Introduction
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. Bologna deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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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
C$ 52
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in January
Estimated hotel price
C$ 52
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 Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 11h 20m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Milan takes 1h 04m and costs around C$ 23 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Pisa, expect to pay about C$ 27 for a 3h 05m 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 rental from Rome, which is about 188 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Target Italy and Rent Smart 24, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus and Itabus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 70 miles and will cost you around C$ 26. From Milan, the ticket costs about C$ 19 for a journey of 140 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 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 Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 11h 20m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Milan takes 1h 04m and costs around C$ 23 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Pisa, expect to pay about C$ 27 for a 3h 05m 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 rental from Rome, which is about 188 miles from Bologna. You’ll find branches of Target Italy and Rent Smart 24, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus and Itabus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 70 miles and will cost you around C$ 26. From Milan, the ticket costs about C$ 19 for a journey of 140 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 centre.

Airports near Bologna

BLQBologna Guglielmo Marconi
VCEVenice Marco Polo
FLRFlorence Peretola

Airlines serving Bologna

KLM
Good (1,499 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,926 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,888 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,406 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,306 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,922 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,182 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,572 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,602 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (902 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,750 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,559 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,932 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,189 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,389 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (401 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,207 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,432 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,275 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 C$ 179 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 322 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bologna, with prices from C$ 104 to C$ 466 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bologna are about 13% 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, Excellent reviews)
C$ 220+
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Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
C$ 142+
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Una Hotels San Vitale Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
C$ 114+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
C$ 108+
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Hotel Bologna Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
C$ 136+
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Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
C$ 129+
View

Renting a car in Bologna

Renting a car in Bologna costs C$ 37 per day, on average, or C$ 74 if you want to rent it for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 45% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay C$ 2.78 per litre in Bologna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 33.25 and C$ 44.33. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Full-size (Fiat Talento or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Class Economy Car or similar) are, on average, 78% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bologna costs C$ 37 per day, on average, or C$ 74 if you want to rent it for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 45% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay C$ 2.78 per litre in Bologna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 33.25 and C$ 44.33. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Full-size (Fiat Talento or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Class Economy Car or similar) are, on average, 78% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Bologna