Bologna travel guide

Medieval and Renaissance buildings and structures feature in Bologna, Italy
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Introduction to Bologna

Bologna, known for its incredible Piazza Maggiore, Two Towers, and Finestrella, is a travel destination everyone should visit once in their lifetime. This city and commune in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, has plenty of experiences to offer curious travelers. Home to a variety of natural beauty and architecture, a unique historical background, and a culture as rich as its population of more than 392.6 thousand people, Bologna is truly one of the main highlights of Italy.

Easily accessible from the Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport, Bologna is the perfect base for a memorable and unique vacation in Italy. Travelers looking to experience the best of Italy often choose to stay in Bologna.

Get ready to explore and learn more about the city of Bologna below!

Top services in Bologna

Here on this page, you'll find all the top travel services in Bologna, Italy. Check out the cheapest and most popular flights offered by 352 airlines that fly to Italy. Browse the 282 top-rated tours available to you in Bologna. Compare the rates and services of the 5 types of places to stay in Bologna and the 15 car rental companies offering CDW insurance coverage. We make it easy for you to find and book the top services in Bologna.

Enjoy the convenience of planning and booking every detail of your trip to Bologna, including flights, accommodations, activities, and more, in one place. Book with Guide to Europe to get an expertly-curated and fully-customizable itinerary and experience the best of Bologna on your vacation in Italy.

Get answers to questions about the routes and services offered in Bologna from our free 24/7 customer support. Continue reading to learn how you can enjoy a stress-free and memorable vacation in the city of Bologna!

Learn more about Italy

There are many reasons to visit the city of Bologna, but a trip to Italy needs no explanation.

Exploring Italy, which spans 301,338 square kilometers, is an adventure of a lifetime. Italy offers an abundance of truly magical places to discover, including cultural, historic, and scenic sites of significant value to both locals and travelers.

As the home country of many world-famous attractions like the spectacular Piazza Maggiore, Two Towers, and the Finestrella, you’re all set for a unique and memorable travel experience in Italy.

Click or tap the link below to discover more about Italy.

What to see in Bologna

Photo of panoramic view of Bologna,Italy.

Bologna has something for everyone. Regardless of age and interest, travelers have the best time exploring every corner of the city.

Read on to discover the best places to visit and find out what to expect from the city of Bologna.

Top attractions in Bologna

Home to plenty of top attractions, Bologna is more than just a wonderful city in Italy. Bologna is a travel hotspot and a great place to experience a mix of the traditional and modern culture of Italy.

One fascinating sight in Bologna is the unforgettable Piazza Maggiore. Considered one of the most well-known attractions in the city, a visit to this spectacular travel destination is something you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Bologna.

For more information about what you can expect during a vacation in Italy, check out our list of top attractions in Bologna below. Discover the best places to visit in Bologna, including the fascinating Piazza Maggiore, Two Towers, Finestrella, Piazza Santo Stefano, and Museo Ducati.

Map of attractions

Use this map to find the location of all top attractions in Bologna.

Things to do in Bologna

Photo of Channel river in Bologna Italy.

Enrich your travel experience in Bologna by joining tours and activities. Bologna offers an exciting selection of top-rated tours and it's easy for every traveler to find something to their liking. Take the opportunity to catch the top attractions on a tour, stay active with an adventurous excursion, or learn something new about the local history or culture of the city.

Discover the most popular experiences in Bologna below.

Most popular experiences in Bologna

Traveling is all about gaining new experiences. You can have that and more in the city of Bologna.

Bologna offers numerous tours and activities for travelers to choose from. Walking Tours, Historical Tours, and Bus Tours are only a few of the many experiences you can book for your holiday in Italy.

Explore the most popular experiences you can join in Bologna by clicking on one of the top-rated tour categories below.

Top tours & tickets starting in Bologna

Travelers in Bologna can choose from 16 categories of top-rated tours and tickets. If you're curious about what the most frequently recommended experiences in the city are, Tours by vehicle is the answer.

The most popular tour in Bologna is the fantastic Private Emilia Romagna Food Tour Full Day. By joining this highly recommended tour, travelers get to learn more about what makes Bologna one of the best travel destinations in Italy.

Bologna also offers plenty of budget-friendly tours and activities that promise travelers a unique experience in the city. The affordable Bologna Self-Guided Audio Tour is the cheapest tour in the city, and is a popular Historical Tour. This experience costs around 5 EUR and allows travelers a great time in Bologna. This Historical Tour is available in 9 languages: German, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. Around 3 travelers have given this activity an average rating of 1 star out of 5.

