Nightlife · Bologna · Italy
Bologna nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Bologna, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vanni Lazzari, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Bologna has one of Italy's livelier night scenes thanks to its large student population. Evenings start with aperitivo in the Quadrilatero, then move to osterie and bars in the university quarter and on Via del Pratello, and the city has a long live-jazz tradition. The main areas are Piazza Verdi and Via Zamboni, Via del Pratello, The Quadrilatero and Via Mascarella.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- University Quarter (Via Zamboni)
- Local drink
- Pignoletto and Lambrusco
Where to go out
Piazza Verdi and Via Zamboni
The student heart of the city, with low-cost bars, crowds spilling into the square and late nights on weekdays as well as weekends.
Via del Pratello
A street of osterie and bars with an alternative local crowd and lower prices than the centre.
The Quadrilatero
Wine bars along Via Pescherie Vecchie and Via Clavature for aperitivo and early-evening drinks at outdoor tables.
Via Mascarella
Home to long-running jazz venues such as Cantina Bentivoglio, part of Bologna's strong jazz tradition.
Nightlife tips
- Aperitivo usually runs from about 6pm to 9pm, and a drink often comes with small snacks.
- Bars around Piazza Verdi get crowded and messy late at night; the Quadrilatero and the Ghetto are calmer.
- Buses thin out after midnight, but the centre is compact enough to walk home.
Evening sights
Landmark · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain
Try the 'whispering gallery' under the Palazzo del Podestà with a friend: stand in opposite corners facing the wall and speak quietly.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
- After dark
What to drink
- Pignoletto and Lambrusco — Pignoletto, a light, often sparkling white from the Colli Bolognesi hills, is the local aperitivo wine; dark, fizzy Lambrusco from around Modena cuts through rich cured meats and pasta.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 19°C (66°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:00 | 0°C (32°F) | 6 |
| April | About 19:59 | 8°C (46°F) | 8 |
| July | About 20:57 | 19°C (66°F) | 4 |
| October | About 18:31 | 10°C (50°F) | 8 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Porticoes line most streets, so walking is pleasant in rain or sun; few central sights are more than 15 minutes apart.
- Bus — Validate paper tickets as soon as you board; inspectors fine passengers without a validated ticket.
- Taxi — Licensed taxis wait at ranks at the station and the airport; inside the centre, walking is usually quicker.
Late-night bites
- Mortadella Bologna — Salumerie in the Quadrilatero slice it to order; most wine bars serve it with crescentine or bread at aperitivo.
Staying safe at night
Pickpocketing happens at Bologna Centrale and on crowded buses. The area around Piazza Verdi and some streets near the station can feel rowdy late at night, and bike theft is common.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife, solo travellers and culture
University Quarter (Via Zamboni)
Via Zamboni runs from the Two Towers past university palazzi such as Palazzo Poggi to the Pinacoteca Nazionale, and the streets around Piazza Verdi and the Teatro Comunale are the centre of student life. Food and drink prices are lower, osterie and bars stay full late, and many walls are covered with posters and graffiti.
- Good
- Lively and good value; Close to the main museums; Easy to meet people
- Watch out
- Late-night noise around Piazza Verdi; Graffiti and a scruffy feel in places
- Nearby
- Palazzo Poggi, Pinacoteca Nazionale, Teatro Comunale, Piazza Verdi
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Bologna?
Piazza Verdi and Via Zamboni, Via del Pratello and The Quadrilatero. The student heart of the city, with low-cost bars, crowds spilling into the square and late nights on weekdays as well as weekends.
+Which area of Bologna is best for nightlife?
University Quarter (Via Zamboni): Student life, Piazza Verdi and porticoed Via Zamboni northeast of the Two Towers.