Top Bologna Private Sightseeing Tours

The Bologna food region is one of the most famous in Italy, but finding the best producers to visit on your own takes hours of research. On this culinary tour, visit local and family-run producers most tourists miss for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Modena balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, and wine. Enjoy samples along the way, and indulge in breakfast and a multi-course Italian lunch with wine pairings.

Bologna can sometimes feel inaccessible to foreign visitors. Take the mystery out of your visit by exploring with a local on a private walking tour. This personalized experience lets you discover the exterior of monuments, including museums, while your guide shares insights into local life and Bologna’s rich culture. If you wish to go inside a museum, we can create a customized itinerary just for you—simply let us know in advance. Your guide contacts you beforehand to understand your interests, ensuring the tour focuses on what matters most to you. Perfect for families, solo travelers, or couples, this tour reveals hidden gems, iconic landmarks, and insider stories you won’t find on your own.

Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of Bologna with a 2-hour walking tour through its historic center. Your journey commences at Palazzo d'Accursio, steeped in centuries of history as the city's town hall. Traverse through the enchanting alleys to reach Piazza Maggiore, an emblematic square adorned with architectural marvels from the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Saint Petronio awaits, its grandeur reflecting in its vast dimensions and intricate interiors. Moving forward, you'll discover the quaint charm of Piazza della Mercanzia, pulsating with life at its heart, and Piazza Santo Stefano, ensconced by elegant edifices exuding timeless grace. As the tour draws to a close, behold the iconic Two Towers, stalwart symbols of Bologna's medieval legacy, standing tall against the sky. Each step unveils a piece of Bologna's captivating narrative, weaving history, art, and culture seamlessly into an unforgettable exploration.

Explore the historic streets of Bologna with a private guide leading the way during this walking tour. See top landmarks including Piazza Maggiore, taste espresso under the famous portici (arched colonnades), and wander through the Mezzo Market. The itinerary can be customized according to your interests.

Language barriers can make it tricky to know the best things to order at Bologna restaurants, but this private food tour helps you eliminate menu guesswork and enjoy the company of a private foodie host. Visit a variety of different eateries, and enjoy six or 10 local specialties along the way—from savory to sweet, and even local drinks. Potential bites depending on the option of the tour that is booked include torta di riso (a local dessert), tortellini fritti, formaggio bianco (a local cheese), piadina (a local sandwich).

Don't forget your camera at home because you will see something you will like to show to all your dear ones once back home! You will take part in the live production of the typical products considered some of the best food in the world like the Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar DOP and Prosciutto DOP visiting selected trusted family run farmers. You will have the possibility to discovering the behind the scenes of the making of the products and ask questions to the experts that will be our guests. Every visit will include a rich tasting paired to local wines like the white Pignoletto and the red Lambrusco.

Follow your senses — and a gourmet guide — around Italy’s culinary capital on a private food tour in Bologna. Remove the guesswork from choosing eateries and let a local show you the best delis, cafes, markets, and bakeries scattered through the historic city center. Sample Bolognese specialties like tortellini and mortadella, discover new favorite dishes, and rest your feet over an aperitif at an indoor market.

Ciao! I’m a local chef, pasta maker, and licensed Guida Enogastronomica, featured in Forbes Magazine and Sydney Morning Herald as one of Bologna’s top culinary experts. I hold a Certificato di Specializzazione IFTS in Gastronomia in IGP and DOP products and study Gastronomy at the Università di Bologna. I’ve cooked in some of Emilia-Romagna’s finest kitchens, including a Michelin-starred restaurant. We’ll begin beneath the arches of Palazzo della Mercanzia with a macchiato and historic torta at a family-run pasticceria, then explore the Quadrilatero as I reveal the secrets of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, Prosciutto di Parma DOP, Mortadella IGP, and Aceto Balsamico DOP. Taste the region’s best salumi, cheeses, breads, and Pignoletto wine — plus 25-year Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale DOP — inside Italy’s oldest tavern (1465). We’ll proceed with tagliatelle al ragù paired with a glass of Sangiovese di Romagna at a beloved trattoria, and say arrivederci over one of the city’s artisanal gelato.

Discover Bologna on a private, customizable walking tour with a welcoming local discovery guide, tailored from a brisk 1 to 2-hour intro to an immersive 6-hour deep dive through the city’s atmospheric squares, elegant porticoes, and lively old streets. Wander at a relaxed pace through the historic center, pausing for stories that bring the “La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa” spirit to life, from medieval lore to everyday traditions. Enjoy photo stops at scenic viewpoints, explore characterful lanes and courtyards, and soak up authentic street life in open-air markets and under UNESCO-listed porticoes. Your guide will personalize the route to your interests, share insider tips for food and gelato, and build in time for breaks and spontaneous discoveries, ensuring a warm, flexible, and engaging Bologna experience for first-timers and seasoned explorers alike.

