The 13 best hotels in Bologna Italy
Bologna was next on my trip after Florence, and we spent a few nights there. It is not very well known, like some of the more famous places, such as Rome and Venice. However, I had some of the best pasta I have ever eaten in my life there. So before I went, I planned to find the best hotels in Bologna to stay at. Hopefully, you will be able to find somewhere for yourself, too.
No time to read? Here are the 3 best hotels in Bologna Italy
| Hotel | What makes it different |
|---|---|
| Grand Hotel Majestic Già Baglioni | 5 star hotel in Bologna |
| Albergo Rossini 1936 | One of the best luxury hotels in Bologna |
| Aemilia Hotel Bologna | Perfect Bologna Hotel for families |
How we select the best hotels in Bologna
So how do we actually select the best hotels in Bologna? Well, firstly, we have family in Rome, so very close by, and they have been to Bologna quite a few times. They recommended quite a few of the hotels in Bologna. We also did a lot of research and we liked those properties near the Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and all sorts of museums.
From there we looked at a lot of other reviews, checking whether the rooms were comfortable and whether they had restaurants or other types of amenities. We also looked for the best places to stay in Bologna, Italy that had a lot of history. So there might have been old converted post offices or palaces, really soaking up the city culture.
Best areas to stay in Bologna
In terms of where to stay in Bologna, this was something quite important to us. Bologna is very well known for being a university town, so we did not want to stay near the noisy areas. Here is a little breakdown of the areas.
Centro Storico (Historic Center)
The Centro Storrico is the historic centre. Here you will be quite close to Piazza Maggiore and the two towers. It is a little bit busier at night, so it is good for those who want to be going out sightseeing and staying close to the hotel.
Best for: Siteseeing and being close to your hotel, very good for families.
University District
The university district is to the northeast of the city, near the University of Bologna. There are lots of really cool cafes, bars, and restaurants. I had some great coffees there. Because it is a little bit more lively, you do get some great aperitivo areas at a good price around that area.
Best for: It's great for those who enjoy a vibrant nightlife, and don't mind a bit of noise.
Bologna Central Station Area
This is great for those arriving by train. It is a little bit quieter because it is not right in the city, but if you are heading into town to get to the city centre, it is only about a 10 to 15-minute walk. Bologna is quite a small town, to be honest.
Best for: If your staying for a few nights and heading out by train, to get into the centre city it is around 10-15 minute walk.
Santo Stefano
This neighbourhood is a lot quieter. It is in the southeast of the town, and it is known for its basilica complex and really nice streets. It is a lot quieter, but it still only takes about 10 minutes to get into town.
Best for: Those with families, or those that want a good nights sleep and don't mind a bit of a walk.
Bolognina
This area is just north of the station, so it takes an extra five to ten minutes, depending on where in that area you are staying. This is more of a local area. You get a lot of local restaurants, and the prices are much more affordable.
Best for: Those looking for a more affordable stay don't mind a walk to see the tourist sites. Also you will find some very authentic restaurants around here.
A map of the best hotels in Bologna Italy
I also made a map of the best hotels in Bologna and where they are in the areas around town.
Luxury Hotels in Bologna Italy
Now, in terms of where to start, I am going to begin with the luxury hotels in Bologna. Here we were looking for four and five-star places. It was actually hard to find five-star hotels because it is a university town. They tended to be more like Airbnbs or four-star properties. When we were looking, we tried to find four or five stars near the Piazza Maggiore. A lot of places in Italy have marble bathrooms, so that was something we were looking for in luxury hotels in Bologna, Italy.
Grand Hotel Majestic Già Baglioni
This is actually one of the best hotels in Bologna. It is five star, so I finally found a five-star hotel there. The rooms are very traditional but also very modern and comfortable. Think really, really comfortable. They have marble bathrooms with city views. They also have their own restaurant and a lounge bar nearby. To relax, there is a spa area where you can get treatments and also a gym.
What makes it unique? It has to be the hotel rooftop garden terrace, which overlooks the two towers and also the red tile rooftops of Bologna. Really, really good views.
My favourite room is the Deluxe Venetian room, which comes with a double bed and a bathroom with Carrara marble. In terms of location, it is in the centre of Bologna and very close to Piazza Maggiore, with about a 10-minute walk to the university.
Find out more information and check the prices for Grand Hotel Majestic Già Baglioni.
Albergo Rossini 1936
This hotel as soon as you walk in, you can see how luxurious it is. Its cozy, and last time I went had a very nice complimentary breakfast.
The rooms here are very comfortable. They have soundproofing, which I really liked, and very well-decorated rooms. The standout in the room was the blackout blinds. It is very close to the university and Archiginnasio library.
Find out more information and check the prices for Albergo Rossini 1936.
The Royal Hotel Carlton
Something a little bit more renovated is the Royal Hotel Carlton. I really like the rooms. Very modern and very comfortable. Some of the rooms even have a balcony or a Jacuzzi, which is pretty cool.
They also have a pool and the Monrif Spa for treatments. On top of that, they have a gym. Because of all this, it is one of the best luxury hotels in Bologna.
Find out more information and check the prices for The Royal Hotel Carlton.
Art Hotel Orologio
This is on the Piazza Maggiore, right opposite the Palazzo Comunale city hall. What I love about this is that it was actually a 19th century building that was then converted into a hotel in 1914.
The rooms are all a little bit different. It has a classic Italian style, but it is modern. Most of the rooms have some really cool views of the landmarks around. They also have parking for cars, which I appreciated. And for families, they offer babysitting.
Check out the prices & availability for Art Hotel Orologio.
Top boutique hotels in Bologna
Luxury is nice, but sometimes you want something a little bit smaller. You usually get a lot better service in the boutique hotels in Bologna because they are smaller. They know you by name. Sometimes they even research you beforehand, which is quite funny.
Hotel Corona d'Oro
To start off with, the best boutique hotels in Bologna are the Hotel Corona d'Oro. It is very close to Piazza Maggiore.
What is different here is that the hotel has a really stylish bar for cocktails, but they also have a Turkish bath, a gym, and a library. They have a really nice, quiet courtyard as well that you can just stroll around in.
The rooms are very comfortable, very modern, and large. For breakfast, they have a breakfast room under a 15th-century vaulted ceiling, which is quite cool.
Find out more information and check the prices for Hotel Corona d'Oro.
Hotel Brun
I like this one because of the views, and it is tucked away on a really quiet street in Bologna. The rooms are very spacious, very clean, and simple. My favourite is the deluxe double room. They told me the mattress has a memory foam topper and the duvet is goose down.
That was just absolutely luxurious when I stayed there. It was one of the best boutique hotels in Bologna.
Find out more information and check the prices for Hotel Brun Boutique Hotel.
Art Hotel Commercianti
If you are looking for a boutique hotel in Bologna that is a little bit different, there is the Art Hotel Commercianti. What I liked about this was the different colours. All the rooms are decorated with artwork from local painters, and they have photographs of the city, which is really quite cool.
They also have a bar and lounge where they play classical music, which is very nice when you are coming home after a long day. My favourite was the deluxe double room that had a terrace looking at the Basilica di San Petronio. It also had a marble bathroom.
Tip: If traveling with a baby request the room with a bathtub.
Find out more information and check the prices for Art Hotel Commercianti.
The best hotels in Bologna for families
Sometimes you forget about the little things when you are looking at the best hotels in Bologna and travelling with family, such as babysitting services, cribs, and amenities. I really looked into these details.
Aemilia Hotel Bologna
This is just east of the university district, so it is outside the actual city itself, which means it tends to be a bit quieter.
There is a wide range of rooms. Some of them are very big, and some have sofa beds and video games, which is quite good for kids. It is just a short walk of about 15 minutes to the centre of town.
Find out more information and check the prices for Aemilia Hotel Bologna.
Hotel Internazionale
If you are only staying for a night or two, next to the train station is the Hotel Internazionale. They have a whole load of rooms catered for families.
The double rooms are very big so you can put a lot of stuff down. Some of the rooms, like the deluxe double, are eco-friendly and have non-allergenic wall coverings.
They also have a large tub, and you can request cribs for free. Great for the family.
Tip: Cribs are free so request this in the booking and not all rooms have the large tub so also request this.
Find out more information and check the prices for Hotel Internazionale.
Hotel Metropolitan
If you are looking for something a little bit sleeker, one of the best hotels in Bologna for families is the Hotel Metropolitan. It is just to the north of the city centre.
The rooms are very, very large. I could see room for a crib in there. They have very big bathrooms with fine marble. They also have a massive breakfast buffet, which is great when you are travelling with a family. A good place to stay.
Find out more information and check the prices for Hotel Metropolitan.
Cheaper hotels in Bologna
Now I am going to go to some of the best hotels in Bologna that are a little bit cheaper. Sometimes you want to save a bit of money. Some of my friends who travelled through wanted to save their money for other towns. There were actually quite a lot of cheaper hotels in Bologna because it is a university district. As I said, there is only a handful of five star hotels in Bologna. You might also want to check out our tips on how to save money on a trip.
Phi Hotel Bologna
This has everything you need. Air conditioning, a king-sized bed, and some of the bathrooms even have a bathtub. It is very well priced and it is right in the centre of Bologna.
Phi hotel also has a stylist lounge to relax at and close to the Piazza Maggiore.
Find out more information and check the prices for Phi Hotel Bologna.
Hotel Porta San Mamolo
If you are looking for something a little bit bigger, there is the Hotel Porta San Mamolo. That is to the south or west of the city, so a bit of a quieter area and near some of the classic restaurants.
What I like about this is that it is a renovated property but you still get some of the old feel to it. You can actually see exposed wood beams, and that was pretty cool. It is a bit of a mix.
Find out more information and check the prices for Hotel Porta San Mamolo.
Il Convento dei Fiori di Seta
If you want to try something a little bit different, there is Il Convento dei Fiori di Seta. This was actually a 14th century convent right next to the Piazza Maggiore.
The convent is known as the convent of silk flowers, as they used to grow silk there.
The bedrooms have been converted and they look very, very comfortable. They also have a spa and Turkish baths. So a lot of history, but also things to do, and the price is pretty reasonable.
Find out more information and check the prices for Il Convento dei Fiori di Seta.
I hope you managed to find your place to stay in one of the best hotels in Bologna. If you have been to the town and stayed anywhere else, please drop a comment below so I can share it with my readers.
The best hotels in Bologna FAQ's
What are the best hotels in Bologna city centre?
The best hotels in Bologna city centre would have to be the Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni, the Royal Hotel Carlton, the Art Hotel Orologio, Hotel Brun, and the Hotel Corona d'Oro.
What are the best hotels in Bologna old town?
The best hotels in Bologna old town would be the Hotel Corona d'Oro, Hotel Brun, and the Art Hotel Commercianti.
What are the best 4 star hotels in Bologna, Italy?
In terms of 4 star hotels in Bologna, Italy, there are actually quite a few. You have the Art Hotel Orologio, the Hotel Corona d'Oro, and one of my favourites, the Hotel Porta San Mamolo.
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