Piazza Maggiore, Piazza Re Enzo and Piazza del Nettuno together form one of Europe’s most important medieval public spaces, and that’s where a first day in Bologna starts. From there it’s a short step to the museums of Palazzo d’Accursio, the long portico of the Pavaglione and the seven churches of Santo Stefano. The Mercato delle Erbe and the Quadrilatero are the places to eat.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Piazza Maggiore, Palazzo d’Accursio, Santo Stefano
- Guided tour of Palazzo d’Accursio: every Saturday, in English at 10:00 a.m., 2 hours
- Free entry to permanent collections: every first Sunday of the month
- Longest uninterrupted portico: the Pavaglione
What are the best things to do in Bologna?
Piazza Maggiore, Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Re Enzo
Piazza Maggiore holds San Petronio, Palazzo d’Accursio, Palazzo dei Notai, Palazzo dei Banchi, Palazzo del Podestà and the Torre dell’Arengo. Next to it, Piazza del Nettuno has the Fontana del Nettuno, made by Giambologna in 1565, and Palazzo Re Enzo.
Walk the three squares in one go, then pick one palace to go inside. The Palazzo d’Accursio tour on Saturdays starts from Piazza Maggiore, so a Saturday morning fits the whole area into a single outing.
Palazzo d’Accursio
Palazzo d’Accursio houses the Museo Morandi, the Collezioni Comunali d’arte and the Municipio. The guided tour takes in the Cortile d’Onore, the Scalone dei Cavalli, the Sala d’Ercole, the Salone degli Anziani, the Sala Rossa, the Sala del Consiglio, the Sala Farnese and Cappella Farnese, and the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte.
The tour runs every Saturday, in English at 10:00 a.m. and in Italian at 11:00 a.m., and lasts 2 hours. Entry to permanent collections is free on the first Sunday of each month.
The Pavaglione and the portici
The Pavaglione is the longest uninterrupted portico in Bologna.
For a longer stroll, the classic itinerary is about 11,900 feet (3,620 meters) long and starts at Piazza Malpighi, at the Tombe dei Glossatori.
Santo Stefano
Santo Stefano is the complex of the ‘Sette Chiese’ of the ‘Nuova Gerusalemme’. It’s a group of seven churches in one place, which makes it a good stop when you want to see a lot of interiors in a single visit.
No hours or prices are given for the complex, so check them locally before you go.
The Quadrilatero and the Mercato delle Erbe
The Quadrilatero is the medieval market area between via Orefici, Drapperie and Clavature. The Mercato delle Erbe, a fresh food market in the heart of Bologna, hosts restaurants, stalls and venues after renovations completed in 2014.
The Mercato delle Erbe is at Via Ugo Bassi 25. Go around meal time, since you can eat there as well as browse.
Museo della Specola
The Museo della Specola is housed in the astronomical Tower built between 1712 and 1726. It has a panoramic terrace with a view of Bologna.
Pick a clear day for the terrace. Other museums are worth a look too: the Museo Civico Archeologico has Egyptian, Etruscan, Gaulish and Roman collections, the Pinacoteca Nazionale is in the 17th-century former Jesuit novitiate of St. Ignatius, and Palazzo Pepoli is near the Two Towers at via Castiglione 10.
Parco di San Michele in Bosco
The park sits on the first hills of Bologna, between Porta San Mamolo and Porta Castiglione, and covers about 7 hectares. It’s the third large historic park of the city after Montagnola and Giardini Margherita.
The monumental complex of San Michele in Bosco can be visited by reservation, so book before you climb the hill.
When is the best time to visit Bologna for sightseeing?
Winter is cold for sightseeing, with January highs of 45°F (7°C) and lows of 31°F (-1°C), but it brings the Christmas markets: Antico Mercato di Santa Lucia runs from November 6 to December 27, and Natale a Porta Galliera from November 19 to January 6, 2027. Spring warms up fast, with May highs of 75°F (24°C), although April has about eight rainy days, so carry an umbrella. Summer is the hot season, with July highs of 88°F (31°C) and about three rainy days, so plan indoor museums for the afternoon.
Day trips from Bologna
Around Bologna, the region has several towns with a clear reason to visit. Faenza is famous worldwide for its ceramic tradition and hosts the MIC, the International Museum of Ceramics. Vignola is famous for the Torta Barozzi, whose recipe is a secret. Forlimpopoli is the birthplace of Pellegrino Artusi, and its historic centre is dominated by the 14th-century Rocca Albornoziana.
- Faenza: ceramics and the MIC museum
- Vignola: Torta Barozzi
- Forlimpopoli: Rocca Albornoziana, birthplace of Pellegrino Artusi
- Bertinoro: the ‘Balcony of Romagna’, with the Colonna dell’Ospitalità
- Santarcangelo di Romagna: the Malatesta Fortress on Monte Giove
- Bazzano: the Rocca dei Bentivoglio, with the Civic Archaeological Museum ‘A. Crespellani’
- Riola di Vergato: the Church of Santa Maria Assunta by Alvar Aalto
- Porretta Terme: the Soul Museum and the Porretta Soul Festival
Choose Faenza for ceramics, Vignola for a food stop, and Riola di Vergato for architecture. Check transport times locally before you set out.
What to eat in Bologna
The tasty quarter is in the historic centre of Bologna, with delis specialising in local cuisine. The Quadrilatero market is in the city centre, and Mercato di Mezzo offers small stands with culinary delights for take away or at communal tables.
Via Pescherie Vecchie has cafés for tigelle bread and cold cuts, and it’s a good spot for a sunset happy hour. The Mercato delle Erbe adds restaurants and stalls on Via Ugo Bassi.
Things to do in Bologna at night
Evenings in the city center start with a drink on Via Pescherie Vecchie. The Certosa di Bologna program runs until November 8, with more than 100 appointments since May 22.
In summer, the film festival ‘Sotto le Stelle del Cinema’ animates the nights in July and August.
Things to do in Bologna with kids
The terrace of the Museo della Specola gives children a view over Bologna, and the Remo Scoto garden has a children’s play area. From its entrance, the excursion route sentiero 902 leads in less than two hours to Parco di Forte Bandiera, which is a fair walk for young legs, so go in the morning.
On the first Sunday of every month, entry to permanent collections is free. The Palazzo d’Accursio tour lasts 2 hours, so it suits older children better than toddlers.
Sources
- cittametropolitana.bo.it (https://www.cittametropolitana.bo.it/turismo/Engine/RAServeFile.php/f/Pubblicazioni/Itinerario_classico.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- bbcc.regione.emilia-romagna.it (https://bbcc.regione.emilia-romagna.it/samira/api/print/card/196132), checked 2026-10-30
- open-meteo.com (https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/historical-weather-api), checked 2026-10-30
- travelemiliaromagna.it (https://www.travelemiliaromagna.it/en/romagna-villages-by-train/), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna/bologna/mercato-delle-erbe), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna/bologna/things-to-do/itinerary-for-the-waterways-of-bologna), checked 2026-10-30
- emiliaromagnaturismo.it (https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/itineraries/tasty-quarter), checked 2026-10-30
- travelemiliaromagna.it (https://www.travelemiliaromagna.it/en/bologna-apennines-by-train/), checked 2026-10-30