Bologna · Month comparison
October vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs October at #6. Bologna at its best — warm, vibrant, full of students and food, before summer heat bites.
October
#6 of 12 months
Best match
Autumn in full swing — golden porticoes, porcini mushrooms in the market, and good value returning.
- ↑Quadrilatero market transforms: porcini, truffles beginning, autumn squash — the Emilian larder at its richest
- ↑BilBOlbul comics festival and Motor Show build-up bring cultural energy to the city
May
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Bologna at its best — warm, vibrant, full of students and food, before summer heat bites.
- ↑23°C and 8 sunshine hours: perfect conditions for the portico walks, the hills, and San Luca sanctuary
- ↑Emilia-Romagna Day Trips at their finest — Modena's Duomo, Parma prosciutto country, Ferrara's Este Castle
| Factor | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 5 |
| Events score | 7 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 17°C | 23°C |
| Monthly rain | 80mm | 75mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 8hrs |
October trade-offs
- ↓80mm rainfall — the wettest month of the year; pack layers and waterproof footwear
- ↓Sunshine hours drop sharply to 5 daily — grey days increasingly common from mid-October
- ↓Some tourist facilities begin reducing hours ahead of winter
May trade-offs
- ↓Prices at or near their annual peak — the best-value window has closed
- ↓Weekend crowds noticeably higher; popular restaurants require booking further ahead
- ↓May rainfall at 75mm can produce thundery afternoons despite otherwise sunny days
Scores compare months within Bologna. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →