Bologna Travel Tips
Geography
After Venice, Bologna is a truly magical city and exudes a unique atmosphere, with its canal network, ancient arched bridges, charming squares and quaint churches. The city centre is startlingly medieval, a jumble of red brick, tiled roofs and balconies radiating out from the great central square of Piazza Maggiore. Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, between the Po River and the Apennines.
Visas
Italy - along with Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain - form part of the border-free travel zone that are subject to the Schengen Agreement. Citizens of the USA, Israel, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand are eligible to enter Italy as tourists without a visa and stay up to 90 days. Passports will not be stamped upon entry, so the three-month concession can be interpreted with certain flexibility.
EU citizens require only a passport or ID card to stay or work in Italy for as long as they wish. They are, however, required to register with a Questura (Police station) if they take up residence and need to obtain a Permesso di soggiorno (Permission to remain for a nominated period).
If visitors are entering Bologna for studies or plan to remain for an extended period, insist on having the entry stamp. Without it, you could encounter problems when trying to obtain a Permesso di soggiorno. Non-EU citizens wanting to study at a university or language school must have a study visa. These can be obtained from your nearest Italian embassy or consulate.
Currency
The Euro (€) is made up of 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500.00 (Euro), €200.00 (Euro), €100.00 (Euro), €50.00 (Euro), €20.00 (Euro) and €5.00 (Euro). Coins in use are €2 (Euro) and 1(Euro), and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Credit Cards
MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards. It is highly recommended to inquire from your credit and debit card companies for merchant acceptability and other benefits that may be available.
Language
Next to Italian, English is widely spoken throughout the continent.
Tipping
Optional, but 10% is usually accepted. In Bologna, it is customary to give a tip for services received from waitresses / waiters, porters, hotel maids and taxi drivers.
Useful Numbers
International country code: 39
Telephone Area code: 051
Police 113
Ambulance 118
Fire 115
Health Risks
Bottled water is readily available and is preferable but tap water is also safe for consumption. The inscription ‘Acqua Non Potabile’ means water is not good for drinking. Due to Bologna's stringent practices on hygiene and food safety, pasteurised milk, dairy products, local meats, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables have been proven clinically safe for consumption.
Echinococcosis, sandfly fever, West Nile virus, typhus and brucellosis outbreaks rarely occur. Rabies is a present threat. For additional information and clarification, inquire from your Bologna hotel before travelling.
Business Hours
Most businesses operate from Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and12:30 pm and from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Some Italian firms indulge in a 2-hour lunch break and finish later, till 6:30 pm or 7:00 pm.
Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm and from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
Government offices normally function from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to1:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
Shopping centres operate from Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, although some may have shorter hours over the weekend.
Holidays
Most banks and government offices in the Bologna area are closed on the following official holidays. Listed below is a selection of Bologna's most popular annual events: some dates may vary each year. For more information about events in Bologna, consult local newspapers or contact your Bologna hotel.
New Year's Day 1st January
Epiphany 6th January
St Patrick's Day 17th March
Anniversary of Liberation 25th April
May Day 1st May
Assumption of the Virgin 15th August
San Petronio 4th October
All Saints' Day 1st November
Immaculate Conception 8th December
Christmas Day 25th December
St Stephen's Day 26th December
Clothing
Style-savvy, Italians are chic. Even people in small towns spend a great deal of money on their wardrobes and dress well at all times. Dress elegantly but conservatively. Jackets and ties are required in fine dining restaurants. Going too casual is not appreciated. Lightweight cottons and linens are favourites during summers, except in the mountains. Alpine wear is advised for winter mountain resorts.
Safety tips
Bologna is a relatively safe city. However, visitors should remember these common-sense tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit:
Avoid carrying lump sums of money and don’t let strangers see how much money you are carrying.
Keep a firm hold on purses and knapsacks, carry your wallet in your front pocket and avoid wearing expensive jewellery.
Stay awake when riding public transport and keep packages close by.
Always park your car in a well-lit area. Close windows, lock doors and place valuables in the trunk.
