Tagliatelle al ragù
Egg pasta ribbons with the slow-cooked meat sauce the city is known for, a standard order at lunch.
Bologna
What to eat in Bologna
- Tagliatelle al ragù
- Tortellini in brodo
- Lasagne
- Mortadella
Data checked on November 3, 2026
Tortellini in brodo
Small filled pasta served in broth, a traditional dish for cold days and festive meals.
Lasagne
Layers of fresh pasta, ragù and béchamel baked until the top is golden.
Mortadella
The pink sliced cold cut of the city, eaten in bread or on a mixed board.
Tigelle and crescentine
Small round breads split open and filled with cold cuts and soft cheese.
Zuppa inglese
A layered dessert of sponge, custard and liqueur, found in many local restaurants.
Every itinerary on this site keeps a lunch break after 12:30, so there is room for a proper meal in the middle of the day.
What a meal costs
- Meal in an inexpensive restaurant
- €20
- Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant
- €80
- Coffee
- €2.01
Besides the sights
- Walk under the porticoesFollow one of the long covered arcades through the centre and notice how the street changes from block to block.
- Eat your way through the QuadrilateroSpend a morning among the food shops and stalls, trying a few things instead of sitting down to one meal.
- Picnic in the Giardini MargheritaBuy bread, cheese and cold cuts in the centre and take them to the city's largest park.
- Evening on Piazza MaggioreAfter the sights close, the square fills with people, which suits a slow walk and an aperitivo.
- Day trip to RavennaA town known for its mosaics, offered as a day trip from Bologna.
Markets in the stop base