Generally, Bologna isn’t truly on most top 10 lists of Italian cities to visit. However, after a couple of trips to Bologna (with more in our future, I’m sure), we`re here to convince you to spend no less than a day in Bologna on your next trip to Italy.
With its central location and great transportation links to many other nearby cities, it’s very convenient to incorporate one day in Bologna into your trip to Italy (like we’ve done in our two week Italy itinerary) and it actually makes an excellent home base for exploring central and northern Italy.
We only happened upon our love for Bologna because we have acquaintances who relocated to Italy from the U.S. and opted for Bologna as their new permanent home. We went to pay them a day visit and spent most of a day wandering around the streets of Bologna, learning about their new life and affection for their adopted city.
We became very fond of it, particularly the cuisine, and planned to return soon (which happened almost precisely a year later when Matt spent nearly a week in Bologna).
There are countless reasons to visit this underrated Italian city, which can best be summed up through its three nicknames – la Dotta (the learned), la Rossa (the red), and la Grassa (the stout or plump one).
La Dotta (the wise ones) refers to the fact that Bologna is home to the oldest place of higher education in the world and is still a lively university city today. The large student population – a big part of Bologna’s population – brings a youthful energy to the historic city that gives it a unique atmosphere compared to other cities in Italy.” “
La Rossa (the red) refers to the striking reddish brick structures and terra cotta rooftops typical of Bologna. You can catch glimpses of the iconic rooftops from one of the slender medieval towers dominating the city’s skyline (fear not, we`ll discuss that).
Last, but CERTAINLY not the least important, la Grassa (the abundant) refers to Bologna’s reputation as the culinary capital of Italy. Bologna sits at the heart of Italy’s bountiful Emilia-Romagna region, renowned for generating many of Italy’s most popular delicacies and meals (namely prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, and Balsamic Vinegar from Modena).
It’s also the home of traditional Bolognese Ragù. Which, after eating it in Italy and re-creating it at home, is not simply ground beef and Prego tomato sauce like my mom develops.
Instead, it’s a delectable, complex blend of slow-simmered ingredients that requires hours and hours to prepare correctly. In fact, there’s only a very small amount of tomatoes included at all, which surprised us.
In any case, the point is that Bologna is an enjoyable, delicious destination worth adding to your trip to Italy, and we will do our best to demonstrate why we are so fond of it.
In this guide to spending one day in Bologna, we’re going to cover everything you need to know to visit Bologna for a day (either as an overnight or as a day trip from a nearby city).
We’ll begin with some logistics, like how to get to Bologna and how to get around, and then delve into a detailed guide to spending a day exploring the city.
Sound good to you? Let’s get into it.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.
Table of Contents
Is One Day in Bologna Enough Time?
There is both truth and falsehood to this. On one hand, a single day provides enough time in Bologna to initially experience the city, both literally through significant eating as this schedule outlines and figuratively.
Will you be able to see everything? No, undoubtedly not. Will you be able to see enough so that you’re motivated to plan a return trip promptly? Probably.
How do we know that? Because that’s precisely what happened to us.
As we noted earlier, we initially visited Bologna on a day trip from Florenceto see some acquaintances who had lately moved from the U.S. to Italy.
That day trip to Bologna gave us a good overview of the city, and we immediately fell in love with it (at least partly because of the food). Exactly one year later, to the week, Matt made his triumphant return to spend five days exploring a little deeper.
With one day, you’ll be able to see some of the highlights. On your next trip, there will still be plenty to do, see, eat, and drink (which is what our two day Bologna itinerary is for!).
One Day in Bologna: The Best of Bologna in a Day
According to our own experience exploring the city on multiple occasions, this itinerary for one day in Bologna will provide you a fantastic insight into the history, architecture, and cuisine of Emilia-Romagna’s relatively undiscovered capital.
