About Bologna and Why to Visit
"Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa."
Translation: Bologna the learned one, the fat one, the red one.
Meaning: "The learned one" refers to Bologna being revered for being the home of the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the world that was founded in 1088. "The fat one" alludes to the incredible food you'll find in Bologna (no doubt about that one). Lastly, "the red one" means that Bologna is known for its striking colorful architecture, primarily with red bricks.
This summarizes many of the reasons I recommend people to go to Bologna. The city is full of gorgeous architecture and magnificent food, and is so unique for its student-friendly town which is always full of life. The famous porticos (covered sidewalks and paths) around the city make it a wonderful city to visit even with rain or snow since you have the potential to be shielded for a good chunk of it. The city is extremely walkable, meaning you will walk a lot to explore it to the fullest. It's one of my favorite cities in the world and I hope everyone can visit.
My Bologna Experience
I just recently took a 2 day and 3 night trip to Bologna in January of 2025 and was reminded of how much I love the city. I studied abroad at the University of Bologna from January to July of 2022 and across those 7 months grew to be extremely fond of the city. Considering I had only 2 days to spend in Bologna, most of my itinerary consisted of eating.
How Long to Stay
I recommend staying between one and two days, though I think two days gives you the complete experience. One day is enough time for anyone who wants to see and enjoy the main parts of the city (though it would be an extremely packed day). Two days is best for those who want to enjoy the city at a more leisurely pace and take in the general vibes of being in Bologna. Three days is perfect for those who love to wander and eat. Bologna is a beautiful city full of churches, quaint streets, and extraordinary food. It's so easy to get lost chasing the stunning architecture and turns of the city, so an extra day of pure wandering can do wonders. If I went back again, I would stay longer purely for the vibes and to keep eating such excellent food.
My Recommended 2 Day Itinerary
Day 1
• Corner Bar for breakfast. I recommend this spot in the morning before the hike to San Luca because it is about a 5 minute walk to the base of the hike. They serve a variety of different cornettos that can range from sweet to somewhat savory. Have a cappuccino with it and you'll be like a real Italian!
• Hike to San Luca (takes just over an hour to reach the top). At the top, admire the view of the surrounding areas and go inside to view the Basilica. In the warmer months, you can pay 5 euros to take the stairs to the top.
• Piazza Maggiore. In the square of Piazza Maggiore you will find a few different landmarks including the Basilica di San Petronio and the Neptune fountain. I prefer sitting on the steps in front of the Basilica to eat or relax during the day.
• Take a look into the Basilica di San Petronio: the basilica is open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm with a lunch closure between 1 and 2:30 pm).
• Palazzo del Podestà and talk on the "wireless phone." Walk to the archway and you will find yourself in the center of the four corners that make up the wireless headphone. If you go to one of them and whisper directly into the corner, the person on the opposite corner from you will hear. A sweet activity to do while around Piazza Maggiore.
• See the Neptune Fountain. After exiting the Palazzo del Podestá, you can head toward the northern part of the piazza and find yourself in front of the Neptune Fountain. If you walk past the statue to the northwest and turn to face the statue again, you can discover the 3rd secret of Bologna: The Finger Of Neptune’s Statue (see at the end for more information on the 7 secrets of Bologna)
• Salaborsa. This is a public library open to students and tourists. If you go to the basement, you can also visit the archaeological excavation (Scavi Archelogici) and see some ancient Roman ruins. It's nothing fancy but something short and sweet to view.
• Gelato break at Cremeria La Vecchia Stalla: there are no seats inside, but you can chill on the porticos in Piazza Santo Stefano and enjoy your gelato. 2 of my favorite flavors are Fior di Bufala and Crema alla Vecchia.
• Visit the Basilica Santo Stefano aka the 7 church complex. It is about a 2 minute walk from the gelato shop to this church. Once you finish your gelato, hop on into the basilica where you will find a cluster of seven chapels, crypts, and vaults that shows the remains of medieval frescoes.
• Via Pescherie Vecchie. After finishing at the church, you'll be tired and ready for an aperitif! In order to get to my recommended spot, first return to Piazza Maggiore and find this notable street. Along this street are dozens of fresh produce stands, restaurants, and wine bars to stop into and is known for being picturesque.
• Stop for a wine at the oldest tavern in Bologna, Osteria del Sole. This osteria dates back to 1465 and is located on one of the side streets from Piazza Maggiore. I recommend going for the cheap prices and vibrant bohemian nightlife in Bologna. The don't serve any food and instead invite their guests to bring their own, whether from home or from the street vendors outside their establishment. It's a place full of happy people drinking and enjoying each other's company in an informal and joyous setting.
Day 2
• Finestrella di Via Piella. For the first stop of the day, I would go to discover the 1st secret of Bologna (see below for more information). If you walk down Via Piella (or just google "Finestrella" on your google maps), you'll walk down the street to find a little window that opens up to view the Canale delle Moline which is known as "Little Venice." It's quite picturesque and sweet!
• Breakfast at Pappare' Bologna. After your quick visit to see the famous Finestrella, you can grab a quick cornetto and cappuccino breakfast. AS a bonus, the place is right next to the Two Towers so you can admire the towers on your way in.
• Archiginnasio Palace and Anatomical Theater. At the Archiginnasio, start by admiring the outside complex and head in to buy tickets. Even along the halls of the ticketing area, you'll find extraordinary frescoes on the ceiling and walls. From there, you have the choice to buy the ticket to enter and see the stunning palace and theatre. The ticket is about 3 or 4 euros. I never ended up buying a ticket, and instead just enjoyed the frescoes in the entry halls, but I've heard from many that it is stunning.
