🇮🇹 Bologna, Italy
Il Guercino
📍 Via Luigi Serra, 7, 40129 Bologna BO, Italy
Your stay — Il Guercino
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Bologna.
The Property — Il Guercino
Il Guercino is a budget-friendly 3-star hotel just outside Bologna’s historic centre, named after the Baroque painter Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. The lobby is compact and functional, with a front desk that’s efficient rather than chatty. Rooms are clean and basic, with tiled floors and simple furniture, no design flourishes. It suits travellers who want a cheap, no-frills base near the central train station and don’t mind a 20-minute walk to Piazza Maggiore.
Chronicles of Bologna
Bologna was founded by the Etruscans as Felsina around 500 BC, later became a Roman colony (Bononia) in 189 BC. Its medieval university, established in 1088, is the oldest in the Western world and still dominates the city’s intellectual life. The historic centre is defined by 40 km of covered porticoes (a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021) and two leaning towers, the Asinelli and Garisenda, built by rival families in the 12th century. Today Bologna is known as ‘La Grassa’ (the fat one) for its food—think tortellini, mortadella, and ragù—and ‘La Dotta’ (the learned) for its academic heritage.
Best Time to Visit
Full Bologna guide →Best months
April, May, and September: mild temperatures (12-22°C), fewer tourists than summer, and the city’s porticoes provide shade in spring. Events like ‘Festa della Liberazione’ (25 April) and ‘Festa di San Petronio’ (4 October) add local colour without overwhelming crowds.
Peak / festival surge
June-August: high season driven by summer holidays and outdoor events like ‘Bologna Estate’ concerts. July is the hottest, with temperatures often reaching 32°C. Hotel prices at Il Guercino typically rise 20-30% above shoulder rates. The main drivers are the ‘Festa di San Giovanni’ (24 June) and the ‘Bologna Jazz Festival’ (late June).
Budget shoulder season
October and March: rates at Il Guercino drop 15-20%, crowds thin, and temperatures are 10-15°C. October sees the ‘Fiera del Levante’ and autumnal food festivals; March is quieter but still has some rain.
Weather & packing
Bologna’s summers are humid with sudden afternoon thunderstorms common in June. Pack a light rain jacket or foldable umbrella, and bring a compact umbrella for the rain showers that can pop up within an hour.
Live City Briefing — Bologna
- The Portico of San Luca restoration is complete as of early 2026; all 666 arches are now fully walkable from the city to the sanctuary on the hill, with new lighting for evening strolls.
- Bologna’s new tram line (Line 1) is set to open in phases from June 2026; the route passes near Il Guercino on Via Irnerio, with some road closures expected through June. Check local traffic updates before arrival.
- The ‘Sotto le Stelle del Cinema’ outdoor film festival runs in Piazza Maggiore from 21 June to 15 August 2026; free screenings nightly from 21:00, but expect large crowds and street closures after 19:00.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Il Guercino, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, facing the internal courtyard rather than the street. These upper floors reduce foot traffic and lift noise, and the courtyard side will be quieter at night.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those facing Via Luigi Serra. Street noise from the road and pedestrian activity will be most noticeable here, and the lift door opens directly onto this level, adding extra clatter.
Best views
Expect views of the surrounding residential area and rooftops. Rooms facing the courtyard offer a calmer outlook onto the hotel’s inner space; street-facing rooms on upper floors have a glimpse towards the city but also traffic below.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. The lift shaft is enclosed but lower floors still catch lobby and reception noise; higher floors are more insulated.
🔊 Noise notes
Via Luigi Serra is a secondary urban road with a mix of local traffic and pedestrians. The single lift is audible from the corridors on all floors but is worst on floor 1. No bar or restaurant noise on-site, but the entrance area can have activity during check-in/out times.
