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, 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 January
Estimated hotel price
$143
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in January
Estimated hotel price
$143
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 6 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United States departs from New York and takes around 10h 45m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 1h 34m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about $25 for a 2h 03m trip. Located 1.4 km from the city center, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 4 km from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car rental from Rome, which is about 302 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Record Go and Sixt, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 121 km and will cost you around $19. From Venice, the ticket costs about $14 for a journey of 169 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from downtown Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Bologna, you’ll arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), which is located 6 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Bologna from the United States departs from New York and takes around 10h 45m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 1h 34m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about $25 for a 2h 03m trip. Located 1.4 km from the city center, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 4 km from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car rental from Rome, which is about 302 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Record Go and Sixt, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 121 km and will cost you around $19. From Venice, the ticket costs about $14 for a journey of 169 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from downtown Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city center.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

KLM
Good (1,485 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,883 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,841 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,370 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,290 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,909 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,164 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,561 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (904 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,533 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,737 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,554 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,881 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,181 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,376 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (397 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,187 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,432 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,239 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 $121 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $235 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bologna, with prices from $69 to $359 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bologna are about 21% 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, 7560 reviews)
$144+
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Le Tuie
0 stars
Excellent (8.8, 203 reviews)
$152+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 8606 reviews)
$104+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2370 reviews)
$78+
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Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 9627 reviews)
$92+
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Hotel Bologna Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 5692 reviews)
$96+
View

Renting a car in Bologna

Renting a car in Bologna costs $25 per day, on average, or $76 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 63% 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. Economy (Opel Corsa or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Bologna, while also 41% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Bologna costs $25 per day, on average, or $76 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 63% 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. Economy (Opel Corsa or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Bologna, while also 41% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Bologna

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$24/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Bologna