Last Updated on January 31, 2025 by Christine Kaaloa

Bologna, a hidden gem often overlooked by travelers, is a city waiting to be explored. This charming Italian destination is a haven for food enthusiasts, earning its nickname as the “Foodie Cradle of Emilia Romagna.” Beyond its culinary delights, Bologna boasts a rich history, architectural beauty, and a unique character that will surprise you. In this Bologna travel guide, I share ways to appreciate and plan a trip around its diversity
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My Italy Itinerary: Where was I coming from and where am I going?
Table of Contents: Bologna Travel Guide: Things to Know About Bologna Before you Go
- 0.1 Watch my first impressions of Bologna video
- 0.1.1 1. Tips for navigating Bologna with Google Maps
- 0.1.2 2. Bologna is UNESCO famous for its porticoes.
- 0.1.3 3. Why is Bologna known as the Red City?
- 0.1.4 4. Bologna is a city of towers
- 0.1.5 5. Why is Bologna is also known as the Fat One?
- 0.1.6 6. Step behind the scenes of Bologna’s oldest opera house
- 0.1.7 7. Do a tour of Motor Valley
- 0.1.8 Watch my Motor Valley Video Tour & Experience for Solo Female Travelers
- 0.1.9 8. Ducati Factory Tour & Museum
- 0.1.10 9. Asinelli Tower
- 0.1.11 10. Piazza Maggiore is the best meeting point
- 0.1.12 11. Fountain of Neptune
- 0.1.13 12. Visit the Whispering Arches
- 0.1.14 13. For a huge savings, buy the Bologna Welcome card.
- 0.1.15 14. Take a Bologna City Walking tour
- 0.1.16 15. Hop-On Hop-Off Double DeckBus
- 0.1.17 16. San Luca Express
- 0.1.18 17. Basilica San Petronio
- 0.1.19 18. The Window
- 0.1.20 19. Explore the Italian countryside driving a Fiat
- 0.1.21 Watch my Canossa Grand Tours video review and experience of Driving in Italy
- 0.1.22 20. Do the pilgrimage of 666 porticoes
- 0.1.23 21. San Luca Basilica
- 0.1.24 22. Relax in Bologna’s triangular piazza
- 0.1.25 23. Unlock a church that conceals seven hidden ones
- 0.1.26 24. Bologna created the template for the first university in Europe
- 0.1.27 25. Visit the medically macabre at Archiginnaisio
- 0.1.28 26. Pisa isn’t the only city where the towers lean.
- 1 Must Try Food Experiences of Bologna
- 2 30. Where to Stay in Bologna
- 3 31. Getting Around Bologna
- 4 32. Is Bologna safe for solo female travelers?
After a week of touring Emilia Romagna, I arrived back in Bologna – the launching ground of my Motor Valley adventures. You could say that Bologna is easily the gateway hub to exploring Emilia Romagna destinations as it’s an hour or two away from sister cities like Modena, Ravenna and Parma. Moreover, what stands out about my Emilia Romagna exploration is their culinary traditions and slow foods. Unlike other cities in Italy, the iconic foods of this region originate in this region. These cities are the craftsmen of foods that other cities will adopt on their table.
I have a couple of days to explore Bologna and San Marino, before returning to a month’s+ itinerary of making my way around Central and Eastern Italy: Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Venice, Verona, Treviso.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have gotten to know Emilia Romagna. Its cities are different, slower, laidback, mindful, the only tourists here are Italian ones and there’s pride and integrity in the food of this region.

Watch my first impressions of Bologna video
One thing I learned quickly about navigating Bologna is that relying solely on Google Maps (I havent tried my Waze app though) can be misleading. The city has many narrow off-shoot streets and alleys and Google Maps cannot always detect them. Instead it routes you to the main roads. The problem with that in Bologna (and any Italian city with an old town, for that matter) is that the side streets are often the short cuts which have more accuracy in getting you to the location you are looking for. Thus, I made it a point to remember the main streets near the heart of the city – Piazza Maggiore– and everything branches out from there. Thus, I found it more enjoyable to explore on foot and discover charming backstreets while also keeping an eye on the main street I came from. Asinelli Tower is also a good visual landmark that lets you know where the city center is!
Pro Tip: Buy a Italy Prepaid SIM card or Airalo E-Sim so you can stay connected in Italy. Having a data plan helps immensely. I often used mine to either call an Uber or use Google Maps to find my way to attractions and restaurants I wanted to find..
2. Bologna is UNESCO famous for its porticoes.
Bologna holds the record for the most porticoes in Europe, with over 60,000 covered walkways. These elegant structures not only provide shelter from the elements but also create a unique and inviting atmosphere. The longest portico path even leads you to the majestic Basilica di San Luca.

3. Why is Bologna known as the Red City?
Bologna’s nickname, “La Rossa” (The Red City), stems from the terracotta used in its architecture. In actuality, the color is more of a sandal, orange and saffron that many perceive as red. The color also refers to Communist politics.

4. Bologna is a city of towers
Bologna has over 200 medieval towers pushing through the skyline. These structures, erected between the 11th and 13th centuries, served as symbols of wealth and power for affluent families.
Tip: Some towers even offer unique experiences like overnight stays or fine dining, making them a fascinating aspect of the city’s heritage. Check GetyourGuide and Viator . This is something I wanted to try but I didn’t have time for.
5. Why is Bologna is also known as the Fat One?
Bologna has a few names and the Fat One has to do with the fact that it is a foodie city, that is known for its healthy appetite and its iconic slow foods. The Emilia Romagna region is renowned for its slow food movement of expertly crafted, cured, aged dishes ( check out this list of what the Emilia Romagna region is famous for) and is in the cradle of that, contributing its own specialties, like Bologna mortadella, lasagna and tagliatele with Bolognese sauce.
Check out this list of must try foods in Bologna!
Watch my Bologna food tour experiences
In this Bologna food guide video, I share a bunch of iconic food experiences you can have in Bologna that are not to be missed!


6. Step behind the scenes of Bologna’s oldest opera house
The Bologna Municipal Theater or Teatro Communale in Bologna is one of the oldest opera houses in Bologna. It offers eight operas from November to April. Walking tours are offered by the Bologna Welcome Center and provide a peek inside the rooms of this theater and if you’re lucky you might stumble upon a rehearsal (I did!). My favorite part of the tour was visiting their prop and set design room in the attic. Watch my video above to see this tour. It’s very Phantom of the Opera!

Check out my Motor Valley tour post.
7. Do a tour of Motor Valley
If you’re a race car enthusiast of Formula One, Le Mans, Indy 500, Daytona 500 or just into sexy Italian cars that roar down the roads, then you’ll be ecstatic to learn that Bologna is part of Emilia Romagna’s Motor Valley scene. Bologna is the perfect launch base for taking a tour. You’ll find the headquarter factories and museums of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Pagani, Dellara and Ducati. There are race tracks, training centers, and private collections in this region.
I enjoyed taking tours to see the Italian factory line, seeing interior leather being cut, customized and learning about the manufacturers and how some owners hold the blueprint to their only custom model car. I highly recommend a visit at least one if you get the chance. It will give you a new appreciation for Italian cars and racing! Read my review and tour experience (video included).
Pro Tip: I highly recommend booking day tour at the very least. Many Motor Valley tours incorporate an Emilia Romagna food experience, which would ordinarily entail research, booking and transportation on your own. Food and speed are the compelling stars of this region and are not to be missed!
Watch my Motor Valley Video Tour & Experience for Solo Female Travelers
Maybe you want to get the inside scoop of what makes Motor Valley phenomenal! In this video, I take you inside my Motor Valley tour experience to show you the highlights of the factories, museums and Emilia Romagna food experiences you can have!
8. Ducati Factory Tour & Museum
Okay, this Bologna attraction made me swoon and if you don’t have a day to do a tour of Motor Valley, then maybe you have time to do this…Bologna is the home of Ducati, a high performance Italian racing motorcycle. Located 24 minutes from the Old Town of Bologna, you can visit the Ducati factory & museum to see how Ducati motorbikes are manufactured and its museum. For those less interested in bikes, the Ducati Scrambler Food Factory offers a delicious nibbles in the heart of Bologna.


