Bologna travel guide
Bologna Tourism | Bologna Guide
You're Going to Love Bologna
With a population of 366 133, Bologna is a must-see destination in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 23 days in order to fully appreciate everything Bologna has to offer.
Where to Eat in Bologna
If you’re looking for affordable options, DALP (Via Molino Scarselli 76) and La Taverna Di Roberto (9 Via di San Vitale) are great picks.
When to visit Bologna
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bologna in July, when the average temperature is 24 °C, and the highest can go up to 30 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -1 °C, with an average temperature of 2 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 81 mm. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Bologna, with an average rainfall of 43 mm.
How to Get to Bologna
Plane
When flying to Bologna, you’ll arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), which is located 6 km from the city centre.
Train
Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Milan takes 0h 59m and costs around $41 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about $38 for a 4h 07m trip. Located 1.4 km from the city centre, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 4 km from the centre.
Car
Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car hire from Rome, which is about 302 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of NOLEGGIARE and Galierirent, among others, in Rome.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Itabus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around $36. From Milan, the ticket costs about $10 for a journey of 217 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Bologna
Where to stay in Bologna
From 5-star hotels such as the Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni to great affordable options like the B&B Accorsi, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $172 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $300 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Dopa Hostel and Antica Residenza D'Azeglio Room&Breakfast di Charme. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from $69 to $936 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 13% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna
Most booked hotels in Bologna
Hiring a car in Bologna
Hiring a car in Bologna costs $45 per day, on average, or $1,041 if you want to hire it for 23 days.
It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 11% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.
Expect to pay $3.29 per litre in Bologna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $39.41 and $52.54. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Compact (Fiat 500X or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Opel Corsa or similar) is, on average, 86% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.