Bologna · BOLOGNA FOOD TOURS & THE QUADRILATERO MARKET
45 reviewed
La Grassa earns its nickname in the Quadrilatero, where the tortellini is made that morning and the mortadella is sliced to order. Below are the best Bologna food tours, best first: how many tastings each includes, which stops they hit, what they cost, and which one to pick whether you want a quick graze or a long lunch.
Bologna food tour with 6 tastings: fresh pasta from scratch, aged Parmigiano, Modena balsamic, wines, meats, gelato, espresso in 3.5 hours.
“Come really hungry. The food is delicious and plentiful. Caterina is a great tour guide, friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable. We learned so many things about Bologna's contribution to the culinary world.”
Bologna factory tours of Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto and Modena balsamic, finished with a wine-paired family lunch.
“This tour is well worth the money - the amount of food on offer alone is astounding! For lunch, we started with a beautiful spread of Italian meats, and sides, and then moved onto four courses of pasta followed by dessert! The wine was flowing and the hospitality of the team ensured the experience finished with a bang through karaoke and dancing. Elena was so knowledgeable about all of the processes when giving the tour ensuring we took away plenty of knowledge. We particularly loved learning about balsamic vinegar, and the samples on offer were a huge bonus. I would recommend this to anyone, it’s a great way to meet…”
A 3-hour Bologna walking food tour with wine tastings, Tigella, tortellini, tagliatelle, and gelato, plus local history.
“Our tour guide Eugenio had a lot of enthusiasm and was very knowledgeable about the history of Bologna and its food. The food was amazing and it was great time overall!”
A local-led Bologna food tour with cappuccino breakfast, handmade pasta, Quadrilatero aperitivo, wine lunch, balsamic tasting, gelato.
“This was such a fun, educational tour. Our guide was fantastic and told us so much about the history of Bologna while showing us some of the incredible foods made in this region. We highly recommend this tour! It was a great day trip from Florence. We drank the best cappuccino I’ve ever had, tasted meats and cheese from the region and had a wonderful lunch with several different pastas. The lasagna…. The best! Then we ended with great gelato. Bologna is a really cool city they we will return to.”
A 3-hour Bologna food walk with a local guide, tastings at classic spots, wine pairings, and gelato, starting by Neptune’s Fountain.
“A great walking and talking about food (and eating it) experience. Enough to eat to qualify for a meal, and plenty of wine, so come hungry.”
Private 3-hour Parma food walk with prosciutto, Parmigiano tastings, fresh pasta, balsamic, gelato, and wine. Local guide in English.
“Requires some walking but plenty of rest stops. Great food tasting and wonderful history lessons.met my expectations.”
See Bologna from an open-top bus with hop-on stops and a multilingual audioguide, then use food tasting vouchers in a historic market.
“Organisation was excellent and we received instructions via WhatsApp of where to meet the reps. They then escorted us to the bus and ensured our tickets were validated.”
A small-group Bologna food tour with handmade pasta, tigelle or mortadella, cotoletta, gelato or cake, wine, and a final espresso.
“We had an absolutely excellent Bologna food tour! Everything was well-organized, engaging, and perfectly paced. Our guide Eugenio was knowledgeable, very friendly and made every stop come alive with interesting stories and insights. His enthusiasm and professionalism made the experience truly memorable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a fantastic and informative experience!”
A small-group Bologna food tour with markets, coffee, mortadella, handmade pasta, wine, and gelato, finished in the historic center.
“There was quite a bit of walking but totally worth it. If I had to do it over, I'd try to go on my first day in Bologna.”
A private Bologna food tour for 6 or 10 tastings, led by a local guide, with classic bites around Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero.
“Wow! We are so glad we did this tour with Frederik. His love for food is only matched by his passion for the city. He is too modest, but he could easily be teaching history classes at University. I am by no means a history buff, but understanding why foods in Bologna are the way they came to be is equally as interesting as the food itself. My advice would be to do this tour on the front end of your trip so you have time for all the recommendations you will receive. The local knowledge alone is enough to justify any financial hesitation. Do note that the tasting amount…”
Taste Bologna in 3 to 3.5 hours with Parmigiano, prosciutto, mortadella, handmade pasta, aged Modena balsamic, and gelato.
“Our guide Gabriele, was amazing. Very detailed in explaining the different tastings and the specificity to the city and region. Gave good explanation of the difference in the culinary styles of the different regions as well. very accommodating in finding gluten free alternatives for my wife. all was amazing”
A 3.5-hour Bologna food tour with pasta tastings, street specialties, dessert, and coffee across multiple local spots for $86.
“Amazing! Erika was very knowledgeable about food and the city. Very good spots, sit down dining is always appreciated. 10/10”
A 2.5-hour Bologna walk with small-group tastings: mortadella and wine, tagliatelle al ragù, and gelato, plus local sights.
“I had a great tour with Ilaria. She knew a lot about Bologna and gave me some great tips.”
Make fresh tortelloni and tagliatelle in a Bologna home kitchen, sip guided wine, then eat family tiramisu with a cozy aperitivo.
“Absolutely fantastic! This was the highlight of my trip to Bologna. My Mum and I did the class with a lovely group of people and chef Fred was great. Funny, welcoming and an excellent chef. Was great fun making pasta and learning about the recipes. He even sent us the recipes after the course to try at home! 10/10 recommend this course to anyone. Thank you Fred, it was a pleasure.”
Bologna tastes in 3.5 hours: market visit, 9+ tastings at 8 eateries, coffee and wine, and real Bolognese food traditions.
“Such good information about Bologna from our tour guide and spoke brilliant English and the food was fantastic as well as the wine 👏”
