Bologna Travel Essentials: Accommodation, Food & Transport Guide
If it’s your first time in Bologna — or if you’ve been to the city before but want to experience it in depth — you’ve come to the right place.
📖 If you want to get to know the city with your feet and your feelings,
➡️ first article: [Getting Lost Under the Porticoes: A Slow Travel Guide to Bologna]
📍 If you want to know what to see and what route to take,
➡️ second article: [Beyond the Porticoes: A Practical Travel Guide to Bologna]
This third article breaks down the logistics of it all:
Where to stay, what to eat, how to get there, how to get from the airport to the city center, and where to escape from Bologna for a day trip.
With this guide, you will:
- Find good accommodation
- Experience the city’s highlights in the right places
- And you won’t have to worry about transportation
Whether you’re in Bologna for the first day or on your way back — this article will be the most solid city note you’ll ever carry in your bag.
🏨 Where to Stay in Bologna
Where to stay in Bologna? Location + comfort + budget guide
Accommodation that is within walking distance of the city center is quite possible in Bologna. But a quick note: Bologna doesn’t have as many accommodation options as Rome or Florence — so the good places fill up fast.
There are 3 main areas to choose from:
- Near Stazione Centrale (Train Station): Perfect if you’re doing a day trip.
- Historic Center (around Piazza Maggiore): Walkable to everywhere. A bit expensive.
- University Area (around Via Zamboni): Younger, more energetic, but can get lively in the evenings.
💶 Budget Friendly (Economical Options)
- Combo Bologna - Price
📍 Via de' Carracci 69/14
⭐ 8.7 (Booking)
Hostel concept but private rooms are also available.
Clean, comfortable, and very close to the train station.
The garden is very pleasant, and the social areas are good.
💶 Average price per night: €70–90 (for a private room)
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- Dopa Hostel - Price
📍 Via Irnerio 41
⭐ 8.5 (Booking)
A hostel with a modern design and a social spirit, very close to the city center.
Affordable private rooms are available, including breakfast.
💶 Average price per night: €65–85 (for a private room)
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💶💶 Mid-Range (Comfortable Options)
- Hotel Sav - Price
📍 Via Galliera 46
⭐ 8.7 (Booking)
A 10-minute walk from the main train station and Piazza Maggiore.
The rooms are stylish and comfortable.
The price/performance ratio is excellent.
💶 Average price per night: €100–130
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- Hotel Porta San Mamolo - Price
📍 Vicolo del Falcone 6/8
⭐ 9.0 (Booking)
In a quieter area than the city center.
It has a garden, the rooms are very peaceful.
Ideal for those who want a quiet evening in the city.
💶 Average price per night: €120–140
💶💶💶 Premium Level (Elegant and Special Options)
- Art Hotel Novecento - Price
📍 Piazza Galileo 4/3
⭐ 8.9 (Booking)
Modern decoration and perfect location: just 5 minutes from Piazza Maggiore.
Designer rooms and an excellent breakfast.
💶 Average price per night: €180–220
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📍 Via dell’Indipendenza 8
⭐ 9.2 (Booking)
The most luxurious hotel in Bologna.
Located in a historical building, with classic Italian elegance.
If you have a large budget, it definitely offers an unforgettable experience.
💶 Average price per night: €300+
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📌 A Small Note:
Bologna can be very hot, especially in the summer months.
We recommend that you make sure that the hotels have air conditioning.
There is also a “tassa di soggiorno” (accommodation tax) in the city, approximately €3–5 per night, paid upon check-out.
💡 My Recommendations: You can walk everywhere in Bologna, but being close to the train station is a great advantage, especially for those planning a day trip to Modena or Verona.
For short stays of 1-2 nights, hotels or comfortable hostels like Combo are more economical.
If you are going to stay for 3+ days, renting an Airbnb may be more advantageous in terms of both cost and comfort.
🍝 What to Eat in Bologna
For those who want to taste real Italian cuisine slowly…
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🍽️ Indispensables of Bologna Cuisine
- Tagliatelle al Ragù (Bolognese)
This flavor is the direct identity of Bologna. The minced meat ragù sauce, cooked for hours, is served only with tagliatelle, not spaghetti.
