Hotel San Donato Bologna Centro

Italy , Bologna
BOLOGNA, Via Zamboni, 16
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2025

Isaac

Excelente ubicación

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2025

Jessica

Everything was wonderful! The location, the staff, the room itself. I would absolutely stay here again.

Self

8/10

Excellent

02 Nov 2025

Joanna Mary

Well located. Some hubbub from young drinkers outside but OK. Old-fashioned decor but perfectly good provision. Breakfast not great - I ate it only once. Staff nice.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Oct 2025

Clare

I left too early to have breakfast

6/10

Pleasant

10 Oct 2025

Clive

The room, while clean, was a shoebox with the smallest bed I've been in for years! Bathroom also clean but shower was uncomfortably small, floor slippery! One of the receptionists was an unpleasant young woman who reserved her smiles for management and had a completely inappropriate attitude for someone working in customer service!

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

05 Oct 2025

Hasan Fikret

The only good thing about this hotel is its location. The room was a shoebox; you could not take more than two steps in it. The bathroom was ok with cheap (and very few) amenities. The paper in the tissue box was like sand paper... I guess the price is only for the location.

Business Self

2/10

Poor

28 Sep 2025

Gene

Central location good
BELOW ALL BAD
expensive room without stand up shower- 4 star NO WAY
reserved 3 bed room received double bed
Charged Extra for breakfast
Rating must be mistake DO NOT BOOK here

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

16 Aug 2025

Joseph

Whatever you do, don’t stay here! It’s terrible in every conceivable way!!

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

27 Jul 2025

Tom

AWFUL SMELL, BED BUGS, TERRIBLE STAFF, AVOID!!!!!!

Terrible dead animal / sewage smell in the room, when complained told to open the windows without apology. Asked to move rooms and was refused - despite there clearly being rooms available they said there were none. Incredibly uncomfortable bed with a paper thin blanket instead of a duvet. In the morning I found the bed has lots of small black bed bugs in. This hotel is possible one of the worst I’ve ever stayed in, and how it gets its rating it’s beyond me. Avoid this place if you value your health and hygiene.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jul 2025

Sabine

The hotel is at a great location. The rooms are clean but you can hear a lot of noises from upstairs and outside. The breakfast was ok but not many choices. Parking onsite was great after you found it 😂

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

14 Jul 2025

Ronnie

My stay was fine, the staff were friendly and welcoming. There was a nice balcony area, with tables and chairs, overlooking the city. My room was a single and adequate but unfortunately, the shower was slippery underfoot and with no handrails. Dangerous especially for elderly guests like me.

Self

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2025

Vivian

Great location and helpful staff. Beautiful terrace and great views!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2025

Kate

Angel on the front desk was absolutely brilliant, super patient with a horribly rude couple ahead of me in the queue.

Self

8/10

Excellent

08 Jun 2025

Kristi

Great location, very clean hotel. Furnishings are outdated, along with things like well placed outlets for convenient device charging. Overall a good value and a clean safe hotel.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2025

David

Nice location. Nice staff, comfortable work areas.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2024

Viviana

Very central hotel

The night porter is very kind and efficient.

Self

8/10

Excellent

06 Nov 2024

Verified traveler

Hotel San Donato is an excellent choice for exploring Bologna - well located at a good price. Special mention for the reception staff who were excellent. Rooms are a bit dated but do the job for short exploring stays

Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2024

TUBA

They have parking facility but get Eur15.- as additional parking fee even though it is not mentioned on the Expedia reservation form in advance.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2024

John

Great location. Great roof top view of the city. Would highly recommend!

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2024

Brian

Great/ would stay again

Very nice stay. Great staff and clean room. Loved the large balcony for a single room/ made it feel bigger. Perfect location for enjoying Bologna.

Self

2/10

Poor

05 Oct 2024

Ezequiel

I accidentally broke the card key to access the room, and they charged 5 euros. Unexpected for a hotel of these level.

Business Self

4/10

Poor

25 Mar 2024

Michelle

The rooms are very small and outdated. Air conditioning didn’t work and the room was very hot. Hotel facilities are minimal. The price per night that I paid at this busy time of year was over US$800 per room per night for a single bed room so the value for money was very poor. Great location which is why I chose to stay there but I feel the hotel is profiteering off the busy period in Bologna

Business Friends

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2024

MICHAEL

Excellemt location and city area for travel

4/10

Poor

18 Oct 2023

victor

The property is rustic and quaint.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Oct 2023

Carlos

The hotel it’s in the best location possible to explore Bologna. It’s extremely clean and the staff is very friendly. The facilities are old fashion but the hotel it’s in great shape and really clean. We’d stay there again without hesitation!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Oct 2023

Stuart

Excellent position in the city. Bars, cafes etc all very close. Clean rooms, efficient and helpful staff.
Not the best value for money at over £200 a night, the room was small and the shower cramped.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Jul 2023

Caron

Perfect location near to all the sights.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

22 May 2023

Iris May

A good location but the hotel lacked amenities. No bar and no cosy lounge! Breakdast was okay. Room small but bed comfortable,

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

15 May 2023

Dave

Location was perfect. Staff were excellent. Rooms were more than adequate.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

05 Sep 2022

ELIZABETH

Friendly staff, great location

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2022

Daniel

Some comfortable furniture on the terrace would be a great benefit.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

26 Apr 2022

Alberto

No online-booking friendly, a lot of night noise

I travel for work. I sent a message to ask to stay extra night and I got an answer. I also ask to have the same room for the night following. I have a couple. they answer ok. When I got there there were no double. I have to find different Hotel for me and have all the guest in singles.

Also crazy confusion in the night we had to move in other Hotel since they were too many Parties going on in the area around.

Parking was the only convenient feature.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2022

Jean

Hotel is in a great location in the heart of the old town in Bologna. Ideal for walking about the city. Really friendly staff who were most welcoming.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2021

Jacqueline

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Sep 2021

Verified traveler

Beautiful rooftop views

Great hotel that we have stayed in multiple times over the years.. very convenient location with a beautiful rooftop terrace that offers great views of Bologna and its two towers.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

27 Aug 2021

Asger Trier

Ok but room was in the back yard

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

03 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

very hospitable and great location

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2021

Verified traveler

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2020

Clare

Just great

This was a wonderfully placed hotel right in the centre and moments walk from everything.
My room was cozy and clean and I even had a balcony with a nice view out over Bologna.

Staff are very friendly and helpful, service was great.

As a female travelling alone, I felt very safe and would reccomend for a stay, as great value.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Aug 2020

Steve

The hotel is in a great location. Parking was very easy. Hotel staff were some of the best!

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

29 Feb 2020

Jim

It was a fab location . It’s an old hotel clean but a bit run down. Staff were lovely and service great and just a stones throw from the two towers.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

Everything was great .Friendly staff ,decent staff and a good location .

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

04 Jan 2020

Joakim

Nice location, nothing extra

The hotel is in an amazing location, our room was a bit small, no view, and nothing special. The view from the rooftop is spectacular!

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2019

Verified traveler

The hotel was hard to find. Our GPS showed a road that now is closed. We needed to call the hotel and were wonderfully directed through the back streets to the hotel. There was one very tight turn that only small cars could have made.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Oct 2019

Howard

The hotel is near the centre of Bolonga and near many of the tourist sites. The shower in the bathroom needed an up date as water flow wasn't good. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was good with quite a lot of choice. A well situated hotel for Bolonga centre.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2019

Denise

Good location

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Oct 2019

Mark

Charming

Really well located nice spacious property in Bologna, with charm.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

every thing was the best. Location, breakfast, room, service

Business Family

4/10

Poor

22 Sep 2019

Douglas

I'd Only Recommend In a Pinch

Surprisingly small room and bed. Slight odor. Clean for sure, but a lot of busted furniture and decor gives an overall impression of unkempt-ness. That said, I booked a room very last-minute in a great neighborhood at a reasonable price (perhaps I got the worst room in the hotel; sure felt like it). I wouldn't stay there again.

8/10

Excellent

22 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Needed a room for one night in a hurry. This was it. Clean, good location, helpful staff. Would stay again.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

15 Sep 2019

Good locatikon and good service

good location
room is small but clean
service is good and friendly

8/10

Excellent

11 Sep 2019

Marian

Short stay in Bologna

Short stay in Bologna using it as base for trips to Ferrara, Ravenna and Modena. Great location in the centre of old town and close to fantastic restaurants. Hotel is bit tired but the place is charming and the service is great.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2019

Mila

The hotel could not be in a better location!!!
The view on the terrace worth every penny!!!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Conveniently located within easy walking distance to many attractions of the city centre; friendly, welcoming, helpful and efficient staff; staff are English language competent; very nice roof terrace breakfast area; rooms clean, comfortable and with working utilities and air-conditioning; good Wi-Fi connection; liked no carpets on bedroom floor (tiling). My only minor grumble was breakfast self-service coffee rather cold each morning, but staff made up for this by delivering a freshly made cup on request.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Aug 2019

Mane

Great location in the middle of historic center, clean and very spacious room perfect for family of 4. The patio/balcony where you can eat the buffet breakfast is absolutely amazing !

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

The room was large and spacious , clean, centrally located. The gracious staff were welcoming.

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

07 Jul 2019

Andrew

Old, dirty and too hot

An old property in dire need of refurbishment. The (very very small) shower was covered in black mould on the inside of the door, the air conditioning did nothing (32c inside the room at night so we got no sleep) and all furniture was incredibly dated. One lift out of service meaning there was a long queue to get downstairs for checkout. If we were staying more than one night, we would have found an alternative. Location is convenient but I’d recommend staying elsewhere.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2019

Brian F

Our hotel in Bologna!

We have stayed at the San Donato many times and it is our hotel in Bologna. The Staff is the primary reason we stay at the San Donato because over the past 12 years the quality of service has not changed— always Fantastic!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Perfect location, very friendly staff, room clean, big balcony, right in the old city

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Jun 2019

John

Great location and service, terrace is amazing for breakfast and drinks in the evening. A little noisy from rooms at the front.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Whilst the rooms could do with a refresh the hotel has one great advantage. A perfect central location. Will return.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

04 Jun 2019

Clare

Great staff and location

Only had 1 night in Bologna, staff were excellent, freindly, small room but clean and excellent value for buffet breakfast 7 euro, fantastic view from balcony for afternoon drinks.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

03 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

The incredibly slippery shower floor, very very dangerous, especially for elderly people like me.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2019

Verified traveler

The strongest quality is the service, from check in to checkout and in the Breakfast Room. Also the location in the historic centre of Bologna.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

28 May 2019

Gary

Misleading and over priced

The hotel was ok but not what it said on the tin . It cost £150 and showed luxurious rooms when in fact they were very bog standard . Staff helpful , good location but as for the rooms , they’d be getting done under the trades descriptions act

Friends

4/10

Poor

23 May 2019

Verified traveler

Liked the facade of the building and the upstairs bar area , room noisy , sound insulation bad , door sound insulation non existant. Door rattled everytime someone closed their door . Cleaning staff very loud doing other rooms and in the corridor . Shower didnt drain properly and u stood in an inch of cold water after a quick shower . Good central location .

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2019

Pietro

Lovely area
Great host
Near beach
Lots of restaurants nearby

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

13 May 2019

Verified traveler

The staff was wonderful, warm, and very helpful. The hotel could use some updates, but was perfectly fine for a night’s stay in the city and was very clean.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

14 Apr 2019

Carole

Weekend 5 to 8 April

Excellent location for sightseeing. Hotel is just a little tired and impersonal. Did the job for our purposes of visting Bologna

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2019

Lorraine

Beautiful Bologna

Great location. Friendly staff. Clean room. Public balconies with beautiful views.

6/10

Pleasant

21 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

I've got a special room with a separate entrance and private bathroom. The hotel is average and a price was ok even though it was during big fair oin Bologna.

8/10

Excellent

11 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

We loved the location of the property. There were many places to eat nearby as well as things to do and see.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

I visited Bologna for a conference and chose the hotel for its location.
Hotel was as expected, staff friendly, the hotel's infrastructre worked, services on time.
The real irritant was that when one books the hotel, it is not indicated that breakfast is not included.There is for instance no booking mechanism where one can book the breakfast in advance and that one knows how much it costs. This 'hiding' of extra costs is against EU tourism policy and regulations, as everything has to be transparant for the guests. Someone could sue the hotel over this!
It was way too warm in the hotel, outside it was a mild 15 degrees, inside it was boiling, even when one turned down the thermostat to 18 degrees. This must be an Italian cultural difference!
My trip type was: Conference, not business. Please refine your 'type of trip' becasue you are missing out on marketing opportunities.

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2019

J M

100% Location 90% Comfort

Difficult one to rate. Location is the big seller as it is absolutely perfect. The hotel is clean and the staff are very friendly and helpful. I would not deter anyone from staying here as you’ll have a nice stay due mainly to its awesome location at a great price which make it hard to be overly critical. But there is a but! The beds were a little too firm as were the pillows (like sleeping on a plank of wood) and the walls are quite thin which makes the hotel very noisey if you are a light sleeper (they put earplugs in your room) breakfast was ok for the €7 you pay so no complaints but as you are in the eating capital of Italy you have it all. If you want a great location at a very very good price then this is your place but be mindful of the noise (was fine for me and ok for my partne who is a light sleeper - she used the earplugs and moaned more about the pillows) but for me I can put up with this for a few days to have a great location. Double galzing and comfy beds and this place would be a 100% winner...but it is 90% there.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2018

Murat

Perfect location, clean room, friendly staff.

8/10

Excellent

19 Nov 2018

yossef

A simple hotel but great location and a very friendly stuff. The room was OK. It more or less met my expectations so overall I'm happy

2/10

Poor

11 Nov 2018

Monica

At best a 2 star hotel

The rooms were dreadful, nowhere mear a 4 star hotel. One room was like a sauna and we couldn’t changr the temperature. My son got a single bed room that was the size of a closet. The service was lovely but it did not conpensate for the horrible rooms. Makesnine woder who deaignates the stars for hotels.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

30 Oct 2018

Helene

Wouldn’t go back

Staff was very kind, but mistakenly attempted to charge us an extra night. Room was tiny for Italian standards and beds were EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Breakfast also didn’t have many healthy bad tasty options.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

18 Oct 2018

luis j

We stayed for 4 nights. The hotel (with parking) is in a great location, in center. The front desk staff were conversant in English for the most part. The room was ample in size, but faced the back with a very noisy, echoing chatter of people during the night. We asked to turn on the AC so we could close the windows. The AC was turned off for the \"winter\". When the attendant attempted to turn on the ventilation system, it blew old, mildew, foul smelling air into the room, choking us. We turned it off and opened the windows broadly to ventilate the room. Sad that maintenance on this system is not a priority,

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

13 Oct 2018

Armen

Very well located hotel at the heart of the historic city center.
The room was ok, but the AC was disabled by the hotel. According to the front desk it can be used only in summer, though the temperature in the room was around 80 degrees.
The are is extremely very noisy at night, so you cannot open the windows for some fresh air.
By American standards it’s a 2.5 hotel.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2018

Julia

Nice hotel in Bologna

Hotel was in excellent location. Staff were so helpful. Breakfast was reasonable for Seven euros. Room was large, but bed could have been better

Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2018

Guy

Great location and great value

A lovely hotel right in the centre of Bologna and good value for money, highly recommend.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

01 Oct 2018

Marilyn

In the heart of the city

In the heart of city center. Staff was not so helpful in giving directions. The don't seem to understand the guest is not familiar with the area

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2018

Maria

amazing location has parking

Friends

8/10

Excellent

17 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Great location, friendly staff, excellent service on the terrace with great views!

8/10

Excellent

12 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Perfect location, in the middle of old Town, so no need to use the car. Great terrace bar overlooking the city rooftops.

8/10

Excellent

25 Aug 2018

Amiee

Great hotel right in the center

Lovely hotel and you could be more central. The staff are great and spoke amazing English. Beds were very hard.

8/10

Excellent

22 Aug 2018

Catherine F

Average hotel, fantastic location.

Great, central location. Very average, dated interior but the outside is handsome. Our standard double room (358) did come with a lovely balcony (that wasn't mentioned in the detail) which made it. We sat and enjoyed a glass of wine with a fabulous view of the towers in the evening before dinner.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Aug 2018

Maria

Tge carpet in hotel is old ,- time to replace it !

The best part was the breakfast on the balcony, great selection of fruits, hams, inlets and cereals with an outstanding view to the roofs of Bologna.

Partner

4/10

Poor

19 Aug 2018

Kerry

A disappointment

Having stayed in another Best Western hotel the previous week this was a disappointment! The room was tiny and old, hairs all over the bathroom, broken bed slats and a mouldy shower.
We thought breakfast would be to the same standard as the previous BW, however there was nothing to eat when we went down so we decided to have breakfast else where.
We are not hotel snobs! We stayed in a mixture of all 3* and 4* hotels across Italy and this was by far the worst we found.
The lady on the desk didn't even bother to ask us how are stay was, I emailed the company and never heard back. I would not go to this hotel, it is a disappointment compared to many of BWs other lovely hotels.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Aug 2018

Maria Liliana

excellent hotel, excellent trip

Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2018

chris

Perfect location and value for money

Stayed 5 nights and found the location to be perfect. Rooms are slightly old in decoration but clean and tidy. You can request a kettle in your room and there is free tea and coffee facilities in the second floor bar area. Bar terrace and roof top terrace offer great views over the city rooftops.

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

Great hotel, centrally located

We had a very pleasant, relaxing stay and the hotel went a long way in contributing to this.

8/10

Excellent

22 Jul 2018

Nice location and hotel with Family room

8/10

Excellent

06 Jul 2018

Pete

Great Location

We had a very pleasant stay at this Hotel. It had the feel of a 3 star rather than a four star Hotel possibly because the furnishings, whilst clean are looking somewhat tired. Our room was of a good size with most amenities in place i.e., hair drier, room safe, minibar however, the shower is small and has only a fixed head spray. It would have been nice to have had ( given it's 4 star rating ) a tea/ coffee making facility in the room. The breakfast terrace is lovely and overlooks the Two Towers. Breakfast was about average with a reasonable choice of fare although the choice of bread or bread rolls was very limited.

6/10

Pleasant

16 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

Have stayed at San Donato many times over many years and until this visit would have given top ratings every time. This visit was a little disappointing, partly because some of the facilities and furnishings are just getting tired - very noisy and ineffective air conditioning in the room, chairs and settees in the room and in the public area very old and disguised by loose covers. Some small touches we always appreciated no longer apply - a range of wines available by the glass, always served at the right temperature and accompanied by olives and snacks for aperitif, now replaced by small bottles of inferior wine for example. The breakfast buffet is much more limited than in the past. The experience of staying now feels less Italian and more standard Best Western.
The one aspect that has remained excellent for all our visits has been the excellence of all the staff we encountered, prticularly the reception staff.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2018

Chipmonk

Perfect location close to town. Lovely terrace

The ladies on reception were super friendly and very kind. We had no adapter for our electric toothbrush and not only did they find one for us, they let us keep it for our onward journey to Florence.

8/10

Excellent

05 Jun 2018

Felicia

Need a remodel

location fabulous. service fabulous. friendly and helpful staff, but Please let's remodel the place :(

Family

8/10

Excellent

29 May 2018

Verified traveler

Great,.location centrak,staff not informed about events but friendly