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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Bologna has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Bologna

If you’re looking for affordable options, La Fatica - Antica Osteria (8/A Via Torleone) and La Taverna Di Roberto (9 Via di San Vitale) are great picks.

When to visit Bologna

Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
$250
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
$250
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 1h 01m and costs around $22 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Venice, expect to pay about $27 for a 1h 34m 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 Rent Smart 24 and DRIVALIA , 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 $27. From Verona, the ticket costs about $37 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 1h 01m and costs around $22 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Venice, expect to pay about $27 for a 1h 34m 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 Rent Smart 24 and DRIVALIA , 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 $27. From Verona, the ticket costs about $37 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 (7,935 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,501 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,899 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,317 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,434 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,924 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,185 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,577 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (905 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,613 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,751 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,560 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,947 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,188 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,390 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (404 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,214 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,431 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,282 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 $209 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $392 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Antica Residenza D'Azeglio and B&B Villa Rivabella. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from $121 to $578 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 12% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

See all
Royal Hotel Carlton
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$270+
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Una Hotels San Vitale Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$135+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$175+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$130+
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Hotel Bologna Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$169+
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Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$157+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs $100 per day, on average, or $301 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

Expect to pay $3.47 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 $41.61 and $55.48. Economy (Citroen C3 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 70% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs $100 per day, on average, or $301 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

Expect to pay $3.47 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 $41.61 and $55.48. Economy (Citroen C3 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 70% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car hire in Bologna