The Touring Hotel stands on Via de Mattuiani, in the shopping streets of the historic centre, and its great strength is the walk. The Basilica of San Domenico is about two minutes away on foot, Piazza Maggiore about six, the Two Towers about eight and the Fountain of Neptune about ten, so almost everything in the central circuit of Bologna is reachable without a taxi or a bus. It is a four-star property with a rooftop terrace, a garden and a café, a bar and a restaurant called Terrazza Mattuiani, so you can take a drink or a meal without going out again after a long day of walking. The rooms range from standard doubles and singles to junior suites, and a few have frescoed ceilings, which suits travellers who like a touch of old Bologna in the room itself. Free wireless internet, air conditioning and a 24-hour front desk cover the basics, and the staff can arrange an airport shuttle on request for a fee.
The rooms
The hotel offers a wide range of room types, including standard doubles and twins, an urban single, triples, superior rooms, junior suites and a junior suite with a fresco. Names and layouts overlap, so read the room description on the booking page for bed type and size rather than relying on the title alone. Families and small groups can use the triples, and travellers on their own have a single-room option, which is not always the case in a historic centre.
Eating and drinking
A buffet breakfast is available for a fee, served in the morning, a little later at the weekend, and the restaurant and the rooftop make it easy to stay in for a drink. The coffee shop on site is useful for an early espresso before you set out. For dinner, the centre’s trattorias and the market lanes are a short walk away, so you can choose between a hotel meal and a classic plate of tortellini without a long trip.
Practicalities
Covered self-parking is offered for a fee, but the centre is a limited traffic zone, so tell the hotel in advance if you arrive by car. Bicycle storage is available, pets are allowed with a fee and a limit of one, and babysitting can be arranged for an extra charge. The airport shuttle is on request, and the railway station is a longer walk, so most guests arrive by taxi or by the airport link and a short ride.
Who it suits
Couples and friends who want a base that is truly in the centre, first-time visitors who plan to walk everywhere, and anyone who enjoys a rooftop view at the end of a day. Light sleepers should ask for a quiet room, as old city buildings can carry street noise. Book early for weekends and for trade-fair weeks, when the centre fills quickly.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooftop terrace
- ✓Garden
- ✓Terrazza Mattuiani restaurant
- ✓Cafe and bar
- ✓Free wireless internet
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Covered parking for a fee
- ✓Airport shuttle on request
Good questions
How far is the Touring Hotel from Piazza Maggiore?+
It is about a six-minute walk, and the Basilica of San Domenico is about two minutes away. The Two Towers are roughly eight minutes on foot.
Does the hotel have parking?+
Covered self-parking is available for a fee. The centre is a limited traffic zone, so tell the hotel before you arrive by car.
Does the hotel have a rooftop terrace?+
Yes, there is a rooftop terrace, as well as a garden, a café and a restaurant called Terrazza Mattuiani.
