#1 G
With more than 15 years of experience in the car rental market online. We guarantee that we will find a perfect offer for your rental
Ratings: Customer Service 4/5 - Value for Money 4/5- BLQ Compare Prices
Many exclusive packages
With excellent value for money
- Bologna One Way Rentals
All additional costs are included
Even for international travel
- Bologna Airport 20% Off
Always the best offers
Pick up immediately after landing
- Bologna Luxury Cars
For your business trip
with comfort and style
- In Just 4 Easy Steps
Rent a Car in Boston
In Just 4 Easy Steps
- Automatic Cars In Bologna
With special offers.
Via a simple search
- BLQ Compare Prices
No Hidden Fees, We’re Completely Transparent On What’s Covered In Your Booking. Find Your Perfect TUI Holiday With ABTA & ATOL Protection.
- £75 off Long-Haul Holidays*
- ·Code LH75
- ·Valid Oct 1 - Oct 31
- All Inclusive Holidays
Amazing Summer Deals All Taken Care
Of With Our All Inclusive Holidays!
- Summer 2025 Holidays
Thousands Of Holidays Next Summer
Low Deposits & Free Kids Places*
- Winter 2024 Holiday Deals
Looking For A Great Deal This
Winter? We've Got You Covered.
- Last Minute Holidays
Need To Get Away & Don't Want To
Wait? Find Your Late Deal Today!
5-Star Rated Tours & Activities in Bologna! Book Top Tours Now on Viator. Find & Book the Best Things to Do in Bologna. Tours, Activities, Excursions in Bologna
The most venerable and polished of the tour-and-activity sites. - BBC
Bologna Best Western - Compare Rates. The Best deals for 2024. Bologna Best Western. Hotel Rates, Specials, Offers. Book suite rooms & more.
Search results
Bologna
Other matches
Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna region and the seventh most populous city in Italy. It is famous for its university, founded in 1088, its porticoes, its food and its quality of life.
The official tourism website for Bologna and the Metropolitan City for information on places to visit, events, experiences and things to do, restaurants and hospitality.
Discover Bologna, a city of elegance, grit, history and culture. Explore its attractions, such as the leaning towers, the oldest university, the musical museum and the agri-food park.
- Contents
- Where Is Bologna, Italy?
- What Is Bologna Known for?
- Foodie Things to Do in Bologna
- Historic Things to Do in Bologna
- Places to Run Or Walk in Bologna
- Day Trips from Bologna
- More Things to Do in Bologna
- Where to Eat in Bologna
- Cheap Eats in Bologna
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagnaregion in northern Italy. It’s located between Florence (to the south) and Venice (to the north) and is easily accessible by train. Towards the end of this post, there are details on how to get to Bologna from major cities in Italy. Back to Contents
Bologna has three nicknames that reflect what it is best known for. La Dotta (The Learned) Bologna University, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in the western world and students came from all over the world to study there. There is still a large student population which adds to the city’s vibrant atmosphere, especially at aperitivo time. L...
1) Take a Bologna Food Tour
The cuisine is one of the main reasons to visit Bologna, and it’s well worth taking a food tour at the beginning of your trip to learn more about the food culture. It’ll help you make the most of the rest of your stay. We did this four-hour Classic Bologna Food Tour with Sara of Taste Bologna. We started at the city’s best coffee shop sampling unusual flavours like Caffè allo Zabaione, which was like a dessert in a mini cup, and even I, a non-coffee drinker, enjoyed it. We continued our tour...
2) Go Food Shopping in the Quadrilatero
The Quadrilaterois one of the most atmospheric areas of the city. This cluster of narrow streets off the main square has been Bologna’s market since the Middle Ages and is still full of delis and stalls selling giant wheels of parmesan, legs of ham, and pristine piles of fruit and vegetables. Via Pescherie Vecchieis one of the cutest streets with terracotta and yellow buildings, old signs and ornate street lamps, and restaurant tables spilling onto the pavement. The shops used to sell fish fr...
