Where to stay

in Bologna

Visit Bologna

Beautiful Bologna is one of Italy's jewels for food, fashion, art, and culture. Home to Europe's oldest university, founded in 1088, this lively city is kept contemporary by a student crowd contrasting with its Roman roots. Choices for accommodations include grand hotels with fine-dining restaurants, familiar international chains for business travelers near the BolognaFiere exhibition centers, and budget hostels in student neighborhoods near the central train station. Spend days walking the historic neighborhoods of the walled city center, shopping for the best food specialties in tiny lanes off central Piazza Maggiore, or strolling in the shade of the famous arched walkways known as "porticoes." A great designer shopping outlet is only a 1-hour drive from the city center. With all these features, no matter where you stay, this city is captivating.

Where to Stay for Culture

Consider accommodations in Borgo Panigale, just east of the city, for tours of the Ducati Museum. The Bologna City Centre is the prime location for baroque, gothic and medieval architecture. Some hotels are close to the Archeological Museum and Piazza Maggiore, while the MAMbo Museum, near Bologna Centrale train station, is a must-see for modern art. Book rooms in Piazza Verdi, the center of Bologna's university area, which holds a beautiful 18th-century opera house in a city known for its classical music. Alternatively, accommodations in the Santo Stefano neighborhood, centered on Piazza Santo Stefano, are ideal for discovering the basilicas of the area known as Sette Chiese ("Seven Churches").

Historic Center

Historic Center is known for its popular shops, and you can see some sights in the area like Via Indipendenza and Cattedrale di San Pietro.

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Santo Stefano

Santo Stefano is known for its charming coffeehouses, and you can make a stop by Basilica of San Domenico and Teatro Duse while in the area.

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Palazzo Comunale featuring heritage architecture and a square or plaza

Recommended hotels in Santo Stefano

Borgo Panigale

Restaurants and shopping are notable features of Borgo Panigale. You might consider a stop by Piscina Cavina while you're exploring the neighborhood.

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Recommended hotels in Borgo Panigale

Great Places for Shopping

For great window-shopping, the 16th-century L'antico Ghetto Ebraico (Jewish Ghetto) has artisan workshops with textiles and arts, as well as plenty of hotel rooms. Stay here for an easy stroll around an area full of colorful houses and hidden canals. Consider staying in accommodations near Piazza dell'Otto Agosto to buy vintage goods from the big flea market held on the square every weekend. Stay in the Bologna City Centre to walk to the luxurious stores on Via Farini, with the finest designer labels, including Italian favorites: Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Furla.

L'antico Ghetto Ebraico

You'll enjoy the museums and shopping in L'antico Ghetto Ebraico. You might want to make time for a stop at Via Zamboni or Jewish Museum.

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Historic Center

Historic Center is known for its popular shops, and you can see some sights in the area like Via Indipendenza and Cattedrale di San Pietro.

Stay here

More about Historic Center

Recommended hotels in Historic Center

Best Neighborhoods for Food

Bologna people love their food. The city even has a museum devoted to gelato, not far from hotels in Borgo Panigale. Consider accommodations in Eastern Bologna for one of the world's largest food parks at FICO Eataly World, 20 minutes by shuttle bus from Bologna Centrale train station. Stay in hotels in the popular neighborhood of L'antico Ghetto Ebraico for tiny bakeries and artisan shops along colorful streets filled with character. Alternatively, choose a room near the indoor market of Mercato delle Erbe in the Bologna City Centre to enjoy the café culture of this great neighborhood. Step into the narrow alleys of the Quadrilatero off Piazza Maggiore, an atmospheric area around the old medieval market. Shop at independent stores selling handmade pasta, mortadella, and salamis.