Best Things to Do in Bologna (a Mini Guide)

Not as well-known or visited as other Italian cities such as Venice, Rome, or Florence, Bologna is a unique gem that you really should not miss if you are visiting the country for its art, its cuisine, and its ideas.

In this article, you can learn everything about the best things to do in Bologna… or at least be convinced to add it your your Italy travel itinerary.

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Best Reasons to Visit Bologna

Bologna is one of those Italian cities that have managed to remain a bit off the path, still offering the comfortable traits of any big town without being overwhelming, chaotic, or overcrowded.

One of the most curious cities in Italy, Bologna has been seen as Italy’s center of excellence, knowledge, and avant-garde ideas since immemorial times.

Three different tags have been Bologna’s official label through the years, each one of them defining a unique trait that makes Bologna such an approachable, lovable, and incredible destination.

Bologna la Grassa

Local food is one of the main reasons to visit Bologna, something that has gained the city the official label of Bologna la Grassa (Bologna the fat one).

The fact is that some of Italy’s staples and the most delicious dishes were created in this area, including the world-famous Bolognese sauce, but also different types of pasta and other lesser-known but equally famous local dishes now cooked and loved all over the country.

LEARN MORE: Best Foods of Italy by Region

 

Bologna la Dotta

The second reason to visit Bologna is its ancient university.

The oldest and one of the most prestigious education and research centers in Europe has gained the town its second widespread label, Bologna la Dotta (Bologna the wise one).

For this reason, Bologna receives an extensive student population that comes from many other cities in Italy and makes it a very lively place all year round, offering plenty of entertainment as well as some quite affordable places to eat and hostels too.

 

Bologna la Rossa

Finally, two different theories stand by supporting its third nickname, Bologna la Rossa (Bologna the red one).

Some claim that the city got this name for the impressive quantity of red-tiled roofs, a typical trait of the houses in Bologna.

Other, more realistic, refer that the names refer to its kind of leftist political tendencies, not always in agreement with other cities in the country.

 

Practical Things to Know about Bologna

The city is not just one more of the many towns in central Italy… Bologna is an important center and capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region, one of the most populated, modern, and developed areas of the country.

Bologna is one of the ten Italian cities with more inhabitants, offering interesting work opportunities for highly qualified professionals. It is home to important industries and factories mostly located in the suburban areas of the province.

Rich and vigorous, Bologna proudly holds the title of the first city in Italy when it comes to wealth and economic growth.

You might argue that, even when this could be an interesting fact to learn, it might not be reason enough to visit. We beg to differ!

This comes as an advantage, especially for visitors, as it translates into excellent services for tourists, including a modern airport, an incredible train system that connects the air terminal to the center of town in almost no time, incredibly organized traffic, ecological values, and endless other details that make living in Bologna a truly pleasant, stress-free experience.

This once ancient and primitive Etruscan settlement evolved and turned into one of the most important cities in the Middle Ages when it gave life to what is still one of the most important universities in Europe, which has been continually in operation since 1088, a record that makes it the oldest university in the world!

LEARN MORE: 40 Travel Tips for Italy

Getting to Bologna and Moving Around in Town

If you’re coming from other Italian towns, getting to Bologna by train is the cheapest and most efficient way.

Occupying quite a central position in the peninsula, it is fairly close to Italy’s most important cities, including the nearby Florence, but also Rome, Milan, Naples, and Venice.

Trains from France, Austria, and Germany also arrive in Bologna.

Those coming to Italy from other European countries can take advantage of Bologna’s Guglielmo Marconi Airport.

Easy to reach from the center of town, this terminal is only 6 km from the center of Bologna. The trip takes only 7 minutes with the Marconi Express, a high-speed train that arrives at Bologna’s Central Train Station.

There is also a bus that connects the airport to the center, and even if it might be cheaper, the ride is a bit longer (about 20 minutes).

When it comes to moving around in the city center, Bologna is extremely pedestrian-friendly; the city features several no-traffic zones, so if you are renting a car to tour Italy, do consider that you will have to park outside of the city center and then continue on foot or by bus.

Best Places to Stay in Bologna

If you’ve never been to Bologna before, or if you have limited time to explore and visit the city’s most famous landmarks, staying in the center of town or close to the train station can be super convenient and save you some money on public transport.

Budget Hotel

Residenza Rialto is located in the historic center of Bologna, close to Bologna Central Train Station. Check availability at Residenza Rialto

Mid-range Hotel

Starhotels Excelsior is a pet-friendly hotel located opposite Bologna Train Station and the airport bus terminal. It offers modern interiors, a gourmet restaurant, and free access to the gym. Book a room at Starhotels Exceleior

Luxury Hotel

Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni is a fantastic place to stay in the center of Bologna, located within an 18th-century palace just 250 meters from Piazza Maggiore and the famous Two Towers, only 15 minutes from Bologna Central Train Station. Book your stay at Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni

Best Things to Do in Bologna

Bologna Historic District

This incredible city, which thrived already during the Middle Ages, has kept intact its ancient charm and quiet atmosphere.

Featuring several incredible ancient buildings and churches, but also medieval towers with stunning views over Bologna’s famous red-tiled roofs.

The old city center is mostly a pedestrian area, where it is a pleasure to get lost while checking out its unique architecture and historic charm.

Famous Porticoes of Bologna

Among the most admired places to visit in Bologna are the UNESCO-listed porticos. Over 600 long walkable passages with elegant columns have made Bologna officially known as the City of Porticoes.

It is believed that these arcades were spontaneously built in the early Middle Ages as a projection of private buildings on public land to increase living spaces accessible to all the residents.

No other city in the world has as many porticoes as Bologna, covering more than 38 kilometers in the city center but going up to more than 50 kilometers if we also consider the arcades located outside the medieval city walls.

If you have no clue where to start, then walk along Via Saragozza, a road that extends for more than 4 kilometers, with exceptional examples of these medieval arcades.

 

Walk and Shop on Via Rizzoli

Walking along Via Rizzoli is something you don’t want to miss when spending time in Bologna. Whether it’s for souvenir shopping or just to feel the vibe of the city, a long stroll along Via Rizzoli is something you will enjoy.

On Via Rizzoli, you will also find some traditional coffee shops and some of the most important restaurants in town, several department stores, and international brands too.

Bologna Jewish Ghetto

Once you’re done with Via Rizzoli, only a few minutes will be necessary to reach the ancient Jewish district, which in the past played a key role in Bologna’s economic prosperity.

The old medieval alleys of the Jewish Ghetto feature some unique buildings, while the structure of the area has changed very little since the times when the Jewish community was expelled from the city in the last years of the 1500s.

Developing along the main road of the district known as the Road of Hell (Via dell’Inferno), you can easily spot the right spots where the old synagogue of Bologna used to be.

Mirroring the city’s importance as a scholar center for research and studies during the Middle Ages, which gave its origin to its remarkable university, the Jewish Quarter was home to an important center devoted to Jewish and Talmudic studies.

In the district, there were numerous printing shops and bookbinding workshops devoted to the production of religious and sacred Jewish books, while the economic activities revolved around different banks, trade, and other commercial activities.

Unfortunately, segregating measures were enforced during the 1400s. For example, members of the Jewish community were required to wear special distinctive clothing, including veils for women and pins for men, to distinguish and discriminate against the members of the community, something that marked the beginning of the economic decline of the district and led to the final expulsion of the community from the city of Bologna.

If the Jewish past of the city interests you, make sure to explore the Hebrew Museum Bologna, located in the heart of the district.

Gastronomy at the Quadrilatero

One cannot set foot in Bologna and ignore the impressive gastronomic scenario that lives everywhere in town. Starting by the Quadrilatero, the magnificent foodie heaven located along the streets of the former Medieval Market in town.

You will be delighted to get lost checking out the immense variety of culinary shops that sell both local and regional, but also national and even international products.

This remarkable gastronomic district features some of Italy’s top DOP products, many of which originate in Bologna and the surrounding region, including Modena’s Balsamic Vinegar, a variety of wines (Pignoletto is a famous local variety), pasta, several types of cheese, the renowned Parma Ham, and a lot more.

Bologna’s Quadrilatero is also the best place in town to purchase chocolate, fresh vegetables and fish, and wine.

There are different small restaurants and coffee shops where it is also possible to enjoy a mouth-watering meal for affordable prices.

Foods to Eat in Bologna

How can one visit Bologna and not try some of those unique products that have gained the city the name of culinary center of Italy?

If you’re not certain of what food souvenirs you could bring back home, or at least try while staying in town, please keep the following list at hand.

When it comes to pasta, include tortellini and tortelloni, different varieties of stuffed pasta that can be served as a soup or with simple tomato sauce.

If you prefer simpler pasta, then tagliatelle will not disappoint.

 

You might already know that the famous ragù is a meat and tomato sauce that has given Bologna a name all over the world, so stopping at any local trattoria and indulging in a dish of Tagliatelle alla Bolognese is kind of a religious commandment in town.

Don’t overlook that pleasure!

Try also the delicious Parmesan Cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano) and Parmesan Ham (Prosciutto Crudo di Parma), if sandwiched inside a freshly-baked loaf of local bread even better! And if Parmesan Ham is not your thing, don’t forget that Mortadella is another popular cold cut that is also known as Bologna all over Italy. Guess why? Yes, it was also born here!

 

Food Tours

I usually recommend taking a food tour to discover the local tastes, no matter which town in the world you’re visiting, but if there is a place on this planet where a food tour or cooking lesson will be nothing but well-invested money, then that place is certainly Bologna.

These are the food tours that you should consider:

• Bologna Food Experience: Factory Visits with Gourmet Lunch and Wine Tasting. Book the Bologna Food Experience Tour
• The 10 Tastings of Bologna With Locals: Private Food Tour in Bologna. Book 10 Tastings of Bologna Food Tour
• Bologna Food Tour from a local perspective: Walking Food Tour with a Local Guide. Book Bologna Food Tour from a Local Perspective
• Stay Hungry Stay Bologna: Cooking Class in Bologna (with guided wine tasting over lunch) Book this Bologna Cooking Class

Check Out Bologna’s Main Central Square

Piazza Maggiore is a medieval square in the center of Bologna built around the year 1200, making it one of the oldest piazzas in the country.

All around the square, you can admire some of the most beautiful ancient buildings that once were the heart of all economic and public activity in the city, including the Palazzo dei Banchi, the picturesque Palazzo dei Notai, and the impressive Palazzo d’Accursio with a fantastic clock tower offering magnificent sights of the city center and the surrounding land.

 

Visit Saint Petronius Basilica

One of the most important churches in the country (and one of the biggest in the world) is the medieval Basilica di San Petronio, dating back to 1390 and featuring an impressive facade that’s over 130 meters long.

Since the ruling Pope at the time of the construction feared that this church could overshadow Saint Peter’s in Rome in size and spectacular features, it was decided that Saint Petronius was never to be completed, and so it remained unfinished.

Despite this fact, the church features an imposing main nave with more than twenty lateral chapels and an astronomic measuring instrument, a meridian line, one of the largest in the world.

 

Final Thoughts

This incredible center of Medieval history, refined architectonic beauty, flavorful dishes, and academic excellence is a magnetic destination in Italy, a place that surprises its visitors with dozens of incredible stories and hundreds of enchanting sights!

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