Bologna Private Highlights & Hidden Gems Tour with a Local
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Bologna, Italy
- 2 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- An insider’s tour of Bologna with a local host and personalized itinerary
- Focus on the city’s history and sights or venture off the tourist track
- Choose the tour length and start time to suit your travel schedule
- Hotel meetup to avoid having to find your guide in a crowded square
What's Included
- Private and personalized walking experience with insider tips from a passionate local
- Flexible durations and start times - Pick your preferred duration when you book
- Pre-tour questionnaire to tailor the experience to your preferences
- Direct communication with your host for itinerary planning and local recommendations.
- Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Bologna (Pass By)
Basilica di San Petronio (Pass By)
Mercato delle Erbe (Pass By)
Le Due Torri Shopping Center (Pass By)
Fontana del Nettuno (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- - After booking, you'll receive a short questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
- - This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
- - Public transportation or local taxis may be used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 387 reviews
Clare_G, Apr 2026
Claudio is a friendly, helpful and knowledgeable guide. He is very enthusiastic about Bologna and he ensured he showed us many places during our tour. Claudio sent us follow up messages with restaurant, cafe, bar, sight and church recommendations. Lovely to meet you Claudio and thank you for making our tour a memorable experience !
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re so glad you had such a memorable and enjoyable time exploring Bologna! It’s wonderful to hear how much you appreciated the local recommendations and enthusiasm — thank you for sharing this.
Tom_B, Apr 2026
Paolina was a fantastic guide, who really brought the city to life. Incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. It was great fun to see the city with her.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Your positive review is incredibly valuable to us and Paolina. Thank you sincerely!
Heather_B, Apr 2026
Nichola was great! He was so knowledgeable about the history and design of the city and it's buildings. He gave us awesome recommendations for food ,Gelato and things to do after our tour. Most importantly he walked at our pace and stopped whenever we needed!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re especially pleased he was able to tailor the experience to your pace and make you feel comfortable throughout. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
Paul_H, Apr 2026
Really enjoyed it. Claudio was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide and it was the perfect amount of time.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We truly appreciate you choosing to explore Bologna with us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future.
Linda_M, Apr 2026
Antonia was amazing. She took me to many hidden gems that i would of nevet seen on my own and her history of bolonga was exceptional but not boring. There were very few tourists around and she suggested other activities to do. Her english was fantastic and she had a sense of humour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're really glad that you had such a great experience with Antonia. It’s fantastic that she was able to show you hidden gems and share Bologna’s history in such an engaging way, while also keeping the experience fun and personal. We're also happy to hear her recommendations, English, and sense of humour all added to your time together. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share this, and I’ll make sure Antonia receives your kind words. We hope to welcome you again on another experience in the future!
RussellScott_S, Apr 2026
Very informative, I learned a lot about Bologna! Nicole had lots of interesting information to share
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Think of us next time you travel, we have a network of over 1,200 hosts around the world.I am so happy to hear you had a great time with Nicole! Your words are cherished!
Scott_C, Apr 2026
The tour was one on one. The tour guide tailored the tour based on what we wanted to see and learn about.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re so glad you enjoyed such a personalized, one-on-one experience tailored to exactly what you wanted to see and learn! It truly means a lot to know it made your time so meaningful.
Jodi_S, Mar 2026
Jonathan was a fantastic guide. He went above and beyond to make our time in Bologna extra special. We loved his passion, history and story telling. His. Lunch recommendation was delicious as well! I would highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re thrilled to hear that Jonathan made your time in Bologna extra special with his passion, storytelling, and local recommendations. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed the lunch spot he suggested as well!
We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Jonathan—he’ll be delighted to hear them. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience, and we hope to host you on another City Unscripted adventure.
David_W, Mar 2026
Andrea gave a brilliant historic overview of Bologna. We covered a lot of ground in 3 hours. Just the right amount of detail. Recommended.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback! We’re so glad that Andrea provided a brilliant historic overview of Bologna and that the 3-hour tour was just the right amount of detail for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you on another tour in the future!
Ariadni_B, Mar 2026
Great experience and very knowledgeable guide.A very nice way to kick off your visit of Bologna! Highly recommended
Response from Host, Mar 2026
It truly means a lot to us to know the experience helped start your visit on such a positive note. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
Miles_B, Mar 2026
This was a fun and informative walking tour around the center of Bologna - with plenty of fun history and food facts. We loved it!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so glad that you enjoyed the walking tour of Bologna and found the history and food stories fun and informative. It was a pleasure having you on the tour! We hope to see you again on another adventure soon.
Randall_E, Mar 2026
Cristiano our local guide was awesome. He curated the tour to our liking and he threw in some hidden gems one would not know about without a private guide. This I would recommend to anyone who has 3-5 hours to spend in Bologna.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so glad your time in Bologna felt perfectly curated with those extra hidden gems along the way! It means a lot to know the experience made the most of your few hours in the city. Thank you for the recommendation!
Cynthia_P, Feb 2026
New to Bologna, we asked for a three-hour, slow-paced introduction to the city, sites, and foods. Our guide was Nicola, who studied the details of our request and delivered with great accuracy. Nicola has a master's in History and was not only knowledgeable about Bologna's history, but was passionate about the stories he shared. Per our request, we started with a quick stop at a coffee shop and confirmed our loose agenda for the tour. He was very flexible. He pointed out a nice mix of places to go see on our own later, we stopped in little specialty shops, and he arranged for a delicious Balsamic Vinegar tasting. We learned about the towers, the porticos, and the Basilica, among other things. Afterwards, he sent us links to places we discussed for more touring and great eats. A couple of days later, we ran into Nicola in this historic district and it was like seeing an old friend! I highly recommend the walking tour!! And Nicola. :)
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re so glad your slow-paced introduction to Bologna was everything you hoped for! From coffee and balsamic tasting to history, porticos, and those thoughtful follow-ups, it sounds like such a rich and personal experience. Your recommendation truly means so much to us! :)
Kristin_P, Feb 2026
This was a very nice tour. Our guide Nicola was very informative and knew the history well. He met us at the train station and then walked us back. Nice time!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! It’s great that the meeting and walking logistics worked smoothly for you as well. We're happy you enjoyed your tour and found Nicola to be informative and knowledgeable. We really appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Amanda_B, Feb 2026
Nicola was really knowledgeable and used photos to help us better understand the area we were in and what it looked like like in the past. He gave us lots of local recommendations and tips and spent a lot of time getting to know us which made the experience feel like a fun trip with friends.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re so glad to hear this experience felt both insightful and personal, especially with those photos bringing the past to life in such a meaningful way. Knowing it felt relaxed and friendly while giving you great local tips makes it especially memorable, thank you for sharing your feedback.
Jo_B, Feb 2026
A fascinating insight into the history of Bologna. A great way to get to know the city.
Lots of interesting things to learn which we would never have known if we had not had the tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted that you enjoyed discovering the rich history of Bologna with us. It’s always our goal to share stories and insights that bring the city to life in ways you might not experience on your own. We’re so glad the tour helped you uncover fascinating details and hidden gems — that’s exactly what makes exploring Bologna so special. We hope to welcome you again for more discoveries in the future!
Robin_G, Feb 2026
Our tour was great! Nicola was very knowledgeable and easy going. It was very rainy and he changed something’s to keep us drier but it don’t affect the tour we received. Would highly recommend!!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re so glad to hear you still had a great experience despite the rain and that things felt flexible and comfortable throughout. Knowing the day adapted smoothly without taking away from what you saw and learned means a lot to us. Thank you for sharing your recommendation.
Erin_F, Jan 2026
My private tour with Claudio was both incredibly knowledgeable and very entertaining. We explored the whole city, and I learned about so many hidden spots and fascinating pieces of Bologna’s history that I never knew existed. Thanks to the tour, I feel much more confident exploring on my own for the rest of my stay—and I came away with fantastic food tips too! Thank you, Claudio, for such a great experience.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re so glad to hear this experience helped you uncover hidden corners of Bologna while feeling both engaging and enjoyable. Knowing it left you confident to explore on your own and inspired by great food tips makes it especially meaningful, thank you for sharing your feedback!
Gina_D, Dec 2025
Cristiano was extremely knowledgeable and provided lots of tips about Bologna. He answered questions and was helpful when we asked specific questions. Also much more affordable than many other “private” tours. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted that Cristiano’s knowledge and tips helped you enjoy Bologna even more. It’s great to know he was able to answer your questions and provide the personalized support you needed. We truly appreciate your kind words about the value of the experience as well. Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back in the future!
Erin_A, Nov 2025
A great overview of the city, the history and food. Lots to see and a could have seen more had I gotten into town earlier.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed such a great overview of the city, its history, and its food! It’s wonderful that you were able to see so much, even with limited time. Thank you for your kind feedback!
asha542, Nov 2025
Cristiano was amazing ! The 2 hrs were so full of information and fabulous sights ! He even gave us restaurant recos . Thoroughly enjoyed our time in Bologna , thanks to the amazing start by Cristiano !
