Month guide · Bologna · Italy
Bologna in October
What October is really like in Bologna: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
October is one of the best months to visit Bologna. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Mild, golden days, with truffles and mushrooms on menus and the feast of the city's patron saint.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in October
October is the 6th-warmest month in Bologna: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with September (25°C (77°F)), October is cooler; by November highs drop to around 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 07:29
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:31
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
Autumn (September–November). Warm early autumn, truffle and mushroom menus and busy university streets, turning grey and foggy by November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in March). Book accommodation early: October is one of the pricier months.
Events in October
- Festa di San Petronio — patron saint's day (4 October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Religious site · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Santa Maria della Vita
Just off the Quadrilatero, this Baroque church holds Niccolò dell'Arca's Lamentation over the Dead Christ, a 15th-century group of life-size terracotta figures whose faces and gestures express grief with startling force.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- History
Architecture · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Biblioteca Salaborsa
It is free, central and has free Wi-Fi, which makes it a useful rainy-day stop between sights.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
- Architecture
Market · Via Ugo Bassi
Mercato delle Erbe
Bologna's main covered food market on Via Ugo Bassi sells fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese and fresh pasta to locals, and part of the hall holds casual eateries and bars where people eat at shared tables in the evening.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Via Piella
Finestrella di Via Piella
There is often a short queue for photos; walk on along Via delle Moline for more glimpses of the canal.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 10°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Bologna?
One of the best months to visit Bologna, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April–June and September. Compare every month.
Bologna in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit Bologna?
It is one of the best months to visit Bologna. Mild, golden days, with truffles and mushrooms on menus and the feast of the city's patron saint.
+How warm is Bologna in October?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Bologna in October?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.