More about hotels in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is where Italy takes its dinner plans more seriously than almost anywhere else in the country. This is the region that invented tagliatelle al ragù in Bologna, ages Parmigiano-Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma in cellars around Parma, and locks balsamic vinegar away in wooden barrels for over a decade in Modena. It also builds some of the world's fastest cars a short drive from those same vinegar lofts, guards mosaic art in Ravenna that has survived more than 1,500 years, and finishes it all off with fifteen kilometres of Adriatic beach in Rimini.
Food obsessives base themselves in Bologna, Parma or Modena. Beach-goers head for Rimini. Ravenna suits anyone chasing art and history without the coastal crowds. Here's where to stay, what it costs, and a few tips to help you land the right room.
Where to stay in Emilia-Romagna
- Bologna: the region's transport hub and food capital, home to the leaning Due Torri towers, over 60 kilometres of UNESCO-listed porticoes, and one of Europe's oldest universities. The best base if you want fast trains to everywhere else on this list. See Bologna hotels.
- Parma: smaller and slower, built around Parmigiano-Reggiano dairies, prosciutto cellars and the Teatro Regio opera house. A good pick for a food-focused few days. See Parma hotels.
- Modena: balsamic vinegar attics by day, Ferrari and Maserati territory by afternoon. The UNESCO-listed Duomo and Piazza Grande sit a short walk from most central hotels. See Modena hotels.
- Rimini: the coastal option, with fifteen kilometres of Adriatic beach, beach clubs, and a Roman-era old town sitting right behind the seafront. See Rimini hotels.
- Ravenna: home to eight UNESCO-listed monuments and some of the best-preserved mosaic art anywhere in the world. Quieter than Bologna, and an easy day trip if you'd rather stay elsewhere. See Ravenna hotels.
How much is Emilia-Romagna accommodation?
Rooms in Emilia-Romagna start from around AU$40 a night at the budget end, with most travellers landing somewhere around AU$110 to AU$150 for a solid mid-range stay. Here's roughly what each tier gets you.
- Hostels and budget rooms: from AU$40 per night. Shared or basic private rooms, usually an easy walk from a train station.
- Budget hotels and guesthouses: from AU$70 per night. Simple, clean rooms, often family-run, in or close to the historic centre.
- Mid-range hotels: from AU$110 per night. Central locations, private bathrooms, breakfast usually included.
- Boutique stays: from AU$160 per night. Restored palazzos and historic buildings with a bit more character than a standard hotel room.
- Luxury and resort hotels: from AU$260 per night. Full service, spa facilities, and in Rimini's case, direct beach access.
Top-rated hotels in Emilia-Romagna
Bologna carries most of the region's standout properties, which makes sense given it's where most visitors land first.
- Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni: a grand hotel set in an 18th-century palazzo on Via dell'Indipendenza, a five-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore.
- Art Hotel Orologio: a boutique property tucked beside the clock tower it's named after, about as central as Bologna gets.
- I Portici Hotel: a restored early 1900s building with an in-house restaurant that's built a strong local reputation of its own.
- Starhotels Excelsior: a reliable upscale pick close to the station, popular with business and leisure travellers alike.
- Hotel Corona d'Oro: a smaller historic hotel a few streets from Piazza Maggiore, with a striking glass-roofed lounge area.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Emilia-Romagna
- Base yourself in Bologna if you're covering more than one city. Fast trains put Parma, Modena and Ravenna all under an hour away, so you can day-trip instead of packing and unpacking.
- Book Rimini's beachfront hotels well ahead for July and August. Rooms with sea views get snapped up early once the Italian summer holiday season kicks in.
- If food is the main event, stay in Parma or Modena proper rather than out near the highway. Most dairies, prosciutto cellars and vinegar producers run tours a short walk or taxi ride from the centre.
- Treat Ravenna as a single overnight rather than a long stay. A night or two is plenty to see the mosaic sites properly without rushing.
- Shoulder season, spring and early autumn, gets you lower rates almost everywhere in the region, plus more comfortable weather for walking between sights.
Landed on Emilia-Romagna as your next stop? Check flights to Italy to start planning the rest of the trip.
