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.

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Where to Eat in Bologna

If you’re looking for affordable options, Gut - Birreria & Cucineria (27H Via P. Togliatti) and DALP (Via Molino Scarselli 76 Osteria Grande) are great picks.

When to visit Bologna

Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
$141
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in August
Estimated hotel price
$141
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 New York and takes around 9h 50m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 1h 22m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Pisa, expect to pay about $20 for a 3h 01m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and Galierirent, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including Itabus, Bus and FlixBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around $19. From Parma, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 105 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 New York and takes around 9h 50m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 1h 22m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Pisa, expect to pay about $20 for a 3h 01m 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 SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and Galierirent, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including Itabus, Bus and FlixBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around $19. From Parma, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 105 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

Lufthansa
Good (7,207 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,366 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,091 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,983 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,654 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,894 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,819 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,861 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,472 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (809 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,286 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,594 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,678 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,416 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,092 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (352 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,306 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,224 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,912 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,320 reviews)
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Find flights to Bologna

Where to stay in Bologna

Average rates range from around $105 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $180 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bologna, with prices from $42 to $547 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bologna are about 7% 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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Unahotels Bologna San Lazzaro
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2015 reviews)
$84+
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Relais Villa Valfiore
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1003 reviews)
$138+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 6581 reviews)
$76+
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The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 3529 reviews)
$91+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2257 reviews)
$89+
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Hilton Garden Inn Bologna North
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1769 reviews)
$78+
View

Renting a car in Bologna

Renting a car in Bologna costs $36 per day, on average, or $107 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 31% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay $7.27 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 $87.22 and $116.29.

Renting a car in Bologna costs $36 per day, on average, or $107 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 31% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay $7.27 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 $87.22 and $116.29.

Best car rental deals in Bologna

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$32/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Bologna

Bologna Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Bologna city guide for the best Bologna travel tips. To help you organize 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.