17 Best Things To Do in Bologna Italy

“Breathtaking Churches, exquisite gardens, famous porticoes, delicious cuisine, vibrant nightlife, here’s the ultimate bucket list of the best things to do in Bologna Italy.”

How to get to Bologna

Location: Emilia-Romagna Region

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Introduction

”la dotta, la grassa, la rossa”

Bologna has three nicknames:
👩‍🎓🎓 La Dotta, “the learned one” with reference to the University of Bologna which was founded in 1088 and is the oldest Uni. in the world that is still in operation. Notable figures like Dante Alighieri studied here.
🏚️ La Rossa, “ the red one” is a reference to the red rooftops of its historic centre.
🍽️🍴 La Grassa, “the fat one” The fat city, Bologna is legendary for its traditional cuisine tagliatelle al ragù and lasagne alla bolognese just to name a few…

Bologna is a fantastic city filled with adventures, places to see, artifacts to goggle at, and nights to revel and sigh within. It is barely 100 km from Florence, 150 km from Verona, hundreds of years old, and peopled with the most amazing youthful crowd you will find anywhere in the world.

Bologna is also Italy’s Foodie City, a reputation that was hard to come by, and even harder to maintain in the face of a country known for its food. Yet, mortadello, tortellini, prosciutto, balsamic vinegar, and parmigiano-reggiano all come from Emilia-Romagna, of which Bologna is the capital.

La Grassa, “the fat one” is Bologna’s nickname among those in the know, and for those even better known, Mercato di Mezzo in the Quadrilatero neighborhood, and Mercato delle Erbe are the centers of the action if you are looking for fresh and locally produced pasta, cheese, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, and those cushy little dough delights known as crescentine fritte.

Even with such an amazing food scene, my take on Bologna went further than pleasing my stomach and taste buds. Rather, I see Bologna as the city of bucket challenges. I was here to climb Torre degli Asinelli’s 498 steps, walk 4 km through the city’s 666 arches, shelter from the Sun under another 38 km of porticoes, and literally watch history through the glass floors of the Biblioteca Salaborsa.

If you are planning a trip to Bologna for a day of a month, I think I got you covered whether it is for adventure, fun, eating, learning, or RnR.

Best Things To Do in Bologna Italy

1. The Two Towers: Torre Asinelli and Torre della Garisenda

Why did I start here? A selfish impulse on my part. First, I love old buildings because they remind us how far we have come along. Secondly, because of a private little bucket list of mine. As one of the best things to do in Bologna, starting with the two towers might be the best start to the Bolognese adventure.

The climb is worth the strain because from up here, the city just unfolds like a canvas. It is like a carpet of red; even the bricks on the walls look red and suddenly, the whole ‘la Rossa’ business really begins to make sense. The Basilica of San Petronio, the Archiginnasio of Bologna, Prendiparte Tower, and all the little streets of Bologna laid out like an electrical grid are below you.

And that’s not even gazing out further into the green-covered hills surrounding the city!

These two towers are amazing structures dating back to the 12^th century. More than that, they have their own unique stories and characteristics. The story of Torre Asinelli is basically its 498 steps of stairs leading all the way up. For centuries, the scientific and the curious have been dropping things from the top, starting with Giovanni Battista Guglielmini in 1790 carrying out experiments on gravity, and till recently, people committing suicides from the top until they installed security guardrails to stop it!

Torre della Garisenda’s story is deeper. She leans, forcing her reduction to 48 m from 60m. Dante Alighieri’s writings mention the Torre several times, and was overshadowed not only by Toree Asinelli, but even Santa Maria delle Grazie and others!

Just think about it; Dante himself thought that one of the best things to do while on a visit to Bologna was to write about the tower. Twice!

You can also take a tour there which will show you the very best highlights of the city of Bologna!

2. Basilica di San Petronio

This church is massive! From the outside, she looks squat, like a dragon sprawled on its hinds and lazily gazing at all around her. You walk up to the door and are presented with Jacopo della Quercia’s exquisite carvings of famous Biblical stories on the doorway; “Original Sin”, “Fall of Man”, “Binding of Isaac”, “Noah’s Ark”, and others more familiar to others than myself.

It has a capacity of 28,000, yet was built in 1390.

How did they do it?

At least 8 Churches, several towers, and the old Curia of Sancti Ambrosii were demolished to make room. Just these alone are a testament to how determined they were to build the church. Think about it? When, ever, did you hear of the nobility or priests consenting to the destruction of their property and identities?

