McDonald's

Big Mac and fries before T1 security

McDonald's sits landside in Bologna Airport’s T1, so you can grab a burger before you even hit the security line. That matters if you’re dropping a rental car late or meeting someone arriving, since this is one of the few full fast-food options you can use without a boarding pass.

Pricing tracks close to Italian high-street McDonald’s: think around €9–€11 for a basic meal with fries and a drink, a bit more if you start adding extras or coffee desserts. It’s still cheaper than most airside sit‑down spots in BLQ, especially if you’re feeding two or three people at once.

Menu is the standard Italian McDonald’s mix: Big Mac, cheeseburgers, Chicken McNuggets, plus local staples like espresso and cappuccino at the counter. You can usually grab basic breakfast items up to late morning, then the full burger menu runs through the day until late evening along with McFlurry and other desserts.

Lines build fast in the noon–14:00 window when the Schengen departures bank is busy, and again around 18:00–20:00. Self‑service kiosks help but plan on 10–20 minutes from order to food at peak times. If your bag drop closes 40 minutes before departure, eat first, then check your watch before queuing here.

Quality is exactly what you expect from McDonald’s: consistent, salty, and predictable. Burgers and fries hold up fine if you eat on the spot, but anything with lots of lettuce or sauces gets soggy if you try to pack it up and walk it through T1 for later.

Tip: if you want McDonald’s but your flight leaves soon, order to go, then clear security and eat at the gate in T1 so you’re not watching the queue at passport control while finishing your fries.