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Bologna Solo Travel Blog with everything you need to know about what to do, the best places to stay, and where to eat and drink in the foodie capital of Italy.
It’s almost pointless recommending somewhere specific in Italy as a destination, because pretty much the entirety of Italy is a must visit. Honestly, is there anywhere you don’t want to go in this country steeped in history, art, stunning coastlines, hilly vistas and moreover – ridiculously good food and wine?
The latter brings me to Bologna, where I took a solo four day trip for the sole purpose of eating. Bologna is the regional capital of Emilia-Romagna, an area closely situated to the north east of holiday favourite Tuscany, yet remains very much under the radar compared to the likes of Rome and Florence.
The city has three nicknames: La Dotta, meaning ‘the learned one’, since Bologna is home of the oldest university in Europe; La Rossa, ‘the red one’, after the sea of red tiled roofs it houses; and La Grassa, ‘the fat one’, due to its reputation for a rich culinary history often singled out as making Bologna the best place to eat in Italy.
The city is an excellent place for solo travel: it’s small so it isn’t overwhelming, has good train connections if you have time and want to explore further afield, and it’s one of the cheaper places in Italy I’ve been, which helps when you’re travelling solo as overall accommodation tends to cost you a bit more than if you were sharing.
Read on for my Bologna Solo Travel Guide!
Bologna Solo Travel Guide Contents
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WHERE TO EAT IN BOLOGNA
RESTAURANTS
All’Osteria Bottega
Via Santa Caterina, 51, 40123
Very well hidden, All’Osteria Bottega is shut Sunday & Monday and booking is a must, so plan ahead for this one. Bottega was recommended to me at least four or five times from various people and blogs and I was gutted to find they were shut for summer holidays during my time in Bologna. August, it turns out: not a great time to visit Bologna – this was the case of many places and it was disappointing to say the least. But at least others can learn from my mistake.
Often hailed as the best restaurant in Bologna, All’Osteria Bottega is tucked away from other restaurants down a quiet street, but is known for a friendly atmosphere and the use of top quality ingredients in their food. I hope to return to Bologna for the sole purpose of finally eating here, one day!
Altro?
Mercato delle Erbe, Via Ugo Bassi, 23 – 25, 40121
Recommended by my Air BnB host, and the first meal I had in Bologna – a tagliatelle al ragu so good I returned for another round on my last day in the city. Situated in Mercato delle Erbe, there are a few well revered restaurants off of the main market and the place is swarming with locals at lunch and dinner. I ate the best burrata of my life in Altro. Enough said.
Ristorante Pizzeria Il Moro
Via de’ Falegnami, 5/D, 40121
When friends of yours tell you over a year in advance to go eat somewhere, you better bloody go. I trust these friends implicitly with food and they didn’t fail to deliver on this one. Instructed to “get the seafood spaghetti or I won’t talk to you again”, I did just so and it was superb; plenty of squid, mussels, clams, prawns and an absolutely huge portion – big enough to share. On the pricier side of food I had in Bologna, but still good value for the quality, service and portions.
Osteria dell’Orsa
Via Mentana, 1, 40126
Popular with locals and tourists alike, this excellent restaurant has communal tables and a €6 dish of the day. Drinks are cheap, the food is fantastic and the atmosphere buzzy.
Café Pasticceria Gamberini
Via Ugo Bassi 12
The oldest bakery in Bologna sits on Via Ugo Bassi, and a convenient 2 minute walk from the Air BnB I stayed in. At 110 years old, this traditional pasticceria sees plenty of Italians through its doors every morning for an espresso and pastry to start the day. Most of the pastries come in miniature form too, ideal for when you can’t choose. I still dream of the Nutella croissant: the perfect flaky pastry encasing an extremely generous amount of Nutella. A thing of beauty. In short, the perfect way to start a day’s sight seeing.
Da Cesari
Via de’ Carbonesi, 8, 40123
Highly rated restaurant in a rustic setting, serving all the Bolognese classics, as well as the locally produced family wine.
GELATO
So it turns out not everywhere that claims itself gelato is true gelato!
True gelato has a slightly different balance of ingredients than ice cream and is churned at a slower rate, meaning less air is incorporated and as a result gelato is denser than ice cream. I’m told the way to spot true gelato in a shop is it will be stored covered up, unlike many places that will have piled high vats of the delicious sweet stuff. Here are a few places noted for their excellence among gelaterias in Bologna.
Cremeria Santo Stefano
Via Santo Stefano, 70, 40125
Galleria 49
Via Galliera, 49, 40121
Cremeria Funivia
Piazza Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 1/d/e, 40124
BEST APERITIVO IN BOLOGNA
No time spent in Italy is complete without hours of aperitivo. Can’t everywhere give you snacks every time you order a drink? It is the very best of ideas.
Hotel Touring
Via dè Mattuiani, 1, 40124
The only rooftop bar you’re likely to find in Bologna, which is a damn shame with all those pretty red roofs going on. My favourite place for a few aperitivo waiting for the sun to go down during my visit. Soothing soft music accompanies you as the sky turns from blue to peach, making the yellow buildings with red roofs glow. It’s a must pre dinner drink destination in Bologna. €15 minimum spend per person.
