Hello everyone! We are Rick and Andrea. We live in Italy, just half an hour away from Bologna, and today we are taking you on a grand tour of this amazing city we love and visit often.

Bologna is a beautiful city in Northern Italy, and we’re here to give you all the best tips about Bologna, how to get to Bologna, where to stay in Bologna, why you should visit Bologna, the best time of the year to visit, and of course, some funny and helpful insider advice.

So grab a glass of wine, and let’s dive in!

Why Visit Bologna?

First things first, why would you visit Bologna? Well, Bologna is known as La Dotta, La Grassa, e La Rossa, The wise, The Fat, and The Red. La Dotta because it has the oldest university in the Western world. La Grassa because the food here is to die for, it is truly considered the food capital of Italy. And La Rossa because of its beautiful red terracotta buildings and roofs, but also because Bologna historically has a very lefty government. But the most important reason to visit Bologna is its vibe. Bologna is less touristy than the more popular cities like Florence or Venice but offers a truly authentic Italian experience. Think medieval towers, vibrant piazzas, mouth-watering cuisine, and charming porticoes.

How to Get to Bologna

Getting to Bologna is super easy. The city is a major transportation hub in Northern Italy. Bologna is located in the Emilia Romagna region, about 220km southeast of Milan, 150 km south of Venice, 110 km north of Florence, and 380 north of Rome.

Bologna has a small but very well-connected airport the  Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), which is located just about 15 minutes from the city center. From the airport, take the Marconi Express, a monorail that brings you straight to Bologna Centrale train station in 7 minutes and it costs €12.80. From the airport you can also take a taxi to the city center or to your hotel, there are plenty of taxi at the arrival terminal. 

If you’re arriving by train, even better. Bologna Centrale is one of Italy’s busiest train stations because of its location. In fact, Bologna train station is the major high speed train intersection in Italy. High-speed trains connect Bologna with Milan in about 1 hour and 15 minutes, Venice in one hour and 33 minutes, Florence in about 38 minutes, and Rome in 2 hours and 23 minutes. The train station is very centrally located, and walking from the train station to Piazza Maggiore takes about 15 minutes. 

If you’re driving, the city is well-connected by highways. But be aware of the ZTL zones limited traffic areas in the historic center. Park outside the center and use public transport. Also bologna city center has implemented a new regulation and the speed limit in the city center is a strict 30 km/h

Where to Stay in Bologna

Let’s talk about where to stay in Bologna. Bologna’s historic center is relatively small and very walkable. The historic city center is the area that was surrounded by the city walls of wich you can still admire some of the old gates.  Most of the city center is pedestrian only making it the ideal area to stay. Area like Piazza Maggiore Area, the true heart of the city could be a great place to say. Also, the very central Via Indipendenza offers plenty of hotels to stay in, this area is also  Great for shopping and easy access to the train station. Speaking of the train station, the area of the station is another good place for hotels, conveniently located and within walking distance from all the attractions, also in this area, you can find more budget-friendly options. Another great area is around Porta Saragozza which is a Quiet and residential area but still close to the main attractions, in this area you will be able to find a lot of B&B. Lastly, if you want a more modern and corporate type of hotel the Fiera area is the place to stay. This area is outside the historic city center but it is still easy to reach by public transit. 

A very important thing to remember is to Book early, especially during the Bologna CERSAIE Fiera which is one of the biggest shows in Italy that features Italian floor tiles and is usually at the beginning of October – so book early because accommodations fill up fast.

Best Time of the Year to Visit Bologna

One of the most asked questions is, when should you visit Bologna? Spring (April to June) and Fall (September to October) are the best times of the year to visit. The weather is pleasant, and the city isn’t overcrowded. Summer can be very hot, we’re talking 35°C (95°F) and up and very humid, so we do not recommend it. But on the bright side, the city empties out a bit because locals head to the coast. Winter is also nice if you don’t mind cooler temperatures and want to enjoy the Christmas lights and markets. And of course, if you’re a foodie, visit in the fall for food festivals and truffle season!

How to get around Bologna

Bologna is an incredibly walkable city. Most of the historic center is pedestrian-friendly, which means visiting on foot is the best way, if you can. Wear comfy, well broken in shoes and you’ll be all set. Walking allows you to enjoy the iconic portici di Bologna, those stunning, endless porticoes that stretch over 62 kilometers! And by the way the Portici of Bologna are a UNESCO world heritage site! When you walk under the portici you don’t have to worry about, Rain, Sun or Wind  You’re protected. Porticoes are basically Bologna’s version of VIP access to the whole city.

Bologna is also very bike friendly and renting a bike to move around could be a wonderful way to explore the city, and to burn some of the extra calories that you will eat in Bologna.

Another great way to move around the Bologna historic city center is to use the Hop On Hop Off bus, by using the bus you will be able to listen to the commentary about what you are seeing and get off anywhere you wish, and being Bologna the food capital of the world even the HOHO bus offers some food tasting included!

Lastly, if you are staying outside of the city center you can use Bologna’s amazing public transit system. The buses will take you pretty much anywhere in the city and beyond. A single ride costs around €2.30. You can tap your credit card or your phone on board the bus for the ticket.

Top Things to Do in Bologna

Now, the fun part! What should you do in Bologna? Here are some of the best attractions in the city starting with: Piazza Maggiore – The heart of Bologna. The piazza is massive and it has the huge Palazzo Accursio on the right side. The Palazzo is now city hall and it can be visited. In fact you can climb on top of the clock tower to see one of the best panoramas of the city.  Also in Piazza Maggiore, you can see the Basilica of San Petronio – a beautiful  Gothic church with an unfinished facade. Inside the Basilica, you can see one of the most accurate sundials in the world among many wonderful frescos and stained glass windows. 

Nearby Piazza Maggiore you will see the Fountain of Neptune, with its famous optical illusion. According to the legend the sculptor Gianbologna, he was mad at the Pope for not paying him enough to sculpt the statue. For this reason, he sculped the statue in a way that…. well, see for yourself.

The Two Towers (Le Due Torri), these two towers are the symbol of the city. Also, they lean a lot and yes Pisa is not the only leaning tower in Italy! Unfortunately at the present time of it is not possible to climb the tower due to the major restoration of the area. 

Another great place to visit is the Archiginnasio of Bologna, this place is Home to the oldest university in the Western world. Inside it is quite stunning, especially the old anatomical theatre. From the

Archiginnasdio you can walk to Piazza Santo Stefano and the seven churches in just a few minutes. This is a medieval piazza where 7 ancient churches are built and they are all interconnected inside. A few steps away from the 7 churches you can walk around the Quadrilatero, this is an ancient area of the city that in medieval times was used for markets. Nowadays it is a great place to shop for food, grab a drink or something to eat. 

Lastly, just on the hills surrounding the city you can see the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca. Reaching this beautiful church requires some walking uphill under the 3.8km porticos. But the view from the top is quite stunning. If you don’t feel like walking, there’s a little touristy train that can take you up there from Piazza Maggiore. Now be aware of a superstition regarding this church. According to it , if you go and visit this sanctuary with your fiance you will break up and not get married! So if you go by train sit in two different carts!

And don’t forget to just wander! The best part of Bologna is often found in its small alleyways, hidden courtyards, and little trattorias. Of course one of the major attractions of Bologna is the food! You can’t visit the city without tasting the world famous Bolognese sauce, or the legendary Lasagne alla Bolognese or the incredible variety of cured meat the most important and famous of them is Mortadella, you got the picture right! Also if you want to learn how to make your own Bolognese, why not taking a cooking class right here in Bologna!

Best Tips About Bologna

Alright, so, let’s share some of our best tips about Bologna.  First, wear comfortable shoes. Bologna is a walking city, and you’ll cover a lot of ground, often on some uneven surfaces. 

Second, eat locally. Don’t ask for Spaghetti Bolognese, or spaghetti and meatballs- they don’t exist in Italy! Try the local Tagliatelle al Ragu instead. Or the Tortellini in Brodo, Mortadella, Lasagna Verde, and of course, a Gelato for desert. 

Third, visit during weekdays if you can. Weekends can get busy, especially with day-trippers, and locals strolling around and shopping. 

Fourth, explore the porticoes. They are protected UNESCO World Heritage sites and are perfect for hot or rainy days.

Fifth, go take a look at the last uncovered canal in the city. Bologna used to have canals all around it. Nowdays most of them have been covered, but there is a little window where you can see the last one still open. Or if there’s too many people there, just cross the street and you’ll see the opposite side of the canal with fewer people.

Fun Facts and Final Thoughts

Did you know Bologna has over 62 kilometers of porticoes? That’s more than any other city in the world.  Or that the University of Bologna was founded in 1088? That makes it nearly 1,000 years old, And here’s a quirky tip: Locals believe if you’re a student and you walk under the Portico dei Servi on Strada Maggiore before graduating, you’ll never finish your studies. Superstitions!

Also go try the “telephone” this is located in the old Palazzo del Podesta, right by Piazza maggiore. Here there is an amazing acoustic phenomenon, if you speak in one of the corner the person on the opposite corner can hear you perfectly, like talking on the phone! 

Another thing that you have to do in Bologna is to walk to the Corte Isolani palace. According to the legend a nobleman, hired 3 archers to kill his wife because he thought she was cheating on him. When the 3 archers arrived at the palace the wife appeared at the window naked. They got distracted by the nudity and they shot the arrows on the ceiling of the palace. The 3 arrows are still there and it is still possible to see them, just squint and look up, it won’t be easy.  

So there you have it our ultimate guide to visiting Bologna. We hope we inspired you to visit this incredible city, check out its beauty, and try some of its incredible food.  If you enjoyed this video, give it a thumbs up, subscribe for more Italy travel tips, and leave us a comment if you have any questions or if you’ve visited Bologna yourself.

For now, thank you for watching and we’ll see you in the next video. Ciao!