January in Bologna: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.9/10Expect 4°C (39°F) in January. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 59 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 17 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.3 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 5.9/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, September is materially better in Bologna — 2.9 points higher on the same scale.
February holds up well in Bologna — 9th best month
Good · 7.2/10Expect 7°C (45°F) in February. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 51 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.5 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 7.2/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, September is materially better in Bologna — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.
March holds up well in Bologna — 5th best month
Good · 8/10March averages 10°C (49°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 62 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.9 hours of daylight.
It scores 8/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
April in Bologna — one of the year's strongest windows (2nd)
Best window · 8.6/10Temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 67 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.5 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Bologna at 8.6/10 (2nd of 12), just behind September at 8.8/10.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
May in Bologna — reliably good (8th best month)
Good · 7.8/10May averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 130 mm — wet for this destination — but about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
June in Bologna — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 8.2/10At 24°C (75°F) this is comfortable city weather in June, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Budget for roughly 68 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.5 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 8.2/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
July holds up well in Bologna — 7th best month
Good · 7.9/10Days in July average 26°C (79°F) — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
With around 40 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.1 hours of daylight fill the rest.
That is 7.9/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
August in Bologna — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 8/10August averages 25°C (78°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 50 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14 hours of daylight.
It scores 8/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
September in Bologna tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 8.8/10September averages 21°C (69°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 74 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.5 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Bologna at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
October in Bologna — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 8.4/10Temperatures hover around 16°C (61°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 69 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 8.4/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
November in Bologna: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.8/10Expect 9°C (48°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 69 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.6 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 6.8/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, September is materially better in Bologna — 2 points higher on the same scale.
December in Bologna — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.6/10December averages 5°C (41°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 69 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.9 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.6/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? September scores 3.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
