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.

Where to Eat in Bologna

If you’re looking for affordable options, Da Giovanni (42 Via della Valle) and Osteria La Frasca (8a Via Andrea Costa) are great picks.

When to visit Bologna

Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
$155
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
$155
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
Average
Celcius (°C)
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 $25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Venice, expect to pay about $25 for a 1h 33m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and Hertz, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and BlaBlaBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 113 km and will cost you around $18. From Venice, the ticket costs about $17 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 Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 km from the city centre.

Airlines serving Bologna

Lufthansa
Good (3,719 reviews)
KLM
Good (694 reviews)
SWISS
Good (818 reviews)
British Airways
Good (3,486 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,202 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,063 reviews)
Air France
Good (840 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,217 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,306 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (1,819 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,414 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (410 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (204 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (4,074 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (759 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (733 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,011 reviews)
Finnair
Good (947 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (623 reviews)
LOT
Good (637 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Bologna

From 5-star hotels such as the Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni to great affordable options like the B&B Accorsi, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $180 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $353 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Dopa Hostel and Hotel Perla. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from $70 to $1,030 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 15% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$134+
Hotel Il Guercino
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$121+
NH Bologna Villanova
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$92+
Suite Hotel Elite
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$146+
Holiday Inn Bologna - Fiera, An IHG Hotel
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$116+
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
Good (7.3, Good reviews)
$132+

Hiring a car in Bologna

Expect to pay $3.44 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 $41.20 and $54.94. 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 Mini car hire (Smart Fortwo or similar) is, on average, 86% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.