- Lasagna alla Bolognese
Layers of homemade green pasta leaves, ragù, bechamel sauce, and parmesan... A plate is like the warm embrace of Bologna.
- Tortellini in Brodo
Tiny-filled pasta swim in meat broth. Traditional, like a home meal, comforting like a winter evening.
🧀 Featured Local Flavors
- Mortadella di Bologna: Hazelnut or plain, thinly sliced, soft and oily – but elegant
- Parmigiano Reggiano: A cheese aged for 24–36 months, which can be eaten without even being grated
- Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale: Especially the 12+ years old versions; a little is enough
🍨 Desserts & Ice Creams
- Tiramisu: Made with raw eggs, they are far ahead in terms of creaminess and softness
- Ricotta e Fichi: Fig and salty cheese harmony… light but full of character
- Crema di Bologna: Vanilla ice cream with cinnamon, citrus, and almond flavors
- Pistachio Gelato: Two iconic ice cream shops in Bologna are on the TasteAtlas list:
o Cremeria Castiglione (1994)
o Galliera 49 (1998)
📍 Where to Eat? (Experience + Average Price)
🥣 Osteria dell’Orsa
🧾 What to eat?: Tagliatelle al ragù, lasagna, Greek salad
💶 Price: €9–12 main course, €3–5 house wine
💬 We loved the home-cooked feel, authentic atmosphere, and friendly staff. The tiramisu was weak, but the food was excellent.
🗺️ Location: Via Mentana 1
🍰 Il Caffè della Corte Bistrot
🧾 What to eat?: Tiramisu + espresso
💶 Price: €4–6 dessert, €2–3 coffee
💬 The balance of the tiramisu was great. Unforgettable with its simple yet elegant atmosphere.
🗺️ Location: Inside Corte Isolani
🥪 Mercato delle Erbe
🧾 What to eat?: Mini pizzas, sandwiches, and wine
💶 Price: €3–6 snacks, €5–10 plates
💬 Great for lunch. Standing but filling.
🗺️ Location: Via Ugo Bassi
🥇 3 Famous Restaurants to Watch in Bologna
(Haven’t been yet, but would add value to this blog post)
- Trattoria di Via Serra
💬 Michelin recommended. Slow service, but delicious handmade pasta.
🧾 Tagliatelle al ragù and tortellini in brodo are recommended.
💶 Price: €15–20 food + €5 wine
📍 Near the train station, reservations are recommended.
- Drogheria della Rosa
💬 One of the most characterful restaurants in the city. Converted from an old pharmacy.
🧾 Tortelloni is the star here. Desserts are homemade.
💶 Price: €20–25 main course
📍 Via Cartoleria – perfect for romantic dinners.
- Sfoglia Rina
💬 The queues are crazy at lunchtime, but it’s worth the wait.
🧾 Fresh handmade pasta, simple presentation but maximum flavor.
💶 Price: €12–15
📍 Via Castiglione – both a restaurant and a pasta shop.
✈️ Getting Around Bologna
This city should be explored on foot — but there are alternatives at your fingertips.
👣 Walking the City (Recommended!)
Bologna is a compact and flat city.
All the main points in the center — such as Piazza Maggiore, Due Torri, Quadrilatero, and Santo Stefano — are within a 15-20 minute walk of each other.
And thanks to the porticos (archways), you can walk around in the rain with pleasure.
💡 My advice: Spend at least a day just walking — those streets are unrecognizable otherwise.
🚌 Bus & Urban Transportation
- There’s no metro in Bologna, but the bus system is quite well-developed.
- The buses are operated by TPER.
- Tickets can be purchased from:
o Kiosks at bus stops
o Tobacconists (“Tabacchi”)
o The TPER mobile app
- 🕐 A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes, costs around €1.50–2.00
💡 Don’t forget to validate your ticket as soon as you get on the bus (you have to insert it into the machine).
🚲 Bike and Scooter Alternatives
- The city center is not very busy, so cycling can be a pleasure.
- You can rent electric bikes or scooters with apps like RideMovi and Tier.
- There are hourly or daily payment options.
- 🚫 But remember: scooters are prohibited under some porticos. Go slowly, and obey the rules.
💬 In summary:
Bologna is a city that should be explored on foot. But when you get tired, bicycle or bus alternatives are always ready to carry you.
