Bologna airport hotel or city center hotel?

There is an efficient and frequent shuttle service from the city centre to the airport, leaving from the Central Station and taking some half hour: http://aerobus.bo.it/en
I've stayed a few times at the friendly and helpful Hotel Atlantic, maybe a 10-minute walk from the station. But if it's only for one night, the NH Hotel is closer to the station and more practical.

Bologna has a very nice, and large, historic district and is known as a great food town. If this last night is your only opportunity to visit Bologna, I'd definitely stay in town.

Agree with the above thoughts. We have stayed in Bologna and caught an morning flight, taking a bus to the airport. It's well worth seeing Bologna at night- a very lively, pleasant historic center. Appertivo is great along the food streets near the main square.

I've flown out of BLQ and generally stayed at the Sheraton next to the airport, since I had to fly very early and I've seen Bologna more than enough times, however if you have never been, you should stay in the city center.

Any taxi can have you at the airport in 20 minutes or less. There is also a shuttle bus from the Bologna Centrale station.

I appreciate your comments. City Center it is!

When I flew out of Bologna, I spent a day in Ferrara, stayed in a hotel in the historic center, across from the castle, and took the shuttle bus to the airport (the bus stop was a 2-minute walk from the hotel). Bologna is nice too, just saying that Ferrara is also convenient. Probably Florence too.

If you have dinner in Bologna, try La Colombina, on a side street of the same name, near the Duomo.

Thank you for the Hotel and restaurant recommendations. We depend on the Rick Steves books when we're looking for hotels and restaurants and unfortunately, he doesn't have much to say about Bologna. Thanks again!

RS recommendations are, shall we say, narrow. Your hotel concierge can probably give you good recommendations.

Rick doesn't include Bologna in his travel books...or, at least, the ones I have looked at. I always stay at Hotel San Donato in Bologna. It is on via Zamboni and a short walk to piazza that contains San Petrino church and Neptunes fountain. They have a great breakfast included in the lodging cost. Lots of good options for eating and gelato in the area too.