Introduction
Where to eat
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 4 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 March
Estimated hotel price
$122
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in March
Estimated hotel price
$122
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 4 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Bologna from Australia departs from Melbourne and takes around 26h 35m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Train. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 2h 05m and costs around $26 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Foggia, expect to pay about $71 for a 5h 39m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city centre, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car hire from Milan, which is about 125 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Galdierirent and Goldcar Rental SP, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 70 miles and will cost you around $14. From Venice, the ticket costs about $11 for a journey of 120 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Bologna, you’ll arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), which is located 4 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Bologna from Australia departs from Melbourne and takes around 26h 35m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Train. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 2h 05m and costs around $26 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Foggia, expect to pay about $71 for a 5h 39m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city centre, Bologna Centrale is the busiest station in Bologna. Another popular train station is Bologna San Ruffillo, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bologna is to pick up a car hire from Milan, which is about 125 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Galdierirent and Goldcar Rental SP, among others, in Milan.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 70 miles and will cost you around $14. From Venice, the ticket costs about $11 for a journey of 120 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Area di Servizio Cantagallo is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

KLM
Good (1,404 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,509 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,981 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,466 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,772 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,022 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,996 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,988 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,476 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,381 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,653 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (860 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,341 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,535 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,282 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,132 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,333 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,034 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,384 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (368 reviews)
Show more
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 Hotel Michelino Bologna Fiera, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $176 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $301 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Perla and Combo Bologna. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from $63 to $1,013 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 14% cheaper 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, Excellent reviews)
$193+
View
Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$139+
View
The Social Hub Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$152+
View
NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$111+
View
Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$150+
View
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$143+
View

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs $41 per day, on average, or $165 if you want to hire it for 4 days.

Expect to pay $2.96 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 $35.48 and $47.30. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Economy (Citroen C3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Fiat 500X or similar) is, on average, 82% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs $41 per day, on average, or $165 if you want to hire it for 4 days.

Expect to pay $2.96 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 $35.48 and $47.30. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Economy (Citroen C3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Fiat 500X or similar) is, on average, 82% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Car hire agencies in Bologna

Dollar

Dollar

Sixt

Sixt

Thrifty

Thrifty
Find car hire in Bologna

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