Secure an unforgettable experience for your upcoming trip to Bologna and book a top-rated tour in the city. Discover the best tours, activities, and tickets in Bologna below.

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Search for things to do in Bologna

Discover the best things to do in Bologna. Choose from 282 fantastic tours and activities available in the city.

Select your dates and number of travelers in the search bar below to receive the best recommendations for your vacation in Bologna. Click the green button to view your options.

Vacation packages in Bologna

Photo of Fontana di Nettuno or Neptune fountain on Piazza Maggiore square at the morning dusk designed by Tommaso Laureti (1565).

The best and easiest way to visit Bologna is by booking a vacation package. A vacation package includes everything you need for a worry-free and perfectly planned holiday in Italy.

Booking a vacation package to Bologna means spending less time planning and more time enjoying your vacation. A vacation package includes everything from flight tickets, accomodation, and a rental car, to 24/7 personal travel support and a carefully planned travel itinerary. You can also take your vacation in Bologna to the next level by adding tours, tickets, and activities to each day of your trip.

Apart from providing you with everything you need to travel comfortably, your vacation package to Bologna is also fully customizable. In other words, you can add or remove services at your own convenience, to create the perfect vacation for you and your travel companions.

On our website, you will find 230 unique vacation packages to Bologna, including flight tickets, hotel reservations, and recommendations for the best sightseeing spots, restaurants, bars, and activities.

Continue to the next section to learn more about what types of vacations you can book in the city of Bologna.

Popular types of vacations in Bologna

The most popular way to experience Bologna is by visiting the city as part of a road trip across multiple destinations in Italy. However, it is also common for travelers to go to Bologna on both shorter and longer getaways, to get a break from everyday life, relax, and experience something new.

With Guide to Europe you can find road trips, city breaks, and weekend getaways in Italy, ranging from budget to luxury. Whether you’re planning a multi-day road trip across Italy, or you just want to enjoy a few days exploring Bologna, there is a vacation package for you.

Discover the most popular vacation packages in Bologna below.

Top vacation packages in Bologna

Travelers have a great selection of vacation packages to choose from in Italy. In fact, you can choose from as many as 230 different top-rated vacation packages to take you to Bologna, and even more if you expand your search to include a bigger area of Italy.

To help narrow your choices down, here are some of the best vacation packages for exploring the city of Bologna.

For an epic vacation, discover Bologna and other top destinations in Italy on a top-rated holiday like the Cheap 10-Day Italy Road Trip Vacation from Bologna traveling south to Arezzo, Rome, and Florence. This vacation package provides travelers with tons of opportunities to experience not only the most popular attractions in Bologna, but also in other top places to visit in Italy. If Arco Del Meloncello, Finestrella, Two Towers, Piazza Maggiore, and Fontana del Nettuno are on your bucket list, this is the perfect vacation package for you.

If you would like to go on a budget vacation in Bologna, book the popular Cheap 3-Day Italy City Break in Bologna and spend as little as 272 EUR. This vacation will take you on a journey to experience some of the most incredible attractions and sights in Bologna, including the fantastic Piazza Maggiore, Finestrella, Two Towers, Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Pietro, and Arco Del Meloncello.

Get more Bologna vacation ideas on this site and discover the greatest selection of vacation packages in Europe. Scroll down to find the best vacation packages in Italy that match your needs and budget.

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Find vacation packages in Bologna

Discover and compare 230 vacation packages that take you to the wonderful city of Bologna.

The best flights, hotels, and activities in Bologna get fully booked quickly. Use the search tool below to find the best vacation packages in Italy. Your customized holiday package to Bologna is only a few clicks away!

How to get to Bologna

To get to the city of Bologna the fastest way possible, travelers from outside Italy can travel by plane. International travelers can fly to Bologna by booking flights with any of the 59 airlines that offer direct flights to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport. Some airlines that operate flights to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport are Ryanair, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Azul, and Air China. Go to this page to compare all flights to Bologna.

To reach the city of Bologna, travelers can choose from various airport transfer options available at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport.

If you're looking for the best flight ticket deals to Bologna, knowing the cheapest travel time and which airlines offer the most affordable flights is helpful. Luckily, we have this information for you. Discover more about the cheapest and most popular flights to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport and Bologna below.

Find cheap flights to Bologna

Photo of Bologna main square aerial view from Asinelli tower.

Over the years, more airlines have started offering flexible and direct flights to Bologna, making it one of the most accessible travel destinations in Italy. However, it is usually cheaper to fly to Bologna, Italy, in May.

The cheapest one-way flight to Bologna costs around 13 EUR and is offered by the airline Ryanair. The flight leaves on October 26 at 2 and departs from Oradea International airport in Oradea, Romania.

The cheapest round-trip flights to Bologna cost approximately 80 EUR in total. The departure flight leaves on September 22 and the return flight is scheduled on September 29. The flight time is around 1 hour per way.

The return flight is operated by Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport.

Use the search tool below to find the cheapest flights to Italy and the city of Bologna from your city of departure.

Popular flights to Bologna

Travelers visiting Bologna in Italy can fly to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport directly from 1750 destinations worldwide.

The three most popular routes to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport and the city of Bologna in Italy depart from Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport in Bologna, Italy, Greenville–Spartanburg International airport in Greenville, the United States, and Norman Manley International airport in Kingston, Jamaica.

Travelers can fly to Italy by choosing from from 1 weekly flight(s) from Bologna; from 4 weekly flight(s) from Greenville; and from 7 weekly flight(s) from Kingston.

The airline that operates most flights to Italy is Cambodia Airways. Cambodia Airways offers 1 scheduled flight routes to Italy.

Discover the most popular flights to Bologna below. Click to view flights to Bologna, Italy from destinations all across the globe.

Where to stay in Bologna

Photo of ancient sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, old church on the hill.

An essential factor to consider when traveling to a new place or country is accommodation. While visiting a city as fantastic as Bologna is always exciting, any avid traveler knows that accommodations often make or break the vacation experience.

The best place to stay in Bologna usually depends on travelers' needs and preferences. However, booking accommodation in downtown Bologna offers a ton of benefits.

Staying at the heart of the city allows you to easily walk to many of the top sights and dining areas in Bologna and cut down on your travel expenses. Centrally-located accommodations are also an excellent choice for travelers in Bologna planning to go on a quick tour or drive to the neighboring regions.

In Bologna, you'll find 5 different types of places to stay catering to every taste, budget, and reason for travel. For example, honeymooners or travelers on a romantic getaway in Italy can experience the ultimate relaxation at one of the 5-star or 4-star hotels in Bologna. Travelers whose purpose is sightseeing can also find plenty of mid-range hotels to budget-friendly accommodations in the city, allowing access to many of the top attractions in Bologna.

Learn more about the most popular places to stay and the top-rated hotels in Bologna in the next sections.

Popular types of accommodation in Bologna

A trip to the fascinating Bologna, Italy, means opportunities to relax at any of the 5 different types of places to stay in the city. Overall, travelers can choose from the following: 640 vacation rental apartments, 308 hotels, 74 bed & breakfasts, 58 guesthouses and 19 cottages. While each type offers varying amenities and rates, there is no denying that Bologna provides a great selection of lodging options ready to cater to every kind of guest.

Among all these choices available in the city, Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna is one of the top picks of travelers in Bologna.

The hotel is located at Via del Commercio Associato 9 and boasts many great utilities, including Air conditioning, Airport shuttle, and Gym.

Budget accommodations are also incredibly popular among travelers in Bologna. Cheaper alternatives allow travelers to save on accommodation costs and have more to spend on other experiences.

In Bologna, travelers looking for an economical yet top-rated place to stay usually choose Combo Bologna - Hostel. For approximately 35 EUR, guests can book a comfortable Unknown at this popular hotel.

Below is a list of all 5 different types of places to stay in Bologna. Select the type you prefer to compare options under each category and find the best accommodation.

Top hotels in Bologna

Hotels are travelers' go-to accommodations in Bologna for the unique experience they provide. So if you're the kind of traveler who prefers staying at hotels, you'll be glad to know that the city is home to around 1,099 hotels.

Besides offering basic amenities, many hotels in Bologna provide meals and extras, such as shuttle services, spa facilities, tour desks, and other services. But because not all hotels in Bologna are created equal, finding the best in the city often requires careful research. For your convenience, we've done all the research to make it easier for you to check out all the top hotels in Bologna.

051B&B Room & Breakfast offers the most luxurious rooms and is perfect for travelers looking for the ultimate 5-star hotel experience in Bologna. If comfort, convenience, and affordability are your non-negotiables, check out Hotel Cosmopolitan Bologna, the top 4-star hotel in the city. When all you need is a pleasant place to rest and sleep in between your activities in Bologna, the highest-rated 3-star hotel, Hotel Liberty 1904, is for you.

