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Per person in euros: cheapest direct return flight for 2 to 4 nights. Select a month for flight times, hotels and things to do.

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Discover Bologna

Piazza Maggiore, Bologna
Piazza Maggiore
San Petronio Basilica, Bologna
San Petronio Basilica

City guide

About Bologna

Bologna sits at the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. The city bears three proud nicknames: 'La Dotta' (The Learned) for its university founded in 1088, the oldest in the Western world; 'La Rossa' (The Red) for its terracotta rooftops; and 'La Grassa' (The Fat) for its status as Italy's gastronomic capital.

Its urban fabric is defined by over forty kilometres of UNESCO-inscribed porticoes that shelter pedestrians from rain and summer sun. Between the leaning medieval Two Towers, the grand expanse of Piazza Maggiore, and the fragrant delicatessens of the Quadrilatero market, Bologna pulses with youthful intellect and culinary pride.

Best time to go
April through June and September through October provide the most pleasant conditions, with comfortable temperatures between 19 and 25°C and sunny skies. Midsummer (July and August) is hot, though the porticoes provide constant shade. Winter is cool, but hearty regional cuisine and covered walkways make Bologna appealing year-round.
From the airport
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) is situated just 6 kilometres northwest of the city. The electric Marconi Express monorail connects the passenger terminal directly to Bologna Centrale railway station in just 7 minutes. Taxis to the center cost around 18 to 22 euros.
Getting around
Bologna is flat, compact, and best explored on foot. The continuous porticoes make strolling pleasant in any weather. TPER city buses easily connect central avenues with outer neighborhoods and the uphill sanctuary of San Luca.

What to see in Bologna

  • Piazza Maggiore and Basilica di San PetronioThe monumental main square flanked by medieval civic palazzi, the fountain of Neptune, and the vast Gothic basilica with its famously unfinished marble facade.
  • The Two Towers (Due Torri)The leaning Asinelli and Garisenda towers, the medieval symbols of the city. Climb the 498 wooden steps of the Asinelli tower for sweeping views over a sea of terracotta rooftops.
  • The Porticoes of BolognaA UNESCO World Heritage network of over forty kilometres of vaulted walkways, culminating in the 3.8-kilometre covered portico of 666 arches leading up to the San Luca sanctuary.
  • Santo Stefano Complex (Sette Chiese)A tranquil and ancient religious sanctuary comprising seven interconnected Romanesque chapels, cloisters, and courtyards on a cobblestone piazza.

Neighbourhoods

  • QuadrilateroThe ancient Roman market quarter beside Piazza Maggiore, packed with historic salumerias, artisan pasta makers, and outdoor wine bars.
  • University District and Via ZamboniThe bustling student hub of 16th-century university buildings, bookshops, street murals, and budget-friendly cafes.
  • Santo StefanoAn elegant and peaceful residential enclave of noble palazzi, porticoed avenues, and leafy hidden courtyards.

Food and drink

Order authentic tagliatelle al ragu (the true slow-cooked meat sauce, never served with spaghetti!). Savor tortellini in brodo: delicate handmade pasta parcels stuffed with pork and parmesan, served in a steaming capon broth. Sample paper-thin slices of mortadella di Bologna, green spinach lasagna, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar from nearby Modena.

Questions about Bologna

Can you order 'spaghetti bolognese' in Bologna?

Locals will politely correct you: authentic ragu is exclusively paired with broad, rough egg tagliatelle or layered in lasagna, which holds the rich meat sauce properly.

How do you reach the Sanctuary of San Luca?

Walk beneath the continuous covered arches of the Portico di San Luca (about an hour's uphill walk from Porta Saragozza), or catch the tourist San Luca Express road train from Piazza Maggiore.

Month by month breakdown

Fotocredits (3)
  • Two Towers door Vanni Lazzari, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Piazza Maggiore door Nick.mon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • San Petronio Basilica door No machine-readable author provided. ZeWrestler assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons