11 Best Things to Do in Bologna

Right off the south side of Piazza Maggiore, you can visit one of Bologna’s grand historical landmarks, Basilica di San Petronio. The marble façade of this 17th-century church is visibly half finished from its midsection up (it has remained so since olden times). Its sheer interiors comprise colourful and frescoed walls with high ceilings and stained-glass windows. Several naves are supported by large pillars, with its main altar under an elaborate ciborium. Don’t miss Cassini’s 67-metre-long meridian line, traced into the marble floor. The basilica is free to access but remember to dress appropriately. 

Enjoy your first glimpse of Bologna at the city’s main square, Piazza Maggiore. The piazza is buzzing with pedestrians and surrounded by grand Renaissance buildings like the majestic San Petronio Basilica and Palazzo dei Banchi. In the summer, its rectangular platform known as the Crescentone is usually laid out with seats before a huge screen, transforming it into a grand open-air cinema. Get to the square along Via Rizzoli, with a stop at the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune. 

Bologna’s skyline features a collection of high-rising historical towers – the tallest being the Asinelli. Together with the nearby Garisenda Tower, they’re referred to by locals as the city’s Le Due Torri (Two Towers). They’re around a 5-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore, from where you can pre-book your visit from the tourist office for around €5. You need to go up the 500 steps of Asinelli’s spiralling staircase to reach the top. The effort’s worth the prize view but make sure you’re in good shape for the climb. 

The Quadrilatero is a small area in downtown Bologna where walking streets connect some of the city’s best shopping spots. These include the glossy and upscale shopping mall, Galleria Cavour, which houses boutiques of luxury brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Bologna’s revived and modernized historical market, Mezzo di Mercato (Middle Market), is as popular for dining as it is for shopping. You can browse through 3 levels of different stalls selling meats and fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, or settle for an Aperol spritz at DeGusto or express pizza at RossoPomodoro (from €6).

San Domenico Basilica is one of Bologna’s great churches, around a 5-minute walk south from Piazza Maggiore. You’ll pass the eastern side of San Petronio’s basilica via Piazza Cavour, before hitting the piazza that’s uniquely pebble-paved as it was in medieval times. The 13th-century church boasts Romanesque features with a great rose window – it looks amazing from the inside. You’ll find several chapels as well as shrines among the rows of sculptures, 3 of which were the works of a young Michelangelo. Access is free. 

If you’re into discovering the authentic and local food market scene of Bologna, Mercato delle Erbe (Herb Market) has much to offer. You can shop for fresh produce, with a bit of dining and sightseeing thrown in. Although considered the city’s oldest street market, Mercato delle Erbe was revamped into its current courtyard-like marketspace form, with fruits and vegetables in its centre and with small shops around selling anything from Mortadella to dried pastas. Further out, you can choose from several small restaurants for coffee or a bite, such as pizza, risotto, porchetto, or just a tiramisu. 

There are over a dozen historical libraries in Bologna. They’re either part of universities, housed in a historical palace, or serve as conservatories. You can visit the grand Archiginnasio of Bologna next to San Petronio that features 16th-century frescoes, and the fantastic cultural space that is the central Salaborsa library, that’s inside the Palazzo d’Accursio at Piazza Maggiore. The International Museum and Library of Music on Strada Maggiore (around a 10-minute walk from the piazza) has over 80 historical music instruments and documents by some of the world’s great composers on display. Some libraries like the Salaborsa are free to access, while others require an admission from around €3.

You'll face a hard time looking for spaghetti Bolognese at a traditional Osteria here because the world-famous pasta dish is known as “ragù alla Bolognese” and usually poured over tagliatelle, tortellini and gnocchi – and hardly ever on spaghetti. For authentic ragù-based Bolognese dishes, try the Broccaindosso Osteria near the eastern border of the city, which serves great tagliatelle and passatelli (bread crumb pasta) from around €15. To the relief of most visitors though, a lot of the touristy restaurants downtown do serve spaghetti Bolognese.

Bologna hosts some of the region’s best varieties in the Emilia Romagna region’s heritage collection of cured meats. One is mortadella (which is interestingly known to the world simply as Bologna). Among the best places in town to try this, together with a wide range of other cured meats and sausages, is Salumeria Simoni. This well-known deli and charcuterie also stocks some of the best parmesan in town (around €21 per kg). It’s right next to Mercato di Mezzo, or a short stroll east from Piazza Maggiore.

Osteria del Sole is a pub right behind Palazzo dei Bianchi on Piazza Maggiore. It’s considered one of Bologna’s oldest, having been open since 1465. It’s usually packed, and is a great spot to head to if you wish to mingle with a friendly, local crowd. Their wine list isn’t the longest around, but you can find a good and affordable selection of Chianti, such as Fattoria del Cerro from the Montepulciano hillsides of Tuscany, for around €2.50 a glass. The best part is, you can bring your own cold cuts that you bought from local charcuteries, such as at Mercato di Mezzo next door. 

Visit one of Italy’s major historical theatres, around a 10-minute walk northeast from Piazza Maggiore along Via Rizzoli. From the outside, it looks just like any palazzo in the city, with a grand colonnade spanning the length of its façade. However, step inside, and you’ll be immersed in the grandeur of its interior – the convex auditorium has rows of boxes across four levels above its main ground seating area. Look up and marvel at its beautifully decorated and chandeliered ceiling. Symphony and opera tickets are from €52. After shows, sitting at a terrace outside on Piazza Giuseppe Verdi offers a good vantage point for people watching in the evenings.