{"id":1788,"date":"2020-02-20T10:32:36","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T10:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/?p=1788"},"modified":"2023-03-16T21:04:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T21:04:42","slug":"bologna-or-florence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/","title":{"rendered":"Bologna Or Florence: Which One To Stay In For 2-4 Days?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you&#8217;re trying to decide between Bologna and Florence for your short stay in Italy, you&#8217;ve come to the right place. In this post, I&#8217;ll highlight the main differences between these two great cities and help you decide which is better for you as a base location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence and Bologna are both the capitals of their regions, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d1038618.0926333677!2d10.08807193321384!3d44.02543881923619!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x132ad54a4ea98021%3A0x3079b0bfcba7fb0!2sBologna%2C%20Italy!3m2!1d44.5005101!2d11.3047836!4m5!1s0x132af8a078bd7663%3A0x3082c90e3e48060!2sMetropolitan%20City%20of%20Florence%2C%20Italy!3m2!1d43.7679178!2d11.2523792!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sma!4v1582194766992!5m2!1sen!2sma\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Florence and Bologna are comparable in size (700K vs 800K residents), they have very different vibes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence is known worldwide for being the undisputed center of Italian Renaissance art and architecture.  Its stunning historical sights can be explored for days. However, the city is always densely packed with tourists from all around the globe. Bologna is a quieter and more relaxed wealthy university city with a more authentic feel. It has many beautiful sights of its own, albeit not as spectacular as Florence. It&#8217;s also known for its great food and shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6603428c7cfa8\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6603428c7cfa8\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_what_travelers_say\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: what travelers say\">Bologna or Florence: what travelers say<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_access_transportation\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: access &amp; transportation\">Bologna or Florence: access &amp; transportation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_vibe_people\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: vibe &amp; people\">Bologna or Florence: vibe &amp; people<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_sights_culture\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: sights &amp; culture\">Bologna or Florence: sights &amp; culture<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna\" title=\"Bologna\">Bologna<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_food_nightlife\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: food &amp; nightlife\">Bologna or Florence: food &amp; nightlife<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_shopping\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: shopping\">Bologna or Florence: shopping<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_lodging\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: lodging\">Bologna or Florence: lodging<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Florence\" title=\"Florence\">Florence<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/bologna-or-florence\/#Bologna_or_Florence_day_trips\" title=\"Bologna or Florence: day trips\">Bologna or Florence: day trips<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_what_travelers_say\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: what travelers say<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/37903449494_761d4f1ec3_c.jpg\" alt=\"bologna or florence\" class=\"wp-image-1793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/37903449494_761d4f1ec3_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/37903449494_761d4f1ec3_c-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Bologna (2)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Bologna is much less tourist overrun than Florence so the locals are friendlier to visitors. The city can also feel a bit more industrial in some parts but is nonetheless an interesting place to visit.<\/li><li>Bologna gives you a more intimate and quieter experience with some nonetheless really good sights though not as spectacular as Florence. The latter, on the other hand, offers a stunning display of famous Italian Renaissance art and architecture works (Michelangelo, Da vinci, Titian, etc)&nbsp; that can easily fill a longer stay.<\/li><li>Bologna is more of a provincial town but is well-known for its great food. It has excellent restaurants and pubs. While it also has beautiful art displays, It\u2019s quieter and more easy-going than Florence, namely due to fewer crowds.<\/li><li>Bologna is easy to walk around with a smaller center than Florence. It has a rich student life and alternative scene due to the university, the oldest in Europe.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Bologna is a good option for a one-day or weekend stay. It has fewer sights than Florence and is easier to manage for a short stay, while still offering a charming ambiance. Florence has too much to see in such a short time.<\/li><li>Some travelers would not want to go back to Florence but would happily return to Bologna due to the relaxing vibe, the amazing food, and the numerous attractions when walking around the city, including shops and markets, museums, and attractive porticos.<\/li><li>Others prefer Florence because of its beauty and legendary Renaissance art sights, art exhibits and museums, art schools of painting etc, which are richer than in Bologna. They choose Florence in spite of the heavy tourist crowds.<\/li><li>Bologna is great for young people because of the university atmosphere and musical culture, including jazz cafes and clubs, opera etc.