Bal-lone-yah.
Italy might be one big deli filled with capicola, prosciutto, and soppressata, but the capital of Emilia-Romagna is no slab of pink meat—though, to be fair, our beloved “baloney” does originate from this city’s mortadella meat.
You might get a few looks if you check in at hotels in Bologna and butcher the name it had since the Romans got their ticket called. So once you’ve mastered the Italian pronunciation, you’re ready to walk up the counter and shop for where to stay in Bologna.
Which part of Bologna is best to stay?
Being the rail rascals that we are, we love the Bolognina district for two reasons: it’s home to Bologna Centrale train station and a multicultural mix of bars, artwork, and shops. If you’re a first timer not staying in Bolognina, the historical heart is the obvious choice so you can check off all of the hallmark sites.
Image Credit and Location: Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni, Bologna, Italy
The best hotels in Bologna, and that’s no bologna!
Trying to find the best hotels in Bologna, Italy? Here’s a sampling, no matter your taste or budget.
Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni
Best for: Embracing Bologna’s brilliant past
This Bologna has a first name in hotels and it’s G-H-M-G-B: Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni. Seriously, Grand Hotel Majestic is the oldest in the city, and was once a medieval mansion. Today, its Presidential Suite Giuseppe Verdi is your five-star hideaway, complete with a Carrara marble bathroom, velvet draped four-poster bed, and hand-inlaid double bed in the second bedroom.
Image Credit and Location: Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni, Bologna, Italy
Il Guercino Boutique Hotel
Best for: Families spending time with older children
Il Guercino is one of the best hotels in Bologna for parents with kids who don’t need training wheels. This boutique hotel near Bologna Centrale has free bicycle rentals for you and your family to explore the city. The family rooms have the right level of chill your preteens need while you sneak off to the Finnish sauna in the spa.
Hotel Calzavecchio
Best for: Italian wine lovers
Another of the fabulous boutique hotels in Bologna, Hotel Calzavecchio has a restaurant with 200 wines ready for your glass. You could spend all day sipping on Lambrusco, and you should, just not at the restaurant. Ask for bottle service in your suite and drink to your fill in your balcony’s private jacuzzi.
Hotel Cosmopolitan
Best for: Foodies
There’s no denying that you’ll find a worthy lasagna bolognese in the streets of Bologna, but you’ll want to stay as close to Hotel Cosmopolitan’s Bistrot Iacobucci as possible. Led by Michelin-starred Chef Agostino Iacobucci, this restaurant will send burrata cheese, Bolognese veal cutlet, and carnaroli risotto straight to your seat. The only reason you’ll be happy to leave this tasty table is the knowledge that your suite is soundproof so no one will hear you moan in stuffed satisfaction when you finally unbutton your trousers.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Asinelli Tower, Bologna, Italy
Villa Aretusi
Best for: A tranquil city-limits stay
You’ve got to trust us when we suggest Villa Aretusi. It may be closer to the airport than the city center, but this former mansion doubles as a wedding venue and small hotel. Wake up each morning with a stroll in the garden and end each night with a different Emilian tasting menu. And whenever you need more thrill or chill, the Ducati Museum and Gelato Museum aren’t far.
Albergo delle Drapperie
Best for: A relaxed room surrounded by history
Gosh, does Albergo delle Drapperie sure make it easy to be one with Bologna. One block from the Neptune Fountain and Torre Lambertini, it’s one of the best hotels in Bologna, inside and out. If French windows, wooden ceilings, and wrought-iron beds don’t convince you to spend the day inside, exclusive naturopathy and iridology sessions will.
No "baloney" with Trainline
If you've managed to decide where to stay, now find out what to do in this stunning city with our Bologna city guide. And don't forget: Bologna is a perfect base in the Emilia-Romagna region, thanks to its fast and affordable trains, all available to book easily online. Download the Trainline app and take day trips from Bologna to Ravenna, Modena, and more.
Header Image Credit and Location: Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni, Bologna, Italy