Bologna

Walking Tours

Your tour starts from Piazza del Nettuno. You'll discover the Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio and the Meridian. Next visit the oldest library in the world and Piazza Santo Stefano, where you'll see the wonderful Basilica that overlooks the square. Then visit the Towers of Bologna, the Asinelli and the Garisenda, before you explore the historical market Quadrilatero to admire the historical shops and take in the scents of local food. Finally, visit Palazzo Re Enzo which overlooks the square and is the palace seat of the municipality.

Be led on an exciting self-guided tour around Bologna's Old Town while playing a mobile-based quest with your friends and family. Solve clues and discover the fascinating history behind the monuments and attractions. Download the app, go to the starting point, and begin the adventure. Follow clues that will take you back in time to learn about the origins of some of the city's most iconic buildings and tourist sites. Here's a sneak peek at the storyline: “You’re an emerging writer from London, whose debut novel was a success. But now writers’ block has struck. The year is 1815. [...] In your despair, you’ve come to Bologna. You heard the city’s many secrets and artistic flair inspire many artists. You hope to be next...." Unlock the secret stories of the places you visit as you solve the problem and guess the answers. Learn about the seven secrets that cloak Bologna in mystery, the streets of the Quadrilatero, and more. Use the clues to lead you from one site to another. Each clue provides you with exact directions so you won't need a map, GPS, or guide. Complete the tour in about 1.5 hours, however, there’s no time limit, allowing you to go at your own pace. Play as a group or split into smaller groups/teams and compete against the others. Each person can also play on their own, separate from the group, and meet the group at the end of the tour.

Over the course of five days, visit the most enchanting locations of Italy, soaking up art, culture, cuisine and the famous Italian romance. Led by a friendly guide, depart from Rome and visit Assisi, Siena, Florence, Pisa, Bologna, Padova, Venice and Montepulciano. See masterpieces from the likes of Michelangelo, Giotto, and Cimabue. Roam ancient cobbled streets, marvel at magnificent cathedrals, and taste delightful wines. This tour aims to inform and entertain you at the same time. Staying in comfy accommodation and traveling by deluxe bus, touring Italy couldn’t be easier. With 4 meals provided for you, plus an excellent itinerary and knowledgeable guides, sit back, relax and "get Italian". Day 1 Depart from Rome at 7:15 AM heading towards Assisi. Explore this tiny town dating back to the Middle Ages. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis and see works by Giotto and Cimabue. Afterwards drive towards Siena, whose highlight is Piazza del Campo. Continue to Florence where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner (included) and a well-deserved night of rest. Day 2: Florence After breakfast, spend the day exploring Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. Visit the Duomo, the Campanile Tower, Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch (for free) in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. In the afternoon, wander the cobbled streets or take a short, optional trip to Pisa where you could enjoy a tour of the Square of Miracles, the Leaning Tower and the Duomo. Dinner is at your leisure. Back in Florence rest in your hotel and recharge your batteries for the next day. Day 3 Depart for Bologna after breakfast in Florence. Wander through the city’s 38 kilometers' worth of elegant arcades, for which it is famous. From Piazza Malpighi, walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city. In the afternoon, continue towards Padova, with its original Sant’Antonio Basilica. Later, you will arrive in Venice, famous for its quaint gondola boats and intricate architecture. Check in at your hotel and enjoy your first Venetian dinner (included) and overnight stay. Day 4: Venice Hit the water and board a private waterbus to enjoy a cruise through the canals of Venice. Stop off at Murano to learn about the ancient art of glass blowing. Continue on to St. Mark’s Square for an exterior visit of the splendid cathedral. See the Doge Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel for an overnight stay. Day 5 After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches, castles and its delicious wines. Proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Noble” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual jazz and wine festival every July. Lunch in a typical restaurant included! Spend the afternoon discovering Montepulciano at your own pace, enjoying free wine tastings in many wine shops and free time for shopping. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome, where the tour ends.

Discover the historic sights of Bologna, starting on Piazza Maggiore where landmarks include the Fountain of Neptune and the Palazzo del Podestà. Learn why the city is known as "La Dotta" ("The Learned"), "La Grassa" ("The Fat") and "La Rossa" ("The Red"). See the medieval Torre Galluzzi and look inside the unique anatomical theater at the Archiginnasio. Stroll along Via Farini and walk to the magnificent porticoes of Piazza Santo Stefano. Discover the covered passageway of the Court Isolani on the way to Via Strada Maggiore. Chat to the locals in the Mercato di Mezzo about why food is so important in Bologna.

Experience the best of Bologna on a private tour that can be customized to your interests and preferences, including the booking of tickets or attractions according to your requests. Simply make your booking and your hosts will contact you within 24 hours to ask questions about your interests and what you would like to see and do. They will match you with the right profile, assign a like-minded local to become your guide and put together a bespoke itinerary. You'll be paired with guides that are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free time sharing it with like-minded travelers matched to them. Benefit from a tour tailored just for you. The itinerary will be outlined but flexible. Meet at a place convenient for you, and feel free to change direction during the day, or follow suggestion from your guide if they think you'd enjoy a sight or different experience, with your permission. Get off the beaten track and see things not normally covered in guidebooks or on the internet but loved by the locals. The entire tour will revolve around your wishes so that you can discover a side to Bologna that you will truly adore!

