Bologna is the capital of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region and the country's undisputed food capital. This is where bolognese sauce, tortellini and mortadella were born, while the city's medieval towers, 40 km of arcaded porticoes and Europe's oldest university make it a living, authentic Italy — without the tourist crowds. Let's see how to reach Bologna from Tbilisi and what to see there.
✈️ Flights from Tbilisi
- Wizz Air: Kutaisi (KUT) → Bologna (BLQ), seasonal direct flight, about 4 h 15 m
- From Tbilisi (TBS) — usually one connection (Istanbul, Vienna or Munich), 6-9 h total
- Ticket price: $170-330 round trip on a low-cost flight, depending on season
- Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ) — ~6 km from the center; the Marconi Express monorail reaches Bologna Centrale in ~7 minutes
- The Travel365 price calendar — find the cheapest dates and the green days
🛂 Visa and entry
Bologna is in the Schengen zone, so Georgian citizens need a type C tourist visa. Submit your application at the Italian or Schengen visa center at least 2 months before your flight — details in the Schengen visa guide.
From 2026, entering Europe also requires ETIAS authorization for visa-liberalized countries — Georgians are still under the visa rule, but it's useful to read the ETIAS 2026 guide. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure from Schengen.
From BLQ to the center: the Marconi Express monorail is ~$12, 7 minutes; a bus or taxi is an alternative. Get an eSIM for internet on arrival.
🏛️ Top attractions
- Piazza Maggiore — the main square where life buzzes; the Basilica of San Petronio (one of the world's largest brick churches)
- Le Due Torri — the two leaning towers (Asinelli and Garisenda); climbing Asinelli's 498 steps opens the city's best view
- Portici di Bologna — 40 km of arcaded porticoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- University of Bologna — the world's oldest operating university (1088) and the Archiginnasio's anatomical theatre
- Quadrilatero — the medieval market district packed with gourmet produce
- Santuario di San Luca — a hilltop church reached by the world's longest continuous portico (~3.8 km)
🍝 Gastronomy — the main reason for Bologna
Bologna is nicknamed 'La Grassa' — 'the Fat' — for its culinary richness. Be sure to try authentic tagliatelle al ragù (what the world calls 'bolognese' is not served with spaghetti here), tortellini in brodo and mortadella.
Nearby Parma (parmigiano cheese and prosciutto) and Modena (balsamic vinegar) are 30-60 minutes from Bologna by train — an easy day trip for the food-loving traveler.
💰 Budget
- Hotel: 3★ $70-120/night || 4★ $130-230/night
- Food: a trattoria lunch $16-28; tagliatelle al ragù $14-22
- Transport: a bus ticket $2; Marconi Express $12
- Climbing the Asinelli tower: ~$6 (book the ticket online in advance)
- A day trip to Parma or Modena by train: $10-18 round trip
🗓️ Best season and practical tips
April-June and September-October are the ideal seasons: warm weather (18-26°C), fewer crowds and moderate prices. July-August is hot and humid, and many local restaurants close. In winter, Bologna's covered porticoes keep it comfortable even in bad weather.
Bologna pairs perfectly with other Italian cities — Florence is ~37 minutes by high-speed train, Venice ~1.5 h, Milan ~1 h. Combine several cities in one trip — to move between them cheaply, the Europe by bus guide helps.
Climbing the Asinelli tower is limited — buy your ticket online in advance. Search flights and compare prices on the Travel365 price calendar.
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