{"id":51071,"date":"2026-06-24T11:20:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magictowns.it\/?p=51071"},"modified":"2026-06-24T11:20:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:20:58","slug":"what-people-say-about-living-in-bologna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magictowns.it\/de\/what-people-say-about-living-in-bologna\/","title":{"rendered":"What People Say About Living in Bologna"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not everyone idealizes life in a Kleinstadt<\/a> in Italien.<\/strong> Many people don’t want to rely on a car<\/a> to get from one place to another. They want to live in a place that can guarantee more job opportunities<\/a>, and maybe also more international schools for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we all know that most of the time, living in a big city means coping with crazy prices, traffic, and chaos. But there’s a city which, through all this, keeps being very livable. A place where you have all the amenities of a big city, but with that “small-town” feel.<\/strong> And that’s Bologna<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bologna<\/strong> is about 100 km south of Milan<\/strong>, the same distance north of Florence, and it offers something that’s harder to find than you’d think: a big, genuinely alive Italian city that hasn’t been entirely flattened by mass tourism. With a population of just under 400,000<\/strong>, it’s Italy’s seventh-largest city, home to the oldest university in the Western world, and consistently ranked among the best cities to live in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how does it actually feel to live in Bologna year-round? In this article, we’ll try to give you an answer, combining our data and the reviews of people who live there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FINDEN SIE HERAUS, WELCHE ITALIENISCHE STADT DIE RICHTIGE F\u00dcR SIE IST<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Life in Bologna: What People Say<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bologna<\/strong><\/a> carries three nicknames <\/strong>that tell you a lot about the place.\u00a0La Dotta<\/em>\u00a0(the Learned) for its ancient university.\u00a0La Grassa<\/em>\u00a0(the Fat) for its food culture – and indeed, it’s full of great and affordable restaurants. And\u00a0La Rossa<\/em>\u00a0(the Red) for those warm terracotta rooftops, but also for a long tradition of left-leaning politics that has shaped a city known for social progressiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Die university’s influence<\/strong> runs through everything here, so there’s always a mix of people – from students who arrived for a degree and then decided to stick around, to established\u00a0Bolognesi<\/strong>\u00a0who’ve been here their whole lives. There are events year-round, and most of the time they’re free or cost very little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“After two years here, what keeps striking me is that Bologna has worked out something most cities haven’t – it’s big enough to have real energy, but small enough to still feel human.<\/strong> And the architecture genuinely is extraordinary.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In general, I think Bologna is the perfect example of a city that works. A super welcoming place<\/strong> where you can still “breathe”. <\/strong>A city that certainly doesn’t have the frenzy of Milan, the “slowness” of Rome, or the heavy tourism of Florence and Venedig<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bologna, Emilia-Romagna<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Transport and Connectivity in Bologna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bologna<\/strong><\/a> has three main advantages in terms of connectivity. First, it sits in the north of Italy but leans toward the centre<\/strong> – which means you can easily reach many places across the country in very little time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zweitens, die rail connections<\/a><\/strong> are excellent.\u00a0Bologna Centrale<\/strong>\u00a0is one of Italy’s most important rail hubs. You can reach\u00a0Florenz<\/strong>\u00a0in nur\u00a037 Minuten<\/strong>,\u00a0Milan<\/strong>\u00a0in just over an hour,\u00a0Rom<\/strong>\u00a0in about\u00a02 hours<\/strong>und\u00a0Venedig<\/strong>\u00a0in an hour and a half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, it has a medium-sized airport<\/a><\/strong> -\u00a0Guglielmo Marconi<\/strong>\u00a0(BLQ) – just\u00a06 km northwest of the city centre<\/strong>, which you can easily reach by train. The\u00a0Marconi Express<\/strong>\u00a0shuttle from Bologna Centrale gets you there in\u00a07 Minuten<\/strong>, making it easily the most convenient airport connection of any Italian city I can think of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city is also well-served by buses. The\u00a0TPER<\/strong>\u00a0network covers the main routes, but frequency drops outside the centre and there’s no tram – a gap several long-term residents have flagged. The good news: the historic centre is\u00a0sehr gut begehbar<\/strong>, and those\u00a040+ km of covered porticoes<\/strong>\u00a0(UNESCO-listed) mean you can get around on foot in almost any weather. In short, it’s a city where you can easily live without a car.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Live in Bologna: Housing & Cost of Living<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bologna<\/a> is not cheap.<\/strong> Cheaper than Milan and Rome, but more expensive than most comparable cities in the south. The housing market is under continuous pressure from a large student population<\/strong> and a short-term rental sector that has eaten into long-term stock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bereich<\/th>Verkaufspreis (\u20ac\/m\u00b2)<\/th>Durchschnittliche 100m\u00b2 Wohnung (\u20ac)<\/th>Miete (\u20ac\/m\u00b2)<\/th>Durchschnittliche 100m\u00b2 Miete (\u20ac\/Monat)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Centro<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac4,688<\/td>\u20ac468,800<\/td>\u20ac18.35<\/td>\u20ac1,835<\/td><\/tr>