Experience Bologna like a local, and discover Emilian culinary secrets with a friendly chef and guide. Enjoy a delightful walk around the city center and through the narrow cobblestone streets of the old food market, then a stroll around Piazza Maggiore, the real soul of the city. At the Herb Market, discover many hidden places that reveal the history of the city from the past to the present. Appreciate the true spirit of Bologna, admiring the beauty of its sights and discovering the richness of the Bolognese culinary tradition. Then, enter your chef's home and learn to make different dishes. Learn all about typical tortellini and then prepare them. Make the pasta fresca dough, the filling and then taste the fruits of your labor. Toast with fine local wine together with your chef and new friends.

This experience is essential to anyone who is serious about exploring the best of Bologna. With your savvy local host you can rediscover the original charm and lively character of this extremely vibrant city. You could start the day with a short and strong espresso in one of the bars under the “portici," just how the locals like it. Walk up one of the main streets and past one of the most important theatres to end up at the Montagnola Market. Explore the narrow streets of the Jewish ghetto, where you can admire the tiny windows typical of the houses in this part of the city and come out right under the two towers, which are the icons of Bologna. Stop for a quick pizza by the slice in one of the places which normally get busy with the students from the university, which is the oldest university in the world. Take the afternoon to breathe in the culture and discover the Santo Stefano area, where contemporary and ancient art meet. There are many hidden gems which the locals love and are difficult to find on a map. If the weather allows, treat yourself to a refreshing gelato. Pop in to some of the nicest independent antique shops to see unique items and discover curiosities, then join one of the many local favorite bars for aperitivo and sip a nice glass of Prosecco while you get recommendations for restaurants and maybe note down a couple of traditional recipes. Book this meet-up with a Bolognese and you will be contacted within 24-hours with questions about your preferences and interests. You'll be paired with guides that are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free time sharing it with like-minded travelers matched to them. Replicate the experience of spending time in a city with a friend who lives there as the best travel moments come from going beneath the surface of a destination and discovering it through local lens.  Based on the things that you would like to see and do, a personalized and bespoke itinerary will be built just for you. Please note that this will be outlined but flexible. During the exploration, if you feel like changing direction, or if your local host believes that you'd enjoy a sight or different experience, they will suggest and discuss with you changes to the itinerary. You will be able to arrange a meeting point and time with your host in the most convenient place for you.  Enjoy discovering amazing spots in Bologna that you don't know about and are difficult to find in any guidebook or on the internet as they are lesser-known to the crowd but loved by locals. Let your private local host show you the Bologna you will love.

Take advange of this tour lead by an expert guide to visit one of the most beautiful (and rich in history) cities of the whole Italy. The itinerary starts with Piazza Maggiore and its civic palaces, all of medieval origins: Palazzo di Re Enzo, Palazzo of the Notaries, Palazzo dei Banchi. In the square is also the Fountain of Neptune, with the precious late Renaissance sculptures by Giambologna; you'll then visit the gothic Basilica of San Petronio (on the façade, sculptures by the Sienese artist Jacopo della Quercia): inside, the precious late gothic paintings of the Cappella Bolognini and the sun-dial designed by the astronomer Cassini (XVII century).  Walking along the Pavaglione Portico and its elegant shops, you'll reach the 16th century Archiginnasio Palace, the old University building, decorated with about 6.000 coats of arms of students. Inside is the 17th century Anatomical Theater, where dissections were held, enriched of statues of doctors and sculptures of anatomy. Through the picturesque alleys of the Mercato di Mezzo, the old market, and its fabulous food shops you'll get to the lovely Square of Santo Stefano, with the complex of Santo Stefano also called the “Jerusalem of Bologna” or “The Seven Churches”, a group of small Romanesque churches.

In Italian tradition, Bologna is called “the wise” (for containing the second oldest university in Europe), “the red” (for the red roofs of its houses), and “the rich” (for its food offerings and flavor). Italian gastronomy points at the Emilia-Romagna region as a reference, due to its historical ties with food, and Bologna is in fact quite a hot spot for Italian culinary excellence. This Bologna traditional food tour is a unique opportunity to visit the city center from an unusual perspective. You will be able to learn all of the secrets of Italian traditional food culture, specifically items from the Bologna region. Your foodie guide will navigate you through the history behind dishes and preparation, and will even disclose to you some of their favorite recipes. Within your food tour, you will have the opportunity to try dishes such as cured meats with cheese and hand-baked bread, various styles of bolognese, "brazadela" (an Italian desert), and an espresso with whipped cream. This tour is sure to leave you with a profound knowledge for Italian cuisine, and will definitely have you hungry for more!

Take part in a walking tour from Neptune Square to Bagni di Mario in the company of a professional guide. Learn some of Bologna's interesting past, and visit a fascinating piece of Renaissance history.  In the upper level see a spectacular octagonal hall. View the 8 small tanks that were built to collect the water coming from 4 pipes leading to the Valverde. Discover how by a decantation process, the water came out purified. See a very high chimney of considerable beauty, fully covered by secular calcareous scalings.