Best time to visit · Bologna · Italy
The best time to visit Bologna
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The best times to visit Bologna are April to June and September to October, when days are mild and evenings are good for eating outdoors. Summer is hot and humid, with some closures in August, and winter is cold and foggy but quiet. Check the trade-fair calendar before booking: big fairs can push hotel prices sharply higher for several days.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March and November–December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 31°C (88°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 6°C (43°F))
- Rainiest month
- April (~8 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and August
Seasons
Bologna has the climate of the Po Valley: cold, often foggy winters with nights around freezing, and hot, humid summers regularly above 30 °C. Spring and autumn are mild, with rain spread through the year.
March–May
Spring
Mild days, blossom in the hills and the San Luca icon procession in May; trade fairs and Easter can make hotels expensive.
June–August
Summer
Hot, humid days, free outdoor cinema in Piazza Maggiore and quieter August weeks when many locals head to the coast.
September–November
Autumn
Warm early autumn, truffle and mushroom menus and busy university streets, turning grey and foggy by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold and misty, but the porticoes keep you dry; Christmas stalls, tortellini in brodo and low prices outside fair dates.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C | 0°C | 6 | 9.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 9°C | 1°C | 6 | 10.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 14°C | 4°C | 7 | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 18°C | 8°C | 8 | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 23°C | 12°C | 8 | 14.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 28°C | 16°C | 6 | 15.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 31°C | 19°C | 4 | 15.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 30°C | 19°C | 5 | 14 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 25°C | 15°C | 6 | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 19°C | 10°C | 8 | 10.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 12°C | 5°C | 8 | 9.5 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 7°C | 1°C | 7 | 8.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Arte Fiera — contemporary art fair (usually late January or early February) |
| February | Carnevale — children's parades in the centre (February or early March) |
| March | Cosmoprof — international beauty trade fair (usually March); Bologna Children's Book Fair — publishing trade fair (usually spring) |
| April | Liberation Day (25 April) |
| May | Madonna di San Luca procession — the icon is carried down to the cathedral (usually the week before Ascension) |
| June | Il Cinema Ritrovato — restored-film festival with free screenings in Piazza Maggiore (usually late June–early July) |
| July | Bologna Estate — summer concerts and events across the city (usually June–September); Outdoor cinema in Piazza Maggiore (usually through July) |
| August | Ferragosto public holiday (15 August) |
| September | Cersaie — ceramic tile and bathroom trade fair (usually late September) |
| October | Festa di San Petronio — patron saint's day (4 October) |
| November | EIMA — agricultural machinery fair (usually November in even-numbered years) |
| December | Fiera di Santa Lucia — Christmas stalls under the portico of Santa Maria dei Servi (December); Rogo del Vecchione — a giant 'old man' effigy burned in Piazza Maggiore at midnight (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and August, and the sights are quietest in January–February, August and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Bologna?
The best times to visit Bologna are April to June and September to October, when days are mild and evenings are good for eating outdoors. Summer is hot and humid, with some closures in August, and winter is cold and foggy but quiet. Check the trade-fair calendar before booking: big fairs can push hotel prices sharply higher for several days.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Bologna?
Usually in January–February and August. Cold, damp and often foggy; museums and trattorie are quiet, and the porticoes keep you dry.
+What is the rainiest month in Bologna?
April, with about 8 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Bologna get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 31°C (88°F) and lows of 19°C (66°F).