9. Asinelli Tower
The Torre degli Asinelli or Asinelli Tower, are a pair of twin medieval towers and you can climb Asinelli tower’s 498 stairs to the top. The climb is not for the faint of heart. It is a workout in itself as the staircase is steep. I had to take my time and enjoy the climb at my own pace. There are occasional platforms for you to step off to the side, rest and let others pass and I definitely utilized those. Once you get to the top, you are well rewarded with the most breathtaking view of the entire red city. You can even many of its towers. You won’t regret it.
A noticeable trait is that these towers are leaning. Actually, I’ve noticed many towers in Italy lean due to the fact many of these cities are built upon marshland, so parts of them are sinking.
It’s hard to believe that these towers were built centuries ago, and that wealthy families actually lived in them. I can only imagine the views they enjoyed! It’s a shame they didn’t have elevators back then! (watch my video to get an idea)
Tip: Visit at 9am when it opens to beat the crowd. The view is the best of the entire city and you won’t regret it.

10. Piazza Maggiore is the best meeting point
The lively Piazza Maggiore is a square that serves as the city’s central meeting point. Surrounded by buildings constructed from sandstone and terracotta, Piazza Maggiore exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s a great place to orient yourself, meet up with friends, or simply soak in the vibrant energy of Bologna.
Pro-Tip: The Bologna Welcome Center (tourism office) is conveniently located here, offering valuable resources and insights for exploring the city. Sign up for a walking tour or buy the Bologna Welcome card to enjoy some of Bologna’s attractions for free!
11. Fountain of Neptune
The Fountain of Neptune – a bronze masterpiece- is one of the delightful landmarks of Bologna and of the Piazza Majore, the main open-air square in Bologna.
Pro-Tip: This tip will save you money on a bottled water. There is a public water fountain next to the Neptune Fountain and it allows you to refill your refillable water bottle with fresh, clean water.
12. Visit the Whispering Arches
The Whispering Arches are vaulted arches that are acoustical phenomenon. You stand and whisper into one corner while the person standing in the opposite corner hears you. They are housed in the Palazzo del Podesto in the Piazza Majore. Just look for travelers speaking into corners! Check out my video to see my experience.
13. For a huge savings, buy the Bologna Welcome card.
To make the most of my time in Bologna, I purchased the Bologna Welcome Card. It costs around 40 euros and provides access to various attractions (San Luca train, hop-on/hop-off bus, admission to the Towers,…) and transportation options. There are a lot of benefits to it!
The card is valid for a year and they also offer an EZ Pass for transportation. All you need to do is show the card on your mobile device or a printout, and they will scan you in. You also receive a free map of the city.
14. Take a Bologna City Walking tour
Bologna tourism board offers free Bologna city walking tours (it’s one of the attractions on the Bologna Welcome card). The walking tours have different itineraries and guides may be hit or miss. My first Bologna city walking tour was wonderful as our young female guide led us through the streets and the Opera House, while telling us stories about the places and their significance.
It was a great tour and I wanted to learn more so I returned for a second tour! However, my tour guide – an older Italian lady- was bad and insensitive. My tour was advertised to be in English, but Italian tourists filled the group, so our guide ended up giving a ten minute speech in Italian around the Fountain of Neptune. After she was done, she spent 20 seconds translating her words into English for me. Clearly a lot did not translate over and I didn’t want to waste my time being treated with disdain, so I abandoned the tour 15 minutes in. I’m glad it was covered in my Bologna Welcome card.
Pro-Tip: Make sure your tour group has a mix of travelers and is in English! If not, feel free to walk away and skip it. Then return later for a different guide.
15. Hop-On Hop-Off Double DeckBus
Another cool attraction featured in the Bologna Welcome card is a hop-on-hop-off double deck bus. It makes a circle route around the city with stops along the way for those who want to get off. The buses offer a very simple audio commentary in multiple languages, including English, making it easy to learn know what highlight stops were. One stop I liked was on the hillside where you could view Bologna.
But I’ll be honest, it wasn’t my favorite hop-on-hop-off experience. The attractions we stopped at weren’t calling out to me, so I didn’t get off the bus. But it was a good overview of the city and I still recommend it if you want to take a break from your walking. Also, I timed taking this tour during siesta time.
Pro-Tip: Many businesses in Bologna observe a “siesta” time and close from 12-3p, so Italians can live la doce vita “the sweet life”.
Want footwear tips for Italy? Read my post on most comfortable footwear.
16. San Luca Express
The San Luca Express is a cute toy train that takes you up to the San Luca Basilica. It can get crowded, but it is an enjoyable and relaxing ride. Along the way, you can see the Portico of San Luca. It makes a round trip from Piazza Maggiore to San Luca Basilica and back. Free with the Bologna Welcome card.
17. Basilica San Petronio
Basilica San Petronio is a large church in Bologna and you cannot miss it because it dominates Piazza Maggiore. It celebrates the city’s patron saint, San Petronio.
Pro-Tip: When you go to churches here in Bologna, you should dress conservatively and appropriately. Just dress formally, nothing too revealing. No tank tops or shorts. Just dress pretty decently.
18. The Window
I read a blog that mentioned this next attraction and when I arrived I was a little underwhelmed but glad I discovered its secret. The Window is one of the lesser known attractions of Bologna but can enjoyable for travelers, who want to visit anything reminiscent of the Locks of Love. Bologna’s “window” is a small canal cutting through Bologna, exemplifying once again that Emilia Romagna cities are built upon marshland. Some will say that Bologna used to be like Venice. I do not see any resemblance but evidence of this canal proves me wrong.