Discover Bologna's delicious blend of medieval splendor and culinary excellence with the self-guided audio tour app, allowing you to explore Italy's gastronomic capital at your own pace. Begin in the magnificent Piazza Maggiore where Gothic palaces and the unfinished facade of San Petronio have witnessed eight centuries of civic life beneath the iconic Two Towers that lean precariously over the terracotta rooftops. Wander through 40 kilometers of elegant porticoes—UNESCO-protected covered walkways that shelter Bolognesi from sun and rain while revealing frescoed ceilings, hidden shrines, and artisan workshops unchanged for generations. Climb the Torre degli Asinelli for views across the red-roofed cityscape to the Apennine foothills, then explore the world's oldest university where students have debated beneath ancient arcades since 1088. Discover the Quadrilatero market district where vendors sell the mortadella, tortellini, and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.

This is an extremely comprehensive tour to discover the marvelous city of Bologna. A day of culture, art, and gastronomy among the city's main attractions. The program has been carefully designed to combine the great potential of Bologna's gastronomy (tortellini, mortadella, delicious cured hams, rice cake, tagliatelle, tortelloni, PARMIGIANO REGGIANO, MOodena Dop TRADITIONAL BALSAMIC VINEGAR)... with that of its rich architectural and artistic heritage, including its splendid churches, palaces, ancient university, canals, and towers, and finally, a tunning museum rich in ancient art, the Pinacoteca Nazionale. Regarding its great famous gastronomy : most of its preparations do not need any poresentation (balsamic, parmesan cheese, pasta bolognese, lasagna, tortellini, parma ham, mortadella), but some of these delicacies are actual hidden gems for most of Italian travellers too! We ll visit also a TRADITIONAL PASTA LABORATORY for a qiuick and efficient LITTLE COOKING CLASS!

Get ready for a fantastic foodie experience in Bologna—the chance to visit a shortlist of nearby food factories to learn how local specialties are made. Instead of booking taxis, round-trip private transportation is included so you can travel seamlessly between a prosciutto producer, a balsamic vinegar factory, a parmesan cheese factory, and a wine cellar—with guided tours and tastings along the way.

Bologna is known as a culinary hotspot, and this walking tour offers an excellent overview of the city’s food scene. Visit a historic center with local food boutiques and cafes. Sample the city’s culinary offerings including a glass of wine, pasta, espresso, and either gelato or cake depending on the season, guided by a local food expert.

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.

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.

Get more out of your time in Bologna on this private and personalized tour of the picturesque city of Ravenna—known for its spectacular churches and Byzantine mosaics. Don’t worry about planning an itinerary, as a guide takes care of that. During your tour, learn about the city’s history and visit a shortlist of important sights, such as Dante’s Tomb, Piazza del Popolo, and the Basilica of San Vitale.

Bologna University is the oldest of its kind in Europe, dating back to the 11th century, and this 2.5-hour walking tour provides a fascinating insight into the historic institution. With a small group of up 15 participants, admire the university buildings; see the Archiginnasio Palace, Museo Medievale, and Renaissance Palace; and stroll around Piazza S. Domenico.

This incredible tour will take you to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, where you will have the opportunity to relive the history of the Prancing Horse and try the Ferrari F1 Simulator. Afterwards, a guided shuttle tour of the Ferrari Citadel in which the guide will share information about the factory, the history of the Fiorano racetrack and the entire Ferrari Citadel.* Afterwards, enjoy a Ferrari test drive on the roads of Maranello for an unforgettable experience**. To end the day, enjoy a full lunch at the restaurant "Cavallino", by renowned chef Massimo Bottura where you can enjoy a great lunch. *Scenic tour not accessible under 3 years. **Test drive with European licence: minimum 3 years of licence (if obtained after 13 December 2023) ** Test drive with non-European license: minimum 3 years of license + International License (if obtained after December 13, 2023)

Get a taste of the flavors of Bologna on this small-group food tour. Consider both breakfast and lunch sorted, along with plenty of opportunities to try artisanal eats and local specialities from historical vendors. Pick from cheeses, handmade pasta, balsamic vinegar, gelato and much more. Learn about the city's history from your guide during your tour, putting everything you try in this experience into context.

Follow a local to their favorite places in Bologna with this best kept secrets walking tour. See contemporary street art, trendy bars, quirky boutiques, and innovative restaurants during your stroll. Explore neighborhoods that are loved by locals for their vintage markets and contemporary art galleries. Discover a side of Bologna that's not in guidebooks.

Combine two of Emilia Romagna’s most celebrated traditions—automobiles and food—without the hassle of planning your own trip during this unique private tour. Get a peek at some of the region’s famous cars at the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums. Then, enjoy guided tastings of Balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese, topped off by a traditional lunch in the Italian countryside.

Bologna is considered the culinary capital of Italy. Connect with a local host in her home kitchen to learn how to prepare the traditional dishes that have made this city’s cuisine so famous. Pick up techniques for turning out flawless fresh pasta and rich meat ragù (known as "bolognese" sauce everywhere but Bologna) during a hands-on lesson, then tuck into heaping plates of the pasta you’ve created over lunch.

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.