Introduction
What to do
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.

Article

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 February
Estimated hotel price
£85
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
£85
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. Airlines that fly from the United Kingdom to Bologna include British Airways, American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 2h 05m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Bergamo takes 3h 59m and costs around £17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £16 for a 4h 54m 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 Felirent, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including Itabus, FlixBus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around £11. From Venice, the ticket costs about £11 for a journey of 209 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. Airlines that fly from the United Kingdom to Bologna include British Airways, American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 2h 05m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Bergamo takes 3h 59m and costs around £17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £16 for a 4h 54m 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 Felirent, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including Itabus, FlixBus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around £11. From Venice, the ticket costs about £11 for a journey of 209 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

KLM
Good (1,436 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,709 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,665 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,034 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,154 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,846 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,082 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,145 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,708 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,518 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,464 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (890 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,613 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,642 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,367 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,126 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,168 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,347 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,430 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (380 reviews)
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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 Bed & Breakfast Accorsi, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £73 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £142 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Antica Residenza D'Azeglio Room&Breakfast di Charme and Hotel Pedrini. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from £31 to £432 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 10% 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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Una Hotels Bologna San Lazzaro
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£50+
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Le Tuie
0 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£105+
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Mercure Bologna Centro
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£95+
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Living Place Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£60+
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Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£46+
View
Holiday Inn Bologna - Fiera By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£60+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £18 per day, on average, or £55 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 27% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay £1.44 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 £17.28 and £23.04. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Intermediate (Nissan Qashqai or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 73% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £18 per day, on average, or £55 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 27% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay £1.44 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 £17.28 and £23.04. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Intermediate (Nissan Qashqai or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 73% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Bologna

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

£15/day

Intermediate
Find car hire in Bologna