Insider tips
1. Use Parcheggio Tanari (Via Tanari 1, €20/24h) — it’s a 5-minute walk and the best option for parking; book a space in advance online to guarantee it. 2. Request the wheelchair-accessible room at booking if you need step-free bathrooms — standard rooms lack grab rails, so this avoids disappointment.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Il Guercino
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed around 30 Mbps; no login required, just select network and accept terms
Single lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader on tablets in lobby; no physical newspapers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 without charge if room is ready; late check-out until 13:00 costs €30
Free left luggage service at reception on day of departure or before check-in
Step-free entrance from street; lift to all floors; wheelchair-accessible room available (request at booking); no grab rails in standard bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parcheggio Tanari at Via Tanari 1 (€20 per 24 hours); no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €4.50 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full stay amount pre-authorised on credit card at booking; €50 incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù (280 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Assemblee di Dio in Italia (344 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Cristoforo (776 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Santi Angeli Custodi (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centro Viale Repubblica — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Piazza dell'Unità — 316 m · ~4 min walk
Deposito Collezione Storica ATC — 564 m · ~7 min walk
Testoni Ragazzi — 230 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 600 m · ~8 min walk
Sacro Cuore — 221 m · ~3 min walk
La vecchia bottega — 156 m · ~2 min walk
Bologna Centrale AV — 436 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Exchange at banks or post offices for better rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau kiosks due to poor rates and high fees.
Cards widely accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels; contactless and mobile pay common; carry small cash for markets and smaller cafes.
Not expected; round up the bill or leave small change (e.g., €1–2) for good service in restaurants; taxi drivers don't expect tips; hotel porters get €1–2 per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter: around €1–1.20.
Pizza al taglio (by slice) or a panino from a alimentari: about €5–8.
A pasta or piadina main at a modest trattoria or osteria: €10–15.
Via Pescherie Vecchie market area and the Quadrilatero alleys are packed with small stalls and takeaway counters for piadina, tortellini and arancini.
Conad and Coop are the main budget supermarket chains in the centro storico.
Via Rizzoli and Via dell'Indipendenza have high-street chains like H&M, Zara and Bershka; check the Mercato delle Erbe for affordable vintage markets on weekends.
Single bus/tram ticket €1.50 (valid 75 mins) or a day pass €6; from Bologna airport take the Aerobus BLQ to central station (€6, every 11 mins, 20 min ride).
Eat at the bar counter for coffee and small meals to avoid table service charges. Shop for groceries at Conad or Coop for picnic supplies. Walk or use a bike rental (€2/day with Mobike) – the historic centre is compact.
Good to know — Bologna
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Bologna, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Il Guercino
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 600 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Sacro Cuore — 221 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Hotel Cavour area (via Indipendenza stop) → Historic centre (Piazza Maggiore / via Ugo Bassi)
💡 Use the Roger app for mobile tickets. A 1.50€ ticket lasts 75 minutes with unlimited transfers. Bus 27 runs up the main drag—handy if it rains or your feet ache.
Bologna Airport (BLQ) → Hotel Cavour (via Cavour 7)
💡 Official fixed fare from airport to city centre is 25€ (2024). The taxi rank is outside arrivals; expect surcharges for luggage or night rides. Tip not expected.
Bologna Airport (BLQ) → Bologna Centrale train station
💡 Buy tickets from the machine outside arrivals (cashless only). Validate on board—fines are steep. Hotel Cavour is a 5-minute walk from the station’s north exit.
Bologna Centrale → Florence SMN / other day trips
💡 For Florence, take the regional train (Regionale Veloce)—the 37-minute ride costs €9 and you don't need an advance booking. Validate paper tickets in the yellow machines.
Savoia Hotel Regency → Bologna City Centre (Piazza XX Settembre)
💡 The stop is a 3-minute walk down the hotel driveway on Via degli Scalini. Use the Roger app to buy a ticket – no need to validate, just show the driver the QR code.
Savoia Hotel Regency → Bologna Central Station
💡 Bus 20 runs via Via Massarenti and takes a bit longer than Bus 27, but it drops you directly at the station’s north entrance, saving a 5-minute walk.
Bologna Airport (BLQ) → Via Riva Reno (stop: Riva Reno)
💡 Cheapest option. Buy ticket at airport Tabacchi — validate on bus. Hotel is 4-min walk from the Riva Reno stop. Avoid this route during rush hour (bags get crushed).
Bologna Centrale train station → Hotel Corticella (Via Corticella 159)
💡 Buy your ticket at a tabacchi or station newsstand—never from the driver. Validate it in the machine on board. For Hotel Corticella, get off at 'Corticella Bus Terminal' stop, a 5-minute walk.
Bologna Centrale → Bologna Zona Universitaria (OVS stop, short walk to Hotel Accademia)
💡 Use only within Bologna city boundaries — ticket same as bus. Exit at San Vitale or Rimesse for closer walk to Accademia than the main station.
