How much does it cost to travel to Bologna?
You should plan to spend around $173 (€159) per day on your vacation in Bologna. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $43 (€39) on meals
- $22 (€21) on local transportation
- $188 (€173) on hotels
A one week trip to Bologna for two people costs, on average, $2,420 (€2,226). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Bologna has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Bologna expensive to visit?
Prices in Bologna are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Bologna is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Lanzarote or Lindau.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Bologna Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Bologna?
The average Bologna trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Bologna travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€173
($188)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€21
($22)
|
|
Food 2
|
€39
($43)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
€38
($41)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
€14 -
42
($15 - 46)
|
Accommodation Budget in Bologna
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Bologna is $94 (€87). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Bologna is $188 (€173). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Bologna? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Bologna
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Bologna is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 (€21) per person, per day, on local transportation in Bologna.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$22
€21
How much does it cost to go to Bologna? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Bologna will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Bologna
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Bologna can vary, the average cost of food in Bologna is $43 (€39) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Bologna should cost around $17 (€16) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Bologna is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$43
€39
Entertainment Budget in Bologna
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Bologna typically cost an average of $41 (€38) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$41
€38
Typical prices for Entertainment in Bologna are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Bologna, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
-
Food Tour (for 2)
€31
-
Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)
€115
-
Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour (for 2)
€67
-
National Gallery Museum Bologna (for 2)
€12
-
Archaeology Museum of Bologna (for 2)
€12
Alcohol Budget in Bologna
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $31 (€28) on alcoholic beverages in Bologna per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$31
€28
Water Budget in Bologna
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $2.72 (€2.50) on bottled water in Bologna per day. The public water in Bologna is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$2.72
€2.50
Last Updated: Nov 29, 2023
Bologna On a Budget
Bologna, Italy
Bologna is the capital city of the northern region of Italy, Emilia-Romagna, with a population of 380,000. It is a historical city known well by Italians, however, not as well known among foreigners. The locals of Bologna speak little to no English. The city is most known for having the oldest university in the West. Another reason many visit this city is because of its exquisite cuisine. Many Italians would consider it one of the most beautiful cities in the entire country because of its impeccably preserved historic centers. The best time to visit Bologna is usually between March and October, although bare in mind that July and August can get quite hot.
Sights
Museums are plentiful in the city of Bologna. If you wish to see several of these museums, it is wise to buy a museum card. This grants you access to the main museums and gets you a discount at some of the smaller museums around the city. It costs six euros for one day or eight euros for three days. You can purchase this card at a museum or an information office.
The Archaeological Museum is one of the main museums, housed in an old hospital building, with exhibits ranging from Egyptian civilization to historic Roman times. If you wish to take a break from the historical aspects of Bologna, visit the Gallery of Modern Art of Bologna, located at Don Giovanni Minzoni 14. Within the University, which is a sight in itself, are multiple small museums that are interesting to visit.
Piazza Maggiore is the large square located in the old city center where you can see prominent buildings like the Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo del Podesta, and the City Hall building. For a view of Bologna from above, the Tower of the Asinalli is the best place to go. It is three hundred and thirty feet tall and has four hundred and ninety eight steps to get all the way up to the top.
If you wish to see beautiful parks and gardens, visit Giardini Margherita, Orto Botanico, or Parco Cavaioni. These are all beautiful gardens and parks with meadows, lakes, various plant species and gorgeous views.
Neighborhoods
As stated before, Bologna is part of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. There are many towns nearby that are great places for taking the train and spending the day. Ferrara is one of the cities and its historical center has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rimini is another town nearby that is great for spending the day at the beach.
Activities
Bologna is known for its food, so spending a day learning to cook would be a great activity while visiting. Cook Italy is located in the city center and offers cooking classes with menus that can be customized to your liking.
There are many events and festivals that happen in Bologna. A film festival takes place in July in the Piazza Maggiore Square. Around October, you can catch the Motor Show Bologna that showcases rare automobiles of Italy. There are also a few car museums in town as well (Ducati Museum, Lamborghini Museum, and Ferrari Museum). Music is another big part of Bologna culture, it is known to many Italians as a hub for alternative, electronic, and rock music. The Estragon and the Link usually have concerts or festivals.
Food and Dining
Known as the food capital of Italy, it can be hard to decide where to eat, as there are so many options. Proper Italian food usually consists of pizza and pasta with delicious meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Trattoria Del Rosso is a wonderful place to try as it serves many traditional dishes of Bologna. Enoteca Italiana has been voted the best in Italy for sandwiches and wine. For a laid back, home style meal head to Da Gianni. For more of an upscale meal and beautiful terrace to sit on, Zanarini is your best option.
Transportation
The closest airport to Bologna is Guglielmo Marconi International Airport, which is only a few minutes away from the city center. From the airport, you can take a taxi for about fifteen euros or you can take the Aerobus for six euros. You can also take a train to Bologna from the other major cities in Italy and outside of Italy.
Getting around the city is best done on foot or bike. The signage in the city is very clear, making it easy to navigate. There are bike trails on the side of the road as well, which is ideal, as sometimes the streets can get crowded with scooters.
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We've been gathering travel cost data from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of destinations around the world.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.