Top Bologna Architecture Tours

Join a small-group guided tour of the Archiginnasio di Bologna, one of the city’s most important historical landmarks. Located in the heart of Bologna’s historic center, this iconic building was once home to the world’s oldest university and now houses the city’s main library. During the tour, you’ll explore the stunning Teatro Anatomico, where anatomy lectures were held centuries ago, and learn about the rich history of Bologna’s academic traditions. The tour ensures a personalized experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the cultural and historical significance of this extraordinary site.

Discover hidden gems and immerse yourself in the authentic rhythm of Bolognese life. This experience recreates classic outings with friends and family, offering over 15 tastings of the finest local food, wine, and 25 yrs Balsamic Vinegar. We’ll begin with Tigella, a versatile and iconic pre-aperitivo, before exploring the central market and visiting traditional artisan shops. You’ll taste cold cuts including Mortadella, cheeses including Parmigiano Reggiano with 25 yrs Balsamic Vinegar, and fresh breads, all paired with local wines at the city’s oldest osteria. Strolling through the historic center, you’ll enjoy two beloved homemade pastas, Tortellini and Tagliatelle, at a traditional Trattoria Bolognese, perfectly complemented by local wine. To conclude, we’ll visit the best gelateria in town for unforgettable artisanal gelato crafted since 1976. Eat, drink, and experience Bologna’s culinary traditions like a true local a journey you’ll remember long after the last bite!

Discover Bologna's captivating secrets at your own rhythm with our expertly crafted audio experience that unlocks exclusive historical narratives and hidden stories unavailable elsewhere. Our immersive narration, delivered by passionate local historians with crystal-clear voice quality, transforms each cobblestone street into a living storyteller, revealing authentic local perspectives that traditional tours miss. Choose your own adventure among 18 prestigious attractions, diving deep into the ones that intrigue you most, while enjoying the freedom to pause, explore, and savor Bologna's charm without the constraints of group schedules. This isn't just a tour—it's your personal key to experiencing La Dotta (The Learned) through the eyes of those who know her best, offering unprecedented insights that make every moment unforgettable.

Inject some fun into your Bologna sightseeing with this app-based quest that leads you through the old town and past the city’s main landmarks. Follow clues to take in the Piazza Grande, the Two Towers, the oldest university in Europe, and more while learning about their history and lore. Choose your start time and finish the game in an hour or take breaks to explore at your own pace.

Get more out of your visit to historic Bologna when you explore with a guide, all thanks to this time-maximizing highlights tour. Choose an English- or Italian-language tour, and set off with your guide to explore key city attractions, from the Quadrilatero market district to the Basilica of San Petronio. If you wish, upgrade to include three food vouchers, or add on a visit to the Archiginnasio building.

Skip the set itinerary and script of an organized tour and explore Bologna with a local host for a fully customized visit tailored to your pace and interests. Take in blockbuster attractions like Piazza Maggiore and the Due Torri plus delve into the parts of the city known only to locals to discover unique sights, favorite eateries, and little-known gems.

Are you looking for a way to explore Bologna without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • Stroll through the ancient – and more recent – past of Bologna, a place that art critic John Berger once called “an improbable city.” • Hear from producer Frank Bures, an award-winning author who spent time in Bologna as an exchange student in the 1990s, • Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Discover the Basilica of San Luca, Bologna's undisputed symbolic sanctuary. This masterpiece, built between the 17th and 18th centuries, houses the icon of the Madonna and Child, venerated as the patron saint of Bologna. According to tradition, the image arrived in Bologna in the 12th century and has been the centre of devotion, legends and rituals ever since. The Basilica stands on Colle della Guardia, at the end of the famous Portico di San Luca, the longest portico in the world with 666 arches stretching for almost 4 kilometres: a unique work of art that has accompanied pilgrims and visitors for centuries. Its interior, with its splendid dome, refined altars and evocative play of light, creates an exciting atmosphere, while the façade dominates the hills and city, offering spectacular views. This is the only regular group tour dedicated to San Luca, led by a guide who recounts its history, curiosities and anecdotes. A journey through art, spirituality and tradition, capable of capturing the most authentic soul of Bologna.

Explore Bologna on two wheels on a two-hour bike tour focused on the history of the city. A local guide will take you on a tour of monuments and medieval squares. You will admire the oldest university in the world, the majestic Piazza Maggiore, to get to the Two Towers, one of the greatest attractions of the Emilian capital. We will lead you to the discovery of the ancient medieval port and its history through the many canals that developed around the city. You will discover the history of the Jewish community by crossing the medieval Ghetto of Bologna to then reach and admire the symbol of the city: the Two Towers. Cycling among the beautiful arcades you will reach Piazza Maggiore, home to the most important buildings of the city: the Basilica of San Petronio, the elegant Fountain of Neptune and the imposing Palazzo Re Enzo. The bike tour will end in Via Piella looking through the famous small window, you can still see the waters and canals.

