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. Consider staying at least one whole day in Bologna to see all of its attractions.

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Where to Eat in Bologna

If you’re looking for affordable options, Totò e Peppino (22/L Viale Mattei) and Ristorante Rodrigo (2H Via della Zecca) are great picks.

When to visit Bologna

Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
$228
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
$228
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. 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 Target Italy and AcaRent, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around $23. From Venice, the ticket costs about $27 for a journey of 177 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. 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 Target Italy and AcaRent, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around $23. From Venice, the ticket costs about $27 for a journey of 177 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.

Airlines serving Bologna

Lufthansa
Good (7,109 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,339 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,833 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,600 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (8,517 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,930 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,980 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,647 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,489 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (785 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,358 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,750 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (8,634 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,286 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (349 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,320 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,328 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,115 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,199 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,869 reviews)
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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 $156 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $511 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 $74 to $874 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

Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$123+
The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$139+
NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$111+
Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$124+
Holiday Inn Bologna - Fiera
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$138+
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$140+

Hiring a car in Bologna

Expect to pay $3.33 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 $39.92 and $53.22. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Mini (Fiat 500 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Lexus NX or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.33 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 $39.92 and $53.22. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Mini (Fiat 500 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Lexus NX or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

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.