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.

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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
£85
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in August
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. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 2h 10m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Turin takes 2h 19m and costs around £26 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £33 for a 2h 23m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and Rent Smart 24, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Parma, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around £15. From Florence, the ticket costs about £13 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. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 2h 10m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Turin takes 2h 19m and costs around £26 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £33 for a 2h 23m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and Rent Smart 24, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Parma, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around £15. From Florence, the ticket costs about £13 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

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,653 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,614 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,019 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,117 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,821 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,059 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,116 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,692 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,444 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,515 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,562 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (884 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,337 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,105 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,627 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,152 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,421 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (918 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 £72 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £143 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 Perla. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from £31 to £443 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 5% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

See all
Starhotels Excelsior
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£90+
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Relais Villa Valfiore
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£73+
View
Una Hotels Bologna San Lazzaro
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£47+
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Le Tuie
0 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£114+
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Mercure Bologna Centro
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£92+
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Living Place Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£55+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £20 per day, on average, or £59 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 41% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay £1.45 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 £17.34 and £23.11. Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 42% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £20 per day, on average, or £59 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 41% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay £1.45 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 £17.34 and £23.11. Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 42% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car hire deals in Bologna

Compact estate car

4 adults, 2 Bags

£20/day

Compact estate car
Find car hire in Bologna