Province of Bologna

Things to do in Bologna

Top Things to Do in Bologna

Things to Do in Bologna

Popular things to do

Ways to tour Bologna

Book these experiences for a close-up look at Bologna.

LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Bologna Food Experience: Factory Visits with Gourmet Lunch and Wine Tasting
277
Wine Tours
from €170.00 €158.10 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
The 10 Tastings of Bologna With Locals: Private Food Tour
23
Private and Luxury
from €83.00 per adult (price varies by group size)
Classic Bologna Food Tour
80
Walking Tours
from €107.00 per adult (price varies by group size)
2-Hour Bike Tour of Bologna
19
City Tours
from €38.52 per adult
Bologna City Walking Tour
14
Walking Tours
from €27.03 per adult (price varies by group size)
Bologna Food Tour from a local perspective
307
Walking Tours
from €91.22 per adult
Bologna Food & Wine tour with a local Chef
7
Private and Luxury
from €39.00 per adult
From my Kitchen: Home cooking lessons at Grazia's house
66
Cooking Classes
from €81.74 per adult
Stay Hungry Stay Bologna
13
Cooking Classes
from €70.00 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
From Bologna: Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour with the winemaker
from €40.32 per adult (price varies by group size)

Day Trips

From quick jaunts to full-day outings.

Top Attractions in Bologna

1. Santuario di Madonna di San Luca

Churches & Cathedrals

Saragozza

More than 100 towers were built between 12th- 13th centuries but fewer than 20 remain standing today.

2. Piazza Maggiore

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Santo Stefano

By KentishPilgrim

The statue was commissioned to celebrate the election of Pope Pius IV and erected over 450 years ago.

3. Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Observation Decks & Towers

Santo Stefano

•

Open now

No more than twenty medieval defensive towers remain out of up to 180 that were built in the 12th and 13th centuries…

4. Basilica - Santuario di Santo Stefano

Churches & Cathedrals

Santo Stefano

By euromarketer

This collection of many centuries of churches shows how long Christianity has been a foundation of the Bologna culture.

5. Archiginnasio di Bologna

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Santo Stefano

•

Open now

Now largely a museum, with the library unfortunately not open to the public, this complex bears witness to the…

6. Teatro Anatomico

Architectural Buildings • Theatres

Santo Stefano

Just one of two open rooms in the old university building, this theatre is made of richly carved timber walls and…

7. Basilica di San Petronio

Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

Santo Stefano

By culturedportugal

It houses the oldest functioning organ in the world and a Meridian Line from 1655.

8. Portico di San Luca

Historic Walking Areas • Architectural Buildings

Santo Stefano

By travellingtbprecise

This 3.6 km portico aka pilgrimage route is the longest portico worldwide.

9. Quadrilatero

Neighbourhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Santo Stefano

The warren of back streets and alley ways that make up the Quadrilatero plays host to a cornucopia of gems that really…

10. Basilica di San Domenico

Historic Sites • Religious Sites

Santo Stefano

On the tomb itself, artists, including Michelangelo, worked for over 300 years.

11. Torre Prendiparte

Historic Sites • Jogging Paths & Tracks

San Vitale

Built in the 9th century it's privately owned by our host, Matteo, and consists of four floors; entrance, lounge…

12. Museo di Palazzo Poggi

Art Museums

San Vitale

•

Temporarily closed

This building was a private aristocratic mansion beautified with frescoes and sculptures, became the (old) Institute of…

13. La Macchina del Tempo

Speciality Museums • History Museums

San Vitale

•

Open now

The virtual world that was created was of Bologna centuries ago.

14. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita

Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

Santo Stefano

It’s the life size collection of terracotta sculptures from the Italian Renaissance that brings tour groups into this…

15. Mast

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Reno

Located on the premises of Coesia group, sponsored by the philanthropic owner of the company.

16. Mercato di Mezzo

Flea & Street Markets

Santo Stefano

•

Open now

A gallery of stalls that independently sell a variety of light meals and snacks, what we call a "food court" in the US.

17. Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

Art Museums

San Vitale

•

Temporarily closed

Layout takes you chronologically through the development of Renaissance art to Mannerism and Baroque.

18. Biblioteca Salaborsa

Libraries

Saragozza

•

Open now

The exhibit and tour illustrate the history of one place in Bologna from Roman times through the Renaissance to modern…

19. Via dell'Indipendenza

Historic Walking Areas

San Vitale

A jazz quintet complete with drums and horns played an eclectic set of tunes, including the theme from "Star Wars" and…

20. Cattedrale di San Pietro

Churches & Cathedrals

San Vitale

The seat of Bologna's Archbishop, the building has a long and chequered history.

21. Fontana del Nettuno

Architectural Buildings • Fountains

Santo Stefano

the heart of the city, a fountain to rival the Trevi in Rome.

22. Museo per la Memoria di Ustica

Speciality Museums

Navile

•

Temporarily closed

The remains of the actual fuselage have been meticulously collected from the ocean floor to be displayed in the center…

23. Museo Ducati

Speciality Museums

Borgo Panigale

•

Temporarily closed

It is well worth booking ahead to do the factory tour as it is fascinating, we were lucky enough to see Melandris bik...

24. Museo Civico Archeologico

History Museums

Santo Stefano

•

Open now

The museum is located inside a 15th century historic building and includes Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Etruscan exhibits.

25. Certosa di Bologna

Cemeteries

Reno

•

Open now

founded in 1801 by reusing the structures of the Carthusian monastery built starting in 1334, the complex over the…

26. Compianto sul Cristo Morto

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Santo Stefano

The sculptures include the center piece, the dead Christ, Mary Magdalene, grief-stricken, the Madonna, Saint John…

27. Complesso Monumentale San Michele In Bosco

Historic Sites • Historic Walking Areas

Santo Stefano

... €1 50 and as well as an enjoyable journey throught the city of Bologna the view from the church is truly amazing.

28. Palazzo Comunale

Architectural Buildings • Government Buildings

Santo Stefano

The building is large and includes historical pictures of the history of the city, as well as an internal courtyard…

29. Piazza Santo Stefano

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Santo Stefano

There is a complex of buildings owned by the powerful, medieval Isolani family.

30. La Terrazza Panoramica

Lookouts

Santo Stefano

•

Temporarily closed

This panoramic terrace is situated alongside the impressive basilica in central Bologna.

1

…

Walking Tours

Food, Wine & Nightlife

Cultural & Theme Tours

Learn more about this content

*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bologna

The top attractions to visit in Bologna are:

See all attractions in Bologna on Tripadvisor

The best outdoor activities in Bologna according to Tripadvisor travellers are:

See all outdoor activities in Bologna on Tripadvisor

The best day trips from Bologna according to Tripadvisor travellers are:

See all day trips from Bologna on Tripadvisor

The most popular things to do in Bologna with children according to Tripadvisor travellers are:

See all kid friendly things to do in Bologna on Tripadvisor