Italy · Region
Bologna
Bologna is Italy's great crossroads city — a medieval university town of red-brick porticoes and towers that also happens to be the country's culinary capital, home to tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini, and mortadella. Its compact, walkable historic center sits atop one of Italy's busiest rail junctions, making it as much a gateway to the rest of the country as a destination in its own right.
Day Trips from Bologna (Florence · Verona · Pisa)
Top attractions
attraction Basilica di San Petronio: Bologna Travel Guide (4.5★)
Basilica di San Petronio sits on Piazza Maggiore in central Bologna, open daily 10am–6pm. 4.5★ (6,269 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Giardini Margherita: Bologna Travel Guide (4.6★)
Giardini Margherita is Bologna's largest public park, spread across the southeastern edge of the city center near Porta Santo Stefano and Porta Castiglione. 4.6★ (17,908 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Museo per la Memoria di Ustica: Bologna Travel Guide (4.8★)
Museo per la Memoria di Ustica sits in the Bolognina district of Bologna, inside a converted former tram depot on Via di Saliceto. 4.8★ (1,799 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Piazza Maggiore: Bologna Travel Guide
Piazza Maggiore is Bologna's medieval heart, framed by the unfinished marble façade of the Basilica di San Petronio, the crenellated Palazzo d'Accursio and Palazzo dei Notai, and the neighboring Piazza del Nettuno with Giambologna's bronze Neptune fountain.
Hidden gems
hidden gem Basilica of San Domenico: Bologna Travel Guide
The Basilica of San Domenico sits a 12-minute walk south of Piazza Maggiore, in the university quarter near Bologna's old city walls.
hidden gem Mercato delle Erbe: Bologna Travel Guide (4.3★)
Mercato delle Erbe is Bologna's covered food market at Via Ugo Bassi 25, a short walk west of Piazza Maggiore, with stalls selling produce, cured meats and cheeses, plus places to eat. 4.3★ (14,492 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Portici di Bologna: Travel Guide (4.7★)
Portici di Bologna is the city's network of covered arcades, and Piazza Cavour in central Bologna, a short walk south of Piazza Maggiore, is one of the best places to start. 4.7★ (928 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Top-rated things to do in Bologna
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Where to stay in Bologna
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Frequently asked questions about Bologna
How do I get to Bologna?
Most travellers arrive via Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), linked to Bologna Centrale station by the Marconi Express monorail in ~7 minutes; from there, the historic center is an easy walk or short bus ride. Bologna Centrale itself is a major high-speed rail hub, sitting on the Milan–Bologna and Bologna–Florence high-speed lines, with journeys to Milan taking ~1 hour and to Florence ~35 minutes.
How many days should I spend in Bologna?
Plan on ~2-3 days to properly explore Bologna's porticoed streets, towers, and food scene, with extra time if using the city as a base for day trips across Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.
What is Bologna known for?
Bologna is Italy's great crossroads city — a medieval university town of red-brick porticoes and towers that also happens to be the country's culinary capital, home to tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini, and mortadella. Its compact, walkable historic center sits atop one of Italy's busiest rail junctions, making it as much a gateway to the rest of the country as a destination in its own right.