The complete guide to Bologna’s 7 best neighbourhoods

Find the neighbourhood that’s right for you in Bologna based on the quality of life, rental prices, and internationality.

Ellie

5 minute read

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Updated on 16 Jul 2024

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Living

Bologna is one of the coolest and most ancient cities in Italy. Located in the north of Italy, in Emilia Romagna, Bologna is popular for being a foodie’s heaven and for its historical buildings.

If you’re planning to move here to work or study, this guide will help you find the perfect Bologna neighbourhood to relocate to. Each neighbourhood in Bologna has something unique to offer. So to help you decide where you can live in Bologna, we’re sharing our top 7 neighbourhoods that are a great fit for different types of expats.

Centro Storico is the heart of Bologna, the quality of life here is one of the highest in the city.

Centro Storico is a mixture of medieval buildings, narrow streets, Roman arcades, and excellent restaurants where you can eat local cuisine. The main train station, Bologna Centrale, is within walking distance of Centro Storico.

Bologna is cheap when compared to other big Italian cities, such as Milan. However, you'll find rental homes in Bologna's Centro Storico are among the highest in the city.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Room: €700
• Studio: €1,350
• Apartment: €1,800

Because of the area's central location, you can expect to see a great mix of locals and internationals living in Centro Storico, making the most of the city's culture.

The University District is located right next to Centro Storico, within the city's medieval walls. Università Di Bologna, the oldest university in the world, is located here. The university became one of the city's main attractions and still welcomes thousands of Italian and international students every year.

At night, the district turns into one of the main nightlife spots. It’s also well connected with public transportation.

As you’d expect, the University District is a popular spot for students of the University of Bologna to live. However, this may not be the spot for you if you’re looking to find affordable student accommodation in Bologna, as you’ll be paying for the central location.

The rental prices here are a little lower than Centro Storico, and you can expect to pay around:

• Room: €650
• Studio: €1,200
• Apartment: €1,500

Thanks to the university, this district is home to a diverse group of young international and Italian students.

Located between Centro Storico and the University District, Ghetto Ebraico is popular for its unique architecture and atmosphere. It’s one of the city's most picturesque areas, with brightly coloured houses lining the alleys that lead to little piazzas where you can enjoy traditional Italian coffee.

Walking through Via dell’ìnferno, where the synagogue used to be, you’ll find a variety of local artisan stores. Here, you can visit the Jewish museum, which regularly displays temporary exhibitions. This area is popular amongst tourists, and while being centrally located, it maintains decent public transport links that will help you explore the city.

Given its central location and aesthetic architecture, Ghetto Ebraico is one of the pricier neighbourhoods in Bologna. The average rental prices in Ghetto Ebraico are:

• Room: €600
• Studio: €1,200
• Apartment: €1,500

This is one of Bologna's most traditional neighbourhoods, both aesthetically and culturally. As such, there isn’t a huge international population here.

If you want to live in a peaceful neighbourhood away from the city noise, Bolognina is the place to go. This cosmopolitan neighbourhood in the north of Bologna is home to both locals and immigrants. It’s a popular location for families and students especially.

Despite being located slightly outside the centre of Bologna, this neighbourhood is lively and has plenty to do. Many taverns, clubs, traditional Bolognese trattorias, and ethnic eateries can be found here. There’re buses serving the neighbourhood, but you be close to Bologna Centrale if you need to get any trains.

Compared to other neighbourhoods, you’ll notice fewer rooms and studios available in Bolognina. This makes the price difference between a studio and an apartment smaller than normal, so you can rent an apartment quite affordably. In terms of average rental prices, you can expect to pay:

• Room: €650
• Studio: €1,350
• Apartment: €1,500

Bolognina is a diverse and multicultural neighbourhood. You’ll find a delightful mixture of locals and internationals of all ages living here. Whether you’re moving with your family, as a professional or as a student, Bolognina is a lovely place to call home.

San Donato is located near the railway station and the city centre. This area is the city's economic district and hosts many fairs, events, and business festivals. Overall, it’s the ideal place for professionals or anyone who calls themselves a foodie!

FICO Italy World is located in the Fiera di Bologna area of San Donato and attracts a lot of visitors each year. Living here, you’ll be in the heart of Bologna’s culinary scene. The nearby train station makes this a convenient spot for commuters, and there’re some bus connections to this neighbourhood too.

Similarly to Bolognina, there aren’t a lot of private rooms or studios available to rent in San Donato. Your best bet is to find an apartment to rent for slightly more than the cost of a studio. You should be prepared to pay the following rental prices:

• Room: €650
• Studio: €1,450
• Apartment: €1,550

Thanks to the events and fairs, San Donato is one of the most popular Bologna neighbourhoods for international and local professionals.

Murri is one of the more residential neighbourhoods in Bologna, located a little outside the city centre. It’s best known for its nature, greenery, and open spaces, but it also has plenty of authentic Italian restaurants and bars. Murri is particularly popular amongst families and professionals who want to enjoy nature more than the bustle of the city centre.

Unfortunately, Murri doesn’t have the best public transport options compared to other Bolognese neighbourhoods. The Mazzini station services Murri with trains, but aside from that, there’re fewer public transport options. Living in Murri, you’ll probably need a bicycle or car to navigate your way around.

Despite being one of the more upper-class neighbourhoods in Bologna, Murri isn’t expensive to live in, compared to more centrally located neighbourhoods. On average, you should expect to pay:

• Room: €550
• Studio: €1,100
• Apartment: €1,400

Borgo Panigale is a popular neighbourhood located between the airport and Centro Storico. It’s home to luxurious Italian brands, such as Ducatti. Despite being one of the fancier neighbourhoods, its distance from the centre makes the average rental price here a little cheaper than expected.

Considering how close Borgo Panigale is to the airport, the transit connections in this neighbourhood aren’t great. If you choose to live here, you should consider getting a car, bike or scooter to get around.

While the average prices in Borgo Panigale are a little cheaper, there’s a limited supply of rentals here due to its popularity. The prices that you can expect when renting in Borgo Panigale are:

• Room: €620
• Studio: €950
• Apartment: €1,200

Borgo Panigale is a popular location for young locals and internationals who prefer living in a more urban setting, so you won’t be the only international around.

Generally speaking, Bologna is a safe city at any time of the day. So no matter where you decide to live in Bologna, you’ll generally feel safe. However, like any big city, it’s always best to stay vigilant and watch for the usual crimes you’d expect to see in any tourist hot spot. Pickpocketers and scammers will target public transport stations and touristy areas. Just be mindful of your belongings and avoid hanging around public transport stations at night.

Violent crime is extremely rare in Bologna. The city is not as popular amongst tourists as other Italian cities, so even petty crimes are pretty uncommon.

Now that you know what each district in Bologna offers and which one best suits your needs, you can start looking for your next place to stay in this historic and welcoming city!