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Bologna, a strategic crossroads at the heart of Emilia-Romagna, represents an ideal starting point for exploring the region’s treasures. Hiring a car in the Emilian capital means having the freedom to discover a unique heritage of art, culture and food and wine. The city’s privileged location, at the centre of the main transport routes and within easy reach of both the coast and the Apennines, makes car hire an excellent choice for a complete and personalised travel experience.
A tour of the Bologna hills is a must, reachable in 15 minutes from the centre, to visit ancient villages and enjoy traditional cuisine. Within an hour’s drive you can reach the Porretta Thermal Baths, nestled in the Apennines, or the Gessi Bolognesi Regional Park with its nature trails.
With a car, you can organise tailor-made tours of the Food Valley: in 45 minutes you’ll reach Modena for traditional balsamic vinegar, whilst in an hour you’ll arrive in Parma, home of PDO ham. Don’t miss the wineries in the Dozza area, a medieval village 30 minutes from Bologna, where you can taste DOC wines from the Colli Imolesi.
In a day trip you can visit numerous art cities: Ferrara (45 minutes), with its UNESCO Renaissance centre; Ravenna (1 hour) with its Byzantine mosaics; Florence (1 hour 30 minutes on the A1) crossing evocative Apennine landscapes. For beach lovers, the Romagna Riviera is within an hour’s drive.
Below are the cheapest prices for car hire at at the airport of Bologna, to book click here.
The prices of car rental at the at the airport of Bologna varies depending on the time of year. This graph shows the average prices in the various months to help you find out which is the best period to rent a low cost car.
According to reviews by other travellers, the following are the best car rental companies at the airport of Bologna. To compare rates click here.
The main rental outlets are located at Marconi Airport, where all major operators (Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt) are available with extended opening hours. Alternatively, several agencies are available at the Central Station and in various city centre locations. It is advisable to book online in advance, especially during high season or on the occasion of major trade fairs.
To hire a car in Bologna you must have: a valid driving licence held for at least one year, a credit card in the driver’s name (prepaid or debit cards are not accepted), a valid identity document. The minimum age varies from 21 to 25 years depending on the company and vehicle category. Drivers under 25 may be charged an additional “young driver” fee.
The historic centre’s ZTL (restricted traffic zone) is active every day: it is essential to pay attention to signage and use the many park-and-ride car parks. For short stays, there are blue-line areas (pay parking) and covered car parks in the centre. It is advisable to choose smaller vehicles, which are more suitable for historic centre roads. Generally, the fuel tank should be filled up before returning the car to avoid surcharges.
Pay attention to speed cameras, which are frequent on major roads. On motorways, use Telepass (available with some rental companies) to avoid queues at toll booths. During winter, for trips to the Apennines, check the requirement for snow chains on board or winter tyres. Download an updated navigation app to avoid ZTLs and easily find car parks.
Here are some quick answers to the most common doubts about car rental in Bologna.
To reserve a car in Bologna a credit card or debit card is sufficient. However, when you go to collect the car, you will need:
The car rental companies in Bologna allow to rent a car to all those who are between 21 and 70 years old. However, there is an additional cost for under 25 and for those over 70.
A car rental in Bologna always includes:
Any extras or additional insurance coverage are separate.
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