Hotel NH Bologna De La Gare

Arriving in Bologna in the rain with a 20kg suitcase is a special kind of misery. The city is famous for its medieval streets and terracotta arcades – beautiful, yes, but less charming when you’re dragging luggage across wet cobblestones. So when I stepped out of Bologna Centrale station and realised my hotel was barely a five-minute walk away, most of it through sheltered passages, it felt like a small miracle.

NH Bologna de la Gare sits right by the station in the northern part of the historic centre. At first glance it looks like a practical business hotel, but its location makes it a smart base for exploring the city. From here you’re within easy reach of Bologna’s shopping streets, restaurants and major sights – and thanks to the city’s famously long portico walkways, you can get to most places without ever getting soaked.

Why stay at NH Bologna de la Gare?

Bologna Centrale is the main rail hub for northern Italy, connecting cities like Florence, Milan and Venice, which makes this hotel ideal if you’re arriving by train or planning day trips.

It’s also an easy walk into the city centre. In about 15 minutes, you're staring up at Neptune's Fountain and admiring the leaning towers of Bologna. Along the way you'll pass international shops and independent cafés tucked under Bologna’s famous porticoes – those ingenious arcaded walkways that stretch for kilometres and let locals move around the city sheltered from both rain and summer heat.

What are the rooms like at NH Bologna de la Gare?

I stayed in a Junior Suite on the top floor, and the highlight was the terrace. It’s enormous – almost the same size as the room itself – giving you a generous outdoor space to step out into the city air, which I would have done more of if it wasn't raining.

Inside, the room is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room to spread out luggage. The bed is properly comfortable, the kind you fall into after a day of wandering through Bologna’s food markets and museums.

The bathroom is equally generous. It’s fully enclosed from the bedroom with a proper door and fitted with double sinks, a bidet, toilet, and a separate shower and bathtub. Everything feels practical and well-designed for travellers who value comfort.

What’s the restaurant like at NH Bologna de la Gare?

Breakfast is served buffet-style and covers all the hotel classics: pastries, breads, cold cuts, fruit and hot dishes. It’s not the sort of breakfast that becomes the highlight of your trip, but it does the job well enough before a day of sightseeing.

One detail I appreciated is the relaxed weekend schedule. Instead of closing early in the morning, breakfast stretches well into the afternoon.

What is the service like at NH Bologna de la Gare?

The staff are friendly and welcoming. When I checked in, an older gentleman at reception handed me an umbrella as the rain poured outside, then added with a smile that he's willing to bet that I actually won't use it because of the way the city is built. He wasn’t wrong.

At times, the reception desk can feel slightly understaffed, with just one or two people working during busier moments, which occasionally means a short wait. But when it’s your turn, check-in and check-out are quick and efficient.

What’s the area like around NH Bologna de la Gare?

The hotel sits just north of Bologna’s historic centre, right next to Bologna Centrale station. While the immediate area feels more practical than picturesque, it’s extremely well-connected.

Walk south for about 10-15 minutes and you’re suddenly surrounded by Bologna’s greatest hits: historic food shops selling fresh tortellini and mortadella, and lively piazzas full of students and locals. The famous leaning towers – Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda – are also within walking distance.

Being near the station also makes this a great base if you’re travelling through Italy by rail. Florence is around 40 minutes away by high-speed train, while Milan is just over an hour.

Why you should book a stay at NH Bologna de la Gare

NH Bologna de la Gare isn’t the most glamorous hotel in the city, but it delivers where it matters. The rooms are comfortable, the location is incredibly convenient and the generous suite terraces are a pleasant surprise.

If you’re arriving by train, travelling with luggage or planning day trips around northern Italy, this hotel makes life very easy.

Address: Piazza XX Settembre 2, 40121 Bologna, Italy
Price: Rooms typically start from around €200 per night
Closest transport: Bologna Centrale railway station (5-minute walk)
Book now