7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Bologna

Perfectly located in the heart of Italy, the long-overlooked city of Bologna is finally having its time out in the sun as an incredibly worthy travel destination. With a culinary culture unlike any other, impressive towering monuments and one of the prettiest cityscapes in Europe, it’s time for you to finally make your way to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and visit the historic capital of Bologna.

The Red City of Bologna, seen from Bologna Clock Tower

Here are 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Bologna.

1. The food in Bologna is the best in all of Italy

An example of Bologna’s fine cuisine

Bologna’s culinary landscape is the best in all of Italy. We’ve been to a lot of places around Italy and although most of the food was good, Bologna’s food scene impressed us the most.

So why is Bologna famous for its food? Italian favourites such as tagliatelle al ragu (also known as spaghetti Bolognese) and boloney (also known as Bologna sausage) originally came from this city. But aside from these, there is a plethora of food from this region that have since become famous. Some local dishes you have to try while in Bologna include lasagne verde al forno (green lasagna), tortellini en Brodo (dumplings in soup) and prosciuitto di Parma (originally from neighbouring Parma, but adopted as a Bologna classic).

We dined at Sfoglina Rina at loved it.

There’s a wide range of amazing restaurants suited for every kind of budget. Some of our favourite restaurants while dining out in Bologna were Ragū, Sfoglia Rina and Osteria Bottega. We would also recommend Majori Gelati and Cremeria Santo Stefano for the delicious, creamy gelato. Honestly, I had the best gelato I’ve ever had in Bologna and would come back just for the gelato in a heartbeat.

Gelato from Majori Gelati

The absolute best thing you can do to explore the food scene in Bologna is to go on a food tour, taking you through all of the secret laneways and local favourites when it comes to delicious food.

👉 This affordable, 5-star rated Bologna Walking Food Tour with Local Secrets allows you to watch fresh pasta being made from scratch, enjoy two traditional type of homemade pastas, as well as prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella Bologna, artisanal gelato and more. You seriously can’t go wrong with this tour, and I’m almost certain that you’ll leave with your hearts – and stomachs – feeling full.

If you’re looking for an even more unique experience, this Bologna Food Experience Factory and Family Style Lunch Tour takes you through to Bologna’s famous food region, where you’ll visit local factories and local-run producers for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how the culinary magic happens. You’ll also enjoy samples of fresh, hand-crafted food and indulge in breakfast, as well as a multi-course family style Italian lunch with wine pairings. This tour is slightly more expensive, but gives you a full, immersive Bologna culinary experience.

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2. It’s the best place to learn how to cook Italian food

Lasagne verde al forno (Green lasagna) from Bologna

So you’ve heard all about how Bologna is a great place to enjoy the beauty of Italian food – but how about learning how to cook your favourite dishes? There’s no better place to learn than at the heart of Italian’s gastronomy scene, Bologna. The best chefs in the world go to work in Bologna, and luckily for you, there are plenty of cooking classes you can take to learn from these masters of food.

From learning how to make pasta from scratch, to crafting desert classics like tiramisu in your own kitchen – there are so many skills to absorb. Here are some experiences we would recommend.

👉 This Small Group Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class teaches you how to craft these two dishes. Along the way, enjoy laughs, stories and a glass of Prosecco in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

👉 This Cooking Class With Alessia will teach you how to make some serious pasta! The host of this experience draws inspiration from her grandmother’s classic, old recipes. Some dishes you could expect to learn how to make include Tortellini in broth, Tagliatelle with Ragu and Tortellini with butter and sage.

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3. It’s not that touristy – yet!

View of Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s main square

For such a world-class destination, I was surprised at how local Bologna felt. While there was a smattering of visitors at each site, the tourist crowds were nothing like they usually are in more popular destinations such as Venice, Rome, Florence and Milan.

There was a healthy, lively vibe on nights and weekends, but nothing too overwhelming where I felt like I had to push my way to get to the top sights. In fact, when visiting one of the more popular attractions in the city, Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), there were only two other visitor groups at the top of the tower – hard to believe considering the breathtaking view in front of us!

Asher marvelling at the view from Torre dell’Orologio

We were the only ones at Sanctuario di Madonna di San Luca!

Moreoever, at the Sanctuario di Madonna di San Luca, widely considered to be one of Bologna’s must-visit sights, we were literally the only ones in the complex. In contrast, we visited Rome, Florence and Verona on the same trip and while those cities are definitely worth visiting too, we felt pretty bombarded by crowds.

Empty porticoes around Bologna

Portico 2

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However, I wouldn’t expect Bologna to stay a secret for much longer. With its strategic location and rising reputation, I definitely don’t think it’ll be too long before word of mouth gets around and visitors start to flock in to this marvellous city.

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4. It’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen

The Clock Tower, Bologna

Bologna’s beauty is truly unique. Most of the city is coloured in this beautiful red colour, so much so that it’s become known as the ‘Red City’. I personally feel that the colour can be described as a more nuanced ‘terracotta’, but nonetheless, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a city like Bologna that commits to the colour scheme so faithfully and tastefully throughout.

View from the Clock Tower – you can see the Two Towers from here as well.

Ralph at the Clock Tower

There’s something so special about seeing the green mountainous region in the background, with the historical terracotta buildings and towers in the foreground providing an aesthetically pleasing contrast.

Breathtaking view from Sanctuario di Madonna di San Luca!

One of the other hallmark ‘trademark’ motifs that Bologna employs is its use of porticoes. The Porticoes of Bologna run for over 62km, of which 40km can be found in the city centre. They have since been inducted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Endless porticoes in Bologna!