19. Explore the Italian countryside driving a Fiat
Mixing gastronomic with off-the-beaten path driving adventure, I spent an afternoon exploring the Italian countryside in an iconic Fiat Abarth 500 with Canossa Grand Tours! First, my iconic car was adoooorable! It was a cute, mini Italian Fiat that had a sunroof and it recalled memories of watching Italian movies, where the characters would drive through the countryside in little cars! Canossa Grand Tours offers curated drive tours of Italy, where you can explore the freedom of the Italian countryside and its remote villages, paired with curated food stops. I stopped at a vineyard offering balsamic vinegar tastings where I had an elegant dinner of farm-fresh, regional foods.
You can get your drive trip expertly planned as you drive on your own, with a group or alongside a professional driver on a luxury getaway!
Tip: Remember to let them know what type of car you can drive- manual stick shift or automatic. I forgot to mention that and spent part of my afternoon learning how to drive stick-shift.
Watch my Canossa Grand Tours video review and experience of Driving in Italy
Watch as Valentina takes me through Italy driving tips as we zoom through country backroads and cute villages to a mind-blowingly idyllic Emilia Romagna culinary experience! I also show you behind the scenes of driving a manual car for the first time!
20. Do the pilgrimage of 666 porticoes
The Portico of San Luca is Bologna’s longest portico trail leading up to Basilica of San Luca. Built in the 17th century, this arcade is one of the longest covered walkways in the world, with 666 porticoes, making Bologna the city with the most porticoes. You can hike, bike or drive up this two mile trail.
Don’t want to sweat it? Take the San Luca Toy Train!
21. San Luca Basilica
San Luca Basilica is a stunning pink basilica at the top of a hill and a significant pilgrimage site, dedicated to the Madonna (the Virgin Mary). You can reach the Basilica by taking the San Luca Express or you can hike up the steep path. Once at the Basilica, you can admire the ornate artwork within and even climb to the dome for stunning panoramic views.
Legend has it that a severe rainstorm plagued the city until a statue of the Virgin Mary was brought to the church. Miraculously, the rain stopped immediately. Today, the statue resides in the Basilica of San Luca, but once a year it is brought back to this church in procession.
After arriving at the San Luca and having a look around, you can visit the San Luca Sky Experience, by climbing up a narrow staircase of about 100 steps to its dome. This is free with the Bologna Welcome card; otherwise it is a paid admission.

