Bologna was the very first Italian city I moved to when I took the leap from Australia back in 2019. So it will come as no surprise that Im a little biased when it comes to asking is Bologna worth visiting? This medium sized Italian city is one of my favorites and very worthy of a trip – in fact, it begs staying for more than just a day, so you have the chance to soak up the friendly Bolognese atmosphere and get under its skin a little. Whether you’re a foodie, a lover of cinema, interested in studying Italian language, a scholar, curious about Italian history, or just looking to get slightly off the beaten track, then Bologna is for you. Keep reading to find out why you should visit Bologna Italy in 2024.
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Where is Bologna?
Capital of the Emilia Romagna region, Bologna is a wonderful northern Italian city. It’s roughly halfway between Milan and Florence and the region borders Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany, Marche and the Republic of San Marino. I love how convenient it is to reach Bologna from many of the main cities in Italy. Florence is just half an hour away on the train, Rome is 2 hours, and Venice just an hour and a half!
Visit Bologna and Emilia region with Untold Italy
Want to explore Bologna and get to know the other wonderful towns within the Emilia region? Join our Untold Italy Bologna & Beyond tour and we’ll show you the highlights of Emilia getting you off the beaten track but also including some of those Instagram-worthy places you will want to see. On this 5 day tour we’ll visit Bologna, Parma, Modena, cheese farms, balsamic vinegar producers, wineries and more. We’ll wine and dine our way around this gorgeous region while enjoying unforgettable experiences together.
What is Bologna Italy known for?
If you’re wondering what is Bologna Italy famous for, in Italian, Bologna is known as la dotta, la grassa and la rossa, which means the learned, the fat, and the red! It is home to the oldest university in the world which earns it its title of the learned.
It’s also perhaps the most food obsessed city in Italy with so many of the country’s iconic food products originating here like tortellini, ragù (or Bolognese sauce in the States, UK and Australia), lasagne, and of course its famous cured meats including mortadella! (Parmigiano Reggiano, and Balsamic Vinegar also come from this region in case you didn’t know!)
And finally, the city earns its nickname of the red for two reasons. Aesthetically speaking, the buildings of the historical center are all red, but the other reason is that Bologna is left leaning.
Why visit Bologna in 2024?
When I first moved to this delicious city in 2019, I remember all of my colleagues looking blank-faced at me when I told them where I was heading! Flash forward just a few years, and Bologna is becoming one of the most up-and-coming Italian cities to visit and you can bet that those colleagues all want to visit. On my most recent trip back to town earlier this week, I was quite surprised to see how many tourists were around! Its most definitely on the tourist path, and of course its proximity to Florence makes it a very popular (and easy) day trip. I recommend visiting sooner rather than later for the opportunity to experience Bologna before the crowds reach the dizzying heights of those in other popular Italian cities. So come on, 2024 is the best time to visit!
The main reasons you should visit in 2024, besides the increasing tourist numbers include:
- Indulge in delicious Bolognese food like ragu, tortellini, and mortadella
- Enjoy the Cinema Festival during the summer
- Learn Italian at my old Italian school Academya Lingua for a week or longer!
- Uncover the mysterious 7 secrets of Bologna on a guided tour or with a local friend
What to do in 1 day in Bologna Italy?
If you have just one full day to see Bologna in all its glory, I recommend joining a morning food tour to get a distilled taste of the Bolognese culture. The Walks of Italy Bologna Food & Traditions tour is ideal as it starts at 10am and you’re done by 1.30pm leaving you the entire afternoon and evening to keep exploring. There are 8 delicious food stops including coffee and two glasses of wine and each is designed to highlight a traditional local product and the stories, traditions and modern day uses behind each. I appreciated that on this tour you’ll obviously leave full but not bursting at the seams either.
That said, here’s how I’d break down a whole day in Bologna:
- Morning: Food tour with Walks of Italy
- Lunchtime: Climb the Torre Asinelli for a wonderful panoramic view over Bologna. Afterwards, visit the Basilica of Santo Stefano and enjoy a coffee at my favorite Bar Pasticceria Santo Stefano.
- Afternoon: Join a tour of the University of Bologna Library, OR relax at the Giardini Margherita (gardens).
- Evening: Enjoy a glass of Lambrusco at Vineria Favalli. If you’ve got room for dinner, head to my favorite restaurant I Biagi
12 Best places to visit in Bologna
There is plenty to do to easily fill a few days in Bologna! Heres my shortlist for Bologna what to visit in 2024 to help inspire your trip:
1. Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio
The main square of Bologna is Piazza Maggiore and also home to an interesting looking Basilica with an unfinished facade. Incredibly this piazza is super old, dating back to 1200! It’s an impressive and imposing view as you take in the church, Palazzo dei Notai, Palazzo d’Accursio and its Clock Tower, Palazzo del Podestà and finally Palazzo Bianchi. Depending on where youre standing, you can also admire the wonderful Fountain of Neptune. My absolute favorite time to be in this piazza is during the summer cinema festival – they set up a giant projector right in the square for everyone to enjoy for free (unless you want a proper seat).