So my thinking was, they must have something really impressive to have gone all this way.

And they were!

The marble flooring to start with got my attention. The color scheme of cream and brown extends all the way from the floors to the massive columns supporting the heavens above. Then the nave and apse themselves; are humongous, open spaces, with the ceiling so far above in the ribbed dome fashion. I honestly felt dwarfed while seated on the benches.

3. Piazza Maggiore

This is a city centre out of time. Apparently, little has changed in appearance since the medieval ages and what you see there now has been the picture in everyone else’s sight since the 15^th century.

So there I was, gazing at Fontana del Nettuno, the Basilica of San Petronio, Palazzo d’Accursio on the west, Palazzo dei Banchi to the east, and Palazzo dei Podesta to the north, and thinking to myself; this is what people have been gazing at for centuries.

The ghosts of the past are heavy here; it really gives you a perspective on your place in history and time. I spent several hours in restaurants, just watching the crowds, sipping a coffee and munching on cakes; generally building up my endurance for the city walk through tomorrow.

When dark came, the surprise went deeper. The glow as night lamps come on in the different buildings at the piazza was a definite plus and another shift of perspective for me. Just spending evenings here are among the best things to do in Bologna. The lamp lights are bright enough to blanket and cover whatever light comes from the stars above. Then all you see is man’s works and brilliance, with nothing of the heavenly bodies in sight.

Is it a wonder that, for much of medieval and present history, humanity has always considered itself the center of the universe?

4. Bologna’s Porticoes

Did you know the 38 km of porticoes of Bologna have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Also, did you know the length is closer to 53 km if you count the ones outside of Bologna? These alone make an adventure centered on the porticoes and the best things to do in Bologna as a group or family.

The history behind these porticoes is half the fun of taking the walk as a challenge.

Bologna’s streets are at a premium. Time was, residents of the city would want to extend their building, but could not, because all land in Bologna was occupied. Just to put things into perspective; nobles would build thin but very tall towers because this was the only way they could occupy more land.

So, since 1288 apparently, residents began creating these arcades, first in wood, then by the mid 1500s, and by gubernatorial decree, in brick and stone.

2^nd challenge? There are some wooden porticoes still left over from when they switched to stone and brick. There are some on via Marsala, but the best I liked was in Corte Isolani. I found that trying to see what streets retained the wooden porticoes can be fun and the best things to do in Bologna is you go deeper into their stories.

Can you find more?

The porticoes are also hosts to some really good photo shots. Portico della Morte was an interesting one because the columns supporting the arcades looked so old, but the businesses under the porticoes were so banal and modern that it was like being tossed in a churn of misfitting decor. The one on Piazza Cavour is as lavishly painted as the wares in the shops to its side. The porticoes on Strada Castiglione were quite something, making you feel like you are a time traveler along the corridors of time.

The Portico di San Luca however took the cake and was part of the challenge; 3.5 km long and some 666 arches altogether. You will encounter so many walkers and joggers here that it will feel like you are all walking on the river Styx…only brightly colored and bright and fun!

5. La Grassa

Enjoying the food in Bologna is one of the best things to do in Bologna because it is not just about eating. There are tasting, cooking classes, and lessons on how parmesan cheese is made. You can do it DIY, in private tours, in ‘private’ private tours or in groups, in walking tours of Bologna in her entirety, or step out of the city to see the farms themselves.

The tours usually cross Piazza Maggiore, the Jewish ghetto, and the Quadrilatero food area on a 4-hour tour. They will include tasting local wines, tortellini, tagliatelle, parmigiano reggiano, mortadella, parma ham, tigella, coppa, and aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena DOP. Cooking classes on Bolognese pasta? Check. Classes on the whys and whats of specialities, ingredients and flavours.

The best part about the entire experience is how much knowledge the tour conductors will offer you while on the tour. Frankly, you can eat amazing Italian food anywhere, but the stories that come with eating here in Bologna are among the best things to do in Bologna simply a sauce you will find difficult to have elsewhere.

I mean, “squacquerone”? Creamy cheese on tigella? Who comes up with this?!

6. Bologna’s ‘Little Venice’ Window

Bologna’s ‘Little Venice’ and the Finestrella di Bologna is a small slice of a water village Bologna offers via boat tours. This magical window is actually close to the main Piazza Maggiore but very few people know about it or even notice it when passing by.  

7. Archaeological Museum

An hour over a day trip at the Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna might not be one of the best things to do in Bologna. You need a few hours more to take it all in.

Located at the Via dell’Archiginnasio, 2 in the Palazzo Galvani building, the museum is a combination of two previous museums, and collections of art donated by Pelagio Palagi and digs from around Bologna.

Did you know the Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna has the 3^rd largest Egyptian collection in the world?

There are some 100, 000 coins and medals. These range from across the breadth of human history, from Republican and Imperial Rome to the Papal and city-state era.

There are items from prehistory, Celtic, Etruscan, Roman, and Greek art here.

Honestly, just as an educational tour for students and kids, I would rank the archaeological museum at the top of my list of the best things to do in Bologna.

8. Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

In keeping with the theme of history, culture, and art, visiting the Pinoteca Nazionale di Bologna is another place that ranks among the best things to do in Bologna.

It is on the Via delle Belle Arti, 56, in the same building as the Academy of Arts.

What makes the visit worthwhile are the scores of Emilia-Romagna paintings unique to artists with some ties to the city of Bologna.

So, here is the crux; my art history is not that deep? I ‘know’ Parmigianino is from the region and maybe even Bologna. I don’t know whether Raphael, Giotto, Titian, El Greco, and Tintoretto really have a tie to Bologna, but the inclusion of their works here is worth the visit anyway.

All in all, this visit can be one of the best things to do in Bologna if you are doing more than a day tour in Bologna simply for the collections arranged by galleries and rooms at the Pinoteca.

9. Santo Stefano Complex of Churches

I also don’t know what the connection with the churches demolished in the building of the basilica is, but the Santo Stefano Complex on the Piazza Stefano is like a museum monument to several chapels and buildings from Bologna.

There are pieces and sections of older religious buildings here. There is a nave of the Church of Saint Stephen or of the Holy Crucifix from the 8^th century with really old frescoes and bas reliefs. 5^th-century columns and an old pulpit from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre can also be seen here, as are the ruins of the Church of the Saints Vitale and Agricola, the oldest chapel here.

There are few places where religious artifacts, monuments, frescoes, statues, and buildings come together like here at the Santo Stefano Complex.

I consider a visit here, whether on a day trip or as part of a longer stay, one of the best things to do in Bologna because of the historical depth here. It is a combination of the hopes of the architects and fathers of the Christian faith. It is also a different perspective on history in that, unlike other museums, the arrangements here are not chronological, but rather a mish-mash of sorts, like in the movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).

10. FICO World Eataly, Bologna

Via Paolo Canali, 8, is somewhere you definitely want to bring your family and friends if you are looking for the best things to do in Bologna. This place is like an art museum, expo, emporium, theme park, exhibitions galore, and goods store all centered around the subject of food!

There are shelves and shelves of wine bottles on racks…right beside shelves and shelves of fresh apples on racks.

Glass-encased stones of cheese, a sculpture of a tree constructed all from glass bottles, a statue of Nike constructed from discarded cases and plats of wood, a showcase of cheese from all over history with maps of provenance, barrels of wine from all over Italy, Tibetan goats and Alpacas.

Yes, I was not foaming at the mouth on those last two.

The orchards, olive gardens, and vineyards here may be small, but they are all real. More importantly, coming here was one of the best things to do in Bologna because they reminded me of just how big fun, and interesting the world can be, priming my next day of adventures around Bologna.

11. The Schools: Teatro Anatomico & Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio

This is where medical students used to take their lectures!

I always wondered how it felt like to sit in these, watching TV, so a visit to the Teatro Anatomico made for one of the best things to do in Bologna just to tick off a small detail on my bucket list.

The room is eerie; they have ‘spelatti’ or skinless statues all over, symbols of astrology, the marble table in the center, and a throne chair for the lecturer. Then my tour operator pointed out to me a spy-hole, saying it was what the Church used to do, spying on the lecturers to make sure nothing fishy was going on!

Just think of it; it’s the 17^th century and medical knowledge is poor, but the professor sits like a king in this room, and they have astrology symbols all over as a guide to medical surgery.

Boy, am I glad I was born in this century!

12. Quadrilatero Neighbourhood of Bologna

Just off Piazza Maggiore is the heart of Bologna’s food scene. Here, all manner of freshly caught, freshly uprooted, or properly prepared foodstuffs can be found. Trying out the food stuff here is really the best things to do in Bologna just for the new experiences. Gilberto’s chocolates and basalmics, Paolo Atti e Figli’s rice pudding cakes, Zeroquinquantino’s tagliatelle al ragù, and Paolo Atti e Figli Panificio’s almond-loaded ‘certosino’ – sorry, for some reason, I can’t wrap my tongue around the word – are just a few of the local products I advice trying out for a full Bolognese experience.

Just to give you a hint of the specialty foods here, think Vicolo Ranocchi and the frogs from the Po Valley, a source of protein since the Middle Ages at a time of scarcity. The importance of protein cannot be overstated; on Via delle Pescheria Vecchie, where all other sellers and vendors have moved on, fishmongers remain, continuing a tradition centuries old.

But it is more than seafood, farm produce, and restaurants that make spending an evening here one of the best things to do in Bologna. As home to Bologna’s guilds since the Middle Ages, this neighborhood is one of the must-see places in Bologna where the best things to do can be had. Via Calzolerie used to be home to the leather guilds of old Bologna and today remains home to shoe shops. Via Clavature holds the largest number of blacksmiths in the city – I have yet to hear of where else they can be found – and among their points to fame is that they are responsible for making the mechanical gears operating Bologna’s canals.

As an added bonus, Quadrilatero is famous for her night scene. The restaurants open late and stay open really late at times. Seeing locals and tourists down wine at Osteria del Sole on the Via dei Ranocchi served on wooden tables, or on the Via Pescherie Vecchie, tortellini, and pasta disappearing down gullets like its magic are common scenes here.

13. Torre dell’Orologio

Back to Piazza Maggiore and all the wonders to be had here!

I didn’t want to do a one-off thing where I visited one spot and closed its chapter on my list. I found that taking a city in small doses is actually better.

The clock tower here, Accursi Tower, might not seem much, but that is only if you are reading this and not doing some traveling in person. I feel that knowing the stories behind a city’s building is the best way to grasp its heart. Touring Piazza Maggiore slowly and taking in the Clock Tower is one of the best things to do in Bologna in this case because its history is tied to its transformations. Built by Accursio, a Florentine who came to Bologna to turn his fortunes in 1250, a huge mechanical clock was added in 1444, marking day and night, then underwent transformations in the mid-1800s, was closed for decades, and only recently opened.

Is any of that important?

On their own, not really; so many buildings have been raised and destroyed over time it is impossible to think of them. Just read up on my entry on the Santo Stefano Complex of Chapels to get an idea of this.

For me, this clock tower is important because it says a little bit of me can actually survive centuries down the line. A little lawyer built a house on a whim and 800 years later, we still remember him! He did it, and so can I!

14. Rocchetta Mattei, Castello Manservisi, Palazzo Toschi, and Villa Simoni-Pasi

By themselves, they might not mean much to me or you. Not even together really; these are museums that hold some bits and pieces of Bolognese history. If you bring them up together in conversation, however, the story changes!

Like Villa Simoni-Pasi on the Via S. Paolo, home to Ignazio Simoni, late of the 1860 Expedition of the Thousand. Or Rocchetta Mattei on the Via Rocchetta 46a, home to Count Cesare Mattei, inventor of electrohomeopathy. Palazzo Toschi on the Via Emilia 31 was a home renovated by Cosimo Morelli in neo-Palladian architecture in a period when Baroque was in vogue. Then there is Castello Manservisi, renovated in the 19^th century by Alessandro Manservisi, in the neo-Gothic style.

All these tell me Bologna is more than her food; she is stylish, up to date with what is in vogue, but also not afraid of defying tradition to seek something new! Knowing their story was one of the best things to do in Bologna because, as conversation starters while having coffee at Quadrilatero, I immediately bonded with guys there, sharing our perspectives and simply spicing my visit to this city.

15. Basilica of San Domenico

Just beyond Piazza Cavour on the Piazza San Domenico 13 is a Church with paintings on the ceiling you have to see if you are thinking about the best things to do in Bologna.

Michelangelo’s hand was here, contributing to three sculptures; Angel, St. Proclus, and St. Petronius. But would you have imagined it is not these that drew me here?

You walk down the grand nave, all white with reflective flooring, then hit St. Dominic’s Chapel and the grand tapestries hit you. Guido Reni’s St. Dominic’s Glory is like the centerfold in this magazine, and something about the combination of light colors and scale right above you as you strain your neck really catches your attention in a way hard to describe.

16. Madonna di San Luca, Bologna

I wanted to stop my tour of the best things to do in Bologna with the visit to the Basilica of San Domenico, but that painting in the chapel got to me.

So I asked around and had there was something similar at the Madonna di San Luca, Bologna, an amazing nave and chapel with ceiling paintings to boot.

