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.
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
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″.
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 11h 10m.
Train
Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Bologna to Florence takes 1h 17m and costs around $9 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $44 for a 1h 23m 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 Italy Car Rent, among others, in Rome.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around $8. From Milan, the ticket costs about $13 for a journey of 135 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from downtown Bologna. Bologna Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Bologna
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 $101 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $318 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 Perla. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bologna, with prices from $42 to $603 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bologna are about 17% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna
Most booked hotels in Bologna
Renting a car in Bologna
Renting a car in Bologna costs $31 per day, on average, or $93 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 9% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.
Expect to pay $7.04 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 $84.49 and $112.65. 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 rental cars (Nissan Versa Note or similar) are, on average, 83% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Bologna
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$22/day
Passenger van
5 Adults, 2 Bags
$79/day