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. Bologna deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Bologna
If you’re looking for affordable options, DALP (Via Molino Scarselli 76) and La Taverna Di Roberto (9 Via di San Vitale) are great picks.
When to visit Bologna
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.
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 Ireland departs from Dublin and takes around 5h 45m.
Train
Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Milan takes 1h 02m and costs around €20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Florence, expect to pay about €12 for a 1h 25m 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 Bergamo, which is about 187 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and Galierirent, among others, in Bergamo.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and BlaBlaBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 113 km and will cost you around €7. From Venice, the ticket costs about €7 for a journey of 161 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Bologna
Where to stay in Bologna
From 5-star hotels such as the Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni to great affordable options like the B&B Accorsi, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around €94 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to €174 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Dopa Hostel and Hotel Perla. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from €39 to €524 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 3% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna
Most booked hotels in Bologna
Hiring a car in Bologna
Hiring a car in Bologna costs €28 per day, on average, or €57 if you want to hire it for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 8% more expensive than at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi.
Expect to pay €1.85 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 €22.14 and €29.52. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Economy (Jeep Renegade or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Ford Focus or similar) is, on average, 93% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.