Lady’s Guide to 24 Hours in Bologna, Italy

Today I want to share my travel itinerary for 24 hours in Bologna with you. This city is the historic capital of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, and it’s known for its delicious food and beautiful architecture.

24 Hours in Bologna

After visiting the breathtaking hilltop principality of San Marino and exploring the Roman mosaics in Ravenna, my Italy travels continued with 24 hours in Bologna.

Since the famous university city in Emilia-Romagna is best known for its culinary treasures, those were what I set out to discover.

As with the other places I visited on my trip to Italy, I didn’t know much about Bologna before traveling there. Thankfully a few of my foodie friends gave me recommendations for restaurants in Bologna.

Given food was the main reason for my visit, their suggestions sufficed for a travel guide.

How to Get to Bologna

My 24 hours in Bologna began after a 1.5-hour train ride from Ravenna. The journey was easy and quick, offering my friend and me great views of the countryside along the way.

Where to Stay in Bologna

The main train station in Bologna was a short walk from our accommodation, Hotel Metropolitan. It was in a great location just off Via dell’Indipendenza, the long arcaded shopping street in the heart of the city.

The hotel had offered us one of its apartments on a complimentary basis for our 24 hours in Bologna. The flat’s sleek contemporary decor and spacious rooms greeted us as we walked in the door.

The apartment had one bedroom and another area off the living room that contained a large bed. There was a full kitchen (although the appliances had signs notifying us they weren’t to be used), and a big bathroom.

While we explored the rooms, another friend from London arrived to join us. The apartment was a great place for the three of us to stay during our 24 hours in Bologna, and a nice alternative to a hotel room.

Things to Do in 24 Hours in Bologna

After getting settled in, we took a walk to Bologna’s main square, Piazza Maggiore. It had grand historic buildings and the requisite statues of famous Italian heroes.

Right off the square was a narrow street lined with all kinds of restaurants, cafes, gelaterias, and specialty food shops.

One such shop was Eataly. Eataly’s original location is in Turin, but it’s become so famous it’s opened outlets in Bologna, New York City, and other places.

We found the Bologna branch in the upstairs of a bookstore on Via degli Orefici.

At first the concept of a food shop and restaurant in a bookstore was a bit confusing. But once we were seated at a table on a balcony overlooking the stacks, I realized it was my own personal heaven. Books + food = bliss.

My friends and I ordered a feast of traditional pasta Bolognese and a big bottle of red wine. It was a cliched lunch for sure, but when in Bologna…

The food was every bit as good as Eataly’s reputation suggested, and afterwards we drifted out of the bookstore to continue our 24 hours in Bologna with more food. We didn’t have to wait long, either.

Next door was a gelato shop that lured us in with flavors ranging from rich chocolate to refreshing fruit.

Oddly, the shop didn’t allow photography (apparently its interior is copyrighted), but that didn’t stop me from snapping a few photos outside before the gelato disappeared into our greedy stomachs.

Around the corner from the gelateria was a tiny street called Via Drapperie that was lined with fruit and vegetable stalls, butcher shops, and rustic salumerias.

If we hadn’t just eaten, we could have spent the rest of our 24 hours in Bologna grazing.

But we had just eaten, so we spent the afternoon walking off the calories in preparation for dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Bologna called i Portici.

My friends surprised me