Top things to do in Bologna
Attractions, tours and activities in Bologna
Recommended museums in Bologna
Where to discover culture and the arts in Bologna
Bologna: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Bologna
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Bologna Fiere District
1.4 miles from city centre
Fancy a fair? You’ve come to the right place. Bologna Exhibition Centre draws an impressive line-up of vendors, who bedeck this marketplace with knick-knacks, cosmetics, and Lineapelle leather. Once you’ve filled your tote bag with goodies, take to the surrounding streets and explore little Bologna.
Places to stay from £16 per night
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Bologna City Centre
In the city centre
Renaissance palaces and pretty piazzas as far as the eye can see. Inside the half-crumbled, medieval walls is the heart of old Bologna - and it’s covered in terracotta red. Slender streets meander in and out of covered colonnades, with a new treasure on every corner. It’s not just a feast for the eyes – the restaurants round here are top-notch.
Places to stay from £12 per night
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Bologna Train Station
0.8 miles from city centre
Planes, trains and automobiles! No matter how you arrive, you’re sure to pass through this transport hub – the gateway to the red-roofed city. Business barons, bag-toting tourists, and transient students rub shoulders as they step on and off trains. “In carrozza!” (all aboard), the conductor calls, before the trains chug away.
Places to stay from £22 per night
About Bologna
Including tips for the best time to visit Bologna
World-renowned for its mouthwatering cuisine, Bologna is also marvelled at for its well-preserved historic centre and miles of charming covered walkways known as 'porticos'. The city is also home to the oldest university in continental Europe, founded in 1088.
Piazza Maggiore lies at the heart of the city's old town, flanked by the Basilica of San Petronio, the City Hall Building, the portico dei Banchi and the Palazzo del Podestà. However, the city's most iconic landmark is its 12th-century towers – Torre degli Asinelli and Torre dei Garisenda – with the latter currently leaning over three metres.
Often referred to as the food capital of Italy, tourists flock to Bologna for a taste of its cured meats and delicious pasta dishes such as tagliatelle al ragù or tortellini stuffed with Parma ham or cheese. You'll also find plenty of lively student-filled pubs, wine bars and typical ‘trattorias’ which are perfect for people watching and enjoying aperitivo.
The city centre is easily reachable from Guglielmo Marconi (Bologna) International Airport, either by taxi or by taking the Aerobus.
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| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.43 |
| Language | Italian |
| Average weekend price | £133 per night |
| Average weekday price | £155 per night |
| Typical stay | 1 night |
Points of interest in Bologna
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Bologna
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Piazza Maggiore
In the city centre
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Via dell' Indipendenza
0.4 miles from city centre
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San Petronio Basilica
0.1 miles from city centre
Bologna reviews
What other travellers say about Bologna
We love this town - have been coming to it for over 30 years!
16 May 2025
We love this town - have been coming to it for over 30 years! We have seen it gain popularity with tourists (we are part of that, obviously); but still it has the best restaurants (however, you now need to book ahead for a table, usually). Walking in this city is great - on rainy or sunny days, the porticos protect you. It is a small enough city to walk from end-to-end easily and has many great little places to visit. One thing they have instituted in recent years is completely pedestrian areas in the middle of the city - no cars. Now they are even putting in a tram that will connect the train station better to the middle (and outlying areas). Best places to visit: the library, inside San Petronio for the meridian line by Cassini, the Orto-Botanico, Palazzo Poggi, the archeology museum, the clock tower (note that the Due Torri are still closed), the medieval museum...too many to list.
Bologna is an excellent choice for a city break in Italy.
14 May 2025
Bologna is an excellent choice for a city break in Italy. You’re spoilt for choice with the amount of bars, restaurants and cafes—I can see why it’s called the food capital of Italy! It is well connected to the airport and train services. Very easy to get around the city on foot or by the bus, the buses are cheap and run frequently. If you love nature, consider the tourist bus to San Michele Bosco park. If you love history, there’s plenty of beautiful buildings to see. Florence is only 30 mins by train from Bologna Centrale station, and Verona/Venice are about 1h30-2 hrs away.
Bologna is a great city for sightseeing because everything...
14 May 2025
Bologna is a great city for sightseeing because everything is close. It is easy to walk around regardless of your age or physical limitations. What can you say about the food, it is fabulous. You have countless restaurants to choose from and they are extremely affordable. Love the city, we have been there several times and will go again.
Bologna is an overlooked destination in Italy, a college...
10 May 2025
Bologna is an overlooked destination in Italy, a college town with wonderful food (they invented ragù alla bolognese) and an old town filled with lovely piazzas (Magiorre), fountains (Neptune), beautiful churches (one with Michelangelo sculptures), remnants of 12th-century canals, old leaning towers, a fascinating archeological excavation underneath the town library (Biblioteca Salaborsa), and beautiful covered walkways (porticoes) that span over 38 miles, keeping sun amd rain off walkers.
Bologna is a beautiful city.
10 May 2025
Bologna is a beautiful city. Easy to get around on foot, lots to see and do over my 4 days. Had wonderful food at Arcimbolodo, Pescheria Aldrovani, Via Con Me and Ciacco. The people were warm and friendly. Train trip to Ravenna took just over an hour and the mosaics in the Unesco monuments are stunning. As a solo female traveller it felt very safe and I would love to return in the future. I would definitely recommend staying at Casa Bertagni guesthouse, it was a special place and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there on my next trip.
Very nice old town, beautiful architecture, calm atmosphere...
7 May 2025
Very nice old town, beautiful architecture, calm atmosphere of the city, brilliant weather - at the end of April sunny and 26-27 C. Very good train connections allow trips from Bologna to other cities - in the region and even further - Florence or Ravenna.
Popular places to stay in Bologna
Stay in some of the best accommodation Bologna has to offer
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A Casa Tua Savena, Bologna
From £143 per night
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The Jasmine Terrace Retreat Piazza Maggiore, Bologna
From £379 per night
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Beauty Case intimate, quiet and central apartment Bologna City Centre, Bologna
From £143 per night
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Bohemian Suite spacious and central Loft Bologna City Centre, Bologna
From £165 per night
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Portobello Apartments Bologna City Centre, Bologna
From £219 per night
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Other accommodation in Bologna
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From £8 per night
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Hostels
From £12 per night
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From £15 per night
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From £44 per night
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From £50 per night
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Self catering accommodation
From £16 per night
