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Flights to Bologna‚ Italy

Book a flight to Bologna and let its alleyways‚ towers‚ and original Italian cuisine craft an authentic city break for you

Bologna offers a young‚ vibrant university city with local markets‚ ancient squares‚ excellent restaurants‚ and an elegant yet unpretentious atmosphere.
The city is especially famous for its porticoed streets – endless rows of arches and covered walkways stretching about 62 km - recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These porticoes let you explore the city comfortably in any weather‚ moving easily between shops‚ cafés‚ and major sights‚ and experiencing Bologna almost like a local. Thanks to its convenient location in Emilia Romagna‚ you can also combine a culinary getaway‚ shopping‚ and trips to other central Italian cities‚ including nearby Tuscany.

Your Journey to Bologna Starts Here

Get to know the city that has been nicknamed “the learned‚ the red‚ and the fat” – and for good reason. Bologna is the beating heart of the Emilia-Romagna region‚ a place where medieval architecture meets a vibrant student atmosphere under the famous portico arches. Here‚ people don’t just travel‚ they mostly taste: from the fresh pasta in the ancient markets to the finest balsamic vinegar and Parmesan in the world. Whether you climb the leaning towers or get lost in the cobblestone alleys‚ Bologna offers a deep‚ authentic‚ and unforgettable Italian experience.

How to get there
A flight from Israel to Bologna usually takes around 4 hours
From Bologna Airport you can reach the city center by the dedicated Marconi Express train‚ by bus‚ or by taxi in about 20 minutes
Getting Around the city
Walking

The best way to experience Bologna. The city center is ancient‚ compact and mostly closed to vehicles.

Public Transport

The city is well-connected by an efficient bus system and a fast train that connects the airport to the city center in minutes.

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Bicycles and scooters

Thanks to the flat surface‚ the city offers bike sharing services and electric scooters that are widely available

Top Attractions

Independence Street sign in Bologna‚ Italy

Via dell'Indipendenza

Via dell'Indipendenza‚ or "Independence Street"‚ is one of Bologna's main and best‑known boulevards‚ connecting the central railway station with Piazza Maggiore. It offers a great shopping experience‚ with a wide variety of international fashion brands‚ and on both sides‚ you will find porticoes‚ cafés‚ a theatre‚ churches‚ and historic buildings. It is an ideal street from which to start getting to know Bologna‚ whether you are arriving from the station or using it as a shopping and strolling axis on your way into the old town.

A view of Piazza Maggiore in Bologna‚ Italy

Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore is Bologna's main square and historic heart and is considered one of Italy's most impressive squares. Important buildings surround it‚ including the Basilica of San Petronio‚ Palazzo d'Accursio‚ Palazzo dei Banchi‚ and the Palazzo Re Enzo‚ and just beside it lies Piazza del Nettuno with its famous Neptune Fountain. The square serves as the city's living room – a meeting point for locals‚ an evening hangout‚ a venue for concerts and open‑air film screenings in summer‚ and an excellent starting point for a walking tour of the city.

Bologna‚ Emilia Romagna‚ Italy: Portico di San Luca‚ the portico connecting the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca to the city‚ a long monumental covered arcade

The porticoes – Portici di Bologna

The Portici di Bologna – those covered walkways with arches‚ columns‚ and often decorated ceilings – are one of the city's most distinctive features and were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. More than 62 km of porticoes run through the city‚ linking squares‚ streets‚ university buildings‚ and churches‚ and extending all the way to the Portico di San Luca – the longest in the world‚ almost 4 km long and featuring 666 arches that climb up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. Walking beneath the porticoes is a unique attraction‚ offering a chance to enjoy the impressive architecture‚ charming shops‚ and unmistakable Bolognese style.

Best Time to Visit

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Spring (April–Jun) 12°C – 24°C

The weather is very pleasant for strolling under the portico‚ the markets are filled with fresh produce‚ and the atmosphere in the city squares is especially lively

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Summer (July–August) 18°C – 31°C

can be very hot and humid. This is a great time to enjoy outdoor film festivals ‚ some of the small local businesses go on holiday in August.

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Autumn (Sept–Oct) 13°C – 23°C

Temperatures are dropping and the city is entering truffle season. It's the perfect time for food tours in the Emilia-Romagna region

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Winter (Nov–March) 2°C – 10°C

The city is cold and foggy‚ which gives it a special European charm. It's the perfect time to warm up in the taverns with a hot tortellini

Fun Facts

  • Yes‚ ragù alla bolognese originates in Bologna and is considered a flagship dish across Emilia‑Romagna. Still‚ the local cuisine goes far beyond that‚ with tagliatelle and tortellini also born here – so keep tasting‚ trying‚ and enjoying the food
  • The University of Bologna‚ founded in 1088‚ is the oldest university in the Western world; among its students were Dante Alighieri and Copernicus‚ both of whom are honored there to this day
  • In the distant past‚ Bologna's wealthy families competed with one another by building ever‑taller towers; they had almost no practical use and were often constructed in haste‚ leaning even more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Of some 180 such towers‚ around 20 survive‚ with the Asinelli and Garisenda towers still rising proudly in the city center and inviting visitors to tackle the stairs for a spectacular panoramic view over Bologna

International dialing code:

+39

Visa and passport validity:

Entry requirements and passport validity may vary depending on the passenger’s nationality. For the most up-to-date and official information‚ please check the entry requirements for your destination.

VAT refund at the airport:

Available

Embassy of Israel in Italy (Rome)

Phone: +39 06 3619 8500 | Email: info@rome.mfa.gov.il | Website: embassies.gov.il/rome

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The information presented on this page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute any representation or commitment on the part of the Company; the responsibility for verifying the information and its accuracy rests solely with the user.