Bologna's Guglielmo Marconi International Airport is situated within a few minutes' drive of the city centre. Beyond its network of domestic connections, this two-terminal facility operates numerous direct flights to major cities across Europe. Aside from these frequent connections, flights from Bologna Airport also make regular departures for Australia and North America.

Facilities in this recently renovated facility include currency exchange stations, banks and ATMs, gift shops and duty-free outlets, restaurants, food courts and business facilities. Help with specific concerns can be directed to the information kiosks or to the help telephones that flank these help desks. The Aerobus departs four times per hour to transfer passengers from the Arrivals hall to Bologna city centre.

Bologna is a major hub on Italy's rail transportation network. The Bologna Centrale train station is serviced by Eurocity (with service to more than 40 European cities) and Eurostar (which specialises in transportation between Italian cities and London). Discounted travel between Italian cities is available through the Trenitalia railway service. Buses, though less popular than trains, provide the most economical means of regional travel.

Bologna's public bus network (the ATC) is an excellent means of getting around the city. Day passes (equivalent to eight tickets) are a valuable asset for tourists who plan on utilising the bus multiple times throughout the day. Taxis are sometimes difficult to find, prompting many visitors to hire a vehicle from the airport. The A1, A3 and A14 roads all converge on Bologna, allowing convenient transport to other Italian cities, including Milan, Ravenna, Venice, Florence and Rome.