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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Activities & attractions in Bologna

English Language Academy
Activities•Workshop / Course

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 December
Estimated hotel price
£61
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in December
Estimated hotel price
£61
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 05m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Florence takes 1h 28m and costs around £8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £25 for a 2h 03m 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 Itabus, FlixBus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around £10. From Rimini, the ticket costs about £14 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 05m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Florence takes 1h 28m and costs around £8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £25 for a 2h 03m 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 Itabus, FlixBus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around £10. From Rimini, the ticket costs about £14 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 (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,837 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,936 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,790 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,244 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (967 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 Hotel Michelino Bologna Fiera, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £92 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £221 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from £31 to £474 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

See all
Unahotels Bologna San Lazzaro
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£74+
View
Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£67+
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The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£85+
View
Living Place Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£65+
View
Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£86+
View
NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£64+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £26 per day, on average, or £77 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 7% more expensive than at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi.

Expect to pay £1.41 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 £16.83 and £22.44. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Toyota Aygo or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £26 per day, on average, or £77 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 7% more expensive than at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi.

Expect to pay £1.41 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 £16.83 and £22.44. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Toyota Aygo or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Car hire agencies in Bologna

Europcar

Europcar

Sixt

Sixt

Dollar

Dollar
Find car hire in Bologna

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.