Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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. Bologna deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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Where to Eat in Bologna

If you’re looking for affordable options, Gut - Birreria & Cucineria (27H Via P. Togliatti) and DALP (Via Molino Scarselli 76 Osteria Grande) are great picks.

When to visit Bologna

Bologna in January
Estimated hotel price
$254
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in January
Estimated hotel price
$254
1 night at 3-star hotel

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.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

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 Florence takes 0h 38m and costs around $30 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $30 for a 1h 14m 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 Milan, which is about 200 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around $17. From Venice, the ticket costs about $14 for a journey of 169 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.

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 Florence takes 0h 38m and costs around $30 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $30 for a 1h 14m 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 Milan, which is about 200 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around $17. From Venice, the ticket costs about $14 for a journey of 169 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

Lufthansa
Good (7,480 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,402 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,453 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,973 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,767 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,007 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,988 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,974 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,475 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,375 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,647 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (853 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,288 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,531 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,277 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,130 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,023 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,332 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,379 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (365 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to 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 $237 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $347 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Perla and Combo Bologna. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from $72 to $1,175 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 14% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

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Royal Hotel Carlton
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$233+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$171+
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The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$184+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$131+
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Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$174+
View
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$176+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Expect to pay $3.39 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 $40.67 and $54.22. Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 36% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay $3.39 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 $40.67 and $54.22. Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 36% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car hire in Bologna

Bologna Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Bologna city guide for the best Bologna travel tips. To help you organise your Bologna trip ideas, this Bologna visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.