Bologna to Turin by train

The train is the right choice for this journey. High-speed services run throughout the day, and the fastest departures cover the route in around 2 hours. Both Trenitalia and Italo operate on this corridor, which gives you two operators to compare and usually keeps fares competitive.

Route at a glance:

• Fastest journey: around 2 hours (Italo direct: 2h 08m; Trenitalia Frecciarossa fastest services similarly)

• Typical journey time: 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes

• Departure: Bologna Centrale

• Arrival: Torino Porta Nuova (most services) or Torino Porta Susa (some Trenitalia through services)

• Operators: Trenitalia (Frecciarossa, Intercity) and Italo (high-speed only)

• Advance tickets from around €18 (Italo) or €23 (Trenitalia); on-the-day prices are significantly higher

• High-speed trains depart roughly every one to two hours throughout the day

Stations in Turin for trains from Bologna

Get this right before you pay. Most trains from Bologna arrive at Torino Porta Nuova, the main central station on the south side of Turin’s city centre. It sits near Piazza Castello and the main shopping streets.

Torino Porta Susa, about 2 km to the northwest, handles some Trenitalia through services and TGV trains from Lyon and Paris. For the journey from Bologna, Porta Nuova is the default. If your booking shows only "Turin" without a station name, open the journey details and confirm which station your train serves before you pay. Booking the wrong one is easy to do and inconvenient to fix.

Direct trains and the Milan option

Some services run directly from Bologna Centrale to Turin without a change. Italo’s direct trains arrive at Torino Porta Nuova in around 2 hours 8 minutes. Some Trenitalia Frecciarossa departures are also direct.

Other Trenitalia departures require a change at Milano Centrale. These services still cover the full journey quickly, but the connection adds time and involves moving between trains, which matters if you have luggage. When you search on Trenitalia, the booking engine will show you whether a service is direct or requires a change. Avoid connections under 20 minutes if you can.

Travelling via Milan is worth considering if direct trains are fully booked, or if you want to break the journey with a stopover.

Train companies

Trenitalia

Trenitalia is Italy’s main rail operator and runs the most departures on this route. The Frecciarossa is their flagship high-speed train, with four service levels: Standard, Premium, Business, and Executive. Standard is the right choice for most travellers: comfortable reclining seats in a 2+2 layout, power outlets, and free Wi-Fi. Premium adds drinks and snacks. Business and Executive add more space and a fuller catering service.

Trenitalia also runs a small number of Intercity trains on this route. They are slower and cheaper, though the price difference rarely justifies the extra travel time.

Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on all Trenitalia services on this route.

Italo

Italo runs around 12 direct high-speed departures per day between Bologna and Turin, arriving at Torino Porta Nuova. Journey times are comparable to Trenitalia Frecciarossa. The main service levels are Smart (standard) and Prima (premium), with Club Executive on select trains.

One critical point for pass holders: Interrail and Eurail passes are not valid on Italo. If you are travelling with a rail pass, use Trenitalia.

For travellers buying tickets outright, Italo’s advance fares are often lower than Trenitalia’s cheapest advance price, so it is worth comparing both before you book.

Ticket prices

How much you pay depends on the operator, service level, and how early you book.

Italo advance tickets can start from around €18. Trenitalia Frecciarossa advance fares typically start from around €23 for Standard class. Prices rise quickly as the departure date approaches, and on-the-day full-flexibility tickets often cost considerably more.

Book directly on trenitalia.com or italotreno.com. Third-party booking sites charge booking fees on top of the ticket price; the operators’ own websites and apps do not.

Trenitalia’s main fare tiers:

• Super Economy: the cheapest option; non-refundable and cannot be changed

• Economy: slightly more expensive; changes possible before departure for a fee

• Base: fully changeable before departure; refund available with a 20% deduction

• Flex: fully flexible, refundable in full

Italo uses similar tiers (Lowcost, Economy, Flex, Flex+). Check the specific conditions before buying, because the cheapest fares on both operators are strictly non-refundable.

Seat reservations

When you buy a standard ticket, the seat reservation is included in the price.

If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass, a compulsory seat reservation is required for Frecciarossa services. The fee is €13 per person per journey with Trenitalia. Book this before you travel. Frecciarossa pass-holder places are allocated, and popular departure times fill up.

Regional trains between Bologna and Turin do not require a seat reservation with an Interrail pass, but they are not a realistic option. The regional route takes well over four hours with multiple changes. Pay the €13 reservation fee and take the Frecciarossa.

Ticket changes and refunds

Trenitalia refund and exchange policies by fare type:

If you need to switch to a different train within the same service category, Trenitalia charges €10 per person plus any fare difference.

For Italo, review the fare conditions at booking. Lowcost fares are generally non-refundable.

Classes on board

Trenitalia Frecciarossa

• Standard: reclining seats, power outlets, free Wi-Fi, paid café car

• Premium: wider seats, complimentary drinks and snacks

• Business: more spacing, meal service at your seat

• Executive: individual seating, highest catering level

Italo

• Smart: comfortable seats, free Wi-Fi, power outlets

• Prima: extra-wide seats, complimentary welcome kit

• Club Executive: private lounge-style seating, premium catering (select trains only)

Using an Interrail or Eurail Pass

Your pass covers Trenitalia on this route. It does not cover Italo. That distinction matters: Italo sometimes has the most convenient departure time or lowest advance fare, but those services are not available to pass holders.

On Trenitalia Frecciarossa, a seat reservation is compulsory even with a pass. The fee is €13 per seat. Book through Trenitalia directly, via the Rail Planner app, or at the station ticket desk. Do not board a Frecciarossa without a reservation; pass holders without one cannot travel on that service.

Intercity trains on this route also accept pass holders. Check the specific service for reservation requirements before you travel.

The stations

Bologna Centrale is about 1 km from the historic centre. The station has a Frecciadesk counter where Trenitalia pass holders can book seat reservations. Self-service machines and ticket desks are available for standard tickets. Buses and taxis connect to the centre.

Torino Porta Nuova faces Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in the heart of Turin. Metro line 1 stops here and connects across the city. Taxis and trams are outside the main entrance. The Egyptian Museum and Piazza Castello are within 15 minutes on foot.

Torino Porta Susa is on the same Metro line 1, about 10 minutes from Porta Nuova. It handles TGV arrivals from France and some Trenitalia through services. Check your booking if you are unsure which station your train uses.

What to book

Book a direct Frecciarossa or Italo service. Two hours is a practical journey time that does not require much planning beyond the ticket. Book in advance for the best fares: Italo from around €18, Trenitalia from around €23. Pass holders should use Trenitalia, reserve a seat for €13, and aim for Torino Porta Nuova.