# How many days do you need in Bologna? > Spend 2 days in Bologna for the city, 3 to 4 to add Modena, Parma or Ravenna by train. We spent 4 days in July 2023. San Luca, porticoes and food. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-bologna - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-08-07 **Two days for the city, three to four with day trips.** We spent **4 days in Bologna, 27 to 31 July 2023**, between Verona and Venice. Bologna has no single blockbuster sight; its draw is the **porticoes**, the medieval centre around **Piazza Maggiore** and the food, so it rewards slow days. Two days cover the centre and the walk up to **San Luca**. Bologna is also the best rail hub in northern Italy: **Modena** is about half an hour away, **Parma** under an hour, **Ravenna** about 75 minutes and **Florence** about 35 minutes by high-speed train. Each extra day can be a different city. ## The short answer by trip length • **1 day:** Piazza Maggiore, the Quadrilatero market streets, the Two Towers from below, and a long lunch. • **2 days:** add the portico walk to San Luca, the university quarter and Santo Stefano. • **3 days:** add one day trip, Modena or Parma for food, or Ravenna for mosaics. • **4 days:** what we had. Two day trips, or one plus a slow food day. With more time, Bologna makes a better base than Florence for this part of Italy: cheaper, less crowded, and on the main line in every direction. ## Day by day: 4 days in Bologna **Day 1, the centre.** **Piazza Maggiore** and the unfinished brick front of **San Petronio**, the Neptune fountain, then the **Archiginnasio** and its wooden anatomical theatre. Lunch in the **Quadrilatero**, the old market streets east of the piazza, where delis slice mortadella to order. The **Two Towers** lean over Piazza di Porta Ravegnana; the climb up the Asinelli has been closed since October 2023 during safety work on the Garisenda, with no confirmed reopening date, so check before you plan on it. **Day 2, San Luca and Santo Stefano.** Walk from **Porta Saragozza** under the **Portico di San Luca**, about 3.8 km and 666 arches, to the sanctuary on the hill. The last 2 km climb steeply; allow 45 to 60 minutes up, and go early in summer. In the afternoon, **Santo Stefano**, the cluster of linked churches, and the university streets around **Via Zamboni**. **Day 3, Modena or Parma.** Modena is about 20 to 35 minutes by regional train, for balsamic vinegar, its cathedral and Piazza Grande. Parma is about 40 to 60 minutes, for Parmigiano Reggiano, ham and its baptistery. Our route recorded Parma as a day trip from Verona, which is much further; from Bologna it is easy. **Day 4, Ravenna or Florence.** Ravenna's Byzantine mosaics are about 75 minutes away by regional train. Florence is about 35 minutes by Frecciarossa, if you want a look without sleeping in it. Details for each are in [day trips from Bologna](https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-bologna). ## Where Bologna fits in a wider route Our Italy route was **Verona (2 days) → Bologna (4) → Venice (3)**. Bologna in the middle works well: Venice is about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes away on a direct high-speed train, and Verona is on the line north toward the Alps. • **Heading to Rome or Tuscany:** Bologna is the junction; Florence is about 35 minutes south. • **Heading to Venice:** see [how many days in Venice](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-venice). • **Coming from Verona:** see [how many days in Verona](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-verona). Our [northern Italy itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/italy-itinerary-venice-verona-bologna) puts the three cities together for 7 or 10 days. ## When to go and where to stay **April to June and September to October** are best for walking the porticoes. Summer is heavy and humid, and in **August** much of the city empties as locals head to the coast, so some family restaurants close. We were there in late July, which is hot but still fully open. Stay near **Piazza Maggiore** or the Quadrilatero for the classic centre, or around **Via Zamboni** for cheaper rooms and a livelier, student feel. Near the station is fine if day trips are your priority. Our [Bologna guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/bologna) has more on the city. Bologna is the reason many people come to Emilia-Romagna: tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo, mortadella. See [what to eat in Bologna](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-eat-in-bologna), our [Italian food guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/food-italy) and, for shopping, [what to buy at an Italian supermarket](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-italy). ## A food plan for your Bologna days Food is the main reason many people give Bologna more than a day, so plan it like a sight. • **Lunch, day one:** mortadella, prosciutto and cheese by the slice from a deli in the Quadrilatero. • **Dinner, day one:** **tagliatelle al ragù**, the real Bolognese, always with flat ribbons, never spaghetti. • **Dinner, day two:** **tortellini in brodo**, the small filled pasta served in broth. • **Day trips:** Parma for Parmigiano Reggiano and ham, Modena for aged traditional balsamic, which is a different product from the supermarket *Aceto balsamico di Modena IGP*. In August some family-run trattorias close for the holidays, so check before you cross town for one. Expect a *coperto* on restaurant bills; see [coperto in Italy](https://clevertourists.com/resources/coperto-italy-cover-charge-tipping-guide). ## Common mistakes • **Planning a day around climbing the Asinelli tower.** It has been closed since 2023; check the official site. • **Walking to San Luca at midday in summer.** The final climb is steep, even under the arches. • **Only giving Bologna a lunch stop between Florence and Venice.** Its best things are slow: the porticoes at dusk, a long dinner. • **Ordering spaghetti bolognese.** The local dish is tagliatelle al ragù. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is 2 days in Bologna enough? Yes for the city: Piazza Maggiore, the Quadrilatero, the Two Towers, the portico walk to San Luca, Santo Stefano and the university quarter. ### Is 1 day in Bologna enough? It covers Piazza Maggiore, the Quadrilatero and the Two Towers from below, but not the San Luca walk or any day trips. ### Can you climb the Two Towers in Bologna? Not at the moment. The Asinelli climb has been closed since October 2023 during safety work on the Garisenda, with no confirmed reopening date. ### What are the best day trips from Bologna? Modena (about 20 to 35 minutes by train), Parma (about 40 to 60 minutes), Ravenna (about 75 minutes) and Florence (about 35 minutes by high-speed train). ### How long is the walk to San Luca? About 3.8 km under 666 arches from Porta Saragozza, with a steep last 2 km. Allow 45 to 60 minutes up.