10 Best Hotels
Bologna is a city to explore under its porticoes, stopping for churches, markets and long meals along the way. Start around Piazza Maggiore, then follow the side streets into the university quarter or towards quieter neighbourhoods beyond the central sights. Fresh pasta is a compelling reason to visit, but the restaurants also offer inventive cooking and seafood from the Adriatic tradition. Reserve popular tables, leave time for lunch and use comfortable shoes for the walk to San Luca.
Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni
Bologna, Italy
The Grand Hotel Majestic offers Bologna’s most traditional version of a luxury hotel, with an eighteenth-century palazzo setting, ornate furnishings and richly decorated rooms. I Carracci restaurant adds a memorable frescoed dining room, while the central address makes it easy to explore on foot. Choose it for a stay with a strong sense of occasion and time to enjoy the building itself. Compare room categories carefully, as their styles and layouts are part of the experience.
A grand palazzo stay
Hotel Metropolitan
Bologna, Italy
The Metropolitan sits on a side street off Via Indipendenza, conveniently placed between the station and Piazza Maggiore. Its contemporary interiors provide a change from Bologna’s more ornate hotels, with a rooftop terrace adding appeal in warmer weather. Rooms, suites and separate apartments cater to different lengths of stay. Check whether you are booking in the main hotel or the nearby apartment building, and choose a larger category if spending plenty of time in the room.
Contemporary design and rooftop drinks
Casa Bertagni
Bologna, Italy
Casa Bertagni is a small guesthouse whose artistic interiors reflect the building’s history as a cultural meeting place. Each room has its own character and a name drawn from a virtue, giving the stay a personal feel. The university-quarter location is useful for exploring another side of Bologna beyond Piazza Maggiore. Choose your room for its particular design, discuss arrival arrangements in advance and take advantage of the hosts’ help with local visits and reservations.
An individual guesthouse near the university
Hotel Brun
Bologna, Italy
Hotel Brun occupies a former home on a small piazza near Piazza Maggiore, with interiors rebuilt around a calm, contemporary style. Its compact scale, carefully designed bedrooms and breakfast prepared to order make it appealing for a city break without grand-hotel formality. The bar provides a comfortable place to pause after sightseeing. Compare the room and suite layouts when booking, particularly if you would prefer more space or a view over Bologna’s rooftops.
A modern boutique base
Hotel Corona d’Oro
Bologna, Italy
Corona d’Oro combines a long history with a convenient address near Bologna’s Two Towers and Piazza Maggiore. Traditionally furnished rooms and elegant shared spaces suit visitors who enjoy a classic hotel atmosphere, while Casa Azzoguidi provides dining on site. The central location makes walking the simplest way to explore. Confirm your room’s layout and outlook when reserving, and request the hotel’s arrival instructions if driving into the city’s restricted central streets.
Historic elegance in the centre
Phi Hotel Bologna
Bologna, Italy
Phi Hotel Bologna stands just off Piazza Maggiore, with individually themed rooms created through collaborations with artists and illustrators. The result is a playful alternative to a conventional historic hotel, with each bedroom offering a different visual character. Atipico Osteria adds traditional Bolognese cooking on site, while nearby apartments provide another accommodation option. Look through the room photographs before choosing, and confirm whether your booking is in the hotel or a separate apartment.
Rooms with an artistic personality
Art Hotel Commercianti
Bologna, Italy
Art Hotel Commercianti occupies a historic building beside the Basilica of San Petronio, putting Bologna’s main square and museum sights close at hand. Vaulted ceilings, timber beams and individual room details preserve the building’s character, with some outlooks facing the basilica. It is a particularly appealing base for exploring the centre on foot. If arriving by car, arrange the hotel garage and follow its specific driving directions through the pedestrian and restricted-traffic area.
A room beside San Petronio
Hotel Porta San Mamolo
Bologna, Italy
Porta San Mamolo offers a more tucked-away base within Bologna’s historic centre, with traditional character softened by updated interiors. Its courtyard garden and breakfast setting are part of the appeal, giving you somewhere calmer to return after the busy central streets. Rooms range from straightforward doubles to larger options, so compare categories according to your plans. Choose it for an unhurried city break, allowing time to explore the southern part of the centre on foot.
A quieter traditional stay
Hotel Touring
Bologna, Italy
Hotel Touring sits in the southern part of Bologna’s historic centre, with a rooftop terrace that provides a rewarding view across the city. Rooms vary in style and size, including suites and options with outdoor space, while a reading room offers a quieter retreat indoors. The rooftop hot tub is a summer facility available by reservation, rather than a year-round spa. Check the room category carefully and arrange parking or terrace experiences separately when booking.
Rooftop views and a quiet address
I Portici Hotel
Bologna, Italy
I Portici occupies Palazzo Maccaferri on Via Indipendenza, where Art Nouveau details sit alongside contemporary hotel interiors. Rooms range from compact options to spacious suites, with some retaining Liberty-style decoration and others taking a more modern approach. The hotel’s restaurants and cafés give it a lively connection to the city, and its fine-dining restaurant is worth booking separately. Compare room sizes and bed configurations carefully, especially if choosing one of the smaller historic categories.
Art Nouveau surroundings and destination dining