An easy to follow one day in Bologna itinerary

Creating the perfect itinerary can be challenging when you only have one day in Bologna. The one that will help you with a blend of art and history, breathtaking views, and a pinch of the local cuisine. 

That’s why I’ve created this simple and easy-to-follow itinerary, keeping it to the point. By following it, you will tick everything like its name: the fat (food), the red (stunning red buildings and arches), and the learned (the oldest university). 

Thus, let’s dive into it and see what Bologna has in store when you only have one day to spare. If you have more time, check out my 2-day Bologna itinerary as well. 

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An easy-to-follow one day in Bologna itinerary

Piazza Maggiore

Start your day early from Piazza Maggiore, the heart of the town, the perfect starting point for exploring. 

See the San Petronio Basilica (opening at 9 AM), the half-white, half-black building dominating the main square. This is Bologna’s most important church, and you should admire both its exterior and its interior.

It is the sixth-largest church in Europe. Construction started in 1390 and is still unfinished (evidenced by its exterior). You shouldn’t miss taking the elevator to the top to its beautiful panoramic terrace. 

Another option to learn more about the Basilica is to book a Basilica and Panoramic Terrace tour. 

Apart from the Basilica, in Piazza Maggiore, you can admire Palazzo dei Notai (built-in 1381 by the city’s notaries guild), Palazzo d’Accursio (Bologna’s Town Hall), Palazzo del Podestà, and Palazzo dei Banchi (today occupied by a combination of businesses and apartments).

Walk a bit further and admire the Fountain of Neptune in Piazza del Nettuno. 

For information regarding attractions near Bologna, please read our 27 charming day trips from Bologna post.

Head to the top of the hill to the Basilica of San Luca

Take the San Luca Express and ride to the top of the mountain to the Basilica of San Luca.

Lines are usually long, and we had to wait around one hour to get two seats. That’s why I suggest coming early, and you should check the timetable here before you go.

Another option is to book a tour—you won’t have to worry about the tickets, and you can plan it into your schedule perfectly (you know it will take 2 hours). On top of that, you will get to learn about the Sanctuary of San Luca and the Basilica and also see Bologna and its stunning architecture along the way. Check it out here!

Return to town on foot and continue your itinerary.

Santuario San Luca, Park Villa Spada, and the Porta Saragozza

As we descended through the Sanctuary of San Luca, we stopped occasionally to admire the many charming arches and the stunning nature surrounding Bologna. 

The portico is 4 kilometers long and boasts almost 600 arches. It connects the town from Porta Saragozza to the Basilica. However, since most of the path goes downhill, you won’t have to worry about getting tired. 

We stopped along the way at the Park Villa Spada, a great combination of stunning architecture (the beautiful villa) and wonderful nature (the Italian-style small garden with terraces decorated with sculptures and the hectares of natural park spreading towards the river). 

Your last stop will be the Porta Saragozza, which dates from the 14th—14th century and is part of the old medieval walls of Bologna.

Bologna and its food and wine

Once you enter the old town through the gate, you can head directly for a delicious meal or a food and wine tour. 

Needless to say, for a town known for its food, Bologna will have plenty of food tours in-store and also tons of great osterias and trattorias. 

Great food and/or wine tours to choose from:

• 2-hour Gourmet tour – perfect for foodies looking for all those traditional delicacies of Bologna: mortadella, tortellini, and various cold cuts, all served with wine. How else?
• Eat and drink like a local tour – need a local and explore the food capital of Italy, also known as La Grassa (the fat one), for good reason. 
• Wine tasting tour in one of the oldest inns – learn about the wine-making culture in the region and taste some of the best wines of Bologna. 

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Why should you book a tour online?

You’ll be able to plan your trip up to the minute, won’t have to wander around town looking for the best activity to choose, and offers the flexibility of canceling or rescheduling the tour later if something happens and you cannot make it. 

However, if you simply want to go for lunch in Bologna, try the Osteria dell’Orsa in the University quarter. Just be ready to wait in line for a table. 

Other excellent options to look into:

Trattoria Anna Maria – tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini burro e salvia, and everything your heart desires from the Bolognese traditional cuisine. 

Osteria Broccaindosso – a rustic place where you’ll want to taste the antipasti and sample some of their pasta but won’t want to leave without a spoon of dessert. 

Read also: 30+ Italian gifts for Italy lovers

Sunset over the city – Asinelli Tower

Finish the day above the city with a beautiful sunset view from the tallest point in town: the Asinelli Towers. 

Get ready to climb the hundreds of wooden stairs—the view from above will be worth it. 

The ticket price is circa 5 EUR; you must go to Piazza Maggiore to get one. However, if you choose to buy the Bologna Welcome Card for the day, you will be free to enter. 

Another thing worth knowing is that the last entrance is at 6 PM, and there are a couple of time slots per hour if you want to go earlier (at 00 and 15). 

Another option worth considering if you want to visit the tower earlier and mix it up with a food tour is booking this tour right here. The price includes entrance to the Asinelli Tower and a food-tasting experience. 

Alternative attractions and activities if you want to stay in town

Museo Civico Archeologico – hosted in the 15th century Palazzo Galvani, this is perfect for history lovers, hosting one of Italy’s most important archaeological collections.  The museum is closed on Tuesdays, and a ticket costs  EUR. 

Archiginnasio of Bologna (Biblioteca Comunale dell’Archiginnasio) – an impressive building with plenty of murals to observe along its arches. While the library is open to the public based on an admissions card, you can visit the Palace for a tax of only 3 EUR. 

Palazzo Albergati is currently hosting different art exhibitions. 

Go to the local market—I love strolling through the local markets wherever I go, even more so in Italy. I see how the locals spend their weekends, taste delicious local produce, and interact with people. That’s the best way to get a pulse of a place. 

Piazza Santo Stefano flea market is another great way to spend some hours roaming through history and interacting with locals. You’ll find some great souvenirs or something that will forever remind you of this day spent in Bologna. 

When to visit Bologna

We visited in late February, and with the proper clothing, that would be an excellent time to visit Bologna. However, if you want more sun and see the trees in bloom (some of them were already), I suggest planning your escape for early March. 

Alternatively, I also think that seeing Bologna during the fall months would be as charming. Nature’s colors will blend perfectly with the red city from late September to early November. 

What else you should know

Getting to Bologna

Whether you choose to make Bologna your destination for a day or more, you will most likely arrive by plane or train. 

If Bologna is the first stop of your Italy itinerary, you’ll be landing at the Bologna Airport. From here, you can get to the city by:

• Shuttle bus (purchase the tickets online here) – that will leave you either at the train station or in the city center.
• Marconi Express Monorail Train – will take you to the central station in only 7 minutes.
• Public bus—Take bus no. 54 from the airport and change to bus no. 81 or 91 at the “Birra” stop. Buy the ticket from the supermarket at the airport (Carrefour Express) or directly on the bus. We chose this option without knowing there would be a public transportation strike, so we had to wait over one hour for the connection. Thus, especially if you arrive in the evening, choose another transfer option to be safe.
• Take a taxi from the airport.
• Book a private transfer.

If, on the other hand, you choose to see Bologna as a day trip from another destination, here are your options for getting to town:

• By train – try to book in advance if you want to get the best train ticket price, especially when you are traveling from far away. Use omio.com or book a Eurail pass if you plan to travel around Italy by train. Both options will save you money and be useful. Another option is to check Italia rail – an aggregator that will show you all the trains available at the best price. 
•  By bus – check Flixbus or omio.com for the best options. 

The Local Cuisine

I think I’ve mentioned it already, but Bologna is Italy’s food capital. And if you love Italian food as much as I do, expect the best from this small town in Northern Italy. 

Don’t leave without trying: mortadella, tortellini in brodo (in soup), prosciutto, Parmigiano Regiano, balsamic vinegar di Modena, pasta with bolognese sauce, lasagne. And this list could go on and on. 

Just make sure to plan your itinerary around the times’ restaurants are open. They are usually close after 3 PM and open only for dinner at around 7 PM. In between, you will be left with the supermarkets (those that don’t close as well) and some street food (panini and other delicious stuff). 

One thing is sure when it comes to Bologna – when you only have one day make sure you’ll start your day early and make the best out of it!

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