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.

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
RM 586
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bologna in February
Estimated hotel price
RM 586
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 Malaysia departs from Kuala Lumpur and takes around 33h 25m.

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 RM 114 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Parma, expect to pay about RM 43 for a 1h 05m 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 BlaBlaBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around RM 38. From Parma, the ticket costs about RM 43 for a journey of 129 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 Malaysia departs from Kuala Lumpur and takes around 33h 25m.

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 RM 114 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Parma, expect to pay about RM 43 for a 1h 05m 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 BlaBlaBus. From Florence, the bus ride to Bologna takes 129 km and will cost you around RM 38. From Parma, the ticket costs about RM 43 for a journey of 129 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 (4,669 reviews)
KLM
Good (858 reviews)
SWISS
Good (925 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,491 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,602 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,303 reviews)
Air France
Good (978 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,560 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (475 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,939 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,127 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,482 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,791 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (229 reviews)
Finnair
Good (880 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,168 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (832 reviews)
LOT
Good (683 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 RM 499 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to RM 870 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 RM 199 to RM 2,763 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)
RM 380+
NH Bologna Villanova
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
RM 322+
Suite Hotel Elite
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
RM 417+
Holiday Inn Bologna - Fiera
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
RM 420+
Flyon Hotel & Conference Center
4 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
RM 317+

Hiring a car in Bologna

Expect to pay RM 9.48 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 RM 113.70 and RM 151.59. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Mini (Fiat 500 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 81% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay RM 9.48 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 RM 113.70 and RM 151.59. The most frequently booked car type in Bologna is Mini (Fiat 500 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Fiat Panda or similar) is, on average, 81% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.