The 9 Best Things to Do in Bologna on Your First Visit
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When you’re planning your trip to Italy, there are so many options. The popular tourist cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice are incredible places to visit. But just because you haven’t seen lots of people go there doesn’t mean Bologna shouldn’t be on your list.
Bologna sees more Italian tourists, and it is nowhere near as busy as the cities you see on most itineraries. Plus, it’s a foodie gold mine even if you’re gluten-free like me! These are things you to do in Bologna when you’re not eating. You don’t need a list of 20 things that you have to pare down anyway. So, this list is concise and includes what you’d actually do in the couple
1- Kick off your Time in Bologna with a Walking Tour
A walking tour is a great way to learn about the city and region you’re visiting. You also get to see the top tourist sites and get some recommendations from your local tour guide. Bologna is one city I’ve been to where it didn’t work out for me to take a walking tour when I was there, since I was there for another event. But, if I get to go back, a walking tour is at the top of my list.
If you decide to take a walking tour, you’ll probably find yourself visiting several things on this list.
In Bologna, you can also get a foodie walking tour if that’s more your speed. I have celiac disease, so it doesn’t work well for me, but it does look so fun! This one gets great reviews!
2- Stroll and People Watch in Piazza Maggiore
The Piazza Maggiore in Bologna is a big common plaza. It’s a beautiful place to sit on a sunny afternoon or to just walk around or pass through. I went out of my way to walk through the piazza as I crisscrossed Bologna.
Shops, restaurants, and a museum line the perimeter. There was a really good chocolate shop that was my favorite for a quick treat! I got a chocolate and orange treat, and I’d love to go back and get another. They had great labeling practices if you have allergies. I was able to find gluten and dairy-free chocolate without a problem.
I also loved an evening ice cream and then walking along the piazza. Sometimes I found live music or other performers to stop and watch.
3- Basilica San Petronio
The Basilica di San Petronio is in the Piazza Maggiore. Looking at it is interesting because you can see the bottom part clearly finished with marble decor and sculptures, while the top of the facade is unfinished brick.
Visiting the church doesn’t take a long time. You’ll find an altar with a 15th-century crucifix, so many little chapels along the sides of the main church, and many Gothic and other paintings. It’s worth the quick walk in.
4- Walk Along the UNESCO Porticos of Bologna
When Bologna was growing, they had to figure out a way to manage the infrastructure. The solution ended up being a bunch of covered porticos. You can wander along Bologna and stay sheltered from rain or the heat.
Many of them have murals on the ceilings. Some are more ornate than others. You’ll likely use the porticos anyway as you walk through Bologna. But make sure to take some time to truly notice where you’re walking.
5- Explore the University of Bologna
I live in a university town and I love a University town. Maybe that’s why I liked Bologna so much?
The university is one of the big draws for the city. Head toward campus to see students coming to and from class or meeting together. I just love the feel of being near a university campus.
It’s also a great place to grab food. There are good, affordable kebabs near here. Since I’m celiac, I didn’t get to try one, but my husband found a good one!
6- See the Asinelli Tower
The two towers in Bologna are impressive, so you’ll find them on the list of things to do in Bologna, no matter where you look.
They have quite the lean. Both of them are leaning, but the taller Asinelli tower doesn’t have quite the same lean that the smaller Garisenda tower does.
The smaller tower has a 10% lean- Which BLOWS my mind. A few years ago, city officials realized it was in danger of falling. Now there are barriers around it to protect the surrounding buildings and streets in case it falls while they repair it.
You used to be able to climb the tower. But, while it’s under restoration, you can’t. For good reason.
The Asinelli tower has a much less pronounced lean. It actually looks like it’s standing straight in comparison. But, if you’ve been to Pisa, I imagine it’s kind of a similar feeling when you’re going up.
I also don’t usually like climbing the things I want to take photos of in the cities I visit anyway. Then you can’t get those iconic buildings in the photo!
7- Take a Tour
There are so many great tour options around Bologna. Normally, tours aren’t top on my list, but as far as things to do in Bologna, there really are some great options you can’t get anywhere else.
Let’s talk about them.
Food Tours/Cooking Classes
Bologna is a foodie city, so you can try amazing food with a local guide. You can also take a cooking class with locals. They are known for tortellini and torteloni. You can learn to do the special folds and make incredible pasta.
If you’re celiac, like me, this is probably not your best option, though. So… Keep looking.
Motorsport/Auto Related Tours
This part of Italy is known for Ferrari. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is about 20 minutes away in Imola. You can tour the track or go see a race if you happen to be there. I went to the F1 race. That took lots of planning and buying tickets in advance. I’m not a Ferrari girl, but I did love hanging with the tifosi!
You can also go to the Ferrari Museum and see the history of the renowned automaker. There is no factory there.
I opted to tour the Ducati Factory and Museum. I don’t know anything about moto-racing and I don’t really enjoy motorcycles. I actually really enjoyed the whole experience. You can see the factory and follow the process from start to finish. Then, you get to visit their museum and see their history in motorcycle racing.
There is public transit out to the factory. Driving was easier and faster, and I had a car. It may be faster to go via Uber.
The craftsmanship they put into their product and their racing history were so cool to see. Even though I’m not a fan, it was worth it.
The Lamborghini museum is an option, too!
If they all seem interesting and you don’t have a car. Check out this tour and make a day of it!
8- Visit the Quadrilatero
The Quadrilatero is a block of the city between Via Rizzoli and Via Farini.
There are porticos, restaurants, and shops along beautiful cobbled streets.
You can find shops that have been passed down for generations. There’s so much history and tradition here. It was one of my favorite parts of town to walk through.
It’s just off the Piazza Maggiore, so you can spend plenty of time there.
There are even some good gluten-free options in the Quadrilatero, so you don’t miss out if you’re gluten-free like me!
9- Take a Day Trip
There are several great day trip options from Bologna. We’ll start with three.
Ravenna is an hour and fifteen minutes away by train. It’s near the Adriatic Sea and is known for its Byzantine Mosaics. If you don’t know what they are, do a quick search. They’re incredible. They use tiny fingernail-sized pieces to make masterpieces. Look for the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia to see the best of the best in Ravenna.
Parma is about an hour away. It’s another cute little town to visit. It’s full of charm. But, it’s also known for Parma Ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. So, if you’re going to Parma, go on a food tour!
Imola is 20 minutes away by train and is home to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. You can tour the track and learn about its history. It’s got a deep history in Formula 1 racing and is a beautiful track. Plus, the town of Imola is another charming one.
Just make sure you don’t visit on a race weekend unless you have tickets. It will be madness that you won’t want to manage.
Bonus – Other options:
Visit Piazza Santo Stefano for a peaceful open space surrounded by churches. There are festivals here, or you may spend some time just hanging out.
Walk the Porticos of San Luca. This is a cathedral and portico building that’s part of the UNESCO site. It sits on top of a hill outside of Bologna.
The portico here is the longest covered walkway in the world, at 3.8 km long.
You can walk from the center of Bologna to the cathedral at the top.
It will take an hour and twenty minutes or so, depending on how much you stop. The last bit is steep as you make your way up to the cathedral.
You can also take a car to the top of the hill at the cathedral and walk back if you want the experience but not the cardio!
Enjoy Bologna on Your Tour Of Italy
Bologna is truly a special little town. It’s a breath of fresh air after visiting cities busting with tourists.
You can easily plug it in with a trip to Milan or Florence.
Learn more about visiting Italy so you can have the perfect trip:
