First thing that came to my head about Bologna was Spaghetti Bolognese. I wasn’t too far off as the origin of that dish was from Bologna. I came to Bologna in hoping to discover a different part of Italy. The energy in this city is definitely different from Florence, Rome and Venice. There were less tourists, not as fast pace, yet so much to discover in terms of history.
While I was in Florence, I took my chance to visit Bologna which was about 30 minutes away by train. I spent my weekends doing some sight-seeing, had loads of Bolognese food and most noteworthy, enjoy the charming city. Check out my weekend guide to Bologna.
Top – Uniqlo (similar printed tee here) // Jogger Pants – Uniqlo // Sandals – Birkenstock // Bag – Celiné
Where to stay:
- Grand Hotel Majestic (5 star hotel). It’s slap right in the middle of the city. So, everything is a walking distance.
- AC Hotel Bologna by Mariott (4 star hotel). Just a throw stone from the Central Station, one of the busiest rail station. It’s just a short walk, about 15-20 minutes to the city centre. It’s easy to get a cab from this hotel too.
- Royal Hotel Carlton (4 star hotel). This hotel is located in the historical area which is great for those who love the museums. If you prefer a quieter neighbourhood, this would be perfect as it’s slightly out of the city centre.
What to do:
Basilica Di San Petronio
- Hop on the City Red Bus to discover the city. The entire ride takes about 50 minutes to an hour.
- Take the San Luca Express train up the hill to see the entire city of Bologna from Bologna Hill and Basilica Di San Luca.
- Visit Basilica di San Petronio. It’s the main church of Bologna. Since you’re there, hang out at Piazza Maggiore as well. It’s pretty at night.
- Climb the Towers of Bologna and get the best view of the city from up there.
- If you like art, I heard that it’s worth visiting Bologna Museum of Modern Art.
Basilica Di San Luca
Towers of Bologna
View of Bologna by night
Where to eat:
- Scalinatella – I found this place through Yelp and I had one of the best Tiramisu ever!
- Incrocio Montegrappa – A little pricey because they are situated in the heart of the city but I would rate the food quality high.
- Osteria del Cappello – It was highly recommended to visit this restaurant by the locals but I never had a chance to try it. Maybe you might want to try it out and let me know how it goes.
Do you know that, University of Bologna is the older university in Europe? It was founded in 1088!
Have you been to Bologna? If you have, what did you like about Bologna?
