10 Best Things to Do
Bologna is a city to explore under its porticoes, stopping for churches, markets and long meals along the way. Start around Piazza Maggiore, then follow the side streets into the university quarter or towards quieter neighbourhoods beyond the central sights. Fresh pasta is a compelling reason to visit, but the restaurants also offer inventive cooking and seafood from the Adriatic tradition. Reserve popular tables, leave time for lunch and use comfortable shoes for the walk to San Luca.
Visit the Basilica of San Petronio
Bologna, Italy
San Petronio dominates Piazza Maggiore with a façade whose unfinished brickwork is as distinctive as its marble lower section. Inside, the scale opens out into three naves and a series of chapels, with Cassini’s long meridian line adding an unexpected astronomical detail. Visit slowly enough to notice the contrast between the monumental space and individual works of art. General admission is free, while selected chapels require a separate ticket; check arrangements around religious services.
Gothic architecture and astronomy
Explore the Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre
Bologna, Italy
The Archiginnasio makes Bologna’s university history tangible, from the coats of arms covering its courtyard and staircases to the carved wooden Anatomical Theatre. The Stabat Mater Hall adds another richly decorated space, although access depends on institutional use. Choose a guided or audio-guided visit to understand what these rooms were built for. Tickets for the principal visitor rooms must be booked, and the working library is reserved for study rather than general sightseeing.
The historic university
Spend time in Piazza Maggiore
Bologna, Italy
Piazza Maggiore is the best place to begin understanding Bologna’s historic centre. San Petronio, Palazzo d’Accursio and the surrounding civic buildings frame a square that still functions as an everyday meeting place. Walk its edges before settling at a café, then continue into the neighbouring streets. A guided introduction can help explain the buildings’ changing roles, but the square also rewards an unhurried return at a different time of day, when the light and atmosphere change.
An introduction to the city
Taste your way through the Quadrilatero
Bologna, Italy
The narrow streets of the Quadrilatero preserve Bologna’s long association with food trading and specialist shops. Around Via Drapperie, look beyond the busy aperitivo tables to the counters, storefronts and surviving shop interiors that give the neighbourhood its character. Visit during normal trading hours if browsing food shops is your priority. A knowledgeable local guide can add context to the ingredients and traditions, while a self-guided wander works well with time left for a leisurely lunch.
Food shops and market streets
Visit MAMbo and the Morandi Museum
Bologna, Italy
Housed in a former bakery, MAMbo brings a different period of Bologna’s cultural life into focus. Its collection follows Italian art after the Second World War, while changing exhibitions broaden the scope. The same site currently houses the Morandi Museum, whose still lifes and other works invite slower looking. Allow time for both rather than treating them as a quick stop between churches, and check the exhibition programme and opening days before planning your visit.
Modern art and Giorgio Morandi
Discover Bologna’s history at Palazzo Pepoli
Bologna, Italy
Palazzo Pepoli traces Bologna’s development from its Etruscan origins to the modern city, using objects, images and multimedia displays. It is a useful early stop for visitors who want more context for the palaces, streets and university traditions encountered outside. The historic building also offers a covered courtyard with a café and shop. Use the included audio guide to follow the story at your own pace, and check the current opening calendar when arranging other museum visits.
A clear introduction to local history
Explore the Pinacoteca Nazionale
Bologna, Italy
The Pinacoteca Nazionale places Bologna’s painters alongside a wider Italian story, with works associated with Raphael, the Carracci, Guido Reni and other major artists. Its former Jesuit setting in the university district makes it an easy addition to a walk through this part of the city. Choose a few periods or artists to concentrate on rather than rushing every room. Check current displays and temporary exhibitions, and leave time to look closely at the works that interest you.
Renaissance and Baroque painting
Wander through Santo Stefano
Bologna, Italy
Santo Stefano is a sequence of churches, courtyards and cloisters rather than one straightforward basilica visit. Known as the Seven Churches, the complex brings together buildings from different periods, with changing proportions and surfaces as you move through it. The square outside is worth time of its own before or after entering. Check the visiting schedule carefully: religious services can restrict access, and the full monumental complex is normally closed on Mondays.
Layered sacred architecture
Walk the portico to San Luca
Saragozza and Colle della Guardia, Bologna, Italy
The covered route from Porta Saragozza to the Sanctuary of San Luca gives Bologna’s famous porticoes a different scale. The walk climbs towards Colle della Guardia, with the eighteenth-century sanctuary and views over the surrounding landscape as its destination. Wear comfortable shoes and allow enough time for the ascent rather than treating it as a short city stroll. Visitors who prefer transport can use the San Luca Express; check sanctuary and panoramic-terrace access separately.
A long walk into the hills
Climb the Clock Tower
Bologna, Italy
The Clock Tower of Palazzo d’Accursio offers two terraces overlooking Bologna, reached through the historic civic building. It is a good way to connect the streets you have walked with the city’s roofline and surrounding hills. Book a timed entry and check the access requirements, as the route involves stairs and has no lift. The ticket also includes the Municipal Art Collections, whose opening hours differ from those of the tower.
Views over Piazza Maggiore