Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy’s Most Delicious

I say that last bit with nothing but love. Bologna is still very beautiful, just in a different way, and you’ll find way fewer tourists here than in more popular Italian cities like Rome, Florence, or Venice.

Best Things to Do in Bologna: A Cheat Sheet

• Best for food: Food tours, Quadrilatero, Pigro
• Best views: Asinelli Tower, Sanctuary of San Luca, Palazzo d’Accursio
• Best free attractions: Piazza Maggiore, Basilica of San Petronio, porticoes
• Best neighborhoods: Historic Center, Quadrilatero, Bolognina
• Ideal trip length: Two to four days

What is Bologna best known for?

Bologna is known for its food. More specifically, Bologna is famous for its mortadella (an upgraded version of the baloney Americans may be used to), tortellini en brodo (tortellini in broth), and tagliatelle al ragú (pasta with the real Bolognese meat sauce).

That foodie reputation is why Bologna is sometimes called “la grassa,” or “the fat one.”

Bologna is also known as “la dotta,” or “the erudite one.” That’s thanks to its learned status as a hub of learning. Bologna University, founded in 1088, is considered by most to be the oldest university in the world if we’re going by who first coined the term “university.” 

Still with me? Bologna has a THIRD nickname. It’s “la rossa,” or “the red one,” a reference to the red rooftops you’ll see from above if you take my advice and climb some of the towers. 

Bologna’s Best Food Experiences

As Bologna is famous for its food, I’ll start there with my favorite suggestions from our week-long trip. Somehow, we didn’t end up more “grosso” after our trip, but we also got quite a few daily steps!

Take a Bologna food tour.

I highly recommend a Bologna food tour if you’re able to get one scheduled. We booked ours for the morning after we arrived. While the jet lag was real, it was a perfect primer on the city. Our guide didn’t just feed us for several hours. 

She gave us quite a bit of history on Bologna as a historical center of Italian culture, with all kinds of fun facts along the way to teach us about the importance of food here. 

We snacked on Italian pastries and freshly made pasta and sampled traditional balsamic vinegar, red wine, and gelato. We began to understand the difference between the wide variety of cured meats available around the city. 

Seriously, it was the best thing we did in Bologna. If you’re ready to book, I highly recommend Secret Food Tours. That was our chosen tour operator. Want to read more about it? I have a more complete review for you.

Want a few more options? Here are some highly-rated Bologna food tours:

If you’re only in Bologna for a day, you may not have a ton of time for sightseeing after your tour. Ours ran over until about 2:15pm. That’s how thorough our eating was.

Not interested in kicking things off with a tour? The world is your oyster, but the city center should be your focus for starters.

Taste traditional cured meats.

Bologna may be known for mortadella, but if you love your cured meats, you won’t find a shortage here. This region loves its meats. Sorry, vegetarians.

We loved La Salumeria da Bruno e Franco for our first taste test. They have all kinds of fresh pasta available, including what’s being prepared at the pasta lab I just described, but you’re not here for all of that.

You’re here for the prosciutto and the pink salami (salame rosa), and yes, the mortadella. This is a great place to make yourself a little charcuterie situation. Add some aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese while you’re at it.

Want to do a little comparison shopping? Salumeria Simoni Laboratorio was also on our list for small plates, cured meats, and cheeses, but we ran out of time. Let me know how it goes if you’re shopping in Bologna for all those meats.

See how the pasta is made at a pasta lab.

We visited a pasta lab on our Bologna food tour, and it was a treat to watch the precision and effort required in making the adorable little tortellini you’ll likely try at some point.

The spot in the image above is above La Prosciutteria, a chain found throughout this region of Italy, but there are a number of these pasta set-ups throughout Bologna.

They’re all churning out the freshest pasta.

If you want to try your hand at making some fresh pasta yourself, you can visit the Pasta Lab just outside the city center for their cooking classes. They have a variety of prepared dishes, too, just in case your efforts don’t turn out.

Eat the freshest pasta in Bologna.

You’ve seen how it’s done. Now it’s time for a taste.

We have not had a bad plate of pasta in Italy, let alone in Bologna. If you want my personal recommendations, our faves were Trattoria del Ross for tagliatelle al ragú and Il Calice for tortellini in broth. Il Calice is also where I learned we do lasagna wrong.

The lasagna noodles here are made super thin, with béchamel standing in for ricotta cheese in their traditional recipes. I’m sorry. I know you think you make a good lasagna, but this is the way.

Check out the goods in The Quadrilatero.

The Quadrilatero is the oldest market in Bologna and one of my most delicious Bologna highlights. While the wares today may differ a bit from what was sold here in the early days, there has been some kind of trade going on here since the Middle Ages.

Take a stroll and patronize the shops that call to you. 

That may be giant wheels of Parmesan, fresh pasta, or the vibrant stalls selling fresh produce at Ditta Bardelli Frutta e Verdura. 

Love seafood? Head to Pescheria del Pavaglione, a fish shop that does little appetizers with the freshest of fish and bottles of prosecco. We tried some sardines, an octopus salad, and their delicious tuna tartare.

Chow down on the best sandwich in Bologna.

Mortadella. Fresh bread. That’s it. You’ll love it.

You’ll know you’re at Pigro when you see the long-haired gentleman outside beckoning you inside with a “ciao.” Respond with a ciao of your own and chow down.

If you love the idea of Italian sandwich artists, Tigelleria Tigellino is another popular stop. You may catch a line at this one, though. I don’t feel like that’s necessary when other delicious shops nearby come without a wait, but you do you.

Eat the best pizza in Bologna.

Pizza isn’t at the top of the list when it comes to food staples Bologna is known for, but that doesn’t mean this city doesn’t have delicious pies.

We loved MozzaBella, a budget-friendly eatery west of the city center. If you dine in, you’ll be munching on their coal-fired pizzas. If you’re here for takeaway, they also have thicker cuts of Napoli-style slices to take with you.

We shared a classic Margherita and a second pie with prosciutto and giant hunks of fresh mozzarella. I’m not sure how we had leftovers, but we took some back with us for the next day.

Need more pizza? Nicola’s is another popular option with outdoor seating.

Sample real balsamic vinegar.

When in Italy, you have to ruin another thing for yourself: balsamic vinegar. If you’re lucky, you’ll find somewhere to taste some aged varieties.

We got to taste a tiny spoonful from a 25-year-old bottle on our Bologna food tour, and it was completely different from anything I’d ever tried before. It was almost as thick as molasses.

I hear the fancy stuff goes really well on vanilla ice cream, by the way.

If you’re not sure where to get your hands on some, pop by Drogheria Gilberto. It’s a great wine shop, but they also have a large selection of balsamic vinegar for sale.

Want to taste a few before you commit? If you’re not on a food tour, the Mercato delle Erbe often has food stalls with balsamic vinegar tasting sessions.

Grab a bite at the Mercato delle Erbe.

We arrived at this indoor market at a dead hour so many of the prepared food stalls were closed.

The fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetable stands looked wonderful, though, and there was a pizza by the slice and roasted chicken stall that smelled delightful.

If you’re here to shop, I’d suggest timing your visit in the morning. The market opens at 7am on every day but Sunday. Arrive during the usual lunch hours for more options on prepared items.

Taste Bologna’s best gelato.

I don’t even have a sweet tooth, but there’s something about Italian gelato that makes me smile. I think it’s also that their tiny cups are so much smaller than our smallest cups in the United States, so you don’t feel bad about having a few throughout your day.

Much like piles of pasta, I’ve yet to have a bad gelato in Italy, but I can personally vouch for Cremeria la Vecchia Stalla.

They’ll ask if you want a cookie with your sweet treat, and you should oblige. The cup I’m indulging in is a vanilla custard with caramel and amaretto.

Need to compare? I don’t blame you.

Try Cremeria Cavour or Cremeria Santo Stefano on Via Santo Stefano. Generally, though, if they’re not trying to get you inside with those over-decorated vats of the stuff, it’s probably good.

Our food guide told us the gelato should come from covered bins, by the way, but I’ve found that’s not always a hard and fast rule for deliciousness.

Find your favorite pastry shop.

Italians love starting their day with a sweet treat, so your time in Bologna shouldn’t go any differently as you explore all of the cool, tasty things to do here.

We loved Il Banco del Pane, a short walk from the Two Towers, but you really can’t go wrong with Bologna’s bakeries and cafes. Impero is a popular option with locals as it’s away from the city center, but I can’t vouch for that one.

As far as what you should order, try anything with a mostarda. It’s not mustard at all, but a condiment made from dried fruit. It’s often found on holiday roasts, but it’s also served up with cheeses and baked goods.

Iconic Bologna Landmarks and City Views

It’s impossible to talk about Bologna without mentioning its towers, but I lead with the city’s main gathering place: the Piazza Maggiore.

Visit the Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio.

Bologna’s central square is home to the half-finished Basilica of San Petronio, a “megalomaniac dream” that Pope Pius IV stopped in the 1500s for the Archiginnasio.

Fun fact: Plans called for it to become a rival to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Before heading inside, check out the echo effect at Palazzo del Podestà. Speak into one of the four corners, and a friend at the opposite corner can hear every word.

You don’t need to talk loudly, either, especially if it’s sensitive information. Find it underneath the archway as you look away from the church.

The basilica itself is one of the best free things to do in Bologna. At the very least, you should step inside to check out Cassini’s meridian line, designed by Giovanni Domenico Cassini to track the sun and mark solstices and equinoxes.

You’ll know you’re there when you see the roped-off section in the church. 

You can also visit the terrace observation deck for city views. We didn’t linger in there too long as there was a live mass going on, but tickets for that are a few dollars if your timing is better.

Climb the Asinelli Tower.

The Asinelli Tower is one of two towers placed next to one another, known as the Two Towers, or Due Torri. Together, they make up one of Bologna’s most enduring symbols, and the Asinelli is one of only two left in the city that you can climb.

If you’re able to make the climb, I’d highly recommend it. (The tower is closed for maintenance from time to time, so check the website to see if that’s possible on your visit.)

You get panoramic views from the top of the neighboring Garisenda Tower, Bologna’s own leaning tower, out to the hills that surround Bologna.

Book tickets in advance for this one. We were able to snag a time on the day of our climb, but we were also traveling in the off-season. If it’s not too crowded, they’ll likely let you up early if you want to arrive before your ticketed time.

The actual climb gets quite steep and narrow. We saw several people coming down without completing the climb, so make sure you can handle heights before you book.

The views from above are well worth it. If you’re really feeling yourself, snap a photo of yourself sitting inside one of the windows around the top. Just don’t linger too long in there. Everyone else wants a photo, too. 

Turn your gaze to the sky for more Bologna towers.

There are 22 towers in Bologna. If you’ve already climbed the Asinelli Tower, you’ve done the hard work of climbing the best tower with the best views in the city. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing else to see when it comes to Bologna’s towers.

Fun fact: There were more than 100 towers built in Bologna during the Middle Ages. As far as why, the towers were both a defense system and a symbol of wealth in the city. If you were rich, you built yourself a tower. 

The Prendiparte Tower is the second-tallest tower in Bologna and is also often open to climbers who want to climb more floors. It’s also one of the best alternative climbs if the Asinelli Tower is closed.

You’ll climb 12 floors to get to the terrace on this one. 

For bucket list activities in Bologna, this one also operates as a bed and breakfast and event space, although stays are suspended from time to time. If you’re interested in a guided tour, overnight stays, or even private events, email info@prendiparte.it. 

