Bologna tours and tickets
Bologna is a city you mostly walk for free, under the porticoes and through the old squares, so it needs far less booking than Florence or Rome. The Asinelli Tower climb has a limited slot system. Food tours and cooking classes are the best thing to reserve, and Modena and Ravenna are easy by train.
Book these first
- Asinelli Tower climb
- a few days ahead in season. Timed tickets are limited, and the climb is the best view in the city.
- Dinner at a popular osteria
- a few days ahead. The best small places fill early, especially on weekends.
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Monuments and landmarks
Asinelli Tower
The taller of the two leaning towers, with about five hundred steps to a view across the red roofs. Visits are by timed slot with a limited number of people at a time. It closes in bad weather.
Which to pick. Book the first morning slot in season, because the narrow stair works best without crowds. The climb is the experience, so there is no reason to take a tour.
A few days ahead in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorPiazza Maggiore and San Petronio
The main square, with Neptune's Fountain, the Basilica of San Petronio and the old palaces around it. San Petronio is free to enter, and a terrace tour of the roof is sometimes offered.
Which to pick. Walk it alone, then add a guided tour if you want the city's history explained. Check the basilica's rules on clothing and photography before you go.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorPortico of San Luca
A covered arcade of nearly four kilometers leading up a hill to a sanctuary with a view over the city. Walking it takes about an hour, and a small tourist train also runs.
Which to pick. Walk it on a cool morning or at sunset. No ticket is needed, and a tour only matters if you want the history of the arcade.
Not needed, entry is freeTours and tickets on Viator
Museums and galleries
Archiginnasio and the Anatomical Theatre
The old university building, with a carved wooden room where anatomy was taught. Entry is usually free or low-cost, and guided visits run at set times.
Which to pick. Go in the morning and check the opening hours on the official page. A guide is optional, though the room is short enough that a self-guided visit is fine.
A few days ahead in busy weeksVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSanto Stefano
A cluster of linked churches known as the Seven Churches, with a quiet cloister. It is free to enter, and a short guided visit adds the Roman and medieval layers.
Which to pick. Walk in on your own. A guided tour makes sense only if you enjoy church history, since the layout is hard to read without it.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Food tours and classes
Food tour in the Quadrilatero
A walk through the old market streets, with stops for cured meats, cheese, bread and pasta. Tours last about three hours and usually include a tasting of local specialities.
Which to pick. Choose a small group in the morning, when the shops are open and fresh. Check dietary needs when you book, since the tastings center on meat and cheese.
1 to 2 weeks aheadTours and tickets on ViatorPasta making class
A hands-on class in rolling and cutting fresh egg pasta by hand, followed by a meal. Classes are run by home cooks or small schools, and many are in English.
Which to pick. Book a class that ends with lunch or dinner so the work becomes a meal. They are small, so reserve before you arrive.
1 to 2 weeks aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Modena
A compact city about thirty minutes by train, with a Romanesque cathedral, a covered market and the home of traditional balsamic vinegar. Guided walks and food tours leave from the center.
Which to pick. Go by train on your own and book a food tour if the market and vinegar are the reason. The cathedral is easy to see without a guide.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorRavenna
A town about an hour and a half away, famous for its Byzantine mosaics in churches and tombs. A combined ticket covers the main monuments, and entry is by timed slot at some of them.
Which to pick. Buy the combined monuments ticket and book the busiest sites in advance in summer. Allow a full day, since the mosaics deserve slow viewing.
A few days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Booking tours and tickets in Bologna
Do I need tickets for Bologna's main sights?
Most are free. Only the Asinelli Tower, some museums and the day-trip sights need a ticket, and the tower is the one to reserve ahead in busy months.
Are food tours worth it?
For a first visit, yes. A good guide gets you into shops and tables that are hard to read on your own, and the tasting counts as lunch.
Can I climb the tower on the day?
Sometimes, but slots are limited, and bad weather closes it. Reserve a morning slot if you want certainty.
Is there a city pass?
A visitor card sold by the tourist office offers some reductions, but most sights are free, so a pass rarely saves much. Check the tourist office page for what it currently covers.
What should I wear in the churches?
Cover shoulders and knees at San Petronio and Santo Stefano. Staff may stop visitors who do not, so keep a light scarf in your bag.
What can wait until I arrive?
The porticoes, the squares, San Petronio, the Quadrilatero, Modena and Ravenna can all be handled on the day. Book the tower, a pasta class and a restaurant you care about first.