Ferrara has a number of affordable hotels , most of them handily placed in the centre of town, although again you need to book ahead to be sure of finding a place, especially in summer. In the centre, a convenient, but not too exciting place to stay is the San Paolo , just inside the walls and off Piazza Travaglio at Via Baluardi 9 (tel & fax 0532.762.040, www.hotelsanpaolo.it ; L90,000-120,000/a?¬46.48-61.98). Or opt for the much more central and refurbished Hotel de Prati, close by the castello at Via Padiglioni 5 (tel 0532.241.905, www.hoteldeprati.com ; L90,000-120,000/a?¬46.48-61.98) or the funky, friendly Casa degli Artisti , in the medieval quarter at Via Vittoria 66 (tel 0532.761.038; L60,000-90,000/a?¬30.99-46.48). Closer to the main piazza, you'll find a much finer choice, the Corte Estense , Via Correggiari 4a (tel 0532.242.176, fax 0532.246.4050532; L200,000-250,000/a?¬103.29-129.11), and Il Bagattino , Corso Porta Reno 24 (tel 0532.241.887, fax 0532.206.387; L90,000-120,000/a?¬46.48-61.98), which has its own trattoria around the corner. If everything else is full, try the very central but rather characterless Nazionale , Corso Porta Reno 32 (tel & fax 0532.209.604; L90,000-120,000/a?¬46.48-61.98), which usually has rooms. Ferrara's youth hostel , Ostello Estense, lies just to the northwest of the centre at Corso Biagio Rossetti 24 (tel 0532.204.227; L23,000/a?¬11.88) while the campsite , Estense (May-Sept), is on the northeast edge of town at Via Gramicia 5 (tel 0532.752.396); take bus #1 from the train station to Piazzale San Giovanni, from where it's a ten-minute walk north.