Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Bologna

Bologna's old centre has nearly 40 km of covered porticoes, two leaning medieval towers and a food culture that gave the world ragù and mortadella.

Bologna: Bologna Food Tour and Enogastronomia Experience with Local Chef
Featured walk: Bologna Food Tour and Enogastronomia Experience with Local Chef · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Bologna is home to the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088. Its porticoes, which shelter its streets from sun and rain, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The centre is flat and compact, and its red-brick buildings earned it the nickname 'la rossa'.

What makes Bologna distinctive

  • Nearly 40 km of porticoes
  • The Two Towers
  • Food markets and trattorias
  • The oldest university in Europe

Walking tours in Bologna

Hand-picked guided walks in Bologna, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

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Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 28 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Food tours in Bologna

Compare with other cities: Food tours · History walks

More walking tours on GetYourGuide

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Centro Storico

    The medieval centre.

  • University quarter

    Student bars around Via Zamboni.

  • Santo Stefano

    A quiet area around the Seven Churches.

Free self-guided walk

Porticoes and the Two Towers

A free self-guided walk in Bologna, from Piazza Maggiore through the market lanes to the Two Towers and Santo Stefano.

1.2 km · 5 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Porticoes

    Via dell'Indipendenza and Strada Maggiore.

  2. Quadrilatero

    The market streets by Piazza Maggiore.

  3. San Luca

    The portico walk up to the sanctuary.

Practical walking notes

  • Terrain

    Flat in the centre; the San Luca walk climbs steeply.

  • Shade

    The porticoes keep you dry and shaded.

  • Distances

    The station to Piazza Maggiore is about 20 minutes on foot.

When to visit

  • Spring and autumn

    Mild and best for walking.

  • Summer

    Hot; some restaurants close in August.

  • Winter

    Cold and foggy.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By rail

    High-speed trains reach Florence in under 40 minutes and Milan in about an hour.

Local transport

  • On foot

    The centre is best walked.

  • Buses

    Cover the wider city.

Questions travellers ask about Bologna

How many days do I need?

Two days.

What should I eat?

Tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo and mortadella.

Can I climb the towers?

The Asinelli Tower can be climbed with a booked ticket.

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Country overview

Italy

Old towns built long before the car, and still best seen on foot

Explore destinations

Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.