Bologna international airport is served by several low cost airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, HOP! and Eurowings; meaning there are plenty of bargain flights to had from all over Europe. Those coming from further afield will likely have a stopover in London, France or Germany en route. From the airport, Bologna city centre is a short taxi journey (20-25 mins), or there is a dedicated Aerobus which takes you from the main terminal building into the centre. Bologna is well connected with other major Italian cities through the rail network with several of the main lines running high speed trains. You can reach Florence in around 40 mins, Milan in around an hour and Venice in 2 hours.

A lot of Bologna’s hotels are located within grand converted buildings with some maintaining lovely period features. There are many mid-range hotels in the city centre to choose from, all within walking distance of the sites; and also a great range of Airbnb’s dotted across the city. For a splurge the Grand Hotel Majestic offers a touch of luxury just off the main square, or head out of Bologna to peaceful Villa Valfiore set within a lovely park.

There really is no bad place to eat in Bologna as all the local produce from Emilia Romagna is divine, and of course steaming bowls of Bolognese are on offer! Head to Via De Pignattari for your pick of wine shops all serving delicious cheese and ham platters, or for a more cosy and traditional affair opt for Alle Due Porta away from the main tourist squares. If you have a day to spare get out of Bologna to explore Modena and the rest of the foodie region to taste the local delicacies including Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar and Parma ham.

There’s no shortage of great wine bars in Bologna. Even though located on Piazza Maggiore, and seemingly a tourist trap, Signorvino is worth a visit as they stock a wide range of excellent wine and the service is top notch. When your feet become weary at around 5pm head into a local bar to experience Apertivo, an Italian happy hour, where snacks are served alongside Aperol spritzes – don’t spoil your dinner though!

Within the city centre that are many historic sites to admire, and if you fancy the exercise you can climb up the Two Towers for a panoramic view of the city. The beautiful shopping arcades are another highlight of the centre with miles of boutique and designer shops to try not to spend your money at! To further explore the foodie aspect of the area you can visit Eataly, a massive food centre full of shop and restaurants set just outside of Bologna, they even offer cookery classes if you’re looking to hone your culinary skills.