For the purpose of this itinerary, you can either use it as a guide for planning a day trip (book an early and late train back to wherever you’re coming from!) or for an overnight stay (for this, we’ll assume you’re arriving the evening before and leaving late in the evening/the morning after, so you have a full day to explore).
But First, Coffee
We like beginning every day of every itinerary we write with a coffee beverage because when you’ve got a full day of exploring ahead of you, caffeine will give you much needed energy.
And because Matt enjoys coffee, and spends an excessive amount of time hunting for the best coffee shops in cities he visits.
As with elsewhere in Italy, excellent coffee is easy to find in Bologna.
However, I (Matt, the resident coffee specialist here!) would definitely say that finding good specialty coffee in Italy is a little more hit and miss. Italy is a lot more roasty toasty espresso, a lot less bright and fruity filter coffee.
My preferred cup of coffee in Bologna came from Aroma Specialty Coffees, a cozy modest cafe hidden within the porticoes just a few moments west of Piazza Maggiore.
Owned by the award-winning coffee brewer Alessandro Galtieri, this cafe provides a carefully selected menu containing Italian specialty coffees as well as more conventional coffee options and some enjoyable flavored drinks.
There’s also an assortment of freshly made pastries and cakes available on a daily basis.
You can stand at the bar to drink your coffee – like people in Italy often do – or sit at one of the little tables within sheltered areas for a more relaxing breakfast.
During our stay in Bologna, we visited Aroma multiple times, including on one occasion to purchase a bag of beans from Gardelli, my favorite Italian roaster.
Start Your Day at Piazza Maggiore
Once you’re suitably energized from caffeine, your initial stop of the day is the iconic Piazza Maggiore.
Piazza Maggiore is the animating heart of Bologna. Situated at the center of the city, the lively piazza is full of people at all hours of the day, including many talented street performers who really bring the area to life.
Every single time I’ve walked through Piazza Maggiore, I’ve sensed the energy resonating throughout the area. There is often a different street performer with a small crowd surrounding them and a collection of people sitting on the stairs out front of the cathedral relaxing in the sun.
Take a moment to admire the impressive architecture surrounding the square.
Piazza Maggiore is home to several impressive architectural landmarks, including the Palazzo d`Accursio (Municipal Palace) and the monumental Basilica di San Petronio (which will be discussed later).
Admire the Fontana del Nettuno
While exploring Piazza Maggiore, be sure to also see the adjacent Piazza del Nettuno and its famous 16th-century Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune).
The expansive fountain is surrounded by merfolk and topped with a bronze figure of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
But there’s more symbolism underlying this fountain than initially meets the eye. The fountain was reportedly commissioned to represent the authority wielded by the Pope at that time, as he governed terrestrial affairs much like Neptune ruled the seas.
However, Pope Pius IV had concerns about specific parts of the statue and asked the artists to modify it to be somewhat less risque.
Annoyed by the censorship, Giambologna agreed but took secret revenge. He sculpted the statue so that from a certain viewpoint, Neptune`s hand makes him appear notably endowed.
You can see this risky optical illusion by standing on a black stone in the square behind the statue, which locals refer to as ‘the stone of embarrassment.’
In a somewhat healthier tradition, students also circle the fountain of Neptune twice counterclockwise, believed to bring good fortune for exams.
Admire the Basilica di San Petronio
Standing in Piazza Maggiore, it’s also impossible to miss the unfinished facade of the monumental Basilica di San Petronio.
The huge 14th-century place of worship is a beautiful example of Italian Gothic architecture. However, the church`s exterior is only partly finished, as evidenced by its unusual half-marble, half-exposed brick façade.
So why is the church only partially finished?
Bologna aimed to build a church that would outshine all others in Italy. The dream was to make it the biggest church worldwide – yes, even larger than the Vatican.
Unsurprisingly, the Pope was unsatisfied with this and halted the construction, resulting in the unique appearance seen today.
Despite the half-finished façade, the church is still the most important in Bologna and a must-see. It’s completely free to head inside. However, you’ll need to pay €2 if you want to take any photographs.