3) Eat Your Way Around the Mercato Delle Erbe
While the Quadrilatero is a good place to pick up cheese and cured meats, for fresh produce I preferred the Bologna food market, Mercato Delle Erbe. The fruit and vegetables here are beautiful and most of them come from Italy. I was excited that strawberries from the Basilicata region were already in season in April. There’s also an upmarket food court where you can snack on sandwiches, piadina, slices of pizza, or even have a whole meal. We stayed in an apartment right across the road from t...
6) Climb Asinelli Tower
I love climbing Italian towers! Bologna’s beautiful terracotta tiled roofs are best admired from above, so make your way up the 498 steps of the medieval Asinelli Tower—one of the top things to do in Bologna. From the top you can enjoy stunning 360º views of the smaller Garisenda tower, which leans precariously next to it, Piazza Maggiore, and the hills surrounding the city. You must book your ticket in advance (€5 adults/ €3 children)—we booked on the Due Torri websiteabout three hours befor...
7) Stroll through Piazza Maggiore
Piazza Maggiore is the main square and one of the top Bologna attractions. Here you’ll find the Basilica di San Petronio, which was started in 1390 and is oddly unfinished—the bottom section ornate marble and the top stark brick. Depending on the story this is either because the church ran out of money or the pope stopped construction as he didn’t like the idea of the plans for a cathedral bigger than Rome’s St Peter’s. On the other sides of the square are grand palaces including Palazzo d’Ac...
8) See the Neptune Fountain
Next to Piazza Maggiore is the 16th-century Neptune Fountainbuilt by Flemish sculptor Giambologna. It is so beautiful that many cities across Europe copied it. Despite representing a pagan god, the pope approved of the statue because Neptune is the god of water. There used to be a port and canals in Bologna and water meant power and riches—it was an extremely rich city (and is still one of the wealthiest in Italy).
If you are wondering what to do in Bologna to burn off all that pasta and gelato, there are some beautiful parks to the south of the city, perfect for walking or running as long as you don’t mind hills.
It’s worth spending a week or more in Bologna as it’s a great base for exploring the Emilia-Romagna region. We visited Modena and Ferrara, both a 30-minute train ride from Bologna. You could also visit the elegant city of Parma (1 hour on the train) where Parma ham and Parmesan cheese originate and Ravenna (1 hour on the train) known for its exquis...
On our list for next time are these other Bologna activities: 1. Hands-On Home Cooking Class– Learn to make tagliatelle and tortelloni. 2. Gelato Museum– It’s a 30-minute drive out of the city, but it’s ideal for foodies who want to learn more about gelato and even try making their own. Reservations are essential. 3. Visit a Vineyard– Take a tour o...
You don’t need a list of the best restaurants in Bologna—you really can go almost anywhere and get a fantastic meal. That said, here are our favourites, all of which have vegetarian options (most places do but the choice can be limited). If you’re not familiar with restaurant etiquette in Italy, see our guide to eating in Italy.
Ca’Pelletti was the cheapest sit-down meal we had and the following are faster food options with a few seats or you can get takeaway.
Find out the best attractions and activities in Bologna, Italy, from historic sites and churches to food tours and wine tastings. Compare prices, ratings, and reviews of walking tours, day trips, cooking classes, and more.
Feb 21, 2024 · Read our Telegraph Travel expert guide to Bologna, including the best places to stay, eat, drink as well as the top attractions to visit, and all of the information that you need to know before...
Dec 4, 2023 · Bologna is Italy’s seventh largest city, but its medieval city center is best enjoyed on foot. From its western boundary at Porta San Felice to its eastern boundary at Porta Maggiore, it’s just 2.6km (1.6 miles) across.
Make the most of each moment when you travel. Skip the hassle and book in advance. If it's worth doing, we've got it. Find the best tours and activities for your trip.
All airlines in one place, buy cheap, safe, and convenient. Bologna - Discover the best flight deals and save on your travels.
Best Rates Guaranteed for your Next Car Rental at Bologna Airport. Check Out! Book Now an Affordable Car With Excellent Value For Money Only With a Small Down-payment!
