Travel tips · Bologna · Italy
Bologna travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fabio Ciminelli, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Bologna has three traditional nicknames: la Dotta (the learned) for its university, la Grassa (the fat) for its food and la Rossa (the red) for its brick buildings and long left-wing politics. Students make up a large share of the population, so the city feels young, political and informal, while food traditions are taken very seriously.
Key facts
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; restaurants usually bring bottled water unless you…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet shopkeepers with 'buongiorno' or 'buonasera' when you enter and leave.
- Cappuccino is a morning drink for locals; after lunch, order an espresso.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches such as San Petronio and Santo Stefano.
- Keep right under narrow porticoes and avoid stopping in the middle of busy ones.
- Regional recipes are a matter of local pride, so don't ask for spaghetti bolognese or parmesan on seafood pasta.
- Book Ducati Museum ahead: Factory tours run by reservation and fill up; book online in advance.
- Check the BolognaFiere trade-fair calendar before booking; hotel rates rise sharply during big fairs such as Cosmoprof and Cersaie.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected, and a coperto is often already charged. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated but optional.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Grazie | Thank you |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Un calice di Pignoletto | A glass of Pignoletto |
| Permesso | Excuse me (to get past) |
| Quanto costa? | How much is it? |
What to wear
Smart-casual is normal; comfortable shoes are essential for long walks on stone portico floors and the climb to San Luca.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink; restaurants usually bring bottled water unless you ask for tap water (acqua del rubinetto).
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIM cards; eSIMs work well for other visitors, and the Salaborsa library and many cafés offer free Wi-Fi.
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Italy's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Bologna?
Tipping is not expected, and a coperto is often already charged. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated but optional.
+Can you drink the tap water in Bologna?
Tap water is safe to drink; restaurants usually bring bottled water unless you ask for tap water (acqua del rubinetto).
+What plugs are used in Bologna?
Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Bologna?
Italian.