Costa, Saragozza, Saffi<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac3,956<\/td>\u20ac395,600<\/td>\u20ac15.85<\/td>\u20ac1,585<\/td><\/tr>
Murri, Massarenti<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac3,953<\/td>\u20ac395,300<\/td>\u20ac16.04<\/td>\u20ac1,604<\/td><\/tr>
Bolognina, Corticella<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac3,557<\/td>\u20ac355,700<\/td>\u20ac15.82<\/td>\u20ac1,582<\/td><\/tr>
Toscana, Savena<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac3,492<\/td>\u20ac349,200<\/td>\u20ac14.00<\/td>\u20ac1,400<\/td><\/tr>
San Donato, Pilastro<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac3,109<\/td>\u20ac310,900<\/td>\u20ac15.42<\/td>\u20ac1,542<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source: Immobiliare.it, Quotazioni Immobiliari Bologna, May 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding a place takes time and, ideally, Italian and a local contact. As a foreigner with no network, budget more time than you think. The good news is that Bologna is walkable and bikeable well beyond the historic centre, so you have several options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most sought-after neighbourhoods among residents are Mazzini<\/strong>, Murri<\/strong>und Saragozza<\/strong> – quiet, well-maintained, close to the centre, but priced accordingly. Alternatively, if you want to spend less, Saffi<\/strong>, Massarenti\/Cirenaica<\/strong>und Bolognina<\/strong> are the ones to look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Neighbourhoods like Mazzini, Murri, and Saragozza are quiet, well-maintained, and only a short distance from the core – which is exactly why they’re expensive. If you want to stay close to the centre but pay a bit less, Saffi, Massarenti\/Cirenaica, and Bolognina are the ones to look at.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Bolognina in particular has become the go-to for expats and remote workers: it’s diverse, changing fast, and right next to the train station. Further west, Santa Viola<\/strong> is another option that residents rate well – good bus connections into the centre and the Ospedale Maggiore<\/strong> in der N\u00e4he.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve lived in three different parts of Bologna – Via Toscana, Cirenaica, and now Santa Viola. Working close to the centre, I can say Santa Viola has been my best experience: well connected, plenty of buses that get you to the centre quickly, and the Maggiore hospital is right there. Services are fine for day-to-day life.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges of Living in Bologna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First<\/strong>die housing situation.<\/a><\/strong> The market is tight, landlords know it, and as a foreigner with no local network you’re at a structural disadvantage. Budget more time and money than you expect, and start looking months before you arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Culturally, Bologna is incredible. People are super welcoming, and there are real job opportunities here too. Eating out is still pretty affordable, the main issue is rent.. it’s been going up steadily and honestly it’s getting close to Rome and Milan levels,<\/strong> which feels a bit mad for a city this size.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Second<\/strong>die Klima<\/a><\/strong>. The Po Valley means proper seasons at both extremes. Summers are hot and humid – genuinely uncomfortable in July and August, with temperatures above\u00a035\u00b0C<\/strong>\u00a0and barely moving air. Winters are cold, damp, and frequently foggy for weeks. The porticoes help with rain, but not with the heat or the grey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The summer heat is the one real downside – but in 50 minutes by car or an hour on a regional train you’re on the Romagna coast, eating a piadina and walking along the seafront.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Third<\/strong>, if you travel long-haul frequently<\/a><\/strong>, Bologna’s airport will feel limiting.\u00a0Guglielmo Marconi<\/strong>\u00a0covers about\u00a0lots of destinations<\/strong>\u00a0across Europe and the Mediterranean. But there are no direct flights to North America, South America, or Asia-Pacific. The only intercontinental route is Emirates to\u00a0Dubai<\/strong>. So if you need transatlantic or long-haul flights, you’ll need to connect through\u00a0Mailand Malpensa<\/strong>\u00a0(about\u00a01 hour<\/strong>\u00a0by train + shuttle) or\u00a0Rom Fiumicino<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(2 hours<\/strong>\u00a0by train). That’s manageable, but it adds cost and logistics to every long-distance trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download our free guide on buying a property in Italy!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Bologna, Emilia-Romagna<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bologna by the Numbers: Key Data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n