Admire Bologna’s porticoes.

The historic porticoes of Bologna were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2021. There are 24 miles of them in the city alone.

We visited during an unseasonably dry and warm week in October, but they also serve the purpose of keeping you out of the rain if you’re not as lucky.

Climb the clock tower at the Palazzo d’Accursio.

Yes, you have another tower in you. Look at those smiling faces!

Palazzo d’Accursio, or D’Accursio, isn’t just one place. It’s several buildings that have served as the seat of municipal authority in Bologna.

You’ve actually already visited one of those buildings if you’re following along. Biblioteca Salaborsa is part of this complex.

We’re here to talk about those panoramas, though. One ticket gets you up to the clock tower, or more officially, the Accursi Tower, for views of the piazza below. It’s all worth the effort.

You just have to sign away your rights before you head up because you’ll climb three of the original steps at the very top. It’s all very exciting, but I wonder if that’s actually legally binding.

Once you’re done with that, you can browse the Civic Art Collection next door and gaze at more impressive ceilings.

READ MORE: Love a good ceiling? You’ll want to see the Duomo in Florence. Learn more about it!

The clock tower is the highlight here, though. Book tickets in advance to get your preferred time and to avoid long wait times.

Photograph the Fountain of Neptune.

Check out the big ol’ Neptune sculpture in the aptly named Piazza del Nettuno. The original design is from the renowned Italian Renaissance sculptor Giambologna, but it was put together by architect and painter Tommaso Laureti in 1563.

I always love the Italians’ love for Neptune, despite how hardcore they are about Catholicism. This statue was meant to symbolize Pope Pius IV as the master of Bologna, as Neptune is the god of the seas.

Note: If you’re in need of some potable water for your reusable water bottle, walk out to the main street from here and hang a left until you see the public water fountains.

Take a peek through this ventana al canal.

Ventana al canal translates to “window to the canal,” and that’s exactly what it is. While we didn’t see much water in the canal on our visit, this little peekaboo was basically made for social media, so you should probably make a quick stop.

If it’s shut, you’ll know you’re there by the locks on the outside. Instagram tells me this is one of the best places to see in Bologna. Since it’s cute and a quick stop, I won’t be too harsh on the influencers, but I won’t call it essential.

Bologna Museums and Historical Sites

Bologna’s history is a vibrant one, and it’s best when you’re able to see it in the context of its churches, palaces, and ancient streets. If you’re short on time, focus on the Archiginnasio of Bologna and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.

Check out the basilica’s rival, the Archiginnasio of Bologna.

The Archiginnasio, once the seat of the University of Bologna, is a short walk from the Piazza Maggiore.

The main draw at the palace is the Anatomical Theatre, a hall covered in carved wood that was once used for anatomy lectures and demonstrations. 

This can be a quick visit, but look for a few quirks in the exhibit space. My favorite is the little cherub giving his lady friend a femur bone instead of flowers. He’s a guy after my own heart!

Browse the rest of this important building after. Peak through the locked gate inside the Stabat Mater Hall to see the true vastness of the Archiginnasio Municipal Library. You have to be a student to get beyond that gate, but the rows of books are impressive.

Book tickets online if you’re traveling in the summer months. We had no issues buying tickets upon arrival on our October trip, but this is generally one of the most popular sites in Bologna.

Make a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.

This hilltop basilica was the main contributor to our 30k step day in Bologna. It is a HAUL from the city center. If you’re not here for all of that, there’s a little choo-choo train called the San Luca Express that will take you all the way up without breaking a sweat.

You can get a combined ticket with the San Luca Express and the City Red Bus if you’d like an accessible way to get around the city’s main sights, too. Combo tickets are good for two consecutive days.

If you take the ride you’ll miss the Portico di San Luca. Made up of a spooky 666 arches, is the longest covered walkway in the world at about 2.3 miles. Start your trip at the Arco Del Meloncello.

Stop as many times as you need to as you climb. You’ll pass a number of religious frescoes along the way with interpretive signage. 

Once you’re at the basilica, take in the views, and observe young shirtless men doing the same. For additional views, pay a few dollars for the San Luca Sky Experience, a trip up to the dome. You can also visit the crypts for an additional couple of dollars. 

Need a nosh after? Trattoria Meloncello, back at the bottom of the hil, is a beloved local establishment serving up traditional Bolognese food since 1918.

See the art at the Santuario di Santa Maria della Vita.

The highlight of this one is the art. Start with the Compianto del Cristo Morto (Lamentation Over the Dead Christ), a haunting sculpture from Niccolò dell’Arca. You’ll see six life-sized figures expressing grief over the dead body of Jesus Christ. 

Add a visit to the Oratory of Battuti, home to impressive frescoes like Alfonso Lombardi’s Il Transito della Vergine (Death of the Virgin). 

I always find it so hard to wrap my head around how easy it is to see works from the greatest artists across history in this country. Just visit a church!

Here are a few more Bologna churches that you should give at least a cursory glance:

• Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Pietro: This church is also known as the Bologna Cathedral. The treasury houses religious artifacts dating back to the 14th century, and it’s free to visit. The bell tower is the second-tallest in the city.
• Basilica of Santo Stefano: There were seven churches at the Piazza Santo Stefano at one time. You can still visit four today: Chiesa del Crocefisso, Chiesa della Trinità, Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro, and Santi Vitale e Agricola.

Note: If you’re interested in dark tourism, don’t miss the bones of San Petronio in the Chiesa del Crocefisso. It’s one of those weird things to do in Bologna. If you love history, the Santi Vitale e Agricola is the oldest church of the four.

Walk over ancient ruins at the Biblioteca Salaborsa.

The Biblioteca Salaborsa is a lovely library if you’re here for straight book stuff, but you’ll want to head to the below-ground level for a look at some ancient ruins.

This attraction’s free, by the way, so you can save those coins for the server at your next wine stop.

Once you’re down there, you’ll see ancient foundations, including an old sewer system, and literal layers of history. You can see where each time period ended and began based on the materials used.

The library offers guided tours with its staff librarians if you’re interested in learning more about the excavations.

Look for signs of the old Jewish ghetto.

As you set off on walking tours of Bologna’s city center, look for symbols that look like hands on the building facades.

These mark areas of the old Jewish ghetto, a 16th-century part of the city that was separated from the rest by walls and limited access.

There were three entrance gates during the confinement, including the one on Via dei Giudei photographed above, and a set curfew for residents.

By 1569, the Jews were essentially expelled from Bologna by papal orders, followed by readmittance in 1586, followed by another expulsion in 1593.

The ghetto walls were officially taken down by that point, but Jews wouldn’t return to the city in any number for centuries.

If you’d like to learn more about Jews in Bologna, visit the Jewish Museum of Bologna, or Museo Ebraico. At the very least, spend some time wandering the narrow alleyways that made up the ghetto and what was essentially a prison inside the town.

See the collections at the Archaeological Museum of Bologna.

This museum wasn’t originally on my list of fun things to do in Bologna, but if you’re at all into very old things, you should give it a go. I’m talking about Egyptian and Etruscan artifacts, including items found in grave sites around the region.

There was a special exhibit dedicated to frescoes recovered from Pompeii during our trip, so we did both. Just know that special exhibitions will likely mean a special ticket.

We paid for both because of the FOMO, but found the special exhibit even better than the permanent space.

The courtyard you’ll pass through to get from room to room is lovely, too.

You won’t find as much English on signage throughout this museum as you might have gotten used to at this point. But he information that was available gave us a good enough idea of what we were looking at.

Hang out at an old castle at Parco della Montagnola.

Parco della Montagnola is Bologna’s oldest park, and the ruins you’ll see here are from the 14th-century Castello di Galliera.

Where else can you munch on a bag of ham chips with that kind of backdrop? (These are chips that taste like ham, and they’re more delicious than they sound.)

Start at the scenic staircase, built over three years starting in 1893.

The gardens beyond have looked the same way since the 19th century, so a stroll through this park is basically a walk through time. Visit on a nice day and join the other folks sitting around snacking and chatting.

Visit the solemn Museum for the Memory of Ustica.

I went down quite the rabbit hole after visiting the Museum for the Memory of Ustica. This place is essentially a plane crash memorial rather than a museum, dedicated to the victims of a controversial crash in 1980.

Watch the video at the end of the exhibit path for a better idea of the artistic elements here, like the whispers you’ll hear as you walk around the crash and the black mirrors representing the victims.

Visits are free, so spend as much time here as you’d like. Then spend some time reading about what really went on here, and what caused this terrible crash.

There are government coverups involved, people. It was certainly one of the more eerie things we did on our trip to Bologna.

Bologna’s Best Wine, Beer, and Cocktail Bars

I wouldn’t leave you thirsty. We had quite a bit of fun in the drinky sense while in Bologna. Here were some of our favorite tipple spots.

Sip on local wine at Bologna’s best wine bars.

We found Bar Senza Nome by accident while we were looking for a good aperitivo spot to kill some time until dinner. The wine here is fantastic, but it’s more well-known for its staff.

The wine bar is run by a deaf staff. 

They invite you to learn some sign language before placing your order with available video clips or cards describing available wine, beer, and cocktails. You can hand over the available cards, sign your order, or just show the staff what you’d like on your phone. 

They are super nice and super flexible, but I urge you to try some sign language. Did I try one of the easier wine styles to sign? I sure did. It was still delicious.

Bologna has a stellar wine bar scene overall. Heck, Italy has an incredible wine scene. You know this. Here are a few more we liked:

• Enoteca Italiana: Pop in for a souvenir bottle or have a seat at the bar for a glass or two. They’ll have something to suit whatever your wine tastes are, but opt for something local. I like a nice Montepulciano myself.
• Enoteca Zampa: This Saragozza wine bar, known by locals more simply as Zampa, is a great place to try natural wines outside the city center.
• LOrtica: This beer hall is known for its beer selection and craft cocktails, but don’t sleep on its wine list. This one gets a little crowded on weekends, so embrace it. You’ll likely be surrounded by locals here.

Try Italian craft beer.

Italy has beer! Good beer!

Sip on Italian beers that aren’t lagers at Il Punto, a very fun place with a full food menu. They have at least eight local pours on draft at any given moment, with many more available by the bottle.

We sampled a gose, a double IPA, and a porter until Brian got some unwanted affection from a visiting dog. The pup wanted to get dirty is what I’m saying.

Explore Bologna’s cocktail scene.

I’m talking about stylish lounges, chilled-out speakeasies, and student‑friendly bars where locals and visitors mingle over creative drinks. Whether you want an intimate craft cocktail or a buzzing aperitivo vibe, these spots deliver.

• Aurum: We haven’t been to this highly-rated option, but I’ve read about their pistachio sour and I must go.
• Donkey: This one is a speakeasy‑inspired bar with a menu of 1980s-inspired cocktails, which certainly speaks to my elder millenial heart.
• Guero: This is a local favorite. You’ll find the classics and more inventive drinks with a lively vibe. It’s popular for a late-night crowd, which sadly isn’t me anymore.
• I Conoscenti: This one serves food, too, but it’s known for its beautifully crafted drinks in a sophisticated setting.

If you’re looking for live music while you’re here, the Black Cat is a popular option. The music‑filled bar on Via Saragozza is the spot for live bands, local craft beers, and relaxed drinks after dinner.

Top Day Trips From Bologna

Bologna is an excellent base for day trips in the Emilia-Romagna region if you’re looking for things to do near Bologna, too. We visited Parma during our week in Bologna, and it was very easy and very delicious.

Check out more on logistics for Parma from Bologna and what to do once you’re there in my Parma guide.

Florence is also very close to Bologna on high-speed trains. You’ll only scratch the surface with a day trip to one of Italy’s most important cities, but as it’s so close, I had to include it here.

If you’re visiting Bologna for longer, I have a guide to all of the best things to do in Florence.

There are so many more day trips from Bologna, thanks to the wonders of Italy’s network of trains.

Let’s get into a few, with times listed when using public transportation:

• Modena (30 minutes): This town is home to Osteria Francescana, a restaurant with three Michelin stars that’s been named the best in the world on multiple occasions. No, I was not able to get a reservation.
• Ferrara (35 minutes): No, this town has nothing to do with Ferrari. It’s known for bike rides along the city walls, its signature dish, cappellacci di zucca, and Al Brindisi, the oldest wine bar in the world.
• Reggio Emilia (50 minutes): Visit the birthplace of the Italian flag and see the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and what remains of its Roman floor mosaic.
• Verona (55 minutes): Visit the setting of Romeo and Juliet and so much more in this charming town. I have a one-day itinerary for Verona if you go this route.
• Milan (1 hour 5 minutes): I don’t have a strong pull toward Milan because it just seems so fancy. I am very much not fancy, but I really should be braver just to see the Duomo di Milano in person.
• Venice (1 hour 35 minutes): I don’t want to be basic and suggest this over-touristed city on a day trip, but it’s just so close. If you’re able, stay overnight, even just for the night, to watch all those tourists ride those gondolas out of there.

READ MORE: Is Venice worth visiting at all? Check out my honest thoughts on one of Italy’s most visited cities.

How to See Bologna in One, Two, or Three Days

Budget at least two full days in Bologna to see the highlights and taste some of the best things to eat in Bologna.

Short on time? No worries. Bologna is compact and walkable, and will take whatever time you can give it. Here’s how to make the most of your visit, whether you’ve got just a day or a long weekend.

One Day in Bologna

If you only have one day, focus on the city center and the essentials:

• Morning: Start with a walking food tour to sample tortellini, tagliatelle al ragú, and fresh pasta.
• Midday: Explore Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica of San Petronio, and the Fountain of Neptune. You likely won’t need lunch after your tour!
• Afternoon: Visit the Archiginnasio of Bologna and peek at the Anatomical Theatre. Take a short stop at Ventana al Canal if Instagram vibes call.
• Evening: Enjoy a scenic stroll along the Portico di San Luca’s lower section as the light softens. Cap the day with an authentic aperitivo in the historic center.

Two Days in Bologna

With two days, start with Day 1, then add these highlights for Day 2:

• Morning: Head to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca via the scenic Portico di San Luca. Take the San Luca Express train if you prefer to save steps.
• Afternoon: Wander the Quadrilatero, taste local balsamic vinegar, and enjoy a pastry at a traditional bakery.
• Evening: Sip wine at Enoteca Italiana or Enoteca Zampa.

Three Days in Bologna

A three-day visit gives you time to savor the city and take a nearby day trip. Follow the two-day itinerary, then consider a day trip to Parma, Modena, or Ferrara using the train.

Return to Bologna for a relaxed dinner at Trattoria del Ross, Il Calice, or another local favorite.

More Must-See Bologna Spots for Longer Stays

We spent a full week in Bologna, and it still didn’t feel like enough. I had quite a few eateries and food stops left on my list upon our departure, so I definitely want to share those with you here.

Let’s dig into just a few more things to add to your list of what to see in Bologna:

• Grab a table at All’Osteria Bottega, the city’s best example of a Bolognese tavern.
• Visit the gardens of Giardini Margherita, Bologna’s most popular urban park.
• Explore over 400 different stalls of flowers, pottery, clothing, and all of the knick-knacks you could ever ask for at La Piazzola, Bologna’s weekend market.
• Eat inside a greenhouse at Vetro, a place that looks very Instagram-ready.
• Visit Museo di Palazzo Poggi, or the Palazzo Poggi Museum, a 16th-century palazzo home to collections that once belonged to the Institute of Sciences and Arts.
• See the art at the National Art Gallery of Bologna, or Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna.
• Bring home some Italian cheeses from Al Regno Della Forma Bologna, a shop that ALWAYS had a line during our visit.
• Stand in line for fresh pasta at Sfoglia Rina, another popular shop that is always packed with foodies.
• Eat your way through FICO Eataly World, an amusement park for foodies. 
• Marvel at what happens when innovation and art combine at the MAST Foundation, part technology museum, and part exhibit space.
• Stop by Tamburini, a deli and a wine bar, and a fresh pasta shop with a large selection of treats to take home with you, too.

How to Get to Bologna

We flew to Bologna from our home base of Chicago at the time on a sweet deal from Going.

The flight deals to Bologna were much better than the more popular destinations around Italy at the time, so it was a no-brainer for us to head straight to Bologna. 

I suggest you start by searching for flights direct to Bologna, as you may luck out just the same. If you’d like to see Florence, too, that’s another easy option for flights. Trains to Bologna from Florence take less than 40 minutes.

European train travel is amazing, right?

If you fly into Bologna, there’s a train called the Marconi Express that gets you from the airport to the city center in under 10 minutes.

Brian called this the “Macaroni Express” just for kicks, and now you’ll likely never be able to hear it as anything else, either.

You don’t need to book this one ahead of time, and the gates to get into the stations all take tappable credit cards for entry and exit. 

For those traveling as a couple or with friends, you just need to make sure that you use the same credit card to enter and leave the stations when traveling on the Marconi Express. That means you can’t double-tap a credit card to cover more than one ride.

How to Get Around Bologna

Once you’re in Bologna, you can use its extensive network of TPER buses to get around or simply walk from place to place if you’re able. 

We didn’t use the buses in favor of getting steps to counteract the effects of all of that fresh pasta, but you can use them to pretty much get anywhere you’d like in and around Bologna.

Bologna is generally a very walkable city. If you’re staying near the city center, you may not need more than your feet at all as you decide what to visit in Bologna.

If you’re traveling further afield, Bologna is an excellent base for day trips, but you know that already. Trenitalia will link you to several fantastic destinations from Bologna’s main station. 

Is Bologna expensive?

Bologna is generally cheaper than tourist-heavy hotspots like Venice, Florence, or Milan, especially for dining and accommodations. You can enjoy traditional food, cafes, and attractions without breaking the bank.

That said, it’s more expensive than smaller towns in Emilia-Romagna.

Is Bologna safe for tourists?

It is safe to walk alone at night in Bologna with some common-sense precautions.

The city is generally well-lit, but try to have an idea of where you’re going at night so that you’re not staring down at your phone the whole way. Don’t flash cash or any other valuables, either.

Where to Stay in Bologna

We stayed at the Olly Apartments in Bolognina, a neighborhood outside the historic center, during our visit to Bologna. As we were there for a full week, we wanted easy laundry access and something that felt more local.

It was also more affordable than central hotels in Bologna. 

I’d highly recommend the apartments for your stay, especially if you want to up that step count while you’re there. It’s about a 25-minute walk into the city center from Bolognina.

Interested in something more central? I hear you, especially if you’re only in town for a few days or less.

Use the map below to search around by location:

Bologna is my favorite Italian city.

I’ve seen a lot of Italy at this point, and Bologna remains my favorite. It’s worth a trip for the food scene, but it’s also one of the last remaining bigger Italian cities that doesn’t feel as touristy.

If you’re still not convinced, I put together a whole guide to why Bologna should make it onto your Italy wishlist. It’s worth a look if you’re on the fence, although I’m not sure how that’d be possible after reading this guide!