Parking in Bologna: where to park without getting a ticket

Are you coming to Bologna by car?
Greta won't love you, but if you park in the right place without wandering around and getting a ticket, we can make her happier.

This guide helps you park fast, avoid the ztl, and spend your time where it matters: under the porticoes.
Or at the table.

There's an area in Bologna that you mustn't cross: it's the ZTL.

​It's a limited area that covers almost the whole city inside the old walls, and it's forbidden for non-residents from 7 am to 8 pm.

It's important to know in advance where the area begins because the road signs aren't clear and well visible.

​My suggestion is to never enter the walls of Bologna with your car: you will get crazy trying to find parking, and you can easily go to a street that is forbidden.

There are better solutions, not expensive, that I will share next.

Let's say it loud and clear: in Bologna, there is no free parking.
Whether you leave your car in a garage or in public parking, you have to pay.

Here are the different options:

You have to look for the blue lines.

If you find it white, you're not lucky, you're inside a resident zone and your car will be removed.
Even worse, the yellow lines that are for buses, taxis, or people with disabilities.

The blue lines have different prices and time ranges according to the area where you are. Nothing cheaper than 1,5€/hour.

​Also, you need coins to pay in the red machine, hopefully working.

This is the best option to park your car and safely enjoy your time in Bologna.

There are many garages in good locations to visit the city center or get to Piazza Maggiore, where our Bologna food tours start:

- Garage Autostazione
Close to the train station, it's easy to reach without risk of a ticket.

15 minutes walking to Piazza Maggiore.
Piazza XX Settembre, 6 - 40121 Bologna (BO)
Price: 18€/day (every day but Saturday), 2,2€/hour.

- Nuovo Parcheggio Stazione
Just next to the new train station, it's a multilevel parking lot with 800 spots. Good if you need to get the train, but in an area with lots of cheaper blue lines.

25 minutes walking to Piazza Maggiore.
Via Fioravanti, 4 - 40129 Bologna (BO)
www.nuovoparcheggiostazione.it
Price: 13€/day, 2€/hour.

- Parcheggio VIII Agosto
It's an underground multilevel parking lot in a very central location.
Not cheap, but it's worth it. Be careful to arrive at it only from Via Irnerio; otherwise, you're surely getting a ticket.

10 minutes walking to Piazza Maggiore.
Piazza VIII Agosto, 40126 Bologna BO
www.apcoa.it/parcheggi-in/bologna/piazza-viii-agosto/
Price: 20€/day, 2,6€/hour.

- Parcheggio Tanari
One of the best options. It's huge and free if you leave the car there and take the bus to arrive at the center.

30 minutes by bus+walk to Piazza Maggiore.
Via Tanari, 17 - 40131 Bologna (BO)
Price: 5€/day, 0,6€/hour or free if you buy a 1,50€ bus ticket.

- Parcheggio Ex-Staveco
​In the southern part of Bologna, it is perfect to visit Giardini Margherita park.

15 min walking to Piazza Maggiore
Viale Panzacchi, 10 - 40136 Bologna (BO)
Price: 12€/day, 2€/hour.

Prices may change; always check the garage’s page or machines on site.

Driving an electric car to Bologna?
Good news: you’ll find several EV charging stations near the city center and in the main parking areas, so you can explore while your car powers up.

Here are the easiest spots to charge:

• Parcheggio Tanari (Park & Ride) – large, open-air, easy to access from the ring road.
  ⟶ 22 kW charging points, usually available, cheaper daily rate.
  Best if you want to leave the car all day and reach the center by bus.

• Parcheggio VIII Agosto – underground garage right in the center.
  ⟶ a few Type 2 chargers managed by Apcoa. Ideal if you stay near Piazza Maggiore.

• Garage Autostazione – near the train station and the airport shuttle stop.
  ⟶ private charging spots on request, safe and monitored 24 h.

If you prefer street charging, apps like Enel X Way, Be Charge, or Nextcharge show live availability and prices.

Tip: Set your navigation to avoid the ZTL and head directly to the charging car parks using the safe routes in our Bologna ZTL map section.

[photos: Roberto Taddeo]