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München / Munich to Bologna by train
How to travel from Munich to Bologna by train
The direct train(s) from Munich to Bologna provide a highly useful connection when travelling from southern Germany to northern Italy also happen to take a beautiful route through the Alps and Dolomites.
Bologna is the main hub of the Italian rail network, so connect there for a swathe of fabulous destinations, which have no direct trains from Germany including Bari, Ravenna, Modena, Parma, Naples and Lecce
(In the summer months this train has its journey extended to Rimini).
Also if you'd rather travel by day to Florence and Rome than take the night train, you can connect in Bologna for those cities.
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Routes
From München Hbf/Munich main station to Bologna Centrale
Journey Summary
6hr 33min - 6hr 46min
Daily
Travel Information
These trains usually depart Munchen Hbf at 07:34 (Mon-Fri) and daily at 09:34 and 11:34.
Final Destination: Bologna
Train also calls at: Munchen Ost, Verona
Mon-Fri = 3 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = 2 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date - usually
However, if you book more than 4 months ahead, you may only see more expensive tickets, than are typically offered on this route.
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for the direct EC train, these trains usually depart Munchen Hbf at 07:34 (Mon-Fri) and daily at 09:34 and 11:34.
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB and your seat reservation is included, but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets.
Rail Pass Users:
The seat reservation rules are different when using a rail pass to travel to Italy by these trains.
Rail pass users must make reservations prior to boarding, irrespective if you will be using a 1st or 2nd class pass.
However, this rail pass 'supplement' is not sold online by DB , but it can be arranged without payment of a booking fee at a Reisezentrum Travel desk at any hauptbahnhof station, including Munchen Hbf.
Or you can avoid paying this comparatively expensive rail reservation fee by taking this alternative journey option.
Travelling from Munchen Ost station:
When making a booking online on DB it uses ‘Munich (München)’ as a default for looking up journeys from the city in the ‘From’ box.
But it is possible to select München Ost as the ‘From’ station (you need to use the German spelling with the character (the umlaut) over the ‘u’).
You won’t save any money by booking from München Ost, but the departure time of your train from Munchen Ost will be on your ticket.
Booking agents, when looking up Munchen to Bologna journeys, will see that the fastest journey from Munchen is from Munchen Ost, so can assume that this is where you want to join the train.
So if you're using an agent confirm whether your ticket has been booked from Munchen Hbf or Munchen Ost; particularly if you do want to join the train at Munchen Hbf.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB Bahn | from €35.90 | |
| Omio | from €35.90 | |
| Trainline | from €35.90 | |
| Saveatrain | from €35.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Travelling from Munchen Ost station:
These trains will call at Munchen Ost station after they have departed from Munchen Hbf.
If the starting point of journey is in central Munich/Munchen (around Marienplatz), you'll have a quicker trip if you join the train at Munchen Ost.
The overnight train:
The 'overnight' train from Munchen/Munich to Bologna is scheduled to arrive there at the painfully early time of 05:19 - and you'll miss out on experiencing the delights of this daytime trip!
The train journey between Rosenheim and Verona is one of the most incredible in Europe, but sit on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) to see the best of the stunning views.
Though the first of the scenic highlights, when the train follows the River Inn from Kuftstein into Innsbruck, is on the left.
But the most incredible part of the journey is that between Innsbruck and the border at Brennero.
And as can be seen in that video, the best of the views on this part of the train ride can be seen on the right.
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 and the part of the journey from there to Bologna, is actually exceptionally uninteresting.
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