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Should I use Start Romagna?

Public transport operator for Romagna: buses, Metromare, tickets via app, WhatsApp, and contactless - startromagna.it

Depends. Start Romagna is the local public bus operator for Rimini, Ravenna, and Forlì-Cesena — if you are there, it is your only option, not a choice. Outside those provinces it is irrelevant, and even local riders gripe about bus conditions and SmartPass glitches.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 25+ public sources; many snippets truncated, so figures like the €22 SmartPass price are user-reported.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security postureNo security evidence in sources

Pricing

Zoned fares

Single & multi-journey tickets

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Season pass card€5.00 first issue
Romagna SmartPass€22 (user-reported)

Best for

  • Residents of Rimini, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena
  • Rimini–Riccione Metromare commuters
  • Tourists on the Romagna coast
  • University of Bologna students

Not for

  • Travelers outside Romagna provinces
  • Bologna visitors — that is TPER territory
  • Riders expecting spotless, always-punctual buses

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Validate every ride; unvalidated tickets mean penalty fares

medium

Tourists report SmartPass failing on Metromare; carry backup tickets

low

First pass card costs €5.00 on top of the fare

low

Phone info line bills up to €0.118; prefer free WhatsApp support

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Buy bus and ferry tickets via WhatsApp with Chat&Go
  • Tap-to-pay with contactless bank cards via StarTap validators
  • Free iOS/Android app for mobile ticketing
  • Discounted annual passes for University of Bologna students
  • Operates the Metromare Rimini–Riccione rapid line

Cons

  • 3.3/5 rating from 177 reviews at Cesena sales point
  • SmartPass validation failures reported on Metromare
  • Riders publicly complain about bus conditions
  • Penalty-fare regime for unvalidated tickets
  • Service area limited to Romagna provinces

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/30/2026 - 12 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x6review x4news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 3/5

    Rating

  • Zoned fares

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 3/5. Standard regional fares; minor card fee
  • Ease of use: 3/5. Many ticket channels, but validation confuses users
  • Feature depth: 3/5. App, WhatsApp, EMV validators, tourist pass
  • Support quality: 2/5. Metered phone line; complaints via forms
  • Security posture. No security evidence in sources
  • 3.3/5 Cesena ticket-point rating 177 reviews
  • €5.00 Pass card first issue One-time, strictly personal
  • Free My Start Romagna app iOS and Android
  • €22 Romagna SmartPass Tourist pass, user-reported

Pricing

Single & multi-journey tickets

Zoned fares

  • Price varies by zone
  • Buy in app, WhatsApp, or validator

Season pass card

€5.00 first issue

  • Strictly personal
  • Renewable

Romagna SmartPass

€22 (user-reported)

  • Tourist pass
  • Validate each ride

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Feedback is mixed: multi-channel ticketing is appreciated, but riders complain about bus conditions and SmartPass validation failures.

“Why is Romagna SmartPass not working on Metromare?”
Facebook, Visit Rimini group
“Le condizioni degli autobus di Start Romagna”
Reddit, r/TeenagersITA

Companies that use it

  • University of Bologna

Companies that could

  • University of Bologna (Bologna campus) Uses TPER instead
Full analysis

Based on 25+ public sources; many snippets truncated, so figures like the €22 SmartPass price are user-reported.

Regional bus operator for Romagna: fine if you're there, irrelevant elsewhere. Validate every ride or face penalty fares.

Methodology

Based on 25+ public sources; many snippets truncated, so figures like the €22 SmartPass price are user-reported.

Sources

  1. Fares and Areasstartromagna.it
    official
  2. Purchase and renew your bus passstartromagna.it
    official
  3. Chat&Go: tickets via WhatsAppstartromagna.it
    official
  4. StarTap EMV validator guidestartromagna.it
    official
  5. Romagna SmartPassstartromagna.it
    official
  6. Regulations on Penalty Faresstartromagna.it
    official
  7. Punto Bus Cesena reviewsmindtrip.ai
    review
  8. My Start Romagna — App Storeapps.apple.com
    review
  9. Le condizioni degli autobus di Start Romagna — Redditreddit.com
    review
  10. SmartPass on Metromare — Facebookfacebook.com
    review
  11. Metromare — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    news
  12. Rimini electric bus tender — Sustainable Bussustainable-bus.com
    news

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