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. Consider staying at least one whole day in Bologna to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Bologna

If you’re looking for affordable options, DALP (Via Molino Scarselli 76) and La Taverna Di Roberto (9 Via di San Vitale) are great picks.

When to visit Bologna

Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
AED 454
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
AED 454
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 the United Arab Emirates departs from Dubai and takes around 6h 20m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Rimini takes 0h 53m and costs around AED 51 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Pisa, expect to pay about AED 66 for a 5h 24m 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 NOLEGGIARE and SURPRICE CAR RENTAL , 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 129 km and will cost you around AED 26. From Rimini, the ticket costs about AED 70 for a journey of 137 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 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 the United Arab Emirates departs from Dubai and takes around 6h 20m.

Train

Trenitalia is the most popular train carrier serving Bologna, followed by Italotreno. The train journey from Bologna to Rimini takes 0h 53m and costs around AED 51 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Pisa, expect to pay about AED 66 for a 5h 24m 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 NOLEGGIARE and SURPRICE CAR RENTAL , 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 129 km and will cost you around AED 26. From Rimini, the ticket costs about AED 70 for a journey of 137 km. The most popular bus station is Bologna Autostazione, located 1.3 km from the city centre of Bologna. Bologna Piazza Roosevelt is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 km from the city centre.

Airlines serving Bologna

Lufthansa
Good (4,662 reviews)
KLM
Good (858 reviews)
SWISS
Good (924 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,485 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,598 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,302 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,557 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (475 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,939 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,126 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,482 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,784 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (229 reviews)
Finnair
Good (880 reviews)
TAP Portugal
Good (1,166 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (832 reviews)
LOT
Good (682 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (916 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Show more

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 382 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 671 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 2,113 per night. Santo Stefano is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Bologna are about 15% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bologna

Most booked hotels in Bologna

Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
AED 292+
NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
AED 250+
Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
AED 323+
Holiday Inn Bologna - Fiera
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
AED 326+
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.4, Good reviews)
AED 246+

Hiring a car in Bologna

Hiring a car in Bologna costs AED 195 per day, on average.

Expect to pay AED 7.35 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 88.14 and AED 117.52. Mini (Kia Picanto or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 81% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Bologna costs AED 195 per day, on average.

Expect to pay AED 7.35 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 88.14 and AED 117.52. Mini (Kia Picanto or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bologna, while also 81% cheaper than other types, on average.