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_access_transportation\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: access &amp; transportation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence\u2019s train station is within walking distance to the major sites, and only ten minutes away from the Duomo. Bologna\u2019s station is outside of the city center and much too far to walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Traveling between Florence and Bologna takes only 37 minutes on the fast train; the slower train takes 90 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_vibe_people\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: vibe &amp; people<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20389625106_0bf2d09409_c.jpg\" alt=\"florence vibe and people\" class=\"wp-image-1794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20389625106_0bf2d09409_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20389625106_0bf2d09409_c-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Florence vibe (3)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence is overrun with tourists, which can make visiting quite unpleasant unless you know where to look. Bologna, on the other hand, is much quieter and nicer to visit most of the time, easier to get a taste of the city\u2019s lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While both Bologna and Florence get very hot in the summer, Bologna is a better choice in August as it\u2019s not nearly as crowded. The winters are colder in Bologna, however, often getting fog, snow, and ice for relatively long periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Bologna is a significant industrial and commercial city, it\u2019s quite safe with a strong student town vibe due to the centuries-old university. The city center is very walkable and relatively flat (no hills), with ample sidewalks often covered with porticoes (perfect for visiting on a rainy day).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, Bologna is much less tourist-focused than Florence and hence more authentically local &#8211; you will typically see more residents than foreign visitors in Bologna. Merchants and hotel\/restaurant employees in Bologna are typically friendlier due to lesser tourist crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some visitors, nevertheless, find Bologna less open to visitors and not so lively for non-students, and choose to stay only one night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence, in contrast to Bologna, is replete with tourists and international expats from all around the world &#8211; it\u2019s possible to live in the city without speaking Italian. As a result, Florence is more cosmopolitan, messier, even somewhat pretentious due to its fashion capital status.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence can require more work to explore due to the importance and depth of the sights and architecture &#8211; visitors need to know what to look for and where in this broad spectrum of sights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_sights_culture\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: sights &amp; culture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/4008244386_78244c49c8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Florence - Baptistry in front of the Duomo \" class=\"wp-image-1795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/4008244386_78244c49c8_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/4008244386_78244c49c8_c-300x235.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Florence &#8211; Baptistry in front of the Duomo  (4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The entire city of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with many more museums and galleries than Bologna. Most of these are concentrated in the central city and are within walking distance, but it takes time to see them all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Renaissance was born in Florence, bringing Europe out of the Medieval Ages. Artists flocked to the city and endowed it with magnificent Renaissance Art and Architecture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key sights in Florence include Michelangelo\u2019s \u201cDavid\u201d at the Galleria dell\u2019Academia, Botticelli\u2019s \u201cBirth of Venus\u201d, Da Vinci\u2019s \u201cAnnunciation\u201d in the Uffizi.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The beautiful Piazza del Signoria square is home to the Palazzo Vecchio (town hall) and the Cellini statue \u201cPerseus with the Head of Medusa\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most famous art museums in Florence include the Uffizi, the Bargello, and L&#8217;Accademia. Others such San Marco and Ospedale degli Innocente have shorter wait lines. Palazzo Pitti Palace holds famous paintings by Raphael and Titian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence\u2019s Duomo Cathedral and its magnificent tiled dome is a must-see, as is the Ponte Vecchio, a Medieval Bridge lined with jewelers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city is blessed with several stunning squares; the most notable are the Piazza Della Republica, the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the Piazza Beccaria, and the Piazza Della Liberta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna\"><\/span>Bologna<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/29416959124_0a4e21a137_c.jpg\" alt=\"Bologna -  San Domenico Church, 14th century  \" class=\"wp-image-1796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/29416959124_0a4e21a137_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/29416959124_0a4e21a137_c-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Bologna &#8211;  San Domenico Church, <em>14th-century <\/em>towers (5)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t like crowds, you can choose to stay in Bologna instead of Florence. It also has some extraordinary art and architecture to explore, just not on the grand scale of Florence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bologna\u2019s city center, where you will find all the famous sites, can be explored on foot (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"helpful Google Map (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msid=203239472758068199076.0004d12ded99e529d29d8&amp;msa=0\" target=\"_blank\">helpful Google Map with sights<\/a>). The city has the oldest University in Europe, and squares, churches, and several museums worth visiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelers should go to the Museo Civico Medievale, in the Piazza Minghetti, it is housed in a 15th Palace and narrates the turbulent history of the city.  The Pinacoteca Nazionale and the Mambo (modern art) museums should not be underestimated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When walking around the city, be sure to visit the Piazza Maggiore, a Medieval plaza with arched colonnades and Renaissance architecture.