From inside, one can truly appreciate the considerable size and magnificence of the enormous church, with its 22 chapels and numerous priceless works of art. The Basilica also possesses the longest indoor meridian strip in the world, measuring 67 meters in length.
Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Pietro
While the Basilica di San Petronio may be Bologna`s largest and most renowned church, it isn`t officially the city`s cathedral. Bologna`s actual cathedral, Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Pietro, sits just a brief walk away along the city`s main avenue of Via dell’Indipendenza.
The earliest construction of the cathedral in Bologna can be traced back to the 10th-11th centuries, but it has undergone significant remodeling throughout the years.
Today, it has a striking red brick facade typical of Italian cities that was added in the 1700s. While less imposing than nearby San Petronio, the large church is still worth exploring.
The grand interior is open to the public and houses many paintings by artists such as Prospero Fontana, Ludovico Carracci, and Donato Creti, while the church museum holds important religious artifacts from the structure’s history.
You can also climb the cathedral bell tower, which is the second tallest spire in the city at 70 meters. It costs €5 to climb.
Although the working hours were somewhat unpredictable and not always matching what was posted online – at least based on our experience there.
Climbing the Asinelli Tower
If climbing the bell tower of San Pietro doesn`t work out, don`t worry. There’s an even taller tower just a short walk away, and conveniently it`s the next destination on this itinerary.
This was our initial experience in Bologna, when we met our friends (who had lived in Bologna briefly) to ascend the tower, something they had never done before.
During the Middle Ages, Bologna’s skyline was crowded with hundreds of slender medieval towers. These towers had both a protective purpose and represented the wealth and social esteem of the family that had them constructed.
Many of the towers were dismantled over the following decades, and today just a few remain standing. “Le Due Torre” – or “the two towers” – are the most renowned of the city’s surviving towers and have become an iconic feature of Bologna’s skyline.
Asinelli is the taller of the two towers, at over 97 meters. The neighboring Garisenda once stood at an equal height, but had its elevation lowered to 47 meters due to its increasing inward lean. It’s even earned the nickname “the Leaning Tower of Bologna.”
You can ascend the taller tower for spectacular panoramic views across the cityscape.
To reach the top, you’ll need to ascend 498 steep steps up a winding wooden staircase. It’s not the easiest climb, but worth it for the breathtaking views!
Accessing the tower costs €5. Only a limited number of individuals can enter the tower at a time, so it`s best to book your tickets and time slot online in advance or you may be disappointed.
Lunch in Quadrilatero
After an active morning exploring historic Bologna, you`ve likely worked up an appetite worthy of the city`s renowned cuisine. Now is the time to truly benefit from the fantastic food scene.
Located just off Piazza Maggiore, Quadrilatero is the city’s historic food district and, in my view, one of the best places for food enthusiasts in all of Italy – based on my experience there, I believe this assertion is justified.
The compact neighborhood with narrow pedestrian-only cobblestone streets is packed with countless incredible market stalls, delis, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Visitors can grab lunch here and browse for edible souvenirs to take home with them.
You can`t go wrong with any restaurant choice in Quadrilatero, but here are some of our top recommendations:
- Zerocinquantinois a charming little wine bar and eatery with an exceptional selection of freshly made sandwiches, piadina, tigelle (local flatbreads typical of Emilia-Romagna), cold cuts, cheese, and small plates. It’s perfect if you’re seeking a light local lunch rather than a full meal. The bar is extremely busy and constantly full with both locals and tourists. You’ll need to be insistent to secure a table at lunchtime, but it’ll be worth it – trust us!
- Drogheria Gilberto is another wine shop and bar nearby that we visited which provides small plates featuring meats and cheeses. This establishment may appeal more to adventurous eaters – when asking about one of the meats, the server responded in a way that implied it was better left unknown. Those with a sweet tooth will also find a great selection of Italian chocolates and sweets available in the store.