Osteria del Sole
Vicolo Ranocchi, 1/d, 40124
Not strictly aperitivo, as this is one to go to at any time of day. Osteria del Sole is the oldest bar in Bologna. At 550 years old, this was number one on my hit list in Bologna…only to find it was shut for renovation whilst I was there. Devastation doesn’t cover it.
It’s a little hole in the wall place where the deal is you buy €5 worth of food from the market stalls that surround it, then you can go in and park up, eating your fresh bread and cheese and meat as you knock back €2 glasses as you please. How idyllic does that sound?
Le Stanze
Via del Borgo di S. Pietro, 1, 40126
A popular bar in a beautiful former chapel with reasonable prices. An extra €1 on buying a drink gets you access to the aperitivo buffet – a no brainer.
Caffe Zanarini
Piazza Galvani, 1, 40124
A popular aperitivo spot with plenty of tables outside in the sun trap that is Piazza Galvani. Drinks a little more expensive than other bars but for your money you get excellent nibbles to go with your cocktail. Also doubles as a bakery with rows upon rows of beautiful pastries and comes recommended as a good place for breakfast.
Bella Vita
Via Clavature, 2, 40124
The perfect hole in the wall wine bar with aperitivo you can help yourself to as you wish. Just off of Piazza Maggiore, get a seat facing the arch onto the square so you can watch the sky turn from pale to dark blue as the sun sets on Bologna.
Mercato di Mezzo
Via Clavature, 12, 40124 Bologna
A mix of different bars and places to grab a bite to eat with communal tables. A good spot to swing by for aperitivo or a quick lunch.
THINGS TO DO IN BOLOGNA
Two Towers of Bologna
The skyline of medieval Bologna was once dotted with dozens of tall towers; now only a few remain, the most famous and prominent being two leaning towers stood side by side in the middle of the city. You can climb to the top of Tower Asinelli, nearly 100m high, which is well worth doing for the stunning views – and only €5.
N.B. The Towers are currently temporarily closed for maintenance, reopening date is TBC.
San Petronio Basilica
This huge church (the 10th largest in the world) in Piazza Maggiore is unique in its design; the bottom half is made from intricately designed marble, the top half modestly built of brick – a result of funding to the building of the church ceasing in fears it would outshine St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Make sure to visit with your shoulders covered else you will need to buy a cover up to be allowed inside.
Finestrella
On via Piella there is a window in the wall that looks out onto one of the remaining canals of Bologna. Random, but a good novelty to hunt out when exploring.
In a city as foodie as Bologna, spending some time on a food tour is a great way to get a local’s insight into the local specialities, as well as meet people on your trip.
This excellent tour comes highly recommended, with a knowledgeable local guide covering a range of local eateries including Osteria del Sole and Mercato delle Erbe. Book here.
Portico Walk to Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
Bologna is famed for the porticos that shelter the pavements from both the rain and scorching heat, and you can walk under these porticos from the middle of the city all the way up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, which sits on a hill overlooking the city down below.
Pasta Cooking Class with Spritz
Learn to make your own authentic Bolognese ragu with tagliatelle in a group cooking class whilst drinking spritz and local wines as you do so. A particularly excellent choice for the solo traveller who’s looking to meet people whilst away. Book here.
Leave Bologna
Italy’s train system is excellent and dead easy to navigate, and with wonderful places not far from Bologna, you can easily spend an afternoon exploring the likes of Modena, Parma or Rimini. A good option if you have more than 3 days in the city. Use Trainline to book with ease.
TOP TIP: If you go venture Parma, I highly recommend Ristorante Angiol d’Or.
WHERE TO STAY IN BOLOGNA
Modern, stylish hotel in the centre of Bologna that offer single rooms for the solo traveller. Rooms include an excellent breakfast and service is friendly, with staff happy to help with any questions. The central location is great – something I value highly in particular when travelling solo. Book here.
Modern rooms with a dramatic flair are found at Casa Conoscenti, which boasts a central location and is also home to a great bar. Rooms have a fridge, minibar, coffee maker and toiletries, giving a real sense of luxury to this guest house. Book here.
If you don’t mind being a 15 minute walk into the centre of Bologna and value a rooftop terrace, look no further than Aemilia Hotel. The rooms at Aemilia are spacious and modern, and there is a buffet breakfast served each morning. Book here.
Traditional hotel in the city centre in a pedestrianised area and a 20 minute walk from Bologna train station. Single rooms are just as plush and elegant as doubles at Hotel Corona d’Oro, something which is a bit of a rarity – some of them even have a balcony! Lots of hotels usually do you dirty for single occupancy rooms but that’s not the case at Hotel Corona d’Oro. Book here.
GETTING TO BOLOGNA
If you’re looking to use Avios to buy a reward flight to Bologna, it’ll set you back 23500 Avios + £1 or 14500 + £35.
To get from the airport into Bologna, the best option is to take the Marconi Express, an electric monorail that bypasses the traffic. With up to 8 trains an hour, it’s by far the fastest option to get into the city. It’s even set up for contactless like the tube, so is super easy to use too.
GETTING AROUND BOLOGNA
Bologna is an ‘on foot’ city. You’ll rack up those steps easily in this small city. It’s easy to get around but bring comfortable shoes for all the walking – especially if you want to go up to Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are plenty of buses but unless you’re staying in a hotel on the outskirts of the city, you’ll be fine on foot.
FOUND THIS BOLOGNA SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE USEFUL? PIN FOR LATER!
Updated July 2025.
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