Bologna City Guide

Bologna

Porticoes, towers, canals and the tables worth booking, in photos and short clips.

372 photos and clips

The Asinelli and Garisenda towers above the rooftops of Bologna

A Renaissance palace with porticoes and a brick tower on a square in central Bologna

A man walking past the tall pillars of a Bologna portico

Holiplanet Bologna City Guide: the cover

A layered dish on a gold-rimmed plate at Scacco Matto

A backpacker walking past historic buildings in Bologna

A view over Bologna from the top of a building

A plate of tagliatelle with ragù at Nonna Gigia

A suite at Art Hotel Commercianti

A high view over the streets and towers of Bologna

A bowl of tagliatelle with ragù at Oltre.

The Giulia room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

A medieval house with a wooden portico in Bologna's old town

A plate of tagliatelle with ragù at Osteria dell'Orsa

Inside B&B Galleria Cavour

A shop counter stacked with cheeses in Bologna

A plate of tagliatelle with ragù at Posta

The bronze Neptune statue beside the palaces of central Bologna

The reception and corridor at Albergo Garisenda

Tortellini with cured meat and green gnocchi in a cream sauce at Trattoria della Santa

Bologna's historic red rooftops and medieval buildings from above

Hotel University in the heart of Bologna

Thinly sliced raw fish with spring onion and a small sauce bowl at Seta

Two elderly women walking down a sunlit narrow street

A photo of Dopa Hostel in Bologna from its official website

Tortellini in broth at Trattoria Trebbi

People dining outdoors on a lively Bologna street

A suite at 051 Boutique R&B

A photo of Residenza Palazzo Marchesini from its official website

A city view of Bologna featuring the Asinelli Tower

Vegetable skewers on a plate beside a loaded hot dog at ZEM Bistrot

Hotel Touring, a four-star hotel in Bologna's historic centre

Aerial view over the rooftops of Bologna

A nest of spaghetti in a creamy sauce on a blue-rimmed plate at Ahimè

The loggia at Antica Casa Zucchini

A man with an umbrella outside a restaurant in Bologna

Cheese being grated over a plate of tagliatelle with meat sauce at Al Sangiovese

The Altana Room at Casa Isolani, with the Two Towers of Bologna

One of Bologna's historic city gates under a bright summer sky

A bowl of tortellini at Osteria Bottega

The Canale delle Moline at night, seen from Via Piella

A bowl of passatelli in clear broth at Osteria Bartolini

Palazzo del Podestà lit up at night

The Junior Suite at Albergo delle Drapperie, Bologna

A canal running between houses in Bologna

Interior of Phi Hotel Bologna

A cotoletta alla bolognese with salad and a glass of red wine at Dal Biassanot

Palazzo della Mercanzia seen from Piazza della Mercanzia, Bologna

Porticoes on Via degli Orefici and historic palaces in central Bologna

A quiet lane with globe lamps and iron gates in central Bologna

People exploring Piazza Maggiore on a sunny day

Exterior of Art Hotel Orologio, Bologna

The sunlit Canale delle Moline between colourful houses

A plate of tagliatelle with ragù at Caminetto d'Oro

The Temperance (Temperanza) room at Casa Bertagni, a boutique hotel in Bologna

People sitting at tables in a courtyard in Bologna

A bowl of tortellini in brodo at Da Cesari

Camera Azzurra at Antica Residenza d'Azeglio, Bologna

The Neptune statue in Bologna

