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 December
Estimated flight+hotel price
£32
2 travellers
Flight to Bologna
3 nights at hotel
Bologna in December
Estimated flight+hotel price
£32
2 travellers
Flight to Bologna
3 nights at 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 Florence takes 1h 01m and costs around £10 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Venice, expect to pay about £12 for a 1h 34m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL , among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around £12. From Verona, the ticket costs about £16 for a journey of 105 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 Florence takes 1h 01m and costs around £10 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Venice, expect to pay about £12 for a 1h 34m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL , among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around £12. From Verona, the ticket costs about £16 for a journey of 105 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

Lufthansa
Good (7,939 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,501 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,905 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,321 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,431 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,924 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,189 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,578 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (905 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,625 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,751 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,560 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,952 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,188 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,390 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (404 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,217 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,284 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 £99 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £167 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from £52 to £252 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 13% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

See all
Royal Hotel Carlton
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£118+
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Le Tuie
0 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£132+
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Una Hotels San Vitale Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£59+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£73+
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Living Place Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£64+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£57+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £25 per day, on average, or £75 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 38% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay £1.51 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 £18.12 and £24.16. 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 Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 62% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs £25 per day, on average, or £75 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 38% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay £1.51 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 £18.12 and £24.16. 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 Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 62% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Bologna

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£8/day

Economy
Find car hire in Bologna