The Grand Hotel Majestic has been the city’s address for a grand stay since 1912, and it remains the grande dame of the historic centre. It occupies an eighteenth-century palazzo on Via Indipendenza, the porticoed avenue that runs from Piazza del Nettuno towards the station, so the Neptune Fountain, Piazza Maggiore and the cathedral are a short stroll away. The hotel is part of The Leading Hotels of the World and wears its history proudly: frescoed rooms by the Carracci family of painters on the main floor, antique furniture, and a restored stretch of ancient Roman paving in the basement used for exhibitions. There are around a hundred rooms and suites, including an Art Deco terrace suite. The I Carracci restaurant serves lunch and dinner under painted ceilings, Café Marinetti is the hotel bar and lounge, and a wellness area offers a Turkish bath, sauna and fitness corner. Breakfast is a generous buffet.
Location and getting around: Via Indipendenza is the main artery of the centre, lined with porticoes and shops and pedestrianised at weekends. From the hotel you can walk to Piazza Maggiore, the Quadrilatero, the Archiginnasio and the Two Towers in a few minutes, and to Bologna Centrale station, with fast trains to Florence, Milan and Venice, in roughly fifteen. The airport is about twenty-five minutes by car, and the Marconi Express monorail links the airport to the station.
The rooms: around a hundred rooms and suites in classic Italian style, with fabrics, antiques and marble bathrooms. Higher categories and suites are larger and some have terraces; the Art Deco Terrace Suite is the showpiece. Rooms on the inner side are the quietest, since Via Indipendenza is busy by day.
Who it suits: couples on a special trip, travellers who want old-world service and history, and anyone who values a central five-star base with a proper restaurant and wellness area.
Good to know: the hotel is inside the limited traffic zone, and valet parking is available for a nightly fee, so arrange arrival by car in advance. Pets are accepted for a fee. Book a table at I Carracci even if you are not staying; it is one of the city’s classic dining rooms.
Why stay here
- ✓I Carracci restaurant
- ✓Cafe Marinetti bar and lounge
- ✓Turkish bath and sauna
- ✓Fitness corner
- ✓Buffet breakfast
- ✓Valet parking for a fee
- ✓Carracci frescoed rooms
- ✓Pets accepted for a fee
Good questions
Is the Grand Hotel Majestic close to Piazza Maggiore?+
Yes, it is on Via Indipendenza a short walk from Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore. The Quadrilatero and the Two Towers are also a few minutes away on foot.
Does the Grand Hotel Majestic have parking?+
Valet parking is available for a nightly fee. The hotel is inside the limited traffic zone, so let the hotel know your car details before you arrive.
Does the hotel have a spa?+
It has a wellness area with a Turkish bath, sauna, an experience shower and a fitness corner. Massages can be arranged.