22. Relax in Bologna’s triangular piazza
This Piazza Santo Stefano is a grassy square with a lively ambience. It’s called a square but more like a grassy triangle with a strikingly dynamic design. It’s a popular spot for people to gather at cafes on evenings and weekends to enjoy the outdoors and it starts getting lively at sunset. The Santo Stefano Basilica is its main star, but the square holds its weight as being a relaxing enclave to pass time in.
Tired of basilica hopping? This basilica is different. Santo Stefano Basilica is known as the Sette Chiese or Seven Churches. It was designed after a famous church in Jerusalem. From the outside, it’s appearance looks simple, humble and unassuming. But when you enter it –whoa– you discover a series of interconnected courtyards, which reveal seven churches and monasteries, which span different historical periods. It’s like a metapuzzle, where one unlocks many at once! Some of the churches are downright medieval and that’s its charm.
Pro-Tip: Try to get a guided tour. I’m not sure if they offer any – I failed to check when I was there but I flailed in my attempt to decode what I was seeing. The churches are so uniquely different that you’ll want someone to explain how they operate. There was a monastery I entered that had these shocking tools for self-flagellation.. I really wish I had a guide. Watch my video for some of the highlights of what I saw.
24. Bologna created the template for the first university in Europe
You’ll find a lot of college students roaming the streets of Bologna. That’s because University of Bologna set the template for European universities. The oldest university of Europe was founded in 1088 in Bologna under a student guild. The university buildings are scattered from the main campus to the Archiginnaisio. Famous alumni include Copernicus, Alberti, Pasolini, Albert Durer, Dante, with contemporary luminaries such as Giorgio Armani, Enzo Ferrari, Michaelangelo Antonioni.
Today, Bologna University the is one of the most esteemed universities of Europe and Italy.
25. Visit the medically macabre at Archiginnaisio
Parallel to the Piazza Maggiore, sits the Archiginnasio Anatomical Theatre in Bologna. Constructed in the 16th century, it was once the main building of Bologna’s university. This medical room is where they performed anatomical lectures in the name of medical science. Dissection of cadavers were performed on the marble table as students sat in the wooden tiers.
Visit the Archiginnasio Anatomical Theatre in Bologna it was one of my favorite highlights of Bologna. I spent 45 minutes staring at a marble slab where they first dissected cadavers for learning. I had only seen rooms like that in Hollywood period films. Admission is € 3 . This is not covered in the Bologna Welcome pass


26. Pisa isn’t the only city where the towers lean.
Bologna is known for its numerous leaning towers, and I believe this one is among the tallest. It’s fascinating to learn that many of the buildings in Bologna have a slight tilt to them. This is due to the fact that the city was originally built on marshland, which has caused some settling over the centuries.
Must Try Food Experiences of Bologna
27. Eat your way through FICO Eataly World
FICO Eataly World is an amusement park for food, housing food exhibitions, samplings and learning about how various Italian foods are made. You can experience a farm with over two hundred livestock, a truffle-sniffing dog, and over thirty-four factories, showing cooking exhibitions. It is well over a day’s worth of exploring food. FICO Eataly World is 30 minutes from Bologna.
Pro-Tip: I’d plan a day for this activity.
28. Take Bologna Food Tour
Honestly, this will enhance your appreciation of what this city is best known for. Bologna’s nickname is The Fat One and it’s re-known for its slow foods. The best thing you can do for yourself is to take a Bologna food tour! I took a three-hour tour with Bologna Secret Food Tours and it was packed with food and visiting hidden local spots: from a room where women made tortellini by hand to sampling must try Bologna foods such as its cheeses, proscuitto (I’m pescatarian so my guide had to find me a substitute- you can see how creative she got in my food tour video) and the list goes on. I experienced drinks at an osteria (a local pub), lunch at a trattoria, and we visited traditional aceto balsamic vinegar shop which sold small bottles of vinegar (some bottles cost over $100!). These are things as a solo traveler, I wouldn’t have thought or tried alone. Highly recommended! This is the tour I took !
Pro- Tip: Take the food tour at the beginning of your trip! If you have any special dietary restrictions like I do, this will also help you learn how and what to order when you’re exploring Bologna on your own!
*Watch my Bologna Secret Food Tour video review of my food tour experience
My Bologna Secret Food tour video will show you some of the top must try foods of Bologna, as well as authentic local experiences you don’t want to miss!
29. Take a Bologna pasta making class
One of Bologna’s famous nicknames is The Fat One, due to its love for gastronomical delights and pasta is a big one of them! Taking a pasta cooking class and learning Italian pasta secrets from tagliatelle to tortellini (pictured below) is a way to appreciate how pastas are made fresh by hand. You might even learn the secrets of the region’s favorite pasta sauce… ragu a meaty tomato sauce, which is the mother of bolognese.
Note: Photos below I took from my Bologna Secret Food Tour!

