Italy
Bologna has a compact historic centre of red-roofed streets, porticoes and medieval towers, built around Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio. Most of the main sights lie within a short walk of the square, while the sanctuary of San Luca stands on a hill outside the centre. Plan around opening hours and book the Asinelli Tower in advance.
Data checked on November 3, 2026
Each plan is built from the stop base, with visit time, the walk between stops and a lunch break. Open one and set your pace and arrival day.
7 stops, about 24 min of walking in total.
10 stops, about 31 min of walking in total.
13 stops, about 38 min of walking in total.
April, May, September and October are the best months, with afternoon highs of about 19 to 26 degrees. July and August are the hottest, with highs above 31 degrees, and winter is cold, with January highs near 7 degrees and nights around freezing. November has the most rain days of the year, about eight.
Climate averages: Bologna Borgo Panigale.
8 to 19 °C · about 7 rainy days a month
Highs rise from about 15 degrees in March to 24 in May, with six to eight rain days a month. It is a good time to walk the centre and the porticoes.
What to wear: Bring layers and a light rain jacket, since April and May can be showery.
18 to 30 °C · about 4 rainy days a month
Afternoons reach 28 to 31 degrees from June to August, with only three to six rain days a month, and nights stay around 17 to 19 degrees. Keep climbs and outdoor walks for the morning.
What to wear: Wear light clothes, a hat and comfortable shoes, and carry water.
10 to 19 °C · about 7 rainy days a month
September is still warm at about 26 degrees, October settles near 19 and November near 13. Rain days rise from six in September to eight in November.
What to wear: Bring a light jacket for the evenings and something waterproof from October.
0 to 8 °C · about 6 rainy days a month
Highs are about 7 to 10 degrees from December to February and nights are close to freezing. Rain days run at five to seven a month.
What to wear: Wear a warm coat, a scarf and waterproof shoes.
Many streets in the centre run under porticoes, so you can walk between some sights under cover. San Petronio, the Archiginnasio, the churches and the museums are indoors, which makes a wet day easy to fill. Save the Giardini Margherita and the climb of the Asinelli Tower for a dry day.
Stops under a roof
Summer afternoons are hot, with highs above 31 degrees in July and August. The porticoes give shade along many streets, but Piazza Maggiore has none, so keep outdoor sights for the morning and the hours after sunset. Churches and museums work as cool breaks in the middle of the day, and water is worth carrying.
Better outdoors
Per person, without the hotel. Tickets are the prices of the stops in each plan, read on the official sites. Food and transport come from the city figures.
| Plan | Tickets | Transport | Food | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €5 | €9 | €42 to €64 | €56 to €78 |
| 2 days | €5 | €18 | €84 to €128 | €107 to €151 |
| 3 days | €5 | €27 | €126 to €192 | €158 to €224 |
Stops with a ticket whose price we could not confirm are left out of the sum.
Egg pasta ribbons with the slow-cooked meat sauce the city is known for, a standard order at lunch.
Small filled pasta served in broth, a traditional dish for cold days and festive meals.
Layers of fresh pasta, ragù and béchamel baked until the top is golden.
The pink sliced cold cut of the city, eaten in bread or on a mixed board.
Small round breads split open and filled with cold cuts and soft cheese.
A layered dessert of sponge, custard and liqueur, found in many local restaurants.
Follow one of the long covered arcades through the centre and notice how the street changes from block to block.
Spend a morning among the food shops and stalls, trying a few things instead of sitting down to one meal.
Buy bread, cheese and cold cuts in the centre and take them to the city's largest park.
After the sights close, the square fills with people, which suits a slow walk and an aperitivo.
A town known for its mosaics, offered as a day trip from Bologna.
Bologna's airport is called Guglielmo Marconi and the main railway station is Bologna Centrale. Before you travel, check the operators' websites for train, bus and taxi options to the centre.
The centre is best on foot. A single bus ticket costs 2.30 euros and is valid for 75 minutes, while the 24-hour ticket costs 9 euros, so the day ticket pays for itself from the fourth ride. The sanctuary of San Luca and the Giardini Margherita are the stops where the bus or a taxi helps.
Every stop has its own page with opening days, ticket price, how to get there and where it fits in the itineraries.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The main square of Bologna, with the Basilica of San Petronio and the Palazzo d'Accursio on its sides. It is the usual starting point of a walk through the centre.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The bronze statue of Neptune and its fountain, on the small square next to Piazza Maggiore. It is a short stop on any walk through the centre.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The largest church in Bologna, on Piazza Maggiore, with an unfinished facade and a free nave. A paid tour covers three chapels, and a free museum is part of the site.
Quadrilatero and the Two Towers
The taller of the two medieval leaning towers that mark the city, with a climb of 498 steps to the top. A reservation is compulsory.
Book aheadSanto Stefano and San Domenico
A group of linked churches around Piazza Santo Stefano, known as the Seven Churches. The visit is quiet and centred on the interiors.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The palace that housed the University of Bologna and is now the city library, with an Anatomical Theatre designed in 1637. The visit is short and indoors.
Quadrilatero and the Two Towers
The oldest part of the city, a few lanes next to Piazza Maggiore with food shops, stalls and taverns. It is the place to see local food.
Hills outside the centre
The hilltop sanctuary reached by the longest portico in the world, with more than 600 arches. The walk up is part of the visit.
University quarter
The national picture gallery of Bologna, on Via delle Belle Arti, with paintings from the city and the region. It is a good stop for a wet afternoon.
Santo Stefano and San Domenico
A basilica on the square of the same name, south of the centre, and one of the main churches of Bologna. The visit is indoors and short.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The town hall of Bologna, on Piazza Maggiore, with a clock tower that visitors can climb on a ticket. It fits well after a walk across the square.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The city museum of medieval and Renaissance objects, in a palace on Via Manzoni, a short walk from Piazza Maggiore. The visit is indoors.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
The city archaeological museum on Via dell'Archiginnasio, with collections from Egyptian to Roman times. The visit is indoors.
Piazza Maggiore and the old centre
A historic palace beside the Palazzo del Podestà, on the Piazza del Nettuno side of Piazza Maggiore. It is seen as part of the walk around the squares.
Santo Stefano and San Domenico
The largest and most visited park in Bologna, 26 hectares south-east of the centre. It is a place for a long walk or a picnic.
Wi-Fi in hotels, cafés and airports is shared with other guests. A VPN encrypts the connection between your phone or laptop and the VPN's server, which helps when you check email or your bank on the road.
See NordVPNOne day covers Piazza Maggiore, San Petronio, the Neptune fountain, the Quadrilatero and the Two Towers if you start in the morning. A second day lets you add Santo Stefano, San Domenico, a museum or two and the sanctuary of San Luca without rushing.
The Asinelli Tower requires a reservation, so sort it out before you go. San Petronio is free to enter and does not need a ticket, and most other stops can be visited without booking ahead.
Yes, the centre can be crossed on foot and most of the main stops are close to one another. The sanctuary of San Luca and the Giardini Margherita are further out. A single bus ticket costs 2.30 euros and a day ticket 9 euros.
April, May, September and October bring afternoon highs of about 19 to 26 degrees. July and August average above 31 degrees, and winter days stay near 7 to 10 degrees with colder nights.