Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring 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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When to visit Bologna

Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
$137
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
$137
1 night at 3-star hotel

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.

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 centre. The shortest flight to Bologna from Australia departs from Melbourne and takes around 25h.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Parma takes 0h 57m and costs around $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $35 for a 1h 14m 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 Milan, which is about 200 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Galdierirent and Rent Smart 24, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 121 km and will cost you around $26. From Milan, the ticket costs about $26 for a journey of 217 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.

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 Australia departs from Melbourne and takes around 25h.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Parma takes 0h 57m and costs around $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $35 for a 1h 14m 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 Milan, which is about 200 km from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Galdierirent and Rent Smart 24, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 121 km and will cost you around $26. From Milan, the ticket costs about $26 for a journey of 217 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

Lufthansa
Good (8,002 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,517 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,980 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,453 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,367 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,946 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,216 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,589 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (914 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,720 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,572 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,777 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,042 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,190 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,393 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (408 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,253 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,331 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,439 reviews)
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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 $157 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $352 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Antica Residenza D'Azeglio and B&B Villa Rivabella. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from $90 to $470 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 9% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

See all
Starhotels Excelsior
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$213+
View
Una Hotels San Vitale Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$102+
View
The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$140+
View
NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$102+
View
Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$134+
View
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$123+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs $34 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 71% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay $3.02 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 $36.15 and $48.19. Compact (Fiat 500X or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 79% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs $34 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 71% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay $3.02 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 $36.15 and $48.19. Compact (Fiat 500X or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 79% cheaper than other types, on average.

Car hire agencies in Bologna

Dollar

Dollar

Thrifty

Thrifty

Avis

Avis
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