Daily costs per person in EUR. Bologna is remarkably affordable for a major Italian city — generous aperitivo buffets, cheap local wine, and honest trattoria prices keep costs low.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: EUR (Euro) (1 USD ≈ €0.92)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €22–40 | €75–130 | €200+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → palazzo hotels |
| Food | €12–20 | €30–50 | €75+ | Market food & aperitivo → trattorias → Michelin restaurants |
| Transport | €3–5 | €8–15 | €25+ | Walking & bus → taxis → day trip trains |
| Activities | €0–8 | €15–40 | €60+ | Free sights & walks → museums & workshops → cooking classes |
| Drinks | €5–10 | €12–20 | €30+ | Aperitivo buffet → enotecas → wine bars |
| Daily Total | €42–83 | €140–255 | €390+ | $46–90 → $152–278 → $425+ |
Money-saving tips
Free experiences
Piazza Maggiore, San Petronio basilica, Santo Stefano churches, porticoes walks, university quarter, Quadrilatero market browsing, Giardini Margherita, secret canal window, and the Archiginnasio (anatomical theatre €3).
Aperitivo is dinner
Many bars on Via del Pratello serve free buffet with drinks (€5–8). Camera a Sud, Marsalino, and Lab 16 have the best spreads — enough for a full meal. This is a legitimate Bolognese tradition, not freeloading.
Transport
Bologna is very walkable — most sights are within 15 minutes. Bus single ticket: €1.50 (valid 75 min). 24-hour pass: €5. Buy at tabacchi shops or the Tper app. Uber doesn't operate — use taxis or IT Taxi app.
Budget eating
Osteria dell'Orsa tagliatelle: €9. Market stalls for panini and piadine: €4–6. Sfoglia Rina pasta plates: €8–10. A full traditional Bolognese lunch at a trattoria with wine rarely exceeds €15–20.
Wine savings
House Lambrusco at trattorias: €3–5 per glass, €8–15 per bottle. Sangiovese house wine: similar prices. The enotecas on Via del Pratello pour excellent local wines from €3. Supermarket Lambrusco from €3 a bottle.
FICO & day trips
FICO Eataly World has free entry — just the food costs money. Regional trains to Modena (€4.60), Parma (€8.10), and Ferrara (€5) are cheap for excellent day trips through Emilia-Romagna's food cities.
