When to go · Bologna, Italy
Best time to visit Bologna
The sweet spot is August, June and July — averages 25°C, only 4 rainy days, few other visitors.
April–June and September–October. July and August are hot and humid, and many trattorie close in August; trade fairs fill the hotels several times a year, so check the dates before booking.
Humid subtropical, close to continental: hot, muggy summers (daily means about 25°C, highs above 30°C) and cold, often foggy winters (3–4°C). Rain is spread through the year, wettest in November.
The short answer
25°C · 4 rainy days · low season
23°C · 6 rainy days · mid season
25°C · 3 rainy days · mid season
Hardest months: January and December. averages a raw 3°C, 5 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C | 5d | low | Cold |
| February | 5°C | 6d | low | Cold |
| March | 10°C | 6d | mid | Chilly |
| April | 13°C | 8d | high | Mild |
| May | 18°C | 7d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| June | 23°C | 6d | mid | Comfortable |
| July | 25°C | 3d | mid | Comfortable |
| August | 25°C | 4d | low | Comfortable |
| September | 20°C | 6d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| October | 15°C | 7d | high | Mild |
| November | 9°C | 8d | mid | Chilly |
| December | 4°C | 7d | mid | Cold |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January, February and August are low season in Bologna — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $45–80 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.