🛫 From the Airport to the City
Once you land in Bologna, it’s quite easy to get to the city center.
There are two main ways to get from Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport to the city center: one is fast but expensive, and the other is cheaper but a bit slower. Which one you choose will depend on your travel style and the weight of your luggage.
🚈 Marconi Express (Monorail) – Fast but expensive
The Marconi Express travels from the airport to Bologna Centrale Train Station in just 7 minutes.
It’s a fully automatic, stylish, and quiet system. But it’s a bit expensive:
💶 One way: €12.80 | Round trip: €23.30
🔁 Trains depart every 7 minutes.
⏰ First departure: 05:40 – Last departure: 00:00
🎟️ How to buy a ticket?
- From the machines at the airport
- Or you can pass directly by swiping your card at the turnstile
💡 It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Bologna Centrale station to the city center.
🚌 Number 944 – Cheap but a little slower
If you have a little more time and want to stay on budget, TPER’s bus number 944 will take you to the center.
First stop by bus: Ospedale Maggiore
💶 One-way ticket: €4 (valid on other buses within 75 minutes)
🕒 Departures: Every 20 minutes
🚌 Duration: Approximately 10–15 minutes
📍 After getting off at Ospedale Maggiore, you can use the following lines to get to the city center:
→ Buses 18, 19, 35, 38, or 39
🎟️ How to get a ticket?
- By scanning your contactless card on the green device inside the bus
- Or with the “Roger” or “Muver” mobile applications
💡 It takes about 30–40 minutes to reach the city center with this method.
🎯 Which method should you choose?
- If time is valuable to you → Marconi Express
- If you have an extra 30 minutes → You can easily reach by bus 944
🚆 Day Trips from Bologna
The best way to change pace without changing the city: Day trips.
Bologna is a center that gains meaning not only on its own but also with the cities around it.
Italy’s train system is so advanced that you can have breakfast in one city in the morning, drink wine in another city in the evening, and sleep in Bologna again.
That’s what we did — we escaped to places like Modena, Verona, and Rimini for the day, then returned to the streets of Bologna in the evening. Do we recommend it? Absolutely yes.
🛤️ Train System
Italy's national train network, Trenitalia, and one of the private lines, Italo, connect Bologna to almost every corner of the country.
- High-speed trains (Frecciarossa / Italo): very comfortable
- Regional trains (Regionale): a bit slow but cheap
🎟️ For tickets:
- Trenitalia.com or Italo.it
- Ticket booths in Bologna Centrale
💡 It's cheaper if you buy your tickets early. Sometimes, regional trains don't require a reservation in advance, but high-speed trains can run out of seats.
🏛️ Modena
- Duration: 25–35 minutes (Regionale train)
- Ticket: €4.35
- Why to go?
o Aceto Balsamico (aged original vinegar)
o Ferrari Museum
o UNESCO Heritage Cathedral
o The quiet but refined atmosphere of the city
💡 It is ideal to go early in the morning and return to Bologna in the afternoon.
🎭 Verona
- Duration: 1 hour – 1 hour 25 minutes (Regionale or Frecciarossa)
- Ticket: €9.45 – €15 (depending on the type of train)
- Why to go?
o Romeo & Juliet’s balcony
o Arena di Verona (the most intact amphitheater after Rome)
o Views of the Adige River
💡 If you are going in the summer, watching an open-air opera in the evening would be amazing. But a day trip is satisfying even with just walking and eating.
🌊 Rimini
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Ticket: €7.15 – €10
- Why to go?
o Wide beaches on the Adriatic coast
o Fellini’s hometown
o Historic bridges and street art
💡 Perfect to lighten up the day with the sea air. If you’ve been walking around Bologna a lot, Rimini feels like a “breath of fresh air”.
🔁 Combination Idea
Modena in the morning + Bologna in the evening
- Balsamic & market tour in the morning
- Return by train after lunch
- Wine and streets in Bologna in the evening
💡 Modena is the most flexible getaway as it’s only 25 minutes away.
🧭 Quick Tips
- Don’t forget to validate your ticket on the trains as soon as you board (green machines!)
- Tickets can sell out on weekends — it’s best to buy in advance
- If you’re planning an Interrail or multiple trips, Bologna can be the ideal base
