Where to Stay in Bologna, Italy
Are you wondering where to stay in Bologna, Italy? Read on for my top picks for the best hotels!
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. While it’s often overshadowed by more popular Italian cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, Bologna is a destination that’s worth visiting.
It’s a bit underrated, making it perfect for travelers who are looking to escape the tourist crowds in Italy. But there’s still plenty to do in Bologna, as well as several great day trips you can take. (Visiting the micronation of San Marino was a major highlight for me, and one of the main reasons I came to Bologna!)
Bologna is known as one of the food capitals of Italy. It’s foodie heaven if you love meat, cheese, and pasta. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the cuisine in Bologna, after a bad dinner on my first evening there, followed by a stop at a popular gelato shop that ended up being even worse.
However, I’m definitely in the minority there, and many people love the food in Bologna.
Bologna is a very lively city, being home to the oldest university in Italy — and all of the world! It’s very vibrant in the evenings, with people going out to dinner and meeting with friends until late at night.
You can easily spend several days here. I’d recommend two full days for visiting Bologna itself, and then another day or two if you want to take day trips around the Emilia-Romagna region or beyond.
Best Hotels in Bologna
So where should you stay in Bologna? I recommend staying somewhere between the train station and the historic center. You’ll most likely be arriving in Bologna via the train station if you’re coming from somewhere else in Italy, and it’s located a 20-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore in the historic center.
It’s a direct walk down the Via dell’Indipendenza, a long street lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes that becomes pedestrianized as you get closer to the historic center. If you find a hotel along this route, you’ll be able to easily walk there from the train station and get into the historic center quickly as well.
I personally stayed at the NH Bologna de la Gare. This hotel was five minutes from the train station and 15 minutes from Piazza Maggiore and the rest of Bologna’s historic center. The hotel is no-frills and pretty bland, but also clean and comfortable. Overall, it’s an affordable place to stay in a convenient location.
However, I researched many other hotels in Bologna, and I’ve rounded up the best options below.
Here are my top picks for where to stay in Bologna, Italy:
- Best luxury hotel: Grand Hotel Majestic gia’ Baglioni
- Best mid-range hotel: Hotel Cavour
- Best budget-friendly hotel: NH Bologna de la Gare
And here’s a full breakdown of the best places to stay in Bologna:
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Grand Hotel Majestic gia’ Baglioni
Grand Hotel Majestic gia’ Baglioni is the best place to stay in Bologna if you’re looking for a luxury hotel. This is the only true five-star hotel in the city, and it’s situated in an opulent 18th-century palazzo. It’s located just steps away from the Piazza Maggiore, the main square in Bologna’s historic center.
The rooms at this hotel blend antique charm with modern comforts, and there’s a small spa with a sauna and a Turkish bath where guests can relax after a busy day of sightseeing. The central location of this hotel in the heart of Bologna makes it the ideal base for exploring all that the city has to offer.
I Portici Hotel Bologna
If you’re looking for a nice hotel in Bologna that isn’t quite as pricey as the previous one, I Portici Hotel Bologna is a great option. This luxury boutique hotel is located in a 19th-century Art Nouveau palazzo. It’s situated on the Via dell’Indipendenza, ten minutes from the train station and ten minutes from the center.
The rooms at this hotel are elegant and tastefully appointed, offering a peaceful oasis in the city. The hotel is also home to Ristorante I Portici, a Michelin-starred restaurant that is one of Bologna’s best.
Hotel Metropolitan
Hotel Metropolitan is a lovely four-star hotel in Bologna that offers excellent value for money. This chic, upscale hotel is just five minutes from Piazza Maggiore and 15 minutes from the train station.
Some of the rooms here feature private terraces, and there’s also a fifth-floor rooftop terrace where you can enjoy breakfast, a coffee, or simply relax and take in the views of the historic city around you.
NH Bologna de la Gare
As I mentioned above, NH Bologna de la Gare is where I stayed for three nights in Bologna. This hotel is extremely convenient to the train station (just a five-minute walk), but you can also easily get to the historic center of Bologna by taking a leisurely 15-minute stroll along the Via dell’Indipendenza.
While this hotel won’t be winning any awards for design or amenities, it was a perfectly nice place to sleep for a few nights. It was also very affordable, and I really appreciated the convenient location.
Mercure Bologna Centro
Another good option for where to stay if you want to be really close to the train station is the Mercure Bologna Centro. It’s literally steps away from the train station, and about 20 minutes to the center.
Despite its proximity to the train station, reviews say that this hotel is very quiet (which is important if you’re like me and sensitive to noise!) The rooms here are pretty simple, but they’re clean and modern.
Hotel Internazionale
Hotel Internazionale is another one of the best hotels in Bologna. Located along the Via dell’Indipendenza, this hotel is equidistant to the train station and the historic heart of the city. You can get to the train station in ten minutes, and Piazza Maggiore and the rest of Bologna’s historic center in ten minutes.
The rooms here are furnished in an elegant, traditional style. There’s a lovely central courtyard where guests can relax. If you want a quiet room, be sure to request one facing the courtyard, not the street.
Zanhotel Regina
Zanhotel Regina is another good place to stay in Bologna if you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel. This comfortable three-star hotel is ten minutes from the train station and ten minutes from the center.
It’s a great place to stay if you want to be in a convenient location for exploring the city. The rooms here are comfortable and clean, and a free breakfast buffet is included each morning of your stay.
Hotel Cavour
If you’re looking for a hotel that is in the historic center of Bologna, Hotel Cavour is an excellent option. This boutique hotel is just five minutes from the Piazza Maggiore and the rest of Bologna’s historic streets. It’s a bit further away from the train station, but you can get there in under 20 minutes.
This hotel offers cozy rooms with historic charm, and a convenient base for exploring all that Bologna has to offer. A buffet breakfast is included each morning, which is a nice perk of staying here.
Art Hotel Commercianti
Finally, one of the best hotels in Bologna is Art Hotel Commercianti. This one is the furthest from the train station (25 minutes), but you are right in the midst of the historic center. You have dozens of incredible restaurants right at your doorstep, as well as museums, churches, and other tourist attractions.
The rooms here are cozy, and many feature original period details like exposed wooden beams. A free buffet breakfast is offered, and free bike rentals are available. This is a great way to explore Bologna, especially if you want to visit an attraction further away, like the hilltop Santuario Madonna di San Luca.
Where to Stay in Bologna, Italy
This guide showed you where to stay in Bologna, Italy.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best luxury hotel: Grand Hotel Majestic gia’ Baglioni
- Best mid-range hotel: Hotel Cavour
- Best budget-friendly hotel: NH Bologna de la Gare
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in Bologna!
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