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
£86
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
£86
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 4 miles 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 Milan takes 2h 02m and costs around £13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £21 for a 4h 54m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city centre, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car hire from Milan, which is about 125 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Rent Smart 24 and NOLEGGIARE , 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 80 miles and will cost you around £15. From Verona, the ticket costs about £16 for a journey of 115 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Bologna, you’ll arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), which is located 4 miles 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 Milan takes 2h 02m and costs around £13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about £21 for a 4h 54m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city centre, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car hire from Milan, which is about 125 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Rent Smart 24 and NOLEGGIARE , 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 80 miles and will cost you around £15. From Verona, the ticket costs about £16 for a journey of 115 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,612 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,562 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,011 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,077 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,804 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,040 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,678 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,430 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,066 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,502 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,500 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (875 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,329 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,592 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,084 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,143 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,411 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (903 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 £75 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £140 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from £31 to £433 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 9% 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 (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£59+
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Relais Villa Valfiore
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£76+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£73+
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The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£66+
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Living Place Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£54+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£49+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £28 per day, on average, or £84 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, 53% more expensive than at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi.

Expect to pay £1.47 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 £17.54 and £23.39. Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 35% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £28 per day, on average, or £84 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, 53% more expensive than at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi.

Expect to pay £1.47 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 £17.54 and £23.39. Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 35% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car hire deals in Bologna

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

£11/day

Compact
Find car hire in Bologna