Getting Around Ferrara
Ferrara is a flat, compact city of broad Renaissance streets and a twisting maze of cobblestone lanes, and the way locals get around reflects that. The city has no airport of its own, but it sits on a major rail corridor and is well served by regional buses, so arriving and moving about are both straightforward once you know your options.
On Foot and by Bike
Walking is the natural way to explore the historic centre, where the palaces and streets of the Este era are clustered together. But the signature way to move around Ferrara is by bicycle: everyone bikes here, from elderly women in fur coats to parents with baby seats, students in skirts and heels, and even the police. Given the flat terrain and the cobblestone streets, a bike is often the most convenient way to cover the city. You can rent one at the railway station, near the Duomo, or from interurban companies.
Rail
Ferrara is served by its own railway station, Stazione di Ferrara, on Piazzale della Stazione. The station forms part of the Padua–Bologna line and is also a terminus for secondary railways linking the city with Ravenna and Rimini. For visitors, the train is the easiest way to reach Ferrara: it lies on the line running from Florence through Bologna to Venice, which makes the city an easy day trip from those better-known destinations. Direct connections include Bologna, Florence, Venice and Ravenna.
Buses and Public Transport
Intercity coaches arrive at the Autostazione on via del Lavoro, just behind the railway station, and Flixbus serves the city. For getting around once you are here, the region uses an integrated public transport pass called Mi Muovo. Short-stay visitors may find "Mi Muovo Multibus", a multi-trip bus ticket, the most practical option.
Taxis
Taxis are available in the city, though the source material does not detail specific taxi ranks or ride-hailing services. Given how compact and bike-friendly Ferrara is, most visitors will find little need for them.
Arriving by Air
Ferrara has no airport of its own. The nearest is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi International Airport (BLQ), on Via Triumvirato in Bologna, to the south. Further afield are Verona Villafranca Airport to the north-west and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), on Via Galileo Galilei in Tessera, to the north-east. From Bologna, the train is the simplest onward connection into Ferrara.
Arriving by Car
If you are driving, the A13 motorway between Bologna and Padova serves Ferrara with exits at Ferrara Nord and Ferrara Sud. The city is also reached by the Strada Statale 16 Adriatica and the Strada Statale 64 Porrettana.