315. Bologna, Italy
Why Bologna, Italy
This city is old and charming. It seems like a lot is going on when you arrive and that’s cause there is. It has a lot of historical things to explore and where they can, they’ve preserved the old city walls. Plus there are towers and arches everywhere so look up as well. Make Bologna the destination the next time you’re in the northern part of Italy. Welcome to Bologna.
Bologna, Italy
Where
Bologna is located in northern part of Italy, due north of Florence and northwest of San Marino and Rimini. It is located in the Emilia-Romagna region.
How To Get Here
By Train
There is train service to the Bologna Centrale station. Trenitalia, the national train service, offers service to/from Bologna all over Italy. You can also book your ticket at Rail Europe as well as ItaliaRail. Service is also provided by NTV (.italo) to select destinations within Italy.
Bologna, Italy – Train station
By Plane
The closest major airport to Bologna is the Bologna Airport, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ).
You may also use the Florence Airport, Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (FLR) or the Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI) in Rimini.
The following airlines has service to the Bologna International Airport (BLQ):
Air Dolomiti (EN) Airlinair (A5), Aegean Airlines (A3), Aer Lingus (EI), Aeroflot (SU), Air Arabia Maroc (3O), Air Cairo (SM), Air France (AF), Air Moldova (9U), Air Serbia (JU), Alitalia (AZ), AlMasria Airlines (UJ), American Airlines (AA), Austrian Airlines (OS), Blue Air (0B), Blue Panorama (BV), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Czech Airlines (OK), EasyJet Airlines (U2), Emirates (EK), Ernest Airlines (EG), Eurowings (EW), Finnair (AY), Georgian Airways (A9), Iberia Airlines (IB), Jetairfly (TB), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Lauda Motion (OE), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Meridiana Airlines (IG), Neos Air (NO), Nouvelair (BJ), Pegasus Airlines (PC), Royal Air Morac (AT), Ryanair (FR), SAS (SK), TAP Portugal (TP), Transavia (HV), Tunisair (TU), Turkish Airlines (TK), Ukraine International (PS), Vueling (VY) and Wizz Air (W6).
The following airlines has service to Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (FLR):
Air Dolomiti (EN), Aerocondor (2B), Air France (AF), Air Moldova (9U), Alitalia (AZ), Austrian Airlines (OS), Blue Air (0B), Blue Panorama (BV), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Ernest Airlines (EG), Eurowings (EW), Iberia Airlines (IB), Jetairfly (TB), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), SAS (SK), Swiss Airlines (LX), TAP Portugal (TP) and Vueling (VY).
The following airlines has service to Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI):
Aeroflot (SU), AEROCONDOR (2B), Blue Panorama (BV), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Luxair (LG), Neos Air (NO), Pobeda (DP), Ryanair (FR), SkyUp Airlines (PQ), Ural Airlines (U6).
By Bus
There is a large bus station in Bologna (Stazione Autolinee), near the Bologna Centrale station. There are several bus companies including Flixbus providing service.
Bologna, Italy – bus station
By Car
If you are already in Europe you can take the drive. Just use a service like Google Maps for directions.
By Ferry
No.
Where To Stay
Bologna, has a wide array of hotels across all the spectrums. With big names such as Accor (Mercure), NH, Marriott, Best Western, IHG, etc. Not all are in the city center so use location as a determination. There is adequate transportation in and around the region though so you will have no issues.
I stayed at the Mercure after looking at different pricing options.
Bologna, Italy – Mercure Hotel
Bologna, Italy – Star Hotel Excelsior
==>> You can find a list of hotels from TripAdvisor here.
==>> Try Airbnb.
Where To Eat
Food is not an issue here at all, as there are many places to have food. Either at a sit down restaurant or fast food. The larger fast food chains have restaurants here as well as local places to grab a slice of pizza or pastry on the go.
Bologna, Italy – food
Bologna, Italy – Pizza Leggera
==>> You can find a list of restaurants from TripAdvisor here.
What To Do
Every corner you turn in the city, there’s something new to see. The streets are very wide is perhaps the first thing you will notice. Plus the very old magnificent buildings.
The Piazzas are also very huge and wide especially the main one Piazza Maggiore where you can see the San Petronio Basilica.
Bologna, Italy – San Petronio Basilica
It is the location of the oldest university in Europe, University of Bologna so this adds to its vibrancy. The university dates back to 1088.
Bologna, Italy – Street at night
Near the train station is the Parco della Montagnola an amazing place that does take your breath away.
Bologna, Italy – Parco della Montagnola
Bologna, Italy – Parco della Montagnola
If you have additional time and love cars, check out the Lamborghini museum although not in the center of Bologna; it’s about an hour’s drive away. It’s closer to the town of Moderna.
The Bologna Welcome Web site is a good place to start on what to do in this fine city.
==>> Here is a list of things to do from Trip Advisor.
==>> Here is a list of Tour offered by Viator.
Additional Information
Language: Italian
Currency: Euros (EUR)