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re delighted to hear that Cristiano delivered such a high-impact experience and set a strong foundation for your time in Bologna. It’s great to know his insights, local knowledge, and recommendations added meaningful value to your visit. We hope to welcome you on another experience soon.
Twila_H, Nov 2025
We only had one day in our travel itinerary to see Bologna, but SO glad we did. What a beautiful city! We were amazed at the history of Bologna and the knowledge of our guide and the info he shared! We put some steps in but explored so much of the city in a short time. We appreciated that he was very flexible when we changed our meeting spot at the last minute.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re so glad you made the most of your day in Bologna and enjoyed exploring its beauty and history. It’s great to hear that your guide’s knowledge and flexibility made your experience even better. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him!
Bruce_G, Oct 2025
Nicola was a great guide. Very personable. We enjoyed everything he showed us. It was delightful and I recommend Nicola highly
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a delightful experience with Nicola and enjoyed everything he shared with you. We truly appreciate your recommendation and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Stephen_P, Oct 2025
Claudio was an excellent tour guide. He was able to show us the highlights of bologna and set my wife for further exploration after the tour. To top off an excellent tour Claudio helped us set an unbelievable lunch reservation which is hard to get on a saturday. Thanks again claudio!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
It’s great to know Claudio did not only showed you the city’s highlights but also helped set your wife up for further exploration, and even secured that fantastic lunch reservation! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! And thank you again for choosing us, we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Barbara_J, Oct 2025
Andrea our guide was very friendly, Extremely knowledgeable and engaging. For 3 hours he showed us the highlights of Bologna and had tailored the tour to my interests. He was so easy to talk to and made our experience really unforgettable. He also gave us great tips on the best gelato and restaurants which we tried ! There is nothing better than a local knowledge to get you the insiders best places to go. Great value for money. And so worth it. Thank you Andrea
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re thrilled to hear your time in Bologna with Andrea was such an unforgettable experience! It’s wonderful that his friendliness, local knowledge, and tailored approach helped you discover the city’s highlights — and the best gelato spots too. Thank you for your kind words and glowing feedback!
Bruce_C, Oct 2025
Our guide Marina was exceptional.
Cool, fashionable, intellectually curious and eager to share her experience. She easily connected with us I a warm authentic way.
Her range is much greater than local guide; she’s a journalist up to date with regional and local politics. Up on her history too.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! Marina truly has a special talent for connecting with guests in an authentic and engaging way, and her background as a journalist definitely adds a unique depth to her tours. We hope to welcome you on another experience soon!
Kristi, Oct 2025
Fabulous tour that was customized to our interests. Paolina was knowledgeable and fun and we had the best time learning about her wonderful city.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We're delighted to hear that you had a fabulous time and enjoyed Paolina’s knowledge and fun approach. It’s wonderful to know the experience was tailored to your interests and that you had the best experience exploring the city.
Meri_d, Oct 2025
Nicola was a great guide. He listened to what we wanted (historical sites, less well known churches and museums) and tailored the tour to our express interests, was very knowledgeable, and found great places for us to stop for coffee and lunch when we needed a break. Our trip to Bologna would have been much less interesting without him. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re delighted to hear your time in Bologna with Nicola was such a memorable experience! It’s wonderful that his knowledge, thoughtful planning, and personalized touches made the day both enriching and enjoyable. Thank you for your glowing recommendation!
Sheila_G, Oct 2025
This was a great introduction to Bologna. Nicola walked us through the historic areas and explained about the architecture and history; he also shared some interesting anecdotes along the way. Part of the tour included a walk through the Quadrilateral, the historic market area where you see all the little stalls with different vegetables, fruits, and meats. It was a good overview of the city in the perfect amount of time.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re so glad to hear your introduction to Bologna with Nicola was such a great experience! It’s wonderful that his insights and stories, along with the visit to the Quadrilateral market, gave you such a rich sense of the city. Thank you for your lovely feedback!
Casey_B, Oct 2025
Giulia was an excellent guide. She has great knowledge of the city, is kind, and showed us all the things we were interested in seeing. It was a great way to learn about Bologna and get a lay of the land - we can’t wait to come back and explore more time in Bologna now! Thanks Giulia!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Giulia made your Bologna experience so enjoyable and informative. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to her.
We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in Bologna soon!
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