Navigating Bologna: Everything You Need To Know Before You Move

Bologna, Italy

In the lively region of Emilia Romagna region located in the north of Italy is beautiful Bologna. The mediaeval city is home to over 800,000 people, phenomenal food, ancient architecture and so much more.

Bologna is a city you can really get lost in and we aren’t surprised you are about to move there. With one of the oldest universities in the world sitting at over 900 years old! Here are a few things you should know to prepare yourself before you make that move.

Transport

Public transport is the best way to get around the city, it is a convenient and relatively low cost way for you to explore.

The city has buses and trains that connect you to different Bologna neighbourhoods.

Here are a few figures:

A single bus ticket costs 1.50 euros.
A day pass valid for 24 hours costs 6 euros.
A city pass valid for 10 rides costs 14 euros.
A monthly seasonal ticket if you are under 27 costs 27 euros.
A monthly seasonal ticket if you are over 27 costs 36 euros.
An annual ticket costs 300 euros.

In order to buy these tickets, day passes can be purchased at ticket machines but be aware that they only accept money and not cards. Seasonal tickets can be bought at bus / train stations or TPER points. In order to purchase the monthly pass you need to take a valid form of identification such as a passport or national identity card.

If you don't want to take the bus or train to manoeuvre around the city you can use bike sharing methods called Mobike to explore areas of the city the bus or train does not show you.

Accommodation

In order to feel truly comfortable in a city this is the most important aspect you need to find. There are many safe and secure apartments in Bologna on platforms such as Spotahome. This platform can help you find the best place for all of your needs.

Protected from scams and all securely online so you don’t have to visit various homes around the city to find the perfect place for you!

Living Costs

The average salary in Bologna is around 35,000+ euros therefore the price of items is reflective of this.

Here are a few figures of the average cost of common items:

A meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs around 17 euros.
Domestic beer 0.5 liters costs 5 euros.
A cappuccino costs 1.55 euros.
Potatoes cost 1.35 euros.
Onions cost 1.11 euros.
A bottle of mid range wine costs 6 euros.
A loaf of bread 500 grams costs 1.94 euros.
Monthly gym membership costs 51.16 euros.
Cinema ticket costs 9 euros.

Language

In Bologna Italian is spoken as it is the official language of the country. If you are wondering if you can get around only speaking English the answer is no.

While English is known by some Italians it is a small percentage of the population. If you are in tourist areas you will be able to navigate speaking in English but, once you get out of tourist areas you really need to exercise your Italian skills.

We highly recommend that if you are going to settle into the city you take an Italian lesson before you move. Prepare yourself and make your life easier and allow yourself to integrate into the society easier. If you are already in Bologna it is always better late than never! Start learning Italian. There are so many tools online to help you along the way.

Weather

Bologna has a humid climate with hot summers with temperatures reaching as high as 30+ degrees Celsius during the months of July and August. Low temperatures are experienced in the months of December, January and February at the lowest point of -1 degrees Celsius.

If you can manage warm humid summers and mild temperatures with heavy rain during the winter months Bologna will be for you.

Internet

Italy does not have the best internet so the internet you experience will mean that the speeds you experience will vary depending on the network that you use. On average the internet speed is one of the slowest in Western Europe. Mobile networks have an average network speed for downloads 55.32 mbps, 11.67 mbps upload speed and 26 ms latency.

In regards to fixed networks the average is as follows, 88.14 mbps for downloads, 26.01 mbps upload speeds and 11 ms latency.

Here are some popular networks providers in the area you can research and find which service is the best for you:

Fastweb.
Sky.
Telecom Italia.
Vodafone.
Windtre.

Coworking Spaces

Bologna has a few coworking spaces within the city. Working in a city that has a lot of history means that the varying spaces on offer will have unique features that will set the apart from other spots you may have worked at before.

Here are a few you can check out while you are in the city:

Safety

Bologna in contrast to the rest of the country has relatively low crime. While crime has risen much like the rest of many parts of the world the crimes that people are in most danger of is drug related and vandalism and theft of property.

The city is very accepting of people from varying backgrounds regarding ethnicity and cultures. In addition violent crimes and armed robbery in the city is very low. While the city has some issues with crime you can confidently walk around and feel accepted and safe by the residents of the city.

Is Bologna For You?

Bologna is a young university city with a mix of bright students, natives and internationals making the city their home. The city is small and if you are from a big city you will feel a big town environment where people know each other. Bologna is a city with many pros and cons, here are a few so that you can make the most informed decision.

Pros:

The food.
The connections to the rest of Italy and Europe.
There are a lot of students.
Many cultural events.
Great public transport.
Walkable city.

Cons:

It is hard to find parking in the city.
There are a lot of students.
Humid summers, wet winters.

Sources: