The air hums with the rich scent of ragù and Parmigiano, grounding its scholarly history in humble, hearty comfort. Today, it remains Italy’s culinary capital, where every cobblestone invites you to linger over slow meals, celebrating life’s simple pleasures amidst centuries-old architecture that whispers stories of students and scholars long gone.
Do Bologna the way locals do: start slow at Giardini Margherita, eat where the regulars do at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, let the evening run long at Celtic Druid Irish Pub.
Top things to do in Bologna
Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
Piazza Maggiore
City's main square lined with Medieval & Renaissance buildings, lines with cafes & street musicians.
Check tours & tickets2
Piazza Santo Stefano
Open public area with historic palaces & cultural events leading to the Seven Churches complex.
Check tours & tickets3
Giardini Margherita
Popular public park with lots of trees, a lake & lawns, plus a jogging path & play areas for kids.
Check tours & tickets4
Neptune's Fountain
Spurting mermaids surrounding a vast 16th-century fountain topped with the bronze figure of Neptune.
Check tours & tickets5
Mercato delle Erbe
Lively indoor market with stalls supplying local produce, meats & cheeses, plus dining options.
Check tours & tickets6
Mercato di Mezzo
Lively covered food market with pasta, meat & cheese, pizza & drinks, plus table seating.
Check tours & tickets7
Metropolitan Cathedral of St Peter
Catholic church restored in the 17th & 18th centuries, with a tall bell tower & frescoes.
Check tours & tickets8
Museo Ducati
Sleek museum housing prestige motorcycles, equipment & racing memorabilia, with guided tours.
Check tours & tickets9
Basilica of San Domenico
Prominent historic basilica with a Romanesque facade, many paintings & Saint Dominic's remains.
Check tours & tickets10
Basilica di San Petronio
Vast Gothic basilica with an unfinished brick & marble facade, housing 22 art-filled side chapels.
Check tours & ticketsWhere to eat
Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Casual, light-filled, family-run eatery specializing in traditional Neapolitan pizza & calzones.
Website12
Mò Mortadella Lab
Tiny, popular deli for mortadella-based sandwiches with gourmet cheese & veggie add-ons.
Website13
Sfoglia Rina
Website14
Osteria dell'Orsa
Ragu tagliatelle, tortellini soup & schnitzel in a relaxed space with communal tables & local wine.
Website15
Bologna Food Gallery
Website16
La Prosciutteria
Website17
Mercato di Mezzo
Lively covered food market with pasta, meat & cheese, pizza & drinks, plus table seating.
Website18
Osteria Da Fortunata - Bologna
WebsiteHungry for more? Book a food tour or tasting in Bologna
Advertisement
Tours worth booking ahead
These sell out, so lock them in early.
19
Tours and the City | Food Tours & Cooking Class in Bologna
Check tours & tickets20
Taste Bologna - Bologna Food Tour
Check tours & tickets21
Delicious Bologna - Bologna Food Tour
Check tours & tickets22
Italian Days Food Experience
Check tours & tickets23
Bologna Tour
Check tours & tickets24
ExDynamo
Check tours & ticketsGet outside
25
Giardini Margherita
Popular public park with lots of trees, a lake & lawns, plus a jogging path & play areas for kids.
Website26
Parco di Via dei Giardini
9-hectare park offering a lake, gazebo & benches, plus picnic tables, gym equipment & biking/hiking.
Website27
Corno alle Scale Regional Park
Mountain, grassland & forest regional park & hiking & skiing area spanning nearly 12,300-acres.
Website28
Parco della Chiusa (Parco Talon)
Website29
Parco della Chiusa
Vast green space with villa ruins, trails for hiking & biking & scenic overlooks.
WebsiteAfter dark
30
Celtic Druid Irish Pub
Irish-style tavern offering pints & casual eats such as burgers in a warm, convivial atmosphere.
Website31
Cluricaune Irish Pub
Burgers, fish ’n’ chips & a big beer list at a busy pub with a vaulted ceiling, TV sports & music.
Website32
Bar Senza Nome
Known for its hearing-impaired bartenders, this unique bar serves up cocktails, wine & draft beer.
Website33
Birreria Popolare
WebsiteEverything above is live data. Real ratings, opening hours, and photos, not AI guesswork. The planner turns it into your day, hour by hour.
The whole guide on one map
Every numbered pick above, pinned. Tap to pan, zoom, and plot your day.
SightsFoodToursOutdoorsAfter dark
Tips from travelers
No tips yet. Been to Bologna? Yours goes first.
Roam planner Turn this into your personalized Bologna itinerary Build my Bologna dayMore guides
Some links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.