By rail
Bologna Centrale, high-speed trains from Milan, Florence and Rome
Europe · Italy
Bologna, Italy
Porticoes, towers and Italy's richest food
Getting there
By air
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), ~6 km from the centre
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — mild and lively
Don't miss
The Two Towers
Piazza Maggiore
The Basilica of San Petronio
The Archiginnasio
Things to do
Food tours and markets
Climbing the Asinelli Tower
Walking the porticoes
Day trips to Modena and Parma
Where to eat
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes, an umbrella
A quieter corner
The Portico di San Luca, a covered walk up to a hilltop basilica
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bologna?
April to June and September to October — mild and lively. What to pack: Comfortable walking shoes, an umbrella.
How do I get to Bologna?
Fly into Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), ~6 km from the centre.
What is there to do in Bologna?
Food tours and markets, climbing the Asinelli Tower, walking the porticoes, day trips to Modena and Parma. A quieter find: The Portico di San Luca, a covered walk up to a hilltop basilica.
What should I eat in Bologna?
Tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo and mortadella.
About Bologna
- Inland
Where it is
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, on the edge of the Po Valley at the foot of the Apennines.
History
Bologna was an Etruscan and then Roman city, and its university, founded in 1088, is generally held to be the oldest in continuous operation in the Western world. In the Middle Ages its families built dozens of towers, a few of which still stand.
People
Bolognese people are known in Italy for their food and their student city, and the centre stays lively with tens of thousands of university students alongside families who have lived here for generations.
Known for
- Its medieval towers
- Kilometres of porticoes
- The world's oldest university
- Ragù, tortellini and mortadella
Did you know?
Bologna's porticoes, which run for more than 60 km, were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.