• Biblioteca Comunale dell'Archiginnasio. As part of my "free" tour of the Archiginnasio, I also recommend students stopping into the public library. It is important to note that it is not open for tourism, so it is expected that you will study in the library. It is also a bit of a hassle to get in since you have to show your student ID (to any university), then get a locker to put your bags in. There is also no food or drinks in the library (not even water) and no backpacks. It is a hassle but a gorgeous place to study for a bit if you have a book to occupy you for about 30 minutes.
• Giardini Margherita. I mainly recommend visiting Giardini Margherita in the summer when the weather is nice to fully enjoy the outdoors. You can find some sweet coffee shops in the park or have a picnic near the little lake in the park. It's very lively during the warmer months.
• Café de la Paix. After leaving the garden, take a quick stop at this cute cafe to stop in for a quick coffee or lunch. Unfortunately I can't recommend something specific for lunch, as I've only ever gone to study with a book and my laptop.
• Take a walk down Via del Pratello and (maybe) grab lunch. This street is located on the west side of Bologna and is a small street with lots of bars in the evening and that's bustling with student nightlife. The street itself is still very exciting throughout the day as it's filled with lots of street art on the side of buildings and along the porticos. I recommend going along this street to see how lively it is with street art, and if you did not grab a lunch at Cafe de la Paix, there are a few places to eat along the road here. I even remember seeing a cute piadina shop that I wanted to try (but alas did not have the time to go to).
• Walk along Via Zamboni. Via Zamboni is another notable street that takes you to the university district. This area is similar to the nightlife you might expect to see down Via del Pratello, but leads to Piazza Giuseppe Verdi.
• Grab an aperitif / a quick drink at Piazza (Giuseppe) Verdi. I highly recommend exploring the piazza area and finding a bar that makes Hugo Spritz, a speciality in the north of Italy! A Hugo spritz is made with Prosecco, elderflower liquor, and mint. Unfortunately I don't have a specific place to recommend, but a quick google search will probably give you the answer you are looking for.
• Dinner at Mariposa. This restaurant is probably my favorite in Bologna. It's a lowkey spot with extremely reasonable prices. Besides the incredible food, the place is also super sweet since the walls are covered with drawings from former customers that showcase their artwork, funny quotes, and anything else you can think of! I love their first plates / pasta and gnocchi dishes. Among my all time favorite dishes there is Cappellacci di zucca al ragu, which is pumpkin filled pasta (similar to tortellini) with ragu sauce. Last time I went I ordered 2 of the first plates, I love it.
Other Things to Do
• Take a cooking class. One of my regrets is not taking a cooking class in Bologna to learn how to make the famous bolognese sauce or tortellini. After a quick search on Airbnb experiences, Viator, or GetYourGuide, it seems there could be a few options for taking cooking classes in Bologna.
• Museo Civico Archeologico. Check out the archeological musuem that houses Egyptian, Roman & Etruscan artifacts. I went once and enjoyed it, but would only recommend it to those who are interested in archaeology and if they wanted an extra activity to do in Bologna.
• Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna. This is the National Art Gallery of Bologna that features Italian art from the 13th century to the 1700s. Once again, I would only recommend it to those who are interested in mainly renaissance art and only if you had time to do other things in the city. It's def not a must do.
Food and Drinks to Try
• Tagliatelle alla Bolognese / al'ragu. This is a pasta dish that has a meaty sauce prepared with tomatoes, milk, red wine, ground pork and beef, and a mix of carrots, onions and celery.
• Tortellini in brodo. Tortellini is a meat-filled pasta pocket and is traditionally filled with pork, mortadella, or prosciutto. Try tortellini in general, but also try in the soup form which is best known in Bologna.
• Tigelle. This is a sweet or savory sandwich that originated in the Emilia-Romagna region as a street food. It gets its name from putting the dough on an iron griddle plate, called a tigella. The slices are filled with fresh cheese, vegetables and cured meats like prosciutto or mortadella.
• Hugo Spritz. This is a mixed drink made with Prosecco, elderflower syrup (or lemon balm syrup), seltzer (or sparkling water), and mint leaves.
• Lambrusco. This is a sparkling red wine from the Emilia-Romagna region/ the region Bologna is in.
• Cotoletta alla bolognese (you can try this at Osteria dell'Orsa). This is a schnitzel-like dish is that is fried and then baked with broth before being served. It’s normally served stuffed with Parmesan cheese and prosciutto ham.
• Piadina. This is a thin flatbread sandwich prepared in the Romagna region of Italy
• Mortadella. This is an emulsified pork sausage that Bologna is famous for. The emulsified pork, black pepper, pistachios and other ingredients are ground up, put into a casing and steamed to cook to create this famous ingredient often included in piadine and tigelle..
• Lasagna Bolognese. This lasagna is different from others since it is prepared with béchamel sauce instead of ricotta. Béchamel is a rich and creamy sauce made from flour, milk, butter and, sometimes, a pinch of nutmeg.
Other Tips
• Low-budget Hostel: Dopa Hostel. I stayed there for my 3 nights in Bologna and was very pleased with my stay.
• Transportation to the airport. The easiest (and most expensive) option to get from the Bologna airport to the city center is via the Marconi Express. Using this mode of transportation gets you to the city center in 7 min, but costs 12.80 euros per way. Alternatively, you can take bus number 81 or 91 until you reach the stop "Birra," then walk 15 minutes to arrive at the airport. A ticket on the bus costs only 1.50 euros and takes between 20 and 25 minutes to reach from the central train station. It's by no means as convenient as the Marconi Express, but a nice option for those looking to save
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