Erasmus groups in Bologna
Where the people are, where students go out and what it costs to live in Bologna as an Erasmus student.
What Erasmus groups are there in Bologna?
Spain is the top country of origin: one in three Erasmus students in Bologna comes from a Spanish university. These are the official channels to get in touch before you arrive.
Official ESN sections in Bologna
A volunteer-run association founded in 1992 by Erasmus students, with a fixed weekly schedule: there is a party or activity almost every day.
- ESN Bologna · University of Bologna
Other organisations and communities
- Erasmus Life Bologna
Links checked on 31 October 2026. The WhatsApp groups for each intake are opened every year and expire; use the official channels above, and never pay anything before seeing a flat. If you would rather have one place, the Bologna chat on ErasmusMates brings together the city's verified students.
Where do Erasmus students go out in Bologna?
ESN Bologna runs a set weekly calendar: Mondays at Birreria del Pratello, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Qubo (the historic Erasmus party in the city), a Thursday pre-party at Habanero and a party at Millenium. In summer everything moves to the Chalet dei Giardini Margherita.
Tickets: Mostly guest lists run by ESN; the big clubs use Fourvenues and Xceed.
Where to live as an Erasmus student in Bologna
The Mazzini and Marconi areas are the most sought after for being close to the university centre. The historic centre is expensive and the Bolognina, across the station, is the cheaper alternative.
Indicative price: €350–600 a month for a room.
There is a real shortage of rooms: start looking in September. ESN's housing group, Uniplaces, Spotahome and Camplus.
Host universities
Students from Spanish universities who go to Bologna mostly attend: University of Bologna (Alma Mater), Academy of Fine Arts.
One thing worth knowing
Bologna is the city on this list where Spanish students weigh most: 31% of the Erasmus students it receives come from Spanish universities.
Frequently asked questions about Erasmus in Bologna
How many Spanish Erasmus students are there in Bologna?
About 760 a year out of 2,459 Erasmus students in total. Of the cities on this list, it has the highest share of students from Spanish universities.
Which days are there Erasmus parties in Bologna?
Practically every day: Monday at Pratello, Wednesday and Saturday at Qubo, and Thursday at Habanero and Millenium, all organised by ESN Bologna.
Is it hard to find a flat in Bologna?
Yes. Start looking one or two months ahead, and be wary of anyone who asks for a deposit before there is a contract.
How do I meet people before arriving in Bologna?
Write to the ESN section of your host university and to the city's organisations (Erasmus Life Bologna), and join the Bologna chat on ErasmusMates, where this semester's verified Erasmus students are.
Are there Erasmus WhatsApp groups in Bologna?
Yes. Each intake opens its own, usually through ESN or the city's Facebook groups. The usual problem is that there end up being several at once, unmoderated, and many of the links in circulation are from past years. On ErasmusMates there is a single chat per city, with verified access.
We are opening Bologna
City chat, daily vote on where to go out and a flat board, all in one app.
Other cities
More cities, in Spanish: Lisboa, París, Oporto, Varsovia, Praga, Budapest, Dublín, Viena, Berlín, Helsinki, Estocolmo, Estambul.
Mobility figures: official Erasmus+ records 2022–2023, annual average (geolocated data, CC BY 4.0). Rents are indicative ranges from housing portals and guides. Venues and organisations checked against public sources; check opening times before you go. Updated 31 October 2026.