Bologna is the Italian city that Italians themselves love: famous for its food, its left-wing politics, its ancient university and its 38 kilometres of porticoes, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site in their own right. It is also the most underrated city break in the country — cheaper than Florence, calmer than Rome, and only 40 minutes from Florence and an hour from Modena by train.
This Bologna travel guide ranks the best places to visit in Bologna, explains the food you should not leave without eating, and covers the practical side of the trip: the best time to visit Bologna, where to stay, how to get around, and how to book flights to Bologna, a hotel in the right street, a car rental for Modena, Ravenna and the hills, an Italy eSIM, a rental bike and the Bologna tours worth reserving before you fly.
Why Bologna Belongs on Every Travel List
Bologna is a city of red brick, porticoes and lunches that run long. Its university is the oldest in the world, its towers lean over the rooftops, and its nickname — La Grassa, the fat one — is a compliment about the food rather than a complaint about the waistline.
The Best Food in Italy
Tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo, mortadella, lasagne verde and a food quarter in the Quadrilatero where the same families have sold the same things for generations.
38 Kilometres of Porticoes
Bologna is sheltered end to end by arcades — a UNESCO world heritage site that lets you cross the entire city out of the rain or the sun and makes walking here a pleasure in any weather.
Towers You Can Climb
The Asinelli tower leans visibly and stands 498 steps above the city, and the view from the top over the terracotta roofs is the defining Bologna photograph.
A Living University City
The world's oldest university fills the city with students, bookshops, cheap trattorie and a cultural calendar of concerts, lectures and festivals rather than tour groups.
Four Comfortable Seasons
Spring and autumn are lovely, summer evenings are long and lively, and winter brings the porticoes at their most atmospheric plus the festive food of December.
The Perfect Hub for Northern Italy
Florence is 40 minutes by high-speed train, Modena 30, Parma an hour, Ravenna 75 minutes, Venice under two hours and Milan just over an hour — Bologna is the best base in the region.
The Best Places to Visit in Bologna
These eight places cover the two Bolognas — the monumental city of squares, towers and churches, and the everyday city of markets, porticoes and cooking — with the practical detail that makes a short stay feel unhurried.
Piazza Maggiore & San Petronio
The Civic Heart of Bologna
Piazza Maggiore is the centre of everything: the unfinished brick facade of San Petronio, the Palazzo d'Accursio with its clock tower, the Palazzo del Podestà and the Neptune fountain. Go inside San Petronio to see the meridian line that runs across the floor, climb the clock tower for the view of the square, and come back in the evening when the piazza fills with students and families.
The Two Towers
The Symbol of Bologna
The Due Torri — the tall Asinelli and the leaning Garisenda — are the last of the dozens of medieval towers that once dominated Bologna. Climb the 498 steps of the Asinelli for the best panorama in the city, and see the Garisenda from Via Rizzoli, where its dramatic lean is unmistakable. Book the tower climb ahead in spring and summer, since entry is limited.
Piazza Santo Stefano & the Seven Churches
The Quietest Square in Bologna
Piazza Santo Stefano is a triangular piazza of cafés and arcades around a church complex known as the Seven Churches — a warren of dark chapels and courtyards built over a Roman temple, with the tomb of Saint Petronius in the middle. It is five minutes from the noise of the centre and feels like a different century: come in the late afternoon and take a table outside.
The Portico of San Luca
The Longest Portico in the World
Bologna's signature walk is the 666 arches of the portico that climb from the Saragozza gate up to the sanctuary of San Luca on the hill above the city. It is about four kilometres each way, with a view of the whole city and the Po plain from the top — go in the morning, take water, and reward yourself with a coffee or an ice cream at the sanctuary.
The Quadrilatero Food Quarter
Bologna on a Plate
Between Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers is a grid of narrow streets — Via Pescherie Vecchie, Via degli Orefici, Via Drapperie — that is the gastronomic centre of the city: cheesemongers, butchers, pasta shops, fish stands and tiny bars serving wine and mortadella. Come in the morning for the market, buy tortellini and parmigiano to take home, and stop for a piadina or a plate of tagliatelle at lunch.
The Archiginnasio & the Anatomical Theatre
The Oldest University in the World
The Archiginnasio was the first seat of the University of Bologna, and its walls and ceilings are covered with thousands of student coats of arms. The wooden anatomical theatre, carved in Spruce and rebuilt after the war, is one of the most beautiful small rooms in Italy. It is a ten-minute visit that stays with you, and it sits a few steps from the Quadrilatero and Piazza Maggiore.
Santo Stefano to the University Quarter
Porticoes, Books & Aperitivo
Walk from Santo Stefano along Via Zamboni through the university district, past the Pinacoteca Nazionale with its Giotto, Raphael and Carracci, and the Teatro Comunale, to Piazza Verdi, where students gather all evening. This is the Bologna of bookshops, cheap wine and long conversation — and the streets around Via del Pratello, ten minutes west, are the best place for aperitivo and dinner away from the tourists.
The Hills, Modena & Ravenna
Day Trips Worth the Train
Bologna is surrounded by places worth a half-day: Modena for the cathedral, balsamic vinegar and Osteria Francescana, Parma for the cheese and the Baptistery, Ravenna for the finest Byzantine mosaics in the western world, and Ferrara for its Renaissance walls. Closer in, the Colli Bolognesi hills above the city have vineyards, trattorie and the walk to San Michele in Bosco for a view back over the rooftops.
When to Visit Bologna
April to June and September to October are the best months in Bologna: mild, dry and perfect for walking the porticoes and climbing the tower, with the city's café terraces full and the hills green. May and late September are the pick. July and August are hot and humid, and many family-run restaurants close for part of August, though the city stays lively in the evenings.
Winter is cold but atmospheric: the porticoes in the fog, fewer visitors, cheaper hotels and the best food season of the year, with Christmas markets in Piazza Maggiore and the festive tortellini and cotechino on every menu. Book three months ahead for spring and autumn and around the bigger trade fairs, when Bologna's hotels fill with exhibitors and prices jump.
Getting Around Bologna
Bologna is a walking city, and the porticoes make it one of the most comfortable in Italy: the station to Piazza Maggiore is 20 minutes under cover, and the towers, Santo Stefano, the Quadrilatero and the university are all within a further ten. Buses and a small tram network cover the outer neighbourhoods, and the San Luca portico walk starts from the Saragozza gate on the edge of the centre.
The airport is 20 minutes from the station by the Marconi Express monorail. High-speed trains reach Florence in 40 minutes, Modena in 30, Milan in about an hour, Venice in under two hours and Rome in two and a half. A rental car is not needed in the city, but it is useful for the Colli Bolognesi, the Ferrari museums at Maranello, and the countryside towards Parma and Ferrara.
Flights to Bologna
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport (BLQ) is one of the busiest in Italy and only 20 minutes from the station by the Marconi Express monorail. Direct flights arrive from London, Dubai, Istanbul, most European capitals and across Italy, with Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines and British Airways competing on price.
Bologna is often the cheapest way into central Italy, and a good option when Florence or Venice are expensive: high-speed trains connect it to both in under two hours. Compare live prices for your dates below, and check fares into Florence and Venice too — the train from Bologna is fast and cheap.
Where to Stay in Bologna
For a first visit, stay between Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers, where everything is within a ten-minute walk, or in the university quarter around Via Zamboni for a livelier, student atmosphere. Via del Pratello and Saragozza are quieter and full of good trattorie, the station area is the best value and the most convenient for day trips, and the hills above the city offer views and calm for a summer stay.
Bologna is noticeably cheaper than Florence or Venice for the same standard of hotel. Book ahead during trade fairs and university events, and check whether your hotel is inside the porticoed centre — it makes walking with luggage much easier.
Find Bologna Hotels
Compare hotels, apartments and boutique stays across the city, with free cancellation on most rooms and filters for neighbourhood, price and rating.
Book Bologna HotelsCar Hire for Day Trips from Bologna
You do not need a car inside Bologna: the centre is compact, porticoed and partly restricted to traffic. A rental car pays off for the region — the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums at Maranello and Sant'Agata, the hills and vineyards of the Colli Bolognesi, Parma and the Po plain, or a slow drive towards Ferrara and the Romagna coast. Collect it on the day you leave, or take the train instead: most of Emilia-Romagna is quicker by rail.
Stay Connected with an Italy eSIM
Install an Italy eSIM before you fly and you land with Google Maps, train tickets, museum reservations and translation apps already working. No roaming charges, no hunting for a SIM shop at the airport, and your normal number stays active for calls.
Get an Italy eSIMRent a Bike in Bologna
A bike is the quickest way to cover a lot of ground without queueing for buses or walking the same street twice. Rent one for a morning, ride the quietest lanes and riverside paths, and use it to link the sights that sit just outside the historic centre.
Rent a BikeThings to Do in Bologna: Tours Worth Booking
Bologna's best tours are about food and access: a Quadrilatero tasting walk in the morning gets you into the cheesemongers, pasta shops and bars you would otherwise only look at, a portico and tower walk explains a thousand years of city politics, and a pasta-making class in the hills is the most memorable afternoon you can book here. The Asinelli tower climb and the San Luca sanctuary also work best with a booked slot.
Bologna: food tour of the Quadrilatero with tastingsPractical Tips for Your Bologna Trip
When to visit Bologna
April to June and September to October are the best months, with mild weather and everything open. July and August are hot and some family restaurants close for the holidays, while winter is cold but wonderfully atmospheric, with the best food season and lower prices.
How many days you need
Two full days covers Piazza Maggiore, the towers, Santo Stefano, the Quadrilatero, the Archiginnasio and the San Luca portico walk. Three days adds the Pinacoteca, Via del Pratello and a food tour, and a fourth lets you take the train to Modena, Parma, Ravenna or Florence.
Book the tower climb and food tours ahead
The Asinelli tower admits small numbers on timed tickets, and the best food tours and pasta classes fill in spring and autumn. Reserve both before you travel, and put the tower climb early in the day before the heat and the queues.
Eat the classics, in the right places
Order tagliatelle al ragù (never spaghetti bolognese), tortellini in brodo, lasagne verde and mortadella with a crescentina. Eat in the Quadrilatero at lunch, book Via del Pratello or Saragozza for dinner, and finish with a coffee at a bar where people are standing.
Walk the porticoes, whatever the weather
Bologna's 38 kilometres of arcades mean you can cross the city dry in the rain and shaded in the sun. Use them as your route map, and give a morning to the San Luca portico — 666 arches and about four kilometres each way, with the best view of the city at the top.
Practical details worth knowing
Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and some of the smaller ones keep limited hours. Many museums close on Mondays, including the Pinacoteca Nazionale. The city is flat and easy on foot but the tower and the San Luca climb are not — wear proper shoes and carry water in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best places to visit in Bologna for first-timers?
Start with Piazza Maggiore and San Petronio, climb the Asinelli tower, visit Piazza Santo Stefano and the Seven Churches, walk the Quadrilatero food quarter, see the Anatomical Theatre at the Archiginnasio, and finish with the portico walk up to San Luca. Two days covers that at a comfortable pace.
How many days do you need in Bologna?
Two full days covers the historic centre and the San Luca walk. Three days adds the Pinacoteca Nazionale, the university quarter, Via del Pratello and a food tour, and four days lets you take day trips to Modena, Parma, Ravenna or Florence by high-speed train.
Is Bologna worth visiting compared with Florence or Venice?
Yes, especially if you care about food. Bologna is cheaper, quieter and far less crowded than Florence or Venice, with a genuine working city centre, the oldest university in the world and 38 kilometres of UNESCO-listed porticoes. It also makes an excellent base, with Florence 40 minutes away by train.
What food should you try in Bologna?
Tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo, lasagne verde, mortadella, crescentina with squacquerone and a good balsamic from nearby Modena. Eat in the Quadrilatero at lunch and in Via del Pratello or Saragozza in the evening, and never order spaghetti bolognese in Bologna.
When is the best time to visit Bologna?
April to June and September to October are the best months, with mild weather and everything open. July and August are hot, and some family-run restaurants close for the summer holidays, while winter is cold but atmospheric with the best food season and lower hotel prices.
How do you get around Bologna?
On foot — the porticoes make the centre easy to cross in any weather, and the main sights are within 20 minutes of the station. Buses cover the outer areas, the Marconi Express links the airport to the station, and high-speed trains connect Bologna to Florence, Modena, Milan, Venice and Rome.
Final Tips for Visiting Bologna
Bologna is a city to eat in and walk through. Give the mornings to markets and the Quadrilatero, the afternoons to the towers, Santo Stefano and the Archiginnasio, and the evenings to the streets around Via del Pratello, where the tables spill out and dinner takes three hours. The porticoes make it a pleasure in any weather, so leave the umbrella at the hotel and let the arcades take you further than you planned.
With flights to Bologna booked for spring or autumn, a hotel between Piazza Maggiore and the towers, a car reserved for the hills and Maranello, an Italy eSIM active before you land, an Asinelli tower slot and a food tour booked, all that is left is a plate of tagliatelle and the walk up to San Luca. Use the booking tools on this page to arrange the whole trip in one place.
Plan Your Bologna Trip Today
Compare live flights to Bologna, book a hotel in the porticoed centre, reserve a car for the hills and Emilia-Romagna, set up an Italy eSIM and lock in the Asinelli tower climb and a Quadrilatero food tour — all in one place, before you fly.
Keep Exploring
Best Places to Visit in Florence
The Duomo, the Uffizi and the Oltrarno, 40 minutes away by high-speed train.
Best Places to Visit in Venice
Canals, St Mark's and the lagoon islands, under two hours by rail.
Best Places to Visit in Milan
The Duomo rooftops and the Last Supper, just over an hour away.
Where to Buy Airline Tickets
Where to find the cheapest airfares, which booking sites are worth using and when to book.