Bologna travel guide: where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Accommodation overview
Bologna's hotels range from the city's five-star Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni and a large choice of four-star hotels on Via dell'Indipendenza, around Piazza Maggiore and beside Bologna Centrale station, to three-star hotels in the university quarter, business hotels around the Bologna Fiera exhibition centre, airport hotels in Borgo Panigale, and hostels from about €25 (~$29) a bed. The historic centre is compact and arcaded, so staying inside the old town makes sights and restaurants walkable, while Fiera-district hotels are cheaper outside trade-fair weeks. Bologna charges a per-person nightly tourist tax set by room price.
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Albergo Garisenda
Two-star hotel in the Galleria del Leone off Via Rizzoli, by the Two Towers.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Panorama
One-star hotel with rooms of about 30 m2 in the centre, off Via dell'Indipendenza.
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One-star hotel on Via Palmieri near the Sant'Orsola hospital complex.
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Hostel with dorm beds on Via Irnerio, near the university quarter.
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Youth hostel about 5.9 km from the city centre, listed with 35 guest rooms.
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I Portici Hotel Bologna
Design-led hotel on Via dell'Indipendenza that houses the one-Michelin-star restaurant I Portici.
Check rates on Booking.comStarhotels Excelsior Bologna
Chain four-star beside the central station with a fitness room, bar and restaurant.
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Four-star hotel near the station with a sauna, fitness room and private park.
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Chain four-star hotel on Piazza XX Settembre next to the station area.
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Four-star hotel near the station with rooms and suites, some with a Jacuzzi.
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Accor four-star hotel opposite Bologna Centrale railway station.
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Four-star hotel on Via dell'Indipendenza with a bar, private park and parking.
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Four-star Zanhotel on Via dell'Indipendenza with accessible rooms and a bar.
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Three-star Zanhotel on Via dell'Indipendenza with a bar and parking.
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Three-star hotel with 38 rooms including 4 junior suites on Via dell'Indipendenza.
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Four-star Zanhotel near the station with a restaurant and congress room.
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Three-star hotel on Via Boldrini close to the station with a restaurant and bar.
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Four-star hotel in the historic centre beside Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica di San Petronio.
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Four-star hotel on Via IV Novembre, steps from Piazza Maggiore.
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Boutique hotel on Piazza Galileo in the historic centre, part of the Bologna Art Hotels group.
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Four-star hotel on Via Oberdan, in a building dating from 1890, with a restaurant and bar.
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Four-star hotel on Via Santa Croce with a restaurant, bar and bicycles available.
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Four-star hotel on Via Zamboni in the university district.
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Three-star hotel on Via delle Moline in the university district.
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Three-star hotel with 28 rooms on Via delle Belle Arti, with bicycles available.
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Three-star hotel on Via Mentana in the university quarter.
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Three-star hotel on Via Bertiera with air conditioning and a bar.
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Three-star hotel on Via Goito with a private park.
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Three-star hotel on Vicolo Cattani in the old town, with accessible rooms.
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Three-star hotel with 21 rooms on Via Drapperie in the Quadrilatero food-market quarter.
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Four-star hotel with Classic, Urban, Gold and Diamond Suite room tiers, a terrace and a seasonal rooftop Jacuzzi (June to September).
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Ten-room four-star boutique hotel in a former convent, with a restaurant, bar and bicycles available.
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Three-star hotel on Strada Maggiore with a terrace.
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Four-star hotel on Via dell'Orso, with 5 suites (Corte degli Ulivi) and 10 apartments (MET'S Apartments).
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Three-star hotel near Via dell'Indipendenza with bicycles available.
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Four-star hotel in the centre near Piazza Maggiore with a restaurant and bicycles available.
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86-room four-star hotel on Via Massimo d'Azeglio, near Piazza Maggiore.
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Three-star hotel at the start of Via Riva di Reno, west of the centre.
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Three-star hotel on Via Mazzini with reserved parking.
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Three-star hotel on Via Massarenti with accessible rooms, a restaurant and breakfast room.
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Four-star hotel near the Sant'Orsola hospital area with a restaurant and hydromassage.
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Tall 18-floor four-star hotel with a fitness room, business centre and room service.
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Four-star hotel with executive rooms, junior suites and family rooms, an outdoor pool and a private tennis court.
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Three-star hotel on Via Stalingrado with hydromassage, a restaurant and a transfer service.
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Four-star hotel near the Fiera with a fitness room, solarium, terrace and restaurant.
