Bologna

Portico strolls, food markets & osteria nights

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Bologna is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Terrazza Panoramica San Petronio, Via San Felice and Bagni di Mario. Food lovers should not miss Via del Pratello and Osteria del Sole. Below you will find 13 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Bologna at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Terrazza Panoramica San Petronio and Via San Felice
Where to stay: Centro and Valverde
Local picks: 13 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Bologna

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsBest Things to Do in Bologna: A Local’s GuideThe best things to do in Bologna, chosen by locals: top sights, where to eat, where to stay and the…

Where to stay in Bologna

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Valverde

Bagni di Mario

A breathtaking hidden Renaissance cistern beneath the hills of Bologna, built in the 16th century to supply the Neptune Fountain – an octagonal underground chamber of arches and still water. Opened for guided visits on select dates (often via FAI); book ahead.

Porto

Bar Senza Nome

Why it matters: opened in 2012 by Alfonso Marrazzo and Sara Longhi, this is Italy’s first bar owned and run by deaf people, and Italian sign language is the house language. Wall charts teach you the LIS signs for your drink, or you can order by pointing to the paper slips at the bar – no one is left out. It’s also simply a great Via Belvedere hangout: cheap spritzes, art exhibitions, book presentations and DJ sets. Come at aperitivo hour and learn to sign ‘grazie’ before you leave.

Centro

Bologna Food Tour

A tasting tour through tortellini, mortadella and the food capital of Italy.

★ 4.7

Manifattura delle Arti

Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center

Centro

Enoteca Storica Faccioli

A historic wine bar going since 1924, reborn as a destination for natural-wine lovers – a warm, characterful room pouring characterful bottles alongside good cheese and salumi. A lovely spot for an aperitivo.

Centro

Grand Hotel Majestic

The citys opulent grande dame, steps from Piazza Maggiore.

★ 4.6

$$$

Centro

L’Emporio

A warm little wine-and-deli emporium in central Bologna where the owner pours good local wine alongside homemade tigelle sandwiches and generous meat-and-cheese boards. A lovely, low-key aperitivo stop.

Giardini Margherita

Le Serre dei Giardini Margherita

Why it matters: Bologna’s abandoned municipal greenhouses in the Giardini Margherita were regenerated by the Kilowatt work cooperative into a community hub – coworking, a kids’ program, a community-run garden and the Serra Madre cultural space, opened in 2024, all run as a social enterprise. For visitors it’s the loveliest pit stop in the city’s biggest park: grab a drink at the kiosk, wander the garden, or catch an open-air concert or talk during the KW Summer festival. Come on a warm evening, when half the neighborhood shows up.

Saragozza

Olieria

Quadrilatero

Osteria del Sole

Bologna’s (and possibly Italy’s) oldest tavern, pouring wine since 1465. It serves only drinks – the tradition is to bring your own food from the surrounding Quadrilatero market and share long communal tables. Utterly unique and utterly Bolognese.

Centro

Piazza Maggiore

The grand central square anchored by the Basilica di San Petronio.

★ 4.7

Centro

Porticoes of Bologna

The 40 kilometres of UNESCO-listed arcaded walkways threading the city.

★ 4.6

Centro

Sette Tavoli

A tiny, traditional Bolognese trattoria whose name means seven tables, serving handmade pasta and regional classics in a snug, unfussy room. Book ahead, as those few tables fill fast.

Piazza Maggiore

Terrazza Panoramica San Petronio

A rare rooftop view over “the red city” from the terrace of the San Petronio basilica, opened in 2015 to help fund restoration work. Enter from the back of the church on Piazza Galvani, take the stairs or lift, and drink in the rooftops. Open in spring and summer; a small €3 registration fee goes toward the works.

★ 4.5

Centro

Two Towers

The leaning medieval towers; climb the Asinelli for rooftop views.

★ 4.5

Pratello

Via del Pratello

The beating heart of Bologna’s nightlife – a street of cheap, unpretentious historic pubs where students and locals gather over a beer or glass of wine and endless conversation. Strolling its length is the surest way to feel the city’s free-spirited after-dark scene; by day it’s full of restaurants and pizzerie too.

★ 4.4

City centre

Via San Felice

Elegant Via San Felice is Bologna’s quietly stylish fashion street, mixing vintage and second-hand shops with polished boutiques and artisan goldsmiths, plus a few bars and restaurants to break up the browsing. A paradise for shoe lovers, and only five minutes from Piazza Maggiore.

★ 4.2

Before you go

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Bologna travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Bologna?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Bologna at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Bologna?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Bologna?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Bologna guide.

What is the best time to visit Bologna?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Bologna is worth visiting year-round.