- Tamburini is a renowned deli and wine bar that’s served as a staple of Bologna since its founding in 1932. The establishment provides a magnificent assortment of Italian cured meats and cheeses, traditional Bolognese dishes, and an array of homemade sweets.The shop is also a great locale to pick up some locally packaged foods like traditional cold cuts, delectable cheeses, and amazing local wines (we received our favorite bottle of lambrusco from the shop here).
Cremeria la Vecchia Stalla
If you’ve still got any room left at the end of lunch, head to Cremeria la Vecchia Stalla for the finest frozen treat – not gelato – in Bologna. Multiple Bologna residents pointed me here as a “must visit” spot to eat.
The ice cream shop has a huge variety of flavors to select from, from more traditional flavors like pistachio and stracciatella to many unique and interesting flavor combinations that rotate regularly.
The shop is exceedingly busy and lines often form outside. However, service is prompt so waiting time for ice cream won`t be long.
Needless to say, we frequented the spot over multiple days during our time in town.
Complesso delle Sette Chiese
For your final historical attraction of the day, head just down the road to the “Complesso delle Sette Chiese”, or “Complex of the Seven Churches”.
Located on Piazza Santo Stefano, this unique religious complex incorporates a series of connecting churches, chapels, courtyards, and crypts that were built over multiple centuries. The origins of the unusual complex are highly debated.
One account claims the original structure was built in the early fifth century by Bishop Petronius over the remnants of a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis.
Petronius hoped to construct a building representative of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, incorporating places in the Holy Land recalling Jesus Christ`s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. However, it did not entirely go as planned.
When touring the complex, you can explore different eras of Bologna`s history through evidence of influences from Roman, Byzantine, Lombard, Ottonian, and Benedictine communities who reconstructed the buildings over time.
There’s also a museum exhibiting frescoes, sculptures, and other artworks from various eras.
Entrance to the religious complex is completely free, but donations are welcome. You can purchase a small guidebook explaining what you’re viewing for just €2, which is definitely helpful to have as signage in English is limited.
An Evening Food Tour
With only one day in Bologna, one of the greatest challenges is trying to eat as much delicious local cuisine as possible. There is no better way to immerse oneself in a city`s food culture than spending a few hours with a local resident and seeing the place through their eyes.
On a culinary tour, you’ll gain a deeper comprehension of the city, its history, and its food culture. But most significantly, you’ll be taken to several places to eat and drink that you would never discover independently.
This food oriented guided tour of the city was one we had hoped to join, but unfortunately we were unable because Matt has Celiac Disease which prevents consuming gluten, a component widespread in the foods featured on the itinerary.
The 4-hour evening tour is run by a local and takes participants on a journey to comprehend why Bologna is deemed the food capital of the world.
You’ll get to visit a food marketplace, participate in an artisanal pasta workshop, sample Balsamic vinegar from Modena, and try many local specialties like mortadella, Parmigiano cheese, tagliatelle pasta with meat sauce, tortellini, and local wine (including lambrusco, the delightful sparkling and light red wine that calls Emilia-Romagna home).
What to Do with More Than a Day in Bologna
If you do find yourself with more than one day in Bologna, there are plenty more things you can see and do to expand your trip.
The first thing we’d do is head straight to our guide for spending two days in Bologna, which has everything necessary to extend your itinerary by an extra day (and plenty more food).
Hike up to the Santuario Madonna di San Luca
Traveling upward to the Santuario Madonna di San Luca, which was the #1 proposal from our companions that live in Bologna, is the first thing to include in your excursion to Bologna.
The grand baroque church sits high upon a hill overlooking the city. Making a pilgrimage through the 666 porticoes (someone has a sense of humor) up to the church is a quintessential local experience.
We arrived early on a Sunday morning, and it appeared that many locals had a similar idea, including families with children as well as early morning runners.
The winding porticoed pathway runs all the way from Via Saragozza on the outskirts of the city center right up to the church. At 3.8 km in length, it`s the longest covered walkway in the world. The full walk takes around 45 minutes to an hour, relying on your pace.
