Cheap flights from London to Bologna

September is the month when fares on this route drop to their lowest, so start there if your dates are flexible. Prices climb through the autumn school break and the Christmas run, ease back in the dead of winter, then rise again from spring as the city fills up. Midweek departures usually cost less than Friday or Sunday flights, and the early and late departures of the day are often the cheaper ones. Book summer travel well ahead; for winter and early spring you can leave it later and still find something sensible. Keep an eye on Italian public holidays, when domestic demand pushes fares up.

Ryanair, Ryanair UK, Easyjet, Vueling Airlines and the Wizz Air group — Wizz Air, Wizz Air UK and Wizz Air Malta — are the low-cost carriers you will see most often on this route. British Airways flies it as the full-service option, and Norwegian International also appears in the mix. The difference matters at checkout: a low-cost fare covers the seat and little else, with extras added as you go, while a full-service ticket bundles more in and is easier to change. If your itinerary involves a connection, check whether it is sold as one ticket or two — on two separate tickets, a delay on the first leg is your problem, not the airline's.

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi is the airport that serves the city, and it sits just outside the centre, close enough that the transfer into town is quick. Buses and taxis run between the terminal and the city, and the ride is short enough that you can land in the morning and be at your hotel before lunch. If you are arriving on a late flight, check the last departure of the bus or shuttle before you book, since options thin out after the evening. From the airport you can also reach the main railway station easily, which matters if Bologna is a stop on a longer Italian trip. Baggage delivery can take a while at peak times, so build in a little slack if you have a train to catch.

Currency

EUR (€)

Power sockets

Type C, F, L · 230 V

Language

Italian

Emergency number

112, 113, 115

Driving side

right

Calling code

+39

Internet domain

.it

EU / Schengen

EU member, Schengen area

Population of Bologna

388 k (2023)

Time zone

UTC+01 (Europe/Rome)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport you leave from, because flights to Bologna go from London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted, and they are far apart.
• Confirm what your low-cost fare includes, because the headline price rarely covers a checked bag or seat selection.
• If your route involves a connection, make sure it is one ticket rather than two, so a missed link does not fall on you.
• Check the entry rules for Italy and make sure your passport or identity card is valid for the trip.
• Look at fares for September first, since that is the cheapest month on this route.
• Decide whether the direct flight is worth the extra, and compare the whole journey door to door.