Anda
This post is a bit of a travel guide for Bologna, Italy. Bologna is a beautiful medieval city, often overlooked by tourists. It is also a foodie’s absolute paradise, as you can see in my Bologna food tour post. Moreover, besides the many things to do in Bologna, it is also a great base to explore the region.
About Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of the Emilia Romagna region at the heart of Italy. At the center of Italy’s food traditions as well, Bologna should be on any foodie’s itinerary.
Getting to Bologna
Bologna is very well connected to the major cities in northern Italy. You can easily reach Bologna by train from Venice (1h20min), Milan (just under 3hrs), or Florence (50 minutes in Frecciarossa). Even Rome is in reach with the fast trains (Frecciarossa) in less than 3 hours.
If you’re flying to Bologna airport, a convenient shuttle bus service runs from the airport to the city center. Tickets cost 6€, are valid for 75 minutes, and can be bought at the self-service machines at the airport and the central train station or online.
Bologna Travel Guide
Things to do in Bologna
Bologna is famous for quite a few things. Food is one of them, and the first thing you should do in Bologna is to book a food tour with a local.
In terms of architecture, Bologna is best known for its more than 50km of porticoes and its 22 standing medieval towers. However, there are other surprising features to the city, like its canals. See my detailed post on the best things to do in Bologna to find out more.
Useful tips
Walk
Bologna is fairly small and easily walkable. Also, the famous porticoes make walking comfortable even if you don’t have the best weather. You can leave the umbrella at home.
Driving and Parking
If you want to take a day trip from Bologna to any nearby town, you’ll probably be ok going by train or just renting a car for the day. There is a limited traffic area covering a lot of the city center. It is also hard to find public parking spaces (you can only park if the space has blue lines), so my advice is to avoid keeping the car overnight.
Bus to the Airport
About the bus to the airport. As you land in Bologna, buy tickets for the return journey as well. At the central station in Bologna, next to the ticket vending machine there are usually a few very aggressive gypsy women, claiming they will ‘help’ you.
A student’s city
The areas next to the university can be noisy at night, as the students tend to spend late evenings outside. Though it’s fun to go out in such a lively city, it can be annoying if your hotel room is just above a popular bar. Keep that in mind when you book your accommodation.
Guide: Where to stay in Bologna
As I said, Bologna is relatively small, so you can get everywhere on foot. I recommend staying within the old city walls or close to them.
My first choice for a bit of luxury has to be Hotel I Portici. It is close to all the attractions in Bologna, but a bit away from the noisy University area. It even has a Michelin star restaurant, though you won’t probably go hungry anyway in Bologna.
If you prefer a modern place, Hotel Metropolitan is the one for you, or if you prefer staying in an apartment, I recommend this quaint loft, Casa delle Oche.
Day trips from Bologna
There are so many day trips options from Bologna, that I’ll probably have to write a post about them. Anyway, there’s a day trip for everyone, whether you’re passionate about food, wine, fast cars, or history.
For instance, you could visit Modena or Parma if you want to discover the local delicacies. Discover some of the fastest cars on the planet with a tour Ferrari full day tour from Bologna. You can also visit the beautiful Ferrara and see the Roman mosaics of Ravenna while staying in Bologna.
This was my travel guide for Bologna, Italy. Are you planning a trip to Italy after the pandemic is over? Tell me all about it in the comments below.
Disclosure
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We visited italy waaay back in the day, but we didn’t see Bologna. Just one more reason to go back and see more of this beautiful country!
😀 Any reason is good to go back to Italy in my opinion. Hope you’ll be able to visit again soon. Thanks for commenting, Darlene.
I’ve visited so much of Italy but I haven’t yet been to Bologna! I think the food tour with a local is a great idea! I’m pinning this post and dreaming of when we can all get out and travel again!
That food tour was definitely a highlight for me, I love exploring a place like that 🙂
Hey there! Great article about this beautiful party of Italy. Been there a few times but never in Bologna. We explored Rome, Venice, Florence, The Dolomites and other parts. It is such a beatiful country. I find your guide full of useful information and i even took some notes about the accommodation. Thank you for all the useful information.
I wanna go here 🙁
My pleasure, Alex. I hope you get the chance to visit Bologna soon 🙂
So I am living in South Italy at the moment and when I went to Genoa, I was just…overwhelmed by how amazing the food was. I mentioned that to one of the Genovese I was hanging with, and he scoffed, like pah! This is mediocre. Bolognese food is the best. Turns out that is common thought around this country. I haven’t spent more than an hour in Bologna yet, so I don’t know, but I’m not even sure I could handle their food if it’s better than Ligurian cuisine!
Ha ha 😀 I’m sure you could do it..just read my food tour in Bologna to prepare for the experience 🙂 Thanks for sharing this story, loved it!
I’ve heard such good things about Bologna! We went to Italy last May and weren’t able to fit it in – but it’s on the list for next time!
Oh, it would be great if you could squeeze in at least one day in Bologna, it’s well worth the trip 🙂
Bologna definitely is on my bucket list if we ever get to travel again. Thanks for sharing your great pictures!
Ever? I hope we will travel again in a few (a couple of) months! 🙂
Ah, Bologna, what a lovely city!! went there once and felt in love with the city. Your post made me remember my last trip. Hope I can come back soon! Lovely post =)
Thank you Isabel, happy to bring back good memories 🙂
I really don’t hear too much about Bologna so thank you for sharing your experience. I didn’t realize it was so close to the other major cities. I’ve never taken the train but I will next time I travel.
It’s pretty convenient to travel by train in Italy (less so in the south though). I like staying in one city and explore the surrounding area taking day trips. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This part of Italy is gorgeous
It is, I love it! Thanks for reading, Kev!
This is awfully painful to read — because it makes me miss traveling even more. Bologna looks great, and the food super tasty. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Oh, the painful part starts with going through the photos for each blog. I long for at least a few days away somewhere… Anyway, I love discovering new destinations, even if only virtually, on travel blogs for now. Thanks for reading, Marvin. 🙂
Although, I’ve only been to Milan, the city of Bologna looks charming and lovely. Would love to visit it one day.
Great adventures and more food features from Italy! 😀
I love Milan, especially for not being invaded by tourists. Bologna is a little like that, not so crowded but absolutely charming. Thanks for stopping by, Glenn 🙂
I love Italy but I’m actually yet to go to Bologna! Looks lovely thank you for sharing!
Well, maybe you’ll get the chance to visit Bologna too, it’s a beautiful little place with amazing food. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Looks beautiful! This is so comprehensive thank you for sharing your tips!
I’ve been to Bologna about 20 years ago and remember it as a beautiful city, but I kinda forgot about it. Your writing makes me wanna go their again!
Glad to bring back good memories. What was your favourite thing about Bologna, do you remember?
Sounds like a charming part of Italy. Will be keen to visit sometime in the future.
It is a beautiful place with a lot to explore in and around the city. Thanks for your comment 🙂
Bologna is definitely on my list for my next trip to Italy, thanks for sharing!
🙂 Oh, I hope we’ll be able to travel again soon!
Love this. A chance to explore Italy without leaving my home. Zanne, WhereGalsWander
That’s all we can do these days, travel virtually.
Hi, Nice guide on Bologna. I travel there quit a bit with work. We mainly stay in the Hotel I Portii aswell and it is fab, specially on the bar terrace in the summer. I ave never done a food tour per se, but the food is fantastic everywhere we have been. I cant wait to go back over there again.
Me too, I love it there 🙂
Bologna is such a lovely city, I loved the food there.
Me too, it is definitely a foodie’s destination.
Bologna will be my list, thanks for your detail information
Looks amazing place to visit, esp. with all the yummy food and places to visit 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
It’s a beautiful place with lots of good food! 🙂
The walkable towns and cities in Italy are truly the best aren’t they? I visited Italy earlier this year for my birthday, fir the first time in about 18 years and completely fell back in love. Bologna looks amazing!
Hi Ellie,
Those Italian towns are absolutely charming, I hope things won’t change much when the pandemic is over, I loved the atmosphere there.