30. Where to Stay in Bologna
Budget
Dopa Hostel. Charming hostel with capsule beds and shared kitchen space. Convenient to the train station, but a little tricky to find as it’s on the second floor of a commercial building. Nothing stands out to let you know it’s a hostel. I’m literally kicking myself for not having filmed a full video at this hostel because it was a charming capsule like hostel.
Mid-Range
Porta San Mamolo My Hotel Porto San Mamolo which offered awesome breakfasts and was my home base for my Bologna and San Marino day trip adventures. Read my review.
For those on a budget, check out Hostelworld. I also like to check Booking.com due to their reviews and convenience maps when i’m trying to find a hotel near attractions and stations.
Watch my Bologna Travel Guide video for Solo Female Travelers
In my Bologna travel guide video I share 22 best things to do in Bologna with tips on how I’m traveling it alone.
31. Getting Around Bologna
To get to Bologna’s Central train station (from Bologna, I went to Florence next), takes an easy 10-15 minutes by bus. From the station you can catch the Aerobus to the airport. In Italy, I eventually began booking my trains at the last minute via Omio as I could use digital tickets.
Pro-Tip: If you’re doing a day trip to Bologna and looking to drop your luggage somewhere? You can store your luggage at a local business for cheap.
Aerobus: The Aerobus is an easy and economic solution to getting from Bologna rail and bus station to the airport. Tickets can be bought at the Aerobus ticketing office at the station or at one of the rail station kiosks. If that does not work (sometimes those kiosks go on the fritz), head to the Aerobus ticketing office. It is located right next to the main entrance through a smaller door (accessible from the street). Typically, you may find a gypsy standing next to the main entrance kiosks to help travelers.
Pro-Tip: Pay careful attention to your belongings and credit card. Read my post on how to avoid pickpockets and how to deal with scams
Bus– Public buses are easy to use. The toll machine where you pay and get validated is located usually at the back of the bus. Have correct change.
Uber- Is very get around using your Uber app.
32. Is Bologna safe for solo female travelers?
As a female solo traveler and content creator (with a day pack full of film gear) on an Italy trip, small cities like Bologna, Ravenna, Treviso, Modena felt safe and laid back. There are very little tourists compared to bigger cities like Rome, Florence, Venice.
- There are fewer tourist crowds, thus less opportunity for pickpockets. See my tips for outsmarting pickpockets. Pickpocket gypsies were my biggest fear on my Italy trip. They can hang out at train stations or in crowded tourist areas.
- Italy is predominantly an urban culture. Always use travel street smarts
- Research travel scams to the city you visit.
- Recommended: Use anti-theft bags and crossbody bags to make theft and pickpocketing more complex for thieves. On trains going to other cities I would still be watchful of my belongings.
- I highly recommend buying travel insurance for added peace of mind for your Italy trip. Check out this trip insurance finder tool.
33. Getting an Italy SIM card
Having a data plan while traveling Italy is helpful for hailing Uber and booking trains, transportation and activities at the last minute. Italian SIM cards are not always sold at the airports in Italy. When I arrived in Italy, I had to wait for operating hours to find a local telecomm shop in Ravenna that sold SIM cards. I brought my passport, waited in a queue with Italians needing help with their data plans and then, I was up and running in 10 minutes. It was a bit of hassle and I didn’t save that much at all. (See my Ravenna travel guide).
I recommend saving time and money by buying an Italy Prepaid SIM cards in advance or eSim to save time hunting down local Sims and plans. I prefer using Airalo E-Sim because I can activate it before or upon arrival at the airport. They have a regional plan as well for country hopping travelers.
Watch my Italy Travel Video Guides






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