Tortelloni with sage being plated from the pan at Da Nello

The atrium of B&B Casa Elide, Bologna

A busy shopping street with outdoor tables and umbrellas

Tagliatelle with ragù on a monogrammed plate at Diana

A bicycle parked in an empty portico gallery in Bologna

A Classic room at Art Hotel Commercianti

Filled pasta with sauce and orange petals at I Carracci

An empty alley in Bologna

Inside the Giulia room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

A glazed skewer on leaves and yellow flowers at I Portici

Inside Salaborsa, the library in Palazzo d'Accursio

A view of the interiors at B&B Galleria Cavour

Tagliatelle with ragù and a glass of red wine at La Montanara

A quiet, sleepy street in Bologna

A double room at Albergo Garisenda

The Garisenda and Asinelli towers side by side

A dish topped with crisp vegetables and herbs in green oil at La Porta

A double room at Hotel University

The storefront of a prosciutteria in Bologna, with flowers hanging above

Lasagna with porcini topped with shaved truffle at Leonida

The Woodland private suite with bathroom at Dopa Hostel

People sitting at outdoor tables in Bologna

A pasta maker tossing fresh pasta from a tray at Da Me

The living room at 051 Boutique R&B

People enjoying the sunset in a historic Bologna piazza

Tables in the garden at Scacco Matto agli Orti, under string lights

A photo from the suites page of Residenza Palazzo Marchesini

The dome of the Church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano

The summer jacuzzi on the panoramic terrace at Hotel Touring

A slice of green lasagne with ragù at Nonna Gigia

Sunrise over the rooftops of Bologna

The Cornelia room at Antica Casa Zucchini

A bowl of tortellini in a creamy sauce at Oltre.

A canal flowing between houses with green shutters in Bologna

Stairs in the Altana Room at Casa Isolani

Tortellini in broth at Osteria dell'Orsa

A tall medieval tower rising over the buildings of Bologna

Bollito misto with mashed potatoes and salsa verde at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

Cotoletta alla bolognese with cream sauce at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

Galantina in aspic with salad at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

Grilled T-bone steak with roast potatoes at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

Sliced steak with rosemary and olive oil on salad leaves at Posta

The view through La Finestrella in Bologna

Junior Suite interior at Albergo delle Drapperie

A street lined with porticoes in Bologna

A flan with a Parmesan crisp on a cream sauce at Trattoria della Santa

A Compact room at Phi Hotel Bologna

Neptune with his trident atop the fountain in Bologna

A chef plating nigiri with tweezers at Seta

Entrance of Art Hotel Orologio in Bologna

A shop shelf stocked with food in Bologna

A slice of green lasagne at Trattoria Trebbi

The vaulted ceiling and chandelier inside the Basilica of San Petronio

The Temperance (Temperanza) room at Casa Bertagni, a boutique hotel in Bologna

A dish topped with red radicchio leaves on a floral porcelain plate at Ahimè

The silhouette of a person looking out at Bologna's historic buildings through a window

Another view of Camera Azzurra at Antica Residenza d'Azeglio

A plate of red risotto topped with cheese shavings, with a glass of red wine at Al Sangiovese

Scooter riders crossing a sunlit street

Corridor at B&B Casa Elide

Short pasta with roasted peppers and crumbled meat at Osteria Bottega

The Loggia della Mercanzia, Bologna's old court of commerce completed in 1391

Gratinated squid on a bed of spinach at Osteria Bartolini

A hidden corner inside a covered market in Bologna

Ostello Bello Bologna, from the hostel's main photo slider

Red brick porticoes in a narrow, sun-and-shadow street

A Deluxe room at Art Hotel Commercianti

A Bologna portico beautifully lit in the evening

A plate of gramigna pasta with sausage at Dal Biassanot

A detail of the Giulia room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

Street life along Via San Felice

Tortellini on a gilded spoon at Caminetto d'Oro

A photo from the B&B Galleria Cavour property gallery

Love padlocks at the Finestrella of Via Piella

The main dining room with wood panelling and wine shelves at Da Cesari

The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca under a blue sky

A double room at Albergo Garisenda

A dish of sliced potatoes being finished with shaved truffle at Da Nello

A bustling market alley in Bologna's historic centre, crowded with people

A triple room at Hotel University

A slice of green lasagne at Diana

Palazzo Re Enzo under a cloudy sky

The Edge triple private room at Dopa Hostel

A tartare topped with herbs and a yellow sauce at I Carracci

Bologna's skyline and towers at sunset

Another view of the living room at 051 Boutique R&B

The jacuzzi on Hotel Touring's Terrazza Panoramica Mattuiani

A brick church with a tall bell tower and arched portico under a clear sky

A green glass bowl topped with edible flowers at I Portici

The Cesare room at Antica Casa Zucchini

A lone pedestrian under warmly lit arches on a Bologna street at night

A bowl of tortellini in broth at La Montanara

Double bedroom in the Santo Stefano Room at Casa Isolani

People walking down a Bologna street with umbrellas

Green oil drizzled over seared slices with microgreens at La Porta

People walking under a historic orange and yellow portico

A porcini sformatino on Parmigiano cream with black truffle at Leonida

The baroque dome of Santa Maria della Vita seen from above

Another view of the Junior Suite at Albergo delle Drapperie

A table set by the patterned wall at Da Me

People sitting at outdoor tables under umbrellas in Bologna

A Classic room at Phi Hotel Bologna

A pasta dish at Scacco Matto

A medieval Glossators' tomb on a Bologna street corner

Reception at Art Hotel Orologio, Bologna

Passatelli with culatello and porcini mushrooms at Nonna Gigia

A bike parked on a Bologna street, with hard light casting shadows on the walls

A plated dish topped with fresh pea shoots and a sauce at Oltre.

A narrow canal running between buildings in Bologna

The Justice (Giustizia) room at Casa Bertagni, a boutique hotel in Bologna

Camera Blu at Antica Residenza d'Azeglio, Bologna

The large clock under the Banco di Roma arcade

A breaded cutlet with fries and salad at Osteria dell'Orsa

Camera Mela at B&B Casa Elide, central Bologna

A man walking under the arches of the Portico della Morte

A platter of cured meats and crostini at Posta

The Asinelli and Garisenda towers under a clear blue sky

Tables set under the portico at Trattoria della Santa

Guest kitchen at Ostello Bello Bologna

The interior courtyard of a palazzo in Bologna's historic centre

A bottle of Japanese sake in its wooden box at Seta

The famous portico leading from the city centre to the San Luca Sanctuary

A Deluxe room with terrace at Art Hotel Commercianti

Tortellini with shaved truffle at Trattoria Trebbi

Cheese on the shelves of a shop in Bologna

The Raffaele room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

A cook plating glazed ribs from a tray in the kitchen at Ahimè

The Basilica of San Petronio with people in Piazza Maggiore

Inside B&B Galleria Cavour in Bologna

A baked pasta dish with melted cheese at Al Sangiovese

Mortadella mousse in a Parmigiano basket at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

Mortadella mousse with pistachio at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

Tortellini with ragù and cream at Ristorante Diana, Bologna (Holiplanet visit)

The Christmas tree in Piazza Maggiore

Inside a double room at Albergo Garisenda

A busy Bologna street with scooters and motorcycles

A plate of mixed roast meats with rosemary at Osteria Bottega

Another double room at Hotel University

The San Luca church at night, framed by a tree

Fried baby squid and artichokes at Osteria Bartolini

The Harbor 4-bed private room at Dopa Hostel

Bologna's red-tiled roofs seen from above

A detail of the living room at 051 Boutique R&B

A Bologna delicatessen counter with cheeses, cured meats, olives and prepared dishes

Boiled meats with mashed potatoes and green sauce at Dal Biassanot

The summer jacuzzi on Hotel Touring's Terrazza Panoramica Mattuiani

A rooftop view across the buildings of Bologna

The Guido room at Antica Casa Zucchini

A meatball with fried egg and artichokes on sliced potato at Caminetto d'Oro

A wide view over Bologna from a hilltop

Bathroom of the Santo Stefano Room at Casa Isolani

Tables set beneath walls lined with wine bottles at Da Cesari

A lively crowd on a street in Bologna

Hands folding fresh tortellini at Da Nello

A busy street café in Bologna

Junior Suite detail at Albergo delle Drapperie, Bologna

Orange houses and wet cobblestones by the Canale delle Moline

Tortellini in broth served from a silver tureen at Diana

A Superior room at Phi Hotel Bologna

Bologna's rooftops from above, with a prominent green dome

A nest of green pasta in a white bowl at I Carracci

Lounge and a glimpse of the breakfast room at Art Hotel Orologio

A porticoed courtyard with plants in Bologna

A layered vegetable dish with a charred top and herbs at I Portici

An old building covered in graffiti in Bologna

A plate of meat in sauce with red wine at La Montanara

The Justice (Giustizia) room at Casa Bertagni, a boutique hotel in Bologna

The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca on its green hill under a dramatic sky