Bologna Centrale (via Indipendenza stop) → Via delle Belle Arti (Hotel Accademia stop)
💡 Buy ticket from tabacchi or the TPER app — tap onto bus using phone if you pre-validate. Validate after boarding, not before.
Bologna Centrale → Corticella Station (closest rail stop to hotel)
💡 This is a regional train—buy ticket before boarding from machines or app. From 'Bologna Corticella' station, it's 800m (10-min walk) to the hotel. Faster than the 73 bus but runs less often on Sundays.
Bologna Airport (BLQ) → Savoia Hotel Regency
💡 Book via the official Cotabo app for a fixed rate to the hotel. Avoid unlicensed drivers at the kerb – they often quote €40+ for the same trip.
About Bologna
Wikipedia ↗
Bologna (Bolognese: Bulåggna) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy, with 390,734 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its metropolitan province is home to more than 1 million people as of 2025. Bologna i...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Il Guercino?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, facing the internal courtyard rather than the street. These upper floors reduce foot traffic and lift noise, and the courtyard side will be quieter at night.
Which rooms should I avoid at Il Guercino?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those facing Via Luigi Serra. Street noise from the road and pedestrian activity will be most noticeable here, and the lift door opens directly onto this level, adding extra clatter.
Is Il Guercino noisy?
Via Luigi Serra is a secondary urban road with a mix of local traffic and pedestrians. The single lift is audible from the corridors on all floors but is worst on floor 1. No bar or restaurant noise on-site, but the entrance area can have activity during check-in/out times.
Which rooms have the best views at Il Guercino?
Expect views of the surrounding residential area and rooftops. Rooms facing the courtyard offer a calmer outlook onto the hotel’s inner space; street-facing rooms on upper floors have a glimpse towards the city but also traffic below.
What are insider tips for staying at Il Guercino?
1. Use Parcheggio Tanari (Via Tanari 1, €20/24h) — it’s a 5-minute walk and the best option for parking; book a space in advance online to guarantee it. 2. Request the wheelchair-accessible room at booking if you need step-free bathrooms — standard rooms lack grab rails, so this avoids disappointment.
What time is check-in at Il Guercino?
Check-in at Il Guercino is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Il Guercino have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed around 30 Mbps; no login required, just select network and accept terms
Is there a city or tourist tax at Il Guercino?
€4.50 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Il Guercino?
Pizza al taglio (by slice) or a panino from a alimentari: about €5–8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Il Guercino?
Single bus/tram ticket €1.50 (valid 75 mins) or a day pass €6; from Bologna airport take the Aerobus BLQ to central station (€6, every 11 mins, 20 min ride).
When is the best time to visit Bologna?
April, May, and September: mild temperatures (12-22°C), fewer tourists than summer, and the city’s porticoes provide shade in spring. Events like ‘Festa della Liberazione’ (25 April) and ‘Festa di San Petronio’ (4 October) add local colour without overwhelming crowds.
Top Attractions in Bologna
💡 The theatre is free only during term-time library hours; if the door is locked, check the library’s opening times online—it's often open 9–13 on weekdays.
💡 Climb the nearby Torre degli Asinelli for a panorama (paid), but first walk around the basilica's side streets to see the tiny, frescoed Oratorio dei Battuti Bianchi – free and often missed.
💡 You can walk into the entrance courtyard and the staircase for free. To enter the Anatomical Theatre and library, you need to buy a ticket (€3 in 2024) — worth it, but check the website for closures during events.
💡 Buy a cone of fried gnocco fritto (savoury dough puffs) from the back stall for €2. Eat standing at the bar; you'll save €4–5 on a seated menu.
💡 No need to buy a full meal – grab a cone of fried seafood or a slice of pizza al taglio for €3–5. The alleyway Via Pescherie Vecchie has the best panino spots, like Tamburini.
💡 Go early around 10am to see the shops in full swing. Avoid eating at the tourist-friendly places with menus in English; instead grab a tray of tortellini from a deli counter to eat standing up. Costs about €4–5 for lunch.
💡 Don't pay to go in the small museum in the back rooms. Instead walk around the left side to the rear of the building to see the impressive 'Porta Magna' unfinished facade with its carved reliefs.
💡 Walk the Portico di San Luca starting from Porta Saragozza at dawn — it's cooler, you'll beat the heat, and you get the sanctuary almost to yourself. Bring water; there are few fountains.