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/32153809584_6ff712b4ca_c.jpg\" alt=\"Bologna porticoes\" class=\"wp-image-1800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/32153809584_6ff712b4ca_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/32153809584_6ff712b4ca_c-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Bologna porticoes (6)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Palazzo Communal, itself a history of architectural styles, forms one side of the Piazza, and the 11th Century Palazzo del Podest\u00e0 is on another side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 16th Century Fountain of Neptune is nearby. Also see the Stada Maggiore, which was originally built by the Romans and is lined with Medieval buildings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several of the Medieval Towers of Bologna, called the Torri Pendenti (Asineli and Garisenda), both built in the 12th Century, give Bologna a more Medieval feel than Renaissance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gothic Basilica di San Petronio has an intriguing story into why it is unfinished. Other churches to see include the Basilica San Stefano, Santa Stefano and Fontanna dei Nettuno, as well as a plethora of smaller churches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_food_nightlife\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: food &amp; nightlife<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/31271975953_227e025050_c.jpg\" alt=\"bologna food and nightlife\" class=\"wp-image-1797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/31271975953_227e025050_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/31271975953_227e025050_c-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Bologna (7)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Every place in Italy has its famous regional cuisine and Bologna and Florence are no exception. In Bologna is the prosciutto, balsamic and parmiggian regianno. Florence has its pecorino and bistecca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bologna\u2019s medieval market district, Quadrilatero, is where you will find artisan produce like mortadella, cheeses, freshly prepared pasta, especially tortellini. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spend a morning buying amazing food and have lunch and a glass of wine with the local market vendors at the 15th Century Osteria del Sole. Or try the grilled mortadella with balsamic vinegar at Da Gianni while at the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bologna\u2019s famous pasta sauce, the ragu alla Bolognese is widely available. Chef Emilia Romagna is a huge draw, and people often come to the city just for one of his meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The All\u2019Osteria Bottega is a good place to try exemplary local cuisine. The Gampi e Ciccio is also a classic Bologna restaurant full of charm <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Florence <\/strong>has even more quality restaurants, including one of Europe\u2019s most famous restaurants, recommended by the Michelin Guide; the Enoteca Pinchiorri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The food market in Florence, the Mercato Centrale is generally considered more interesting than Bologna&#8217;s various food markets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence also has a very lively nightlife, a little on the decadent side, so be warned. Bologna\u2019s nightlife, on the other hand, is more laid back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_shopping\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: shopping<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bologna is a market town and trade center with many upmarket shopping streets filled with artisanal and boutique shops selling luxury items from smaller exclusive brands. The city is generally not the best place to shop for well-know luxury brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Florence is a fashion capital; full of haute couture fashion boutiques, making it a great place to buy a unique leather handbag or jacket.  It is also world-famous for its handmade shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_lodging\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: lodging<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/4083313813_d01cfbd8a2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Florence lodging\" class=\"wp-image-1798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/4083313813_d01cfbd8a2_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/4083313813_d01cfbd8a2_c-300x141.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Florence (8)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Bologna in the summer, travelers should generally make lodging reservations early as it can often be fully booked.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that one of the most important beauty and cosmetic fairs worldwide, Cosmoprof, takes place in Bologna at the end of April. During this time, hotel prices skyrocket, sometimes to more than double the normal prices. Some hotels sell out one year in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Places in the city center are convenient for getting to the airport and to the train station, with an abundance of taxis.  As is often the case, the area immediately around the train station isn&#8217;t attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelers find that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/hotelmetropolitanbologna.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Metropolitan<\/a>, halfway between Piazza Maggiore and the Central station, is well worth the price, especially in the very hot summer months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/porta-san-mamolo.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Porta San Mamolo<\/a> gets a lot of praise for its beautiful facilities and its great location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/casa-bertagni.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Casa Bertagni<\/a> is a small B&amp;B conveniently located near the university, with an energetic and eclectic atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The neighborhood of Santa Stefano is full of great places to stay and eat. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/antica-casa-zucchini-b-amp-b.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Antica Casa Zucchini B&amp;B<\/a> is often vetted by travelers, being close to the beautiful Giardino Regina Margherita Park. it&#8217;s a relatively long walk to the train station and to the city center, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan to use Bologna as a base for day trips, travelers often praise the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/albergo-delle-draperie.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Albergo delle Drapperie B&amp;B<\/a> &#8211; just be aware it&#8217;s a bit noisy due to its proximity to the train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Florence\"><\/span>Florence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Florence, the city center is the best option to stay for a short trip.  It gives you the opportunity to see many of the sights in a short walk and go back to your hotel often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 3-star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/hermitage-firenze.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Hermitage<\/a> with its wonderful breakfast terrace is well-priced and caters to English-speaking guests. It has a great location right next to the Ponte Vecchio.