Camera Blu interior at Antica Residenza d'Azeglio

Cream being poured over a red dish garnished with petals at La Porta

The Asinelli and Garisenda towers seen from below at night

Camera Mela with its window at B&B Casa Elide

A cotoletta petroniana with Parma ham and Parmigiano at Leonida

An aerial view of Bologna's historic rooftops stretching to the skyline

Tables by the front window in the dining room at Da Me

Café tables and people on a busy day in Piazza Maggiore

Kitchen and terrace area at Ostello Bello Bologna

The chef plating a dish in the kitchen at Scacco Matto

The San Luca Sanctuary on its green hillside

A single room at Art Hotel Commercianti

The Madonna di San Luca Sanctuary under a clear blue sky

Pink tortellini with pine nuts at Nonna Gigia

Inside the Raffaele room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

A quiet canal flanked by historic buildings

A dessert with chocolate cubes, peanuts and popcorn at Oltre.

A photo from the B&B Galleria Cavour property gallery

A large crowd gathered in front of a church in Bologna

Sliced cured meats with a basket of flatbread at Osteria dell'Orsa

Bologna's historic towers under a clear sky

A photo from the rooms section of Albergo Garisenda's website

Thin slices of cured lard with grilled bread at Posta

A quiet porticoed street in Bologna at night

A Camera Doppia (double room) at Hotel University

The dining room with tables set for lunch at Trattoria della Santa

The Church of Santa Maria della Carità on a busy Bologna street

The Harbor 4-bed mixed dorm at Dopa Hostel

The dining room with orange chairs beside the sushi counter at Seta

Inside the portico at the Arco del Meloncello, on the way to San Luca

The Shabby room at 051 Boutique R&B

The dining room with tables set for service at Trattoria Trebbi

An aerial view of the smaller of Bologna's two towers

The Terrazza Panoramica Mattuiani at Hotel Touring

La Piccola Biblioteca at Antica Casa Zucchini

A cyclist riding between buildings on a Bologna street

A dish topped with grated cheese being finished with a spoon at Ahimè

View of Piazza Maggiore from the Bifora Room at Casa Isolani

The famously unfinished facade of the Basilica di San Petronio

A layered dessert in a cut-glass cup at Al Sangiovese

A sunny porticoed street in Bologna

People walking in the street near the Two Towers

Thinly sliced mushrooms with shaved cheese and thyme at Osteria Bottega

A Bologna street scene with the Asinelli Tower in view

Pistachio gelato on a nest of filo pastry at Osteria Bartolini

A bird's-eye view of Via Indipendenza

Junior Suite at Albergo delle Drapperie in Bologna

A historic building in Bologna with flags against a blue sky

An Artsy room at Phi Hotel Bologna

Fresh pasta being filled by hand on a sheet of sfoglia at Dal Biassanot

An arched wooden door in a yellow Bologna wall

Breakfast at Art Hotel Orologio, Bologna

Nests of fresh tagliatelle at Caminetto d'Oro

A canal view framed through a window, Bologna's hidden canals

The Strength (Forza) room at Casa Bertagni, a boutique hotel in Bologna

Pedestrians crossing a busy intersection as a red bus passes

Tables laid with glassware in the dining room at Da Cesari

Camera Rosa at Antica Residenza d'Azeglio, Bologna

The Asinelli Tower framed by historic buildings

Freshly cut egg pasta on a wooden board at Da Nello

Camera Arancia, a double room at B&B Casa Elide

An old Bologna building with graffiti on its side

A plate of mixed fried specialities at Diana

The long colonnade of Via Farini, partly decorated with frescoes

Sliced raw fish with red and orange sauces at I Carracci

The shared kitchen at Ostello Bello Bologna

Two medieval stone towers against a blue sky in Bologna

Close-up of white fish with orange sauce and herbs at I Portici

A large historic building with a tower in Bologna

A Junior Suite at Art Hotel Commercianti

Meatballs in tomato sauce with red wine at La Montanara

Cycling through the streets of Bologna

