7 Reasons Bologna Is Worth Visiting

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you might be wondering: is Bologna worth visiting?

I can attest that the answer is a definitive yes.

During a year of full-time travel, I spent a full month in Italy, and Bologna was one of my favorite stops! Though I didn’t know much about Bologna before I visited, I totally loved what I discovered: a city full of magnificent porticoes, incredible food, and wonderful history — leaning towers! hilltop sanctuaries! etc.! — without the woes of the crowded, touristy city centers you may find in other Italian destinations. I wouldn’t hesitate to return to Bologna or to recommend it to other travelers.

Here are just 7 of the reasons that Bologna is worth visiting.

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7 Reasons to Visit Bologna

1. It has some of the world’s best porticoes.

I recognize that “incredible porticoes” may not be an immediately enticing selling point to the uninitiated, but if you ask me, Bologna’s porticoes are its best feature — and no, I’m not damning the city with faint praise there. The porticoes are indeed awesome.

Bologna’s porticoes are wide, covered walkways lining many of the city’s streets. Many of them are arched, while others have intricately designed flat ceilings. All of them are pillared, casting dramatic shadows and creating especially picturesque settings for al fresco dining.

The porticoes are a delight to walk through — which is good, because they’re simply everywhere. In fact, Bologna has nearly 25 miles of porticoes in the city center alone.

Bologna also has the world’s longest portico — the Portico di San Luca — which leads to a hilltop basilica overlooking the city. Walking the Portico di San Luca (or the Portico of St. Luke) is one of the best things to do in Bologna, and a wonderful reason to visit the city.

2. It feels less touristy than some of Italy’s other cities.

Though Bologna isn’t some hidden gem undiscovered by foreigners, it’s not nearly as touristy as world-famous cities like Florence and Venice. More so than some of Italy’s other top destinations, it has the distinct feeling of a place where Italians actually live without being egregiously outnumbered by visitors.

I do love many of those touristy destinations — hey, people flock to Venice and Cinque Terre for good reasons! — but it’s also truly refreshing to visit a place where you might actually be surrounded by locals…at least some of the time.

3. The food is fantastic.

Bologna is one of Italy’s best-known foodie destinations, and for good reason: the food is wonderful.

There’s pasta with Bolognese sauce, of course — and where better else to eat it? — but don’t limit yourself. Bologna excels at lots of dishes, not just ones named for the city.

It’s tough to go wrong when selecting restaurants in Bologna, but if you need a good recommendation, my favorite dinner was at Taverna del Postiglione.

Even better, treat yourself to a food tour, where you can try out lots of great Bolognese dishes and get personalized restaurant recommendations from a local guide! Check out some well-reviewed food tour options here:

4. It’s a great launching point to see San Marino.

While I wouldn’t recommend visiting Bologna only to use it as a base for visiting somewhere else — there’s so much to see in Bologna itself! — it’s also an excellent place from which to take a day trip to the tiny nation of San Marino.

You’ll need to take a train from Bologna to Rimini, then a bus to San Marino. It’s well worth the effort to see the historic center of the enclave nation and its three famous towers.

Indeed, San Marino’s hilltop setting is incredible, with sweeping views of the countryside all around and the sea beyond. The town itself is touristy but beautiful, and makes for a very unique place to visit during your time in Italy.

READ MORE | How to Take a Day Trip to San Marino

5. It has two leaning towers!

And one of them leans even more than the famous leaning tower of Pisa.

The taller one, which leans slightly, is Asinelli Tower. The shorter one, which leans dramatically, is Garisenda Tower. Both of these towers date back, incredibly, to the early 12th century and still stand today.

In fact, until recently, you could actually climb Asinelli Tower! With 498 stairs, it’s no joke, but climbers were rewarded with spectacular views of the city.

HEADS UP: Unfortunately, Asinelli Tower is closed right now for renovations while they work to stabilize the tower and ensure that it continues to stand the test of time. It’s unclear how long the tower will remain closed, but authorities have suggested the work might last until 2028.

I climbed a lot of towers during my time in Italy, and Asinelli was on the more difficult side — thanks both to the sheer number of steps, and also the fact that all the stairs were wooden and fairly exposed to the open center of the tower (I don’t like heights!). But I managed to time my visit for sunset, and the views were worth every harrowing step.

Book your tickets for Asinelli Tower here once the tower reopens. I strongly recommend purchasing in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the summer or other high periods of tourism, as there are limited slots available and they do often sell out.

6. The nighttime vibes are impeccable.

A lot of solo female travelers are cautious about walking outside at night, and there’s certainly wisdom in that.

I must admit, though, that I’ve always been a bit less cautious about that kind of thing than many other women might be. I’m not interested in being foolhardy about my own safety, but in places where there’s plenty of life outside at night — like in large cities or other places with a substantial nighttime presence — I do like to be out and experiencing the city a bit like a local.

And Bologna is ideal for this. People sit outside at restaurants, lingering over a multi-course meal well into the night, or on the steps of the city’s magnificent cathedral. They walk under the porticos and bike through the streets, keeping the city buzzing after dark.

7. It’s exceptionally walkable.

If you like to walk when you’re visiting new places, have I got the city for you!

Bologna isn’t tiny, but you can still pretty much walk anywhere. In fact, during my own visit to Bologna, I exclusively got around by walking. I walked from the the train station to my lodging, I walked from my lodging to all the sights I wanted to see, and so forth. I didn’t take a single bus, cab, or what have you.

Whether this will be possible for you too depends somewhat on exactly what you want to see. But if you, like me, plan to stick to the historic city center and the other typical tourist sights (like the Portico di San Luca), you can probably get around Bologna just on your own two feet.

And here’s the thing: walking around Bologna is not just possible, but it’s also wonderful, thanks mainly to the magnificent porticoes. By keeping pedestrians protected from cars, and offering uniquely beautiful settings for sidewalks, the porticoes making walking in Bologna a real joy.

Where to Stay in Bologna

I strongly recommend staying in the historic center of Bologna, where you’ll have easy access to tourist destinations and many of the best restaurants.

I stayed at Casa Isolani Santo Stefano, which was fantastic. It’s located in a beautiful old building, which is wonderfully located, and my room was very clean and comfortable (the air conditioning was extremely welcome in the August heat!).

Final Thoughts

Is Bologna worth visiting? Yes, absolutely. In fact, I think it’s one of the most underrated cities in Italy, and I’d recommend it to just about anyone. Go see it as soon as you can!

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