Bologna · Emilia-Romagna · Italy
Bologna Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Bologna tours, food tours and pasta cooking classes in Italy’s gastronomic capital, the medieval old town and Two Towers, Parmigiano and balsamic tastings, Ferrari and Lamborghini factory visits, and an easy day trip to Florence. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Bologna itinerary.
478 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Bologna
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Bologna
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Bologna by interest
Whatever brings you to Bologna — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Food tours
Tagliatelle, mortadella and markets.
ExploreCooking classes
Fresh pasta and ragù.
ExploreOld Town
Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers.
ExploreFerrari & Motor Valley
Supercar museums and factories.
ExploreParma & Food Valley
Parmigiano, balsamic and ham.
ExploreFlorence
The Renaissance city by fast train.
ExploreTwo Towers & porticoes
The UNESCO red-brick landmarks.
ExploreDay trips
Ferrari, Parma and Florence.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Bologna
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Food & pasta
Tagliatelle, mortadella and markets.
120+ toursView tours
Piazza Maggiore
The grand medieval square.
50 toursView tours
Two Towers
The leaning medieval landmarks.
40 toursView tours
Ferrari & Motor Valley
Supercar museums and factories.
70 toursView tours
Parmigiano & balsamic
The Food Valley producers.
60 toursView tours
Porticoes
The 40km of UNESCO arcades.
40 toursView tours
Florence
The Renaissance city nearby.
40 toursView tours
Cooking classes
Fresh pasta and ragù.
80 toursView tours
1 day
Bologna in 1 day
- 1Piazza Maggiore
- 2Two Towers climb
- 3Quadrilatero food tour
- 4Pasta dinner
2 days
Bologna in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & food
- 2Pasta class
- 3Day 2: Ferrari or Parma
- 4Food Valley
3 days
Bologna in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & food
- 2Day 2: Ferrari & Parma
- 3Day 3: Florence
- 4Emilian evenings
With kids
Bologna with kids
- 1Climb the Asinelli Tower
- 2Gelato-making
- 3Ferrari museum
- 4Pasta & piazzas
Food & wine
Bologna food tour
- 1Quadrilatero market food tour
- 2Fresh pasta cooking class
- 3Parmigiano & balsamic day trip
- 4Emilia-Romagna wine tasting
Motor Valley
Bologna Motor Valley
- 1Ferrari & Lamborghini museums
- 2Ferrari test drive in Maranello
- 3Ducati & Maserati museums
- 4F1 simulator & Fiorano track
1 hr awayFerrari & Maranello
Supercar museums and factory.
from €90View trips
1 hr awayParma & Modena
Parmigiano, balsamic and ham.
from €95View trips
35 min awayFlorence
The Renaissance city by fast train.
from €80View trips
40 min awayLamborghini & Ducati
Supercars and superbikes.
from €90View trips
40 min awayModena
Balsamic, opera and Ferrari.
from €70View trips
1.5 hrs awayRavenna
Byzantine golden mosaics.
from €70View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Bologna visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) bring mild, pleasant weather ideal for walking and eating — the best times to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Warm, pleasant days perfect for the old town, porticoes and food tours.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot and humid; many locals leave in August, though the porticoes offer shade and food tours run year-round.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Mild days and harvest season — a wonderful time for the Food Valley and new wine.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cool and sometimes foggy, but cosy for hearty food, museums and the covered porticoes; lower prices.
A year-round food city
Bologna’s food scene shines all year, with cooking classes, tastings and trattorias making any season delicious.
One day
Enough for the old town, the Two Towers and a food tour.
Two days
Add a cooking class and a Motor or Food Valley day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Ferrari and Parma, and Florence.
Four to five days
Add Ravenna, Modena and more of Emilia-Romagna.
A week or more
Use Bologna as a base to explore central and northern Italy.
Travelling with kids
Mix the tower, gelato classes and the Ferrari museum at a gentle pace.
On foot
Bologna’s old town is compact and best explored on foot, sheltered by its famous 40km of porticoes — great in sun or rain.
City buses
An efficient bus network covers the wider city; the centre itself is easily walkable.