The guided tour of Bologna leads visitors through the city’s hidden corners and iconic landmarks. It begins at the window on Via Piella with a unique view of the Moline Canal, then continues through the ancient Jewish Ghetto with its narrow streets and artisan shops before reaching the Two Towers: the Asinelli and the leaning Garisenda. The itinerary includes the Church of Santo Stefano, a remarkable complex known as the “Seven Churches.” The tour then moves through the arcaded historic center and features the Archiginnasio and the nearby House Museum of Lucio Dalla. It reaches Piazza Maggiore, the vibrant heart of Bologna, home to the Fountain of Neptune and medieval buildings such as the Town Hall and Palazzo del Podestà with its curious acoustic effect. Visitors also explore the Basilica of San Petronio. The experience ends in the lively center and at the Mercato di Mezzo, a historic indoor market showcasing Italian gastronomy

A walking tour dedicated to the secrets of the Bolognese hill. In the monasteries and in the cenobies of the hill the communities of friars who hosted the pilgrims going to the city met, the bishops many centuries later built their villas here, and the great hydraulic projects to bring the fresh water of the hill took place in this wild corner and wooded in the city. Our itinerary touches some of the wonders preserved in this part of the city, where nature and architecture come together in a unique union. The red and yellow colors of the villas, Renaissance churches and medieval cenobies (ancient medieval monasteries) blend with the light yellowish and white colors of the badlands and clay. Large wooded gardens are the setting for these architectural wonders.

Discover Florence on a day tour from Bologna by high-speed train in First Class. Upon arrival, meet your Guide in front of the Museum of Mercy and immediately enter the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore : thanks to exclusive skip-the-line access through a reserved side door, you will completely avoid the long waits. The Certified Guide will accompany you for 30 minutes among the secrets of Brunelleschi's Cathedral and Dome, then you can stay inside to continue the visit independently. The ticket also includes independent access to the Museum of Mercy. After some free time for Lunch or Shopping, an atmospheric group walking tour awaits you in the afternoon. With an expert Guide you will stroll through elegant squares, markets and iconic bridges, discovering the stories and masterpieces of the cradle of the Renaissance. The tour will end in front of the Duomo, where you will greet the Guide before reaching the station for the return to Bologna in total relaxation.

Your experience will start in Piazza Maggiore where you'll discover its civic medieval palaces: Palazzo di Re Enzo, Palazzo of the Notaries and Palazzo dei Banchi. In the square, you'll also find the Fountain of Neptune with the precious late Renaissance sculptures by Giambologna. You'll then head to the gothic Basilica of San Petronio: inside you'll find the late gothic paintings of Cappella Bolognini and the sun-dial designed by the astronomer Cassini. You'll then walk along the Pavaglione Portico and its elegant shops until you reach the 16th-century Archiginnasio Palace, the old university building decorated with about 6000 student coat of arms. You'll stroll through the picturesque alleys of the Mercato di Mezzo and its unique food shops to get to the enchanting Square of Santo Stefano with the complex of Santo Stefano where your tour will end.

Bologna is rich in cultural and culinary treasures. Experience both with this walking tour that touches on the city’s top sights before ending with a tasting of famed local specialties in a landmark gourmet shop. Explore highlights like Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers and learn about their history and architecture from your guide. Cap off your tour with a stop in a local delicatessen to sample area wine and delicacies.

Bologna sits in the heart of Emilia Romagna's 'Motor Valley' and 'Food Valley'. Experience the both in one day with this unique tour that combines visits to the area's top automotive museums Marvel at iconic Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati collections and enjoy a cheese farm tour and tasting. You can even take a test drive around the local track (extra charge).

Explore the culinary traditions of Bologna with this small-group half-day food tour. Join a guide for a small-group walking tour and taste local specialties such as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Bolognese ragu, and mortadella. Begin the tour with a gourmet coffee, visit markets, and meet artisans at work to see how tortellini are made.

Make the most of your day in Bologna with this guided walking tour that touches on the city’s A-list sights in just hours. Stroll beneath the UNESCO-listed porticoes to the main Piazza Maggiore to visit Basilica of San Petronio and Fountain of Neptune, gaze up at the twin medieval towers - a symbol of the city - and admire other significant city landmarks while you learn about Bologna's long history and famed cuisine.