Hotels in Bologna

Hotels in Bologna: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Bologna for less

Bologna is cheapest in winter. December is usually the bottom of the market, about 35 percent below the rest of the year, despite the Christmas markets in the old town. September is the priciest, in the thick of the Fiera trade-fair season, when rates can be more than double those of December. Summer can be costly around concerts at the Stadio Dall'Ara and hot, with temperatures above 30 degrees. The day of the week matters too, though in Bologna midweek usually works out cheaper than a weekend with a big event. For a regular trip, book at least a month ahead, as rooms in the centre climb quickly close to the date.

What a stay costs by property type

Bologna has a wide spread of prices, so a hostel bed and a family apartment are worlds apart. The cheapest sleep is in one and two-star places and in rooms near the station; you pay the most for five stars by Piazza Maggiore. Below are indicative nightly rates.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

Most people look for a room in the old town, near Piazza Maggiore and Bologna Centrale station, from where the Marconi Express reaches the airport in minutes. The area right by the station is usually the cheapest, on average about a fifth below the city average. Rooms by Piazza Maggiore and in the very centre cost a little more, but put most sights within a walk under the porticoes. Below are indicative prices by distance from the centre.

Indicative rates for a double room, outside the September trade-fair peak. In Bologna the gap between a quiet December and a trade-fair September can be huge, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Which stay in Bologna suits whom

• First time in Bologna. The very centre by Piazza Maggiore is the easiest base. From here it is a few minutes to the Two Towers, the Basilica of San Petronio and Piazza Santo Stefano.
• For families. Hotels with family rooms near the centre and the Giardini Margherita park. Easy to mix sightseeing with a gelato break and a walk under the porticoes.
• For couples. Boutique places in the old town, close to the restaurants and wine bars around the Mercato di Mezzo. Everything is a short walk from here for dinner with local ragu.
• With breakfast. Many hotels in the centre include a buffet in the rate, which helps you set off early for sightseeing. Handy with a tight day plan.
• Near the airport. Hotels around Guglielmo Marconi suit an early flight or a layover. The Marconi Express links the airport with the main station in minutes.
• Business travel. Hotels around the Fiera exhibition grounds and the station are close to the halls. In September book them early, as they go fastest in trade-fair season.

Example hotels in Bologna with prices

From a cheap room by the old town to five stars by Piazza Maggiore, a few Bologna names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in September and around concerts at the Stadio Dall'Ara.

From prices for a double room. In Bologna the same hotel can differ a lot between trade-fair season and the rest of the year, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Bologna costs more

The priciest dates are the Fiera di Bologna trade fairs, above all in September, when exhibitors and business guests fill the city. Spring draws the Bologna Children's Book Fair, autumn the Festa di San Petronio with parades and fireworks, and summer the concerts at the Stadio Dall'Ara. On these dates hotels in the centre go up and fill faster. The quietest and cheapest time is winter outside the holidays, when the markets, the food and the empty porticoes remain.