First, getting here was part fun, part a walk through modern history. The road up to the church on the Via di San Luca, 36 is part of the Giro dell’Emilia, an annual racing circuit that makes bikers race up the road. It is a hard walk or bike ride, with the Church some 300m above Bologna proper. Apparently, there is also some history here tying Bologna together; Portico di San Luca’s 3.8 km of roofed arcade was actually built to protect the icon of the Virgin Mary on procession to the Church!

Plus, there used to be a cable car ride up the hill. It was discontinued decades ago, but I pray they bring it back.

Now, where were we? The paintings on the ceiling of the Church… Yeah, didn’t make it! Sorry guys, got beat with the walk up the hill, then got distracted with all the photos to be had. They let you access the roof of the Church and the panoramic view of Bologna’s countryside is amazing!

The whole region is like one flat line stretching all the way to the horizon and beyond on one side, then on another side of the roof, all hills and green. You are drawn to walk around the hillside country a bit and a plane flies over your head, contrails cutting across the sky and you forget all about your previous list of the best things to do in Bologna and spend an extra day in the city…

17. Day Tripping to other cities

There are numerous day trips from Bologna but the major popular city day trips are Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice and Verona and as one who lives in Italy, I have visited all these cities by Italy’s high-speed trains in a day, they are far more convenient, reliable and cost-efficient if you have to factor in parking fees, etc.

Places to Stay in Bologna

Because much of the action is centered around Piazza Maggiore and the same for Bologna’s night scene, I found I did not spend too much time in my rooms. So staying in Bologna is mostly about comfort, ease of access to travel means and safety.

1. De’ Pepoli Rooms & Apartments is a cheap but comfortable place close to Piazza Maggiore.

2. Best Western Plus Tower Hotel Bologna is in Savena, but they offer security services like training on safety while in the city. Ask for more details from their staff though!

3. Hotel Palace Bologna Centro is in Piazza Maggiore and quite popular with tourists.

4. Nuovo Hotel Del Porto is rather cheap as well but has good facilities and wifi.

5. Royal Hotel Carlton has fantastic saunas and Turkish baths to offer! Mid-to-high-end side depending on the timing of the bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bologna

A. When is it best to visit Bologna?

Spring is best because the weather is still cool.

B. How many days should I spend in Bologna?

A day trip is okay, but 3 days guarantee all the food, adventures around the city, visits to places, and fantastic evening nightlife.

C. Is Bologna safe for tourists?

Yes. Eve solo travelers are known to be safe. Caution though; always exercise common sense during travel, i.e., sticking to central areas with larger crowds, avoiding walking quiet streets at night, etc

D. Where do I avoid in Bologna?

Montagnola Gardens after dark is the main cause for concern. Other less wise places to be after dark are Borgo Panigale, Navile, and Savena.

E. What is the cheapest way to travel around Bologna?

Buses are the best; the tour operators know all the best spots, and the buses have more than enough wifi to upload your moments instantly. Carpooling is also cheap by the way. Walking is also okay because the city is easy to navigate and has a compact layout.

F. Is my English enough to get around Bologna?

Bologna, Rome, and Milan are very comfortable for English speakers, more so than other cities like Florence or Verona. Sign boards can be in English, restaurants have English-speaking staff, and there are even jobs in English if you can wing it.

G. Is the food expensive in Bologna?

Restaurants in this region of Italy can be expensive, € 20 and € 35 a meal.

H. Is it cheaper to stay in Bologna or Florence?

Florence is definitely more expensive.

I. Should I carry a lot of cash?

Credit cards are mostly accepted, but smaller shops and operations demand cash.

J. Are there ‘sneaky fees’ like I’ve heard about in Bologna?

Yes; some restaurants will charge you an extra €2-€3, a small fee they call a coperto charge just to sit at a restaurant whether you eat something or not. But they do tell you this beforehand… this fee is all over Italy.

K. Do I need to tip?

Nope.

L. Do I need to book in advance for restaurants or places to sleep?

Unfortunately, you should as Bologna is rather small for a city, and tourist season can get crowded.

I hope this article helps you when visiting Bologna and I would love to hear your experience. I have a YouTube Channel where I give travel guides to visiting Italy and I would love it if you SUBSCRIBED to my channel and shared it as this helps me keep producing more helpful content for your travels. Below is a walking tour of Bologna which includes almost all the best things to do in Bologna Italy and I did them all in a DAY as a day trip from my home in Rome!