The Historic City Centre of Bologna and its surrounds are filled with hidden treasures and visually impressive buildings. Some suggestions I would recommend include:

• Marvelling at Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell (The Two Towers). These leaning towers are pretty much in the centre of town, and can’t be missed. They are Bologna’s icons and can be seen from pretty much anywhere in the city. The taller one is named the Asinelli Tower and the shorter one is the Garisenda Tower. The shorter one is actually at risk of tilting too far and potentially collapsing over the next few years – another reason why you should visit Bologna as soon as possible.

• Climbing up the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) for some of the best views of Bologna, especially of Piazza Maggiore. We visited during sunset time and it was just magical.

• Piazza Maggiore is the main square in the city and is the perfect place to start your Bologna itinerary. Visit nearby Basilica di San Petronio – a truly stunning basilica.

• Speaking of basilicas, head over to Sanctuario di Santo Stefano, a collection of beautiful churches and religious structures also close to the city centre.

• The Archiginnasio di Bologna is quite simply one of the most lavishly decorated libraries I have ever seen. There is a small entrance fee, but I think visiting was completely worth it.

• Visit the gorgeous Palazzo Hercolani (part of the University of Bologna) to get a taste of university life in Bologna.

• The hidden gem of La Piccola Venezia (Tiny Venice) isn’t easily found by many visitors, but I would recommend taking a quick stop here as it really is a super cute, unique photography spot.

• Find Bologna’s famous porticoes as you walk from the city to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, where you’ll cross 664 arches – the longest portico in the world. From here, take in the stunning architecture of the basilica, as well the views of Bologna’s surrounding greenery.

• If you’re not up for the long 1 hour 20 minute walk to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, take this San Luca Experience Tour in which you’ll be taken to the basilica and back to Bologna by a train.

View of the Two Towers from the base.

Basilica di San Petronio

Sanctuario di Santo Stefano

Ceiling of Palazzo Hercolani

👉 To get acquainted with Bologna’s must-see attractions, I would highly recommend going on an affordable Bologna City Walking Tour where a local guide will take you through the history of Bologna as you visit sights such as the Basilica di San Petronio, Archiginnasio di Bologna, Piazza Santo Stefano and Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell.

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5. It’s an extremely walkable city

Archiginnasio di Bologna – Bologna Library

You can walk to pretty much anywhere in Bologna. I love walking around new places and exploring a city on foot, and I was really happy that I was able to do that in Bologna. Even from arrival points such as Bologna Centrale Train Station, the main square of Piazza Maggiore is only a 20-minute walk away. Keen to look for food? One of the most famous streets for local cuisine, Via delle Moline, is only a 10-minute walk away from Piazza Maggiore.

Asher enjoying the interior of the library

This is in contrast to other major cities such as Rome, where the major attractions are more spread out and require public transport connections.

6. It’s the perfect place to take day trips

Beautiful Verona – just a short day trip from Bologna

Bologna is the best place in Italy to take day trips from. Its location literally could not get any more central, as it’s right in the middle of the country. From Bologna, you can just about get to anywhere in Italy within a day. This even includes places such as Rome, Milan and Venice.

San Marino, a whole different country, can be visited on a day trip from Bologna

From Bologna, I took day trips out to Florence, Verona, Rimini and San Marino. All were stunning experiences also worth visiting, and I couldn’t have visited them on consecutive days if I hadn’t stayed in Bologna.

Another easy day trip from Bologna – Florence – you can visit in under 35 minutes

Staying in Bologna and sparing a couple of days to explore some less-known (but no less stunning) Italian destinations is also a great idea. Some places you could explore include neighbouring Parma, Modena, Faenza, Ferrara and even Padua. These destinations are all reachable in under 1.5 hours from Bologna using the efficient train system.

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7. It’s more affordable than other major cities in Italy

Bologna is a pretty affordable destination

Bologna is a relatively affordable destination to travel to. Especially when you compare Bologna’s prices to other, more popular cities in Italy such as Rome, Venice and Florence. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t say it’s some super-budget destination comparable to South East Asia, but the value for money isn’t bad at all.

Asher in front of the towers of Bologna

Because of the moderate prices, we were able to dine out frequently and keep the budget in check. Plus, the food and quality of items were so high in Bologna that it felt worthwhile spending that money.

Palazzo Hercolani, Bologna

I also noticed that the entry prices in Bologna were very reasonable (or free of charge), which I appreciated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bologna

The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca

Is Bologna Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you didn’t read any of the above, I’ll make it really clear – Bologna is definitely worth visiting, any season, any time.

When Should I visit Bologna?

Bologna is great to visit all year round, but gets colder and quieter in the winter. Note that a lot of the museums in Bologna are closed on Mondays, so if you’re a museum person, plan on visiting on another day.

What other tips do you have for visiting Bologna?

For first time visitors of Bologna, I would consider purchasing the Bologna Welcome Card to save money. The ‘Easy’ card is only 25EUR and unlocks benefits such as free entrances to attractions such as Musei Civici, Museo della Storia di Bologna and The Clock Tower, as well as reduced entrance fees for countless other attractions. If you’re keen to visit these attractions, the card could be a major money saver.

Ralph at the Bologna Library (Archiginnasio di Bologna)

For more information about Bologna, check out the city’s Official Website.

Planning to visit Bologna and want to know more? Let me know in the comments below!

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NOTE: Thank you to Bologna Welcome for helping me visit their beautiful, gorgeous, unforgettable city.