

Mon-Fri = 2 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = 1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

These direct trains are usually scheduled to depart from Innsbruck at 09:24 on Mon-Friday and at 11:24 daily, so if you want to travel by them, target those times when looking up this journey.

Trenitalia does not seemingly sell discounted tickets for this journey.

Seat Reservations:

When booking online on OBB a €3 price will be added to the shopping basket and you need to accept this price.
It is the cost of the mandatory seat reservation that is required when travelling by these trains from Austria into Italy.

Rail pass users should make these reservations at the Reisenzentrum desk in Innsbruck Hbf prior to boarding.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
OBB from €24

OBB Guide

OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.

It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.

OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.

Trainline from €24

Trainline Guide

Omio from €24

Omio Guide

Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The three key advantages of using Omio are

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.

SaveATrain from €24

SaveATrain Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesMountain views
Heading towards Brennero on a grey day Heading towards Brennero on a grey day
Looking down the valley towards the Brennero Pass Looking down the valley towards the Brennero Pass
North of Brennero in winter North of Brennero in winter
North of Brennero in summer North of Brennero in summer
Over the border into Italy Over the border into Italy
North of Bolzano North of Bolzano
North of Trento North of Trento
From the rear window heading towards Trento From the rear window heading towards Trento

The part of the train journey between Innsbruck and Verona is one of the most incredible in Europe, it's the most scenic part of the train ride, which is featured on our guide to the continent's most epic express train journeys.

Though you'll need to hope that your reserved seat will be on right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) to see the best of the stunning views.
If need be move over to that side, or head to the train's rear window.

Particularly during the most incredible part of the journey, which is the initial 35 mins between Innsbruck and the border at Brennero.

Between Brennero and Verona the railway route primarily travels through a massive valley, by the River Adige and on this part of the journey, there are some great views to be had from either side of the train.

The train will reverse direction on departure from Verona though the part of the journey from there on to Bologna, is actually exceptionally uninteresting.

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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.