🇺🇸Which Neighborhoods to Avoid in Bologna?

Are you coming to study in Bologna and wondering which neighborhoods to avoid? While life is generally good in the city that hosts Europe's oldest university, there are a few streets where you shouldn't move in if you want to balance exam success with the dolce vita.

If You Want to Feel Safe at All Hours of the Day and Night

Italy’s leading economic daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, ranked Bologna fourth among the best cities to live in Italy in 2025 [1]. While the capital of Emilia-Romagna stands out for its services, university life, and economic dynamism, it drops to 102nd place for street crime and public theft [1]. This micro-criminality is far from making the city unlivable, but it means you should choose your neighborhood carefully.

As in many cities, the areas surrounding the Bologna train stations can be the scene of fights or drug- and alcohol-related offenses after dark. The streets around the Stazione Centrale are therefore not the most recommended for a student arriving in the city. Although they allow you to get to the station in less than two minutes, Via Milazzo, Via Boldrini, Via Gramsci, and Via Amendola are best avoided for accommodation.

If You Like to Study in Quiet or Are a Light Sleeper

Bologna's university dynamism makes the city an open-air campus. And students don't necessarily spend every evening studying! Certain streets that concentrate a high number of bars and fast-food outlets become gathering spots on some nights for groups who have had more than one spritz. This can be the case for Via Zamboni, Piazza Verdi, and Via Giuseppe Petroni, which host low-cost bars and kebabs and can be (very) noisy. If your son or daughter is a light sleeper or prefers tranquility, this might not be the ideal place to stay.

The same applies to Via del Pratello, renowned for its intense nightlife and considered the street for going out. The urban planning of Bologna, with its buildings on interior courtyards, sometimes makes it possible to live on these busy streets and only hear the birds singing. But to know how to find the ideal (or almost ideal) accommodation, it is better to seek help from a local expert.

[1] Source: Il Sole 24 Ore quality of life ranking for Italian provinces 2024/2025.