Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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 hotel price
$124
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in December
Estimated hotel price
$124
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bologna in July, when the average temperature is 75.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 86 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 30.2 °F, with an average temperature of 35.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 3.2″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Bologna, with an average rainfall of 1.7″.

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 center. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United States departs from Boston and takes around 10h.

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 $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about $18 for a 2h 03m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city center, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 3 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car rental from Rome, which is about 188 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Target Italy and Galdierirent, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 100 miles and will cost you around $17. From Venice, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 130 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from downtown Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Bologna, you’ll arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), which is located 4 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United States departs from Boston and takes around 10h.

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 $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about $18 for a 2h 03m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city center, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 3 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car rental from Rome, which is about 188 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Target Italy and Galdierirent, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 100 miles and will cost you around $17. From Venice, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 130 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from downtown Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

KLM
Good (1,441 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,724 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,684 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,066 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,183 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,851 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,087 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,167 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,716 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,523 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,469 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (894 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,628 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,654 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,370 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,133 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,174 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,350 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,431 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (382 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 $93 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $190 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 Pedrini. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bologna, with prices from $42 to $576 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation 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
Combo Bologna
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 8032 reviews)
$66+
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Una Hotels Bologna San Lazzaro
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2256 reviews)
$66+
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Le Tuie
0 stars
Excellent (8.7, 204 reviews)
$141+
View
Best Western Plus Tower Hotel Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 4531 reviews)
$86+
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Mercure Bologna Centro
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 5284 reviews)
$126+
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Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 8141 reviews)
$63+
View

Renting a car in Bologna

Renting a car in Bologna costs $28 per day, on average, or $83 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 23% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay $7.08 per gallon in Bologna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $84.94 and $113.26. Economy (Opel Corsa or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Bologna, while also 5% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Bologna costs $28 per day, on average, or $83 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 23% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay $7.08 per gallon in Bologna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $84.94 and $113.26. Economy (Opel Corsa or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Bologna, while also 5% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Bologna

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$16/day

Intermediate SUV
Find car rentals in Bologna