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 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Bologna has to offer.
Where to Eat in Bologna
If you’re looking for affordable options, Totò e Peppino (22/L Viale Mattei) and Ristorante Rodrigo (2H Via della Zecca) are great picks.
When to visit Bologna
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.
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 the United Arab Emirates departs from Abu Dhabi and takes around 10h 25m.
Train
Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Train. The train journey from Bologna to Milan takes 1h 04m and costs around AED 66 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rome, expect to pay about AED 92 for a 2h 00m 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 DRIVALIA and NOLEGGIARE , among others, in Milan.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bologna, including FlixBus, Itabus and MarinoBus. From Venice, the bus ride to Bologna takes 130 miles and will cost you around AED 66. From Milan, the ticket costs about AED 55 for a journey of 135 miles. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 0.8 miles from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 miles from the city centre.
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 AED 350 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 1,110 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Dopa Hostel and Antica Residenza D'Azeglio Room&Breakfast di Charme. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Bologna, with prices from AED 154 to AED 1,915 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 16% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna
Most booked hotels in Bologna
Hiring a car in Bologna
Hiring a car in Bologna costs AED 86 per day, on average, or AED 428 if you want to hire it for 5 days.
Expect to pay AED 6.91 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 AED 82.86 and AED 110.48. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Intermediate (Volkswagen T-Cross or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 87% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.