Bologna · CITY TOURS
20 reviewed
These are the 15 best city tours in Bologna right now, best first: what each one costs, how long it takes, and which kind of traveller it suits. Start at number one; it’s there for a reason.
Bologna city center on foot with a certified guide. See Neptune Fountain, San Petronio, the towers, and Quadrilatero Market for $26.
“Our guide Victoria was very knowledgeable and an excellent story teller. She knew every corner of the city center and told an intriguing story along the way. She also knew the market and good shops and restaurants very much, causing us to want to eat local food. Thank you for the good guiding!”
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.”
Ferrara’s UNESCO Renaissance core in 2 hours: Estense Castle, Diamanti’s Palace, Massari Park and Ariostea, led by an Italian guide.
City-center Bologna wine walk with sommelier Filippo. Taste Colli Bolognesi wines at enoteca and osteria stops, optional snack.
“This tour was so great!! Filippo was very knowledgeable about the wines and offered some amazing dinner recommendations. We went to three different tasting rooms that all offered different vibes. Would highly recommend!!”
Walk Parma’s historic center with a local bilingual guide, from Piazza Garibaldi to the cathedral and Verdi stories, in 2 hours for $27.
“Guida molto preparata anche se forse eravamo in troppi (25)”
Bologna Red City Bus plus food vouchers with a multilingual audio guide, stops at Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero market.
“When I turned up for ny trip I was disappointed that I was not allowed to go upstairs on the bus due to group of school children taking precedence. Took a seat downstairs only to be asked to move from that seat to allow school children to sit together. Trip is advertised as Bus and Food Tasting and being given vouchers to go and get your own sandwich or ice cream wasn't really what I was expecting. I could have just booked the bus tour when i got to Bologna at half the price!”
A GPS phone walk in Bologna with 35 story stops in 7 languages, covering Piazza Maggiore, San Petronio, the Two Towers, and more.
“If you want to experience Bologna in one day, use this app. Great stories, interesting information. When I was llooking at a sculpture by Michelangelo and Mozart started playing on the background it brought a tear to my eye...”
A 1.5-hour Modena walking tour with a local guide, featuring the Duomo, UNESCO Ghirlandina Tower, Piazza Grande, and food curiosities.
“La guía indico que la hora de encuentro seria a las 15.05 h. Yo le comunique que posiblemente nos retrasaríamos. Llegamos al punto de encuentro a las 15.14 h y el grupo no estaba solo gente de celebración. Le mandé un mensaje y ya no supe más. Por lo tanto la visita regular o mal.”
See Ferrara’s Renaissance masterplan on a 2-hour private walk with an expert guide, key squares, castles, and medieval streets.
“Manuela hat den Rundgang sehr interessant gestaltet, ist auf alle unsere Fragen eingegangen. Absolut empfehlenswert!!”
A 2-hour private kickstart in Bologna: Piazza Santo Stefano, the Jewish Ghetto, and local guidance to help you sightsee smarter for $127.35.
“Very informative tour with Frederik, a very helpful guide who even booked the restaurant for our first night! Highly recommended!”
Walk Ferrara with a certified guide to UNESCO sights, including Castello Estense, the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, and Via delle Volte.
“il prezzo a testa è davvero alto il tour in sè è interessante.”
Private Bologna tour of Europe’s oldest university: stories in medieval squares and the Archiginnasio Anatomy Theater in 2.5 hours.
“Roberta ist eine sehr informative, intelligente und charmante Stadtführerin. Sie hat uns alle Facetten dieser wunderschönen Stadt gezeigt. Obwohl wir fast drei Stunden unterwegs waren, erschöpfte sich nicht ihr Wissen.”
A 2-hour English walking tour of Modena’s UNESCO sights from Piazza Grande, led by a local guide, with free stops and optional tower tickets.
“Enjoyable afternoon with the guide Stefania walking and learning all about Modena and seeing all the important sites.”
Bologna murder mystery quest: an offline app walk with 11 puzzles through iconic sites. Self-paced, English, great value at $6.
“Great way to explore Bologna and learn interesting facts about some places that goes beyond the top 5 list.”
Private 2-hour Ferrara walk with Manuela Roversi: Este castles, Renaissance city planning, cathedral facades, and the Jewish ghetto.
“Manuela is a wealth of information. She shares so much background information so you can see Ferrera in perspective to its long history. Enjoyed her antidotes and appreciation for different historical and architectural styles. Plan an extra 30 minutes so you don’t feel rushed for whatever your next activity might be. Time well spent if you came to learn about Ferrera and her culture!”
