Hotels in Bologna

I stayed last week 15 minutes from bologna at savoia hotel. Great hotel, food and service. I stayed there because i wanted it to be easy to travel also outside Bologna. Went to Ravenna and San marino from there, Mantova as well.

Thank you. We have similar plans to travel outside of Bologna (i.e. Ravenna, Parma, etc) Did you use a car to travel to those cities from that hotel?

Stayed at the Albergo Centrale last Fall; clean, comfortable, quiet, perfectly situated, it served all my needs. Staff was exceptionally helpful and the breakfast was good enough. Very good value, I've recommended this place to several friends and all have returned with positive comments. Given it's location in relation to all the restaurants and evening hangouts, highly recommend booking ASAP.

Ravenna and Parma, I visited both using trains. Ravenna is a charming town that one should stay at least an evening if not two. It's not as overrun with non-Italian tourists so, that has it's own charms, lots and lots of history if you're into such. Dante's tomb, much to Florence's chagrin is there. The mosaics are incredible and very underrated on the tourist scene of Italy. Parma was also very easy to get around via train, similar layout to Bologna, exit train station, walk 3-4 blocks away from the low-end shops that seem to congregate around train stations and you get into the charming, historical center. If you have the time, see if you can include a visit to Ferrara, one of two midevil walled towns left in Italy, the other being Lucca. Good walking and biking town as things are very close together, charming pedestrian heavy town.

Thank you. Very helpful.

I like Hotel Metropolitan, a bit more expensive than the Centrale, which I liked, too.

Train to Ravenna and other cities.

Yes we did.
For me Bologna was only half a day visit. so we had more time then expected to do other things.
We were there on a sunday, so no cars in the ZTL areas, which is nice but also many things are closed.
I wanted to go on top of the tower but it was closed for renovation until july. The beautiful piazza was a bit disappointing because the neptune fountain is under heavey renovations and is literalely in a huge box, so you don't see it.
So to be honest, for me Bologna was a little bit of a disappointment. Having said that, my wife really liked the architecture. It is a nice city.
I preferred walking the streets of Padova for instance.
Ravenna's mosaics are an absolute must. Sna Marino was a total unexpected surprise.
mantova's Palazzo Ducale, especially Mantegna's painting are a must if you are into renaissance painting.
Here's my blog, I write a text a day while I'm on vacation. It's in french but you can certainly use google translate.
I've placed it at the first day arriving in Bologna but you can scroll the days on your right.
Don't hesitate if you have further questions.
http://famillecyrstgeorges.blogspot.ca/2017/06/jour-11-bologne.html

The hotel:
http://www.savoia.it/en/

Thank you for taking the time to share your travel experiences.

I liked the AC by Marriott. Convenient location for driving day trips. We did Ravenna, San Marino, and San Leo from there plus Bologna

I stayed in a small hotel just a block from the famous Neptune Fountain.
Albergo Centrale
Via della Zecca 2, 40121 Bologna, Italy
Great prices, location, nice breakfast room

I love Hotel San Donato at via Zamboni 16. Great location. Within walking distance of Neptune's Fountain and the San Petrino church. Has larger rooms that most hotels in Italy and a great free breakfast with the price of the room. Can catch a bus for a tour of Bologna from this piazza and it is also close to the market street with lots of great meat/cheese/pasta shops. I come into Bologna by train and take a taxi to the hotel. You can check out it's website by googling the hotel. Have a great trip. I love Bologna. The food is excellent and it is a vibrant city with a great night life.

Here's a second for the Hotel Metropolitan. They have a nice rooftop terrace you can relax on that we liked.

http://www.hotelmetropolitan.com/en/

For traveling to most towns/cities out of Bologna, I would use the train. It's very convenient. If you are going to more countryside destinations, you may want a car. But driving in and around Bologna is quite hectic. When we've had a car, we stay at the Savhotel which has parking, very helpful staff, a great breakfast buffet and nice rooms. There is a nearby bus that goes into the heart of the city. We love Bologna. It is a great city for architecture, art and food.

Albergo San Vitale, a few blocks from the Two Towers and just inside the old city walls, is budget-level but clean and convenient. The area looked a little sketchy at first viewing, but once we checked in, it was "home." We had a room near the garden -- WiFi not available in the room, but fine on a bench in the garden. No breakfast -- several nearby cafes. Easy bus ride (6-7 stops) to the train station for a daytrip to Ravenna to see the amazing mosaics.

My wife and I stayed at the Il Convento dei fiori di seta a few years ago. It is a beautiful boutique hotel close to the center. Don't know about current prices, but was reasonable when we stayed there. The name comes from its medieval occupants--nuns raising silk worms for their silk to create beautiful flower decorations and fabrics.