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelers also recommend Hotel Tornobuoni Beacci and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/palazzo-acciaiuoli.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Torre Guelfa<\/a>, two nice options right in the center of town with pleasant rooftop bars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also recommended is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/hotelspadai.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Spadai<\/a>, next door to the Duomo, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/california-firenze.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel California<\/a>, a block away towards the Academia. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/la-scaletta.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel la Scaletta<\/a> is also a good choice, with great breakfasts and a rooftop view over the Duomo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelers also praise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/parishotel.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Paris<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/bigallo.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Bigallo<\/a> &#8211; the latter is on a very quiet side street just around the corner from the Baptistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to be close to the train station, the lovely little Hotel Casci is close to it and also to many of the sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More upscale, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/it\/davanzati.en.html?aid=2306743&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\" title=\"\">Hotel Davanzati<\/a> is highly recommended. Be aware there is a flight of stairs up to the lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bologna_or_Florence_day_trips\"><\/span>Bologna or Florence: day trips<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/29173587985_c5d35f2838_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/29173587985_c5d35f2838_c.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/29173587985_c5d35f2838_c-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Ravena (9)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bologna is a central city perfect for day trips either by train or car.  Close by are the attractive towns of Modena, Mantua, Verona, Vicenza, Parma, Ferrara, Mantova, Ravenna, Mantova and Orvieto, all generally much less crowded than Florence or Siena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ferrara <\/strong>has an amazing castle and a lovely city center. <strong>Parma <\/strong>is a very historic city with great sights. <strong>Orvieto <\/strong>is a beautiful little town perched on a cliff in rolling countryside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ravenna <\/strong>has mosaics dating back to the early years of Christianity in its ancient churches and mausoleums. In the summer, Ravenna is a beach destination, so making early train bookings and avoid weekends if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From Florence, <strong>Tuscany <\/strong>is at your doorstep, with its beautiful towns near enough to visit in a day. Pisa, for the Leaning Tower, is very close.  The towns of Alto, Cortona, Arezzo, Certaldo, Montecatini Terme and Siena are well worth a visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fiesole <\/strong>with its history, hiking, monastery and wonderful views is reached via a scenic bus journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">***<br><em>Photo credits:<br><\/em>(1) Featured: &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/bpprice\/27295557320\/\" target=\"_blank\">Florence<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/bpprice\/\" target=\"_blank\">BPPrice<\/a> <br>(2) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/liakadaweb\/37903449494\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bologna<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/liakadaweb\/\" target=\"_blank\">liakada-web<\/a> <br>(3) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/134921587@N06\/20389625106\/\" target=\"_blank\">Florence<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/mark\/1.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public Domain<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/134921587@N06\/\" target=\"_blank\">thinkrorbot<\/a> <br>(4) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/herry\/4008244386\/\" target=\"_blank\">Florence<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/herry\/\" target=\"_blank\">HerryLawford<\/a> <br>(5) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/70125105@N06\/29416959124\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gothic apses 14th century &#8211; San Domenico<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/mark\/1.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public Domain<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/70125105@N06\/\" target=\"_blank\">Carlo Raso<\/a> <br>(6) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/boklm\/31271975953\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bologna<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public Domain<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/boklm\/\" target=\"_blank\">boklm<\/a> <br>(7) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/boklm\/32153809584\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bologna<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public Domain<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/boklm\/\" target=\"_blank\">boklm<\/a> <br>(8) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dameetch\/4083313813\/\" target=\"_blank\">Florence<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/dameetch\/\" target=\"_blank\">dameetch<\/a> <br>(9) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/xiquinho\/29173587985\/\" target=\"_blank\">1633-Ravena<\/a>&#8221;&nbsp;(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/xiquinho\/\" target=\"_blank\">xiquinhosilva<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re trying to decide between Bologna and Florence for your short stay in Italy, you&#8217;ve come to the right place. In this post, I&#8217;ll highlight the main differences between these two great cities and help you decide which is better for you as a base location. Florence and Bologna are both the capitals of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[42],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1788"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1788"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2242,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1788\/revisions\/2242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}