As you walk up, you’ll be rewarded by many scenic viewpoints along the porticoes. But the best one has to be from the church’s dome, which has amazing panoramic views back towards Bologna and out over the hills surrounding the city.
Inside the church, appreciated artworks include the sacred image of The Madonna of San Luca that lends the structure its name.
If walking uphill seems too strenuous, one alternative is taking the sightseeing train up and walking back downward.
Mentioned in this hyperlink is The San Luca Express, a small tourist train that leaves from Piazza Maggiore, travels through the historic center, and up to the Sanctuary. A roundtrip ticket is €12 for adults and €6 for children, and incorporates an audio tour.
Take a Walking Tour
Joining a guided walking tour is a brilliant way to swiftly become acquainted with a new city`s history and culture. Those with multiple days in Bologna will surely benefit from participation upon arrival.
I participated in a two-hour evening guided tour which served as an excellent initial overview of the city.
The excursion is led by Addy, an extremely pleasant and knowledgeable guide who has lived in Bologna for many years after falling in love with the city during studies.
A walking tour also provides you the chance to ask a local whatever you want to know. Whether you have questions about the city`s history or want to learn about the top places to party, this is your opportunity.
Take a Food Filled Day Trip to Reggio-Emilia
In the same manner that our Douro Valley excursion was a primary attraction of our Portugal plans, the feast tour we undertook delving into parmigiano-reggiano cheese was a peak of our recent Italy trip.
The Sequoias at Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz are another good spot, but they’re closed indefinitely because of some nasty wildfires in 2020. Unclear when they’ll reopen to the public again, which is really unfortunate.
We were led by an inspiring local guide, Claudio, and learned extensively about the Parmesan production process while exploring the operational factory. We even got to see the cattle that produce the cheese.
At the conclusion of the tour, we got to sample various aged cheeses, plus some other goods from Emilia-Romagna like balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, and Lambrusco.
AND we went home with a vacuum-packed 500g portion of cheese (which will keep until you return home).
The tour begins from Reggio Emilia AV Station, which can be reached from Bologna in as little as 22 minutes by high-speed train (or somewhat longer by regional train).
We`d highly recommend this tour for food enthusiasts in Bologna!
Take a Cooking Class
Participating in cooking classes is an amazing way to fully immerse yourself in the food culture of any place you visit. Additionally, learning a new skill and local recipes is one of the coolest souvenirs you can take with you.
We`ve conducted cooking classes in Spain, Colombia, Mexico City, and here domestically in the US. But unfortunately since Matt has Celiac disease and cannot have even the smallest amount of gluten, Italy isn`t the best place for us to do it given how prevalent pasta, pizza, and bread are there
However, that doesn`t imply one shouldn`t participate in one! And where better to take a culinary class than in the foodie capital of the world!?
The cooking class we recommend allows visitors to learn how to craft two local types of pasta – tagliatelle and tortellini – as well as an authentic Bolognese sauce. A local innkeeper leads this small group experience.
You’ll also get to sample some local wines from the Emilia-Romagna region while savoring homemade pasta.
Catch a Bologna F.C. Game (Soccer / Football)
If you enjoy football/soccer, don’t miss seeing a Bologna F.C. game at the team’s historic 100-year-old stadium, Renato Dall’Ara. We went to watch Bologna play during our last visit and it was an exciting and unique experience.
The soccer club Bologna F.C. currently competes in Italy`s top-tier Serie A league, which normally holds its season from late August through late May.
You can view an upcoming schedule of home games on the club’s website here to see if there’s a match taking place during your visit.
The stadium sits on the western outskirts, reachable by local bus in about 10-15 minutes from the center (we walked the easy distance).
Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center on Piazza Maggiore, where they`ll help print tickets purchased, as I unsuccessfully tried alone but received much needed assistance.
What is the Best Time to Visit Bologna?
We`ve only ever visited Bologna in autumn, and autumn is an absolutely fantastic time to be in Italy.
We`d even go as far to say it`s our preferred time to be traveling around Italy. You avoid the unbearable heat in the summer, and the crowds are noticeably thinner since children are back at school.
Here is a brief outline of what visiting in the other three seasons is like, in order of our preference.
Spring is another good season to visit Bologna. Temperatures are starting to rise and the city is beginning to become lively again after the gray winter.
However, it can remain rather cold and rainy well into March and April. Visiting in late April or May will provide you a higher chance of sunshine during your visit.
Summer in Bologna can become extremely hot. What we dislike most is feeling so warm and sweaty you need to shower twice daily.
There are miles of porticos to shelter you from the sun, but the heat and humidity can still be a bit much.
July and August additionally see the peak tourist crowds hit the city, so don’t anticipate it to be tranquil. While Bologna doesn’t see as numerous tourists as, state, Rome, it still becomes busy in July and August (generally with Italian vacationers).
In summer, diminished student numbers lead to less youthful energy on the streets from their absence, surprisingly removing part of the charm.
Winter gets cooler and grimier, and sees temperatures drop to somewhere around 50 degrees fahrenheit during the day and even lower at night
The weather is fairly unpredictable and there`s a chance of rainstorms and even snowfall. The festive season in Bologna is magical if you`re visiting during December. Just be sure to bring layers to stay warm.
Getting To Bologna
As the chronicled capital of Emilia-Romagna, which is by and large focal in Italy’s landmass, Bologna is exceedingly natural to arrive at paying little attention to where you’re originating from.
By Train (Within Italy)
For those planning a day trip to Bologna, there is likely travel from another location within Italy.
Bologna Centrale is one of the nation`s busiest train stations and a major transportation hub connecting northern Italy to the center and south of the country. Hundreds of trains pass through the station everyday.”
High-speed trains connect Bologna to major cities such as Florence, Milan, and Verona in under an hour.
Venice can be reached in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, while Rome sits just 2 hours away by high speed train. Bologna is also well-connected to many other cities and towns within the Emilia-Romagna region by slower regional trains.
Bologna’s transportation hub lies in the northern region of the city center. One can walk from the station to Piazza Maggiore (the most central point in Bologna) in around 20 minutes, or access one of the many buses within the city center.
By Plane (From Outside of Italy)
If traveling to Italy from outside the country, Bologna is readily accessible via air travel. The Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) is the fourth largest in Italy and served by many international carriers across Europe.
Once you land in Bologna, you find yourself in for a treat. Reaching the city center couldn’t be any simpler.
The Marconi Express is an elevated electrically-powered monorail that transports travelers directly from the airport terminal to Bologna Centrale station in just 7 minutes, without ever requiring exiting outdoors.
The airport`s connection to the city center could be the best we`ve ever experienced.
The shuttle service runs up to 8 times per hour between 5:40am and 12:00am. You can even use your credit card to tap on at the entry gates (there are also machines, where you can purchase a round trip ticket for a slightly cheaper rate if you’re arriving and departing from Bologna).
We wish more cities had a connection to their downtown areas that was as fast and easy as Bologna`s!
Getting Around Bologna
Like many other Italian cities, getting around Bologna primarily by foot is common.
Exploring the city on foot allows for full immersion in its unique atmosphere and discovery of hidden gems along the route.
Bologna is a very walkable city, with most major sites and points of interest sitting within 15-20 minutes of each other by foot. The porticoes – covered passages, which Bologna is famous for, also offer some much-needed protection from the sun or rain while touring around.
For the following one day Bologna itinerary, walking is utilized to get between stops.
For some of the more distant spots, there is also the choice of using the city’s public bus system.
Buses are inexpensive and plentiful in Bologna. We used Google Maps to view the bus schedules (although they don`t always precisely line up with the said schedule).
You can tap your credit card on the contactless payment kiosk on the bus to ride (it’s usually on the right side after you pass the driver).