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Four-star hotel in Bolognina with a restaurant, bar and private park.
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51-room four-star hotel with hydromassage and bicycles available.
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Three-star hotel in the Corticella district north of the centre.
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Three-star hotel with a restaurant and hydromassage in the Bolognina area.
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Four-star hotel with a restaurant, fitness room and transfer service.
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Four-star hotel with an outdoor pool, hydromassage, fitness room and private park.
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Four-star country-house hotel with an outdoor pool, fitness room and private park.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Sydney Hotel
Four-star hotel near the Fiera with an outdoor pool, fitness room and restaurant.
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66-room three-star hotel near the Fiera.
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139-room four-star hotel with Standard, Superior and Junior Suite rooms beside the Fiera.
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Chain four-star hotel next to the Fiera exhibition centre with a restaurant and private park.
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Three-star hotel in the north-east with a fitness room, private park and transfer service.
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38-room three-star hotel on Via Fratelli Rosselli with a private park.
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105-room four-star hotel with a restaurant and fitness room.
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Three-star hotel with a restaurant and transfer service.
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Three-star hotel with a restaurant and bar in the airport-side district.
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Four-star airport-area hotel with a restaurant and congress room.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Points Flex by Sheraton Bologna Airport
Four-star hotel in the airport district.
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Three-star hotel on Via Emilia Ponente with hydromassage and parking.
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108-room four-star hotel with an outdoor pool and terrace.
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Three-star hotel with a restaurant and transfer service in Lippo di Calderara di Reno, north-west of Bologna.
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95-room four-star hotel with a restaurant, terrace and transfer service in Calderara di Reno.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury
Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni
Five-star hotel on Via dell'Indipendenza with sauna, hydromassage and a fitness room, meals served on a terrace, and the restaurant I Carracci.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
City Center
The heart of Bologna with easy access to main attractions, restaurants, and transportation.
Best for: First-time visitors, short stays
Old Town
Traditional architecture and local character. Walking distance to historical sites and authentic dining.
Best for: Culture enthusiasts, photographers
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni
Five-star hotel on Via dell'Indipendenza with sauna, hydromassage and a fitness room, meals served on a terrace, and the restaurant I Carracci.
Check rates on Booking.comI Portici Hotel Bologna
Design-led hotel on Via dell'Indipendenza that houses the one-Michelin-star restaurant I Portici.
Check rates on Booking.comStarhotels Excelsior Bologna
Chain four-star beside the central station with a fitness room, bar and restaurant.
Check rates on Booking.comRoyal Hotel Carlton
Four-star hotel near the station with a sauna, fitness room and private park.
Check rates on Booking.comNH Bologna de la Gare
Chain four-star hotel on Piazza XX Settembre next to the station area.
Check rates on Booking.comUNA Hotels Bologna Centro
Four-star hotel near the station with rooms and suites, some with a Jacuzzi.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Book 2–3 months ahead for spring and autumn trade-fair weeks; Fiera-district hotels sell out first and prices climb sharply during fairs such as Cosmoprof (26–29 March 2026; 15–22 March 2027) and Cersaie (21–25 September 2026).
For a first visit, choose a hotel inside the ring of the old town (Centro Storico, Quadrilatero, University Quarter, Santo Stefano) so Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers and the main food streets are within a 10–15 minute walk.
Hotels near Via dell'Indipendenza and Bologna Centrale suit train travellers; the station is roughly a 15-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore along Via dell'Indipendenza.
The Marconi Express monorail runs between Bologna airport and Bologna Centrale in about 7 minutes, daily from 05:40 to midnight; a one-way ticket is about €12.80 (~$15) per the operator. Buy it on marconiexpress.it, in the Roger app, at vending machines, or tap in with a contactless card.
The Aerobus BLQ city bus is a cheaper airport link, listed at about €6 (~$7) one way with a 20–25 minute ride to the station; confirm the current fare and timetable at bologna-airport.it before travelling. A taxi from the airport to the centre is listed at roughly €25–35 (~$29–40).
Pay the city tourist tax at the front desk on arrival or departure and keep the receipt; the rate depends on the nightly room price (€4 to €7 / ~$5 to ~$8 per person per night in 2026).
Many central hotels sit in arcaded buildings with narrow entrances and lifts that fit few people; confirm luggage-lift access, breakfast hours and the arrival procedure with the hotel by phone before travelling.
Hotel price ranges in this guide are indicative bands by hotel category, not live rates; check the hotel's own website or call the number listed before booking.
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.