Below is our hand-picked list of the best hotels in the Bologna. Travelers are encouraged to book early as these hotels quickly reach capacity.

Click the arrows or swipe the list to see each hotel's ratings, reviews, locations, rates, and more. You can read detailed descriptions of each hotel by clicking the cards.

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Search for accommodation in Bologna

Use the Accommodation Search tool below to find available stays in the city of Bologna on specific dates. This handy feature also allows you to compare prices and amenities.

Enter the preferred check-in and check-out dates. Then, select the number of guests and rooms. Click the Search button to find all the available hotels and places to stay in the city of Bologna that match the information provided.

Car rental in Bologna

Photo of quirky castle in the Emilian Apennines, Bologna, Italy.

Experience the freedom and convenience of a self-drive vacation by renting a car for your adventures in Bologna. Bologna has 15 car rental companies ready to provide you with the perfect vehicle for your travels.

Automatic cars for rent in Bologna start from 20.64 EUR per day or 144.49 EUR per week. The cheapest automatic rental car is a Peugeot 108 Aut.

If you prefer driving a manual car, you’ll find multiple options for rent in Bologna, starting from 10.58 EUR per day or 74.04 EUR per week. The cheapest manual rental car is a Citroen C1.

Learn more about the different types of cars you can rent in Bologna, Italy, below.

Popular types of car rental in Bologna

Discover and choose from our broad range of popular car rental options in the city of Bologna to find the best car for your travel plans. Travelers in Bologna can choose from small cars, medium cars, large cars, estate cars, mini vans, SUVs, convertibles, premium cars, camper vans, mini campers, vans, cars. All car rentals come with CDW insurance for added protection throughout your trip.

Renting a car is a popular choice among travelers who want to explore Italy at their own pace. The most popular type of car rental among small groups of travelers in Bologna is a TopLevel.

Another very popular type of car to rent in Bologna is a TopLevel. This car is particularly popular among couples and solo travelers touring the city of Bologna.

Check out all options available in Bologna and book the car rental for your upcoming adventures in Italy below.

Search for car rental in Bologna

Get ready to hit the road and explore the beautiful city of Bologna. Find the best deals on a variety of popular car rentals in Bologna, Italy, or any other destination in Europe by using the search tool below.

Enter your pick-up and drop-off location, driver's age, and dates. Click the green button to view your options.

Popular destinations to visit after Bologna

Photo of Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, Italy landmark in Emilia-Romagna historical province.

The city of Bologna is just one of the many unique and scenic destinations you can visit in Italy. So if you're itching for another cultural adventure, a relaxing road trip, an action-filled city break, or a memorable weekend getaway, know that Italy has it all.

Italy is calling, and the country is asking you to experience its culture and diversity to the fullest! Take the opportunity to visit other captivating places in Italy that are as magical as the city of Bologna. The most popular travel destinations in Italy are listed below. Click on the name of the place you want to explore next to learn more about it.

All the best destinations in Italy

When unsure of where to go next, use the map below. This map shows the locations of all the best destinations in Italy. Use the map to plan your trip and find the best routes.

Domestic flights from Bologna

Photo of View of Basilica di San Petronio on sunrise.

A taste of Italy through a visit to Bologna can often reignite a traveler's passion for adventure. When this happens, the best way to satisfy this wanderlust is to book a domestic flight from Bologna to another remarkable destination in Italy.

To begin your search for the best or cheapest flights from the city of Bologna to other spectacular locations in Italy, jump to the last section of this travel guide.

Popular domestic flights from Bologna

Travelers in Italy can catch flights to domestic airports in Lamezia Terme, Palermo, Rome, Milan, and Perugia. Domestic flights in Italy are operated by 6 airlines: Ryanair, Transavia, Eurowings, ITA Airways, and Volotea. There are around 27 scheduled flight routes operating to Bologna on a weekly basis.

From Bologna, travelers can book scheduled flights to 21 domestic destinations. The most popular flights from Bologna depart to many top-rated destinations in Italy and are offered by Ryanair, Transavia, and Eurowings.

Search domestic flights from Bologna

Traveling to another city or region in Italy? Use the flight search tool below to quickly find the cheapest one-way or round-trip flights from Bologna to different local destinations.

Enter all the necessary information and click or tap on the Search button to see a list of the available domestic flights in Italy on the selected dates.

Most popular countries in Europe

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