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 10h 35m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 2h 10m and costs around C$ 25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about C$ 30 for a 2h 10m 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 Rent Smart 24 and Galdierirent, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Bus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around C$ 23. From Venice, the ticket costs about C$ 25 for a journey of 115 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 10h 35m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Venice takes 2h 10m and costs around C$ 25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about C$ 30 for a 2h 10m 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 Rent Smart 24 and Galdierirent, among others, in Rome.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Bus and MarinoBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 80 miles and will cost you around C$ 23. From Venice, the ticket costs about C$ 25 for a journey of 115 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 (1,457 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,790 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,751 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,208 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,220 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,876 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,117 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,312 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,533 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,738 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,522 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (898 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,688 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,732 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,181 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,397 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,362 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,167 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (387 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,143 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 Hotel Michelino Bologna Fiera, Bologna offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around C$ 141 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 265 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bologna, with prices from C$ 87 to C$ 2,851 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bologna are about 5% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

See all
Best Western Plus Tower Hotel Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
C$ 132+
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Mercure Bologna Centro
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
C$ 188+
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NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
C$ 93+
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Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
C$ 106+
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Holiday Inn Bologna - Fiera By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
C$ 117+
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Hotel Palace Bologna Centro
3 stars
Good (6.7, Good reviews)
C$ 115+
View

Renting a car in Bologna

Renting a car in Bologna costs C$ 47 per day, on average, or C$ 94 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 55% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay C$ 2.59 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$ 31.06 and C$ 41.42. 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, 80% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bologna costs C$ 47 per day, on average, or C$ 94 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 55% cheaper than airport locations in Bologna.

Expect to pay C$ 2.59 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$ 31.06 and C$ 41.42. 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, 80% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Bologna