2. Climb the Torre Degli Asinelli
Once full of impressive medieval towers, today there are just two remaining and only one which you can climb. The Asinelli Tower is the one you’re allowed to climb (just take one look at the one next to it leaning precariously to the side!) To visit, you need to head to the Bologna Welcome tourist office in Piazza Maggiore and book your tickets. If you’re scared of heights, this might be one you want to skip – there are 498 steps to climb! Otherwise the view is amazing and well worth the climb.
3. Relax in Giardino Margherita
When I was studying at the language school in Bologna, we would head to this relaxing park most afternoons to study and grab a drink at the Serre dei Giardini Margherita. Such a cool space, they’ve created a cafe out of old abandoned greenhouses from the park! This is a nice place to come when the city center is feeling a bit busy.
4. Tour the University of Bologna Library
Known as the Biblioteca Universita di Bologna in Italian, this is the most incredible library Ive ever seen! You can organise a tour of the Library through Bologna Welcome, but note its not possible to visit on Mondays.
5. See the canals of Bologna
Did you know Venice isn’t the only Italian city to have canals? Now don’t go expecting anything like Venice in Bologna, but they still have canals and one is visible (the rest run under the city). Head to the Finestrella or little window in Via Piella for a true Instagram worthy opening the window shot if that’s your kind of thing.
6. Visit the Mercato delle Erbe
Rub shoulders with Bolognese locals at the undercover food market! This is the best place (besides the Quadrilatero market) to buy your fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, and fish, and not to mention fresh pasta, cheese and Bologna’s famous cured cuts.
7. Stroll the Quadrilatero
This used to be one of my favorite places to wander and explore when I lived here in 2019. The Quadrilatero is the medieval quarter of town, or the oldest part! Today, its full of market stalls, delicatessens, and restaurants. It does get very busy, so try to go earlier in the morning if you’re wanting to explore and get photos.
8. Le Sfogline for a pasta class
My absolute favorite place to buy fresh pasta in Bologna is from the two Bolognese sisters who run Le Sfogline. It’s located just outside the Mercato delle Erbe and is an adorable little pasta shop. Better yet, you can do a pasta making class with the sisters and learn some of their secrets to making tortellini and tagliatelle. My tip – don’t go on a hot day as there’s no air-conditioning.
9. Go on a big walk up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
This is one of the most beautiful walks you can do and it takes about an hour from the city center. The walk goes all the way up to the Sanctuary under the protection of Bologna’s famous porticoes. Its a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the symbol of worship in town, but really I recommend it just for a relaxing walk.
10. Get a drink at a 650 year old bar
Theres an enormous amount of history waiting for you in Bologna! Like this fabulous drinking hole called Osteria del Sole. The only rule? You must drink wine! They don’t serve any food, so the deal is you can bring your own food and need to order wine in exchange.
11. Visit the Basilica of Santo Stefano
Known by locals as the ‘7 churches’ of Santo Stefano, this is definitely worth visiting for the feeling of stepping back through time! As the name suggests, the current site is 7 churches built on top of each other with the oldest said to date back to pagan times. This Basilica was just down the street from my language school and always worth popping in for a peek.
12. Have gelato at Cremeria Cavour
My favorite gelateria in Bologna is undoubtedly Cremeria Cavour! It’s a little walk towards the back of the Duomo through a shopping complex and out the other side. Extra creamy and delicious flavors. They’re closed Mondays, so if you find yourself there on that day head to Gelateria Santo Stefano instead.
Where to stay in Bologna?
I’m not going to lie, mid level range accommodation in Bologna is not great and there’s a big gap in the market. In fact, my colleague Katy from Untold Italy and I are always joking that if we had a few million euro, we’d open up a gorgeous mid-level range hotel here, because it’s seriously needed. That said, here are some options to consider that are very well located so you can walk everywhere:
- Grand Hotel Majestic Gia’ Baglioni: This is a luxury hotel in the best location in town – Piazza Maggiore! It’s located inside an 18th century palace and just as gorgeous and luxe as that sounds. For convenience plus exclusivity, this is the best option.
- Gregorini Bingham Art Luxury Suites: A great location but not quite as central as Piazza Maggiore of course. These luxury suites are located just behind my favorite part of town – the Quadrilatero. They are stunning and decorated with serious style – a true feast for the eyes.
- Casa Petronio Apartments: This one is the furthest from the most innercity part of town but still in the historical centre. If you’re looking for two bedroom apartment options that are comfy, clean and stylish, this is a great choice.
Best time to visit Bologna
Bologna is worth visiting whenever you have the opportunity, however, I think it’s at its best in the shoulder seasons or even winter. The cuisine is rich and heavy, so cooler weather makes for the perfect moment to guzzle down tortellini in brodo and incredible ragù. It does get very cold in the wintertime here (we came for a trip one time in February and it was even colder than Torino!), so if you don’t like cold weather than wait until April or October. The only time I’d avoid visiting is in August as the summers here are truly stifling. I would still recommend June and July if only because the wonderful Cinema Festival is held then.
Inspired to visit Bologna? Let me know if you have any favorite places in town or if you visit any of the ones I’ve mentioned in this article. Discover more wonderful destinations to visit in Italy now.