High-speed trains
Bologna is Italy’s rail hub, with fast trains to Florence (35 min), Milan, Venice and Rome — ideal for day trips.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for the Ferrari Motor Valley and the Parma and Modena Food Valley.
By bike
Flat and bike-friendly, Bologna is easy to explore by bike, including guided e-bike tours with aperitivo.
From the airport
Bologna Airport links to the centre and station by the Marconi Express monorail in about 7 minutes.
Book food tours & classes ahead
Popular food tours, cooking classes and Ferrari and Parmigiano day trips sell out — book ahead, especially at weekends.
Pre-book the Asinelli Tower
Climbing the Asinelli Tower needs a timed ticket booked in advance, as numbers are limited.
Currency & tipping
Italy uses the euro; service is often included, though rounding up for good service is appreciated.
Eat the real ragù
Order tagliatelle al ragù (never “spaghetti bolognese”), tortellini in brodo, mortadella and a fresh tigelle or crescentina.
Walk the porticoes
Bologna’s UNESCO porticoes stretch 40km, including the long climb to the San Luca sanctuary above the city.
Perfectly placed
Bologna’s central location and fast trains make it an ideal base for Florence, Venice, Milan and the Food and Motor Valleys.
Food tours
Small-group food tours of the Quadrilatero sell out — book ahead.
Cooking classes
Hands-on pasta classes have limited places — reserve early.
Ferrari Motor Valley
Factory and museum tours with test drives fill up — book ahead.
Food Valley tours
Parmigiano dairy and balsamic visits have limited spots — reserve early.
Asinelli Tower
Pre-book the timed tower climb, as numbers are capped.
Florence day trips
Guided Florence trips and museum entries fill up — book ahead.
Food tours
Around €45–85 for a guided Bologna food tour with tastings.
Cooking classes
About €50–90 for a hands-on pasta cooking class with a meal.
Ferrari Motor Valley
Roughly €90–150 for a Ferrari and Motor Valley day trip.
Food Valley tours
About €90–130 for a Parmigiano, balsamic and ham day with lunch.
Old Town walks
Around €20–40 for a guided Bologna walking tour.
How to save
Eat at the Quadrilatero market, walk the free porticoes, and take cheap fast trains to Florence.
When to visit
Bologna through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring
Mar–May
- Best for
- Mild, pleasant days for walking and eating.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Perfect for the porticoes and food tours.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Long days, though hot and humid.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- August is quiet as locals leave; porticoes give shade.
Autumn
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Mild days and the harvest season.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A wonderful time for the Food Valley.
Winter
Nov–Feb
- Best for
- Cosy, hearty food and quiet museums.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool and sometimes foggy; lower prices.
People also ask
Bologna travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Bologna?
The highest-rated Bologna experiences are a food tour through the Quadrilatero market, a pasta cooking class, an old-town and Two Towers walking tour, a Ferrari Motor Valley visit, a Parmigiano Food Valley tour, and a day trip to Florence.
What should I book in advance in Bologna?
Book popular food tours, cooking classes and Ferrari and Parmigiano day trips well ahead, as small-group experiences sell out, along with the timed Asinelli Tower climb.
How many days do I need in Bologna?
Two to three days is ideal — the city and its food, a Motor Valley or Food Valley day trip, and a day in Florence.
Why is Bologna famous for food?
Bologna is Italy’s gastronomic capital, nicknamed “La Grassa”, home to tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini and mortadella, and the gateway to Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamic vinegar and Parma ham.
What are the best day trips from Bologna?
Top day trips are the Ferrari Motor Valley around Maranello and Modena, the Parmigiano and balsamic Food Valley near Parma, and Renaissance Florence, just 35–40 minutes by fast train.
When is the best time to visit Bologna?
Late spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the mildest weather for walking and eating; summer is hot and humid, while winter is cool and foggy but cosy and cheaper.
How do you get around Bologna?
Bologna’s compact old town is best on foot beneath its 40km of porticoes; it is Italy’s rail hub with fast trains to Florence, Milan and Venice, and the airport links to the centre by the 7-minute Marconi Express monorail.
478 Bologna experiencesfrom €20 · free cancellation
Explore tours