The Francesca room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

Sauce being spooned over a plated tasting course at La Porta

People walking down a street lined with tall buildings in Bologna

A view of the interiors at B&B Galleria Cavour

Nests of fresh egg tagliatelle at Leonida

People sitting at outdoor tables on a Bologna street

The terrace at Albergo Garisenda

Bicycles parked in a Bologna courtyard

A plated dish in the afternoon sun at Scacco Matto

The bar at Hotel University

The Via Carbonara street sign on an orange facade

A plate of green raviolini at Nonna Gigia

The Big Bang 6-bed mixed dorm at Dopa Hostel

People beneath Bologna's porticoes

A cocktail served in a coupe glass at Oltre.

The Università room at 051 Boutique R&B

Piazza Maggiore seen from above

A photo from the panoramic terrace gallery at Hotel Touring

Bruschetta topped with rocket and grated cheese at Osteria dell'Orsa

A bar in Bologna with its tables set, waiting for guests

Double bed in the Bifora Room at Casa Isolani

The dining room with tables set for dinner at Posta

Pedestrians on a busy street in central Bologna

The bright dining room with tables set for service at Seta

The towers of Bologna seen from the university observatory

Outdoor tables under umbrellas at Trattoria Trebbi

The Basilica of San Petronio on Piazza Maggiore at blue hour on a June evening

Junior Suite photo from Albergo delle Drapperie's room gallery

A Deluxe room at Phi Hotel Bologna

The view over Bologna's towers from the San Michele in Bosco belvedere

Wooden tables and chairs in the dining room at Ahimè

A Classic room at Art Hotel Orologio

Fresh produce in crates at a Bologna street market

The dining room with laid tables and wine shelves at Al Sangiovese

Piazza Maggiore at night, with the illuminated Palazzo d'Accursio and people in the square

A platter of assorted cheeses with a small jar of preserve at Osteria Bottega

The Strength (Forza) room at Casa Bertagni, a boutique hotel in Bologna

The Basilica of Santo Stefano in Bologna on a lively evening

Black pasta with pieces of squid at Osteria Bartolini

Another view of Camera Rosa at Antica Residenza d'Azeglio

Evening Mass inside one of Bologna's churches

Camera Arancia with single beds at B&B Casa Elide

A plate of short pasta with prawns and cherry tomatoes at Dal Biassanot

A crenellated clock tower in Bologna against a blue sky

The dining room with white tablecloths and a beamed ceiling at Caminetto d'Oro

A narrow canal between buildings in Bologna

The informal coworking space at Ostello Bello Bologna

Bottles of red wine on wooden shelves at Da Cesari

The Two Towers rising above the rooftops of Bologna

A Junior Suite Deluxe at Art Hotel Commercianti

A Bologna restaurant with red and white checkered tablecloths

A dining room with vaulted ceiling and set tables at Da Nello

The balcony of the Francesca room at Luxury B&B Casa Faccioli

The Torre dell'Orologio at sunset

Boiled meats on the serving trolley at Diana

Inside B&B Galleria Cavour

A tall brick clock tower in Bologna, 'la Dotta, la Grassa, la Rossa'

A ring of green vegetables around a green sauce at I Carracci

A framed view of the clock tower of Palazzo d'Accursio

A dish garnished with edible flowers in a stone bowl at I Portici

On the terrace at Albergo Garisenda

The Neptune Fountain illuminated at night

The breakfast room at Hotel University

A slice of chocolate cake with cream at La Montanara

A cluster of street signs on a building in Bologna

The Caravan 8-bed mixed dorm at Dopa Hostel

The illuminated glass façade at dusk at La Porta

The busy square at the foot of the Two Towers, where Via Rizzoli meets it

Inside the Università room at 051 Boutique R&B

A creamy dish with peas and carrots at Leonida

A view of Bologna from the green slopes of Parco del San Pellegrino

The Suite Affresco at Hotel Touring

Where to eat, stay and walk, with practical tips for your visit.

Read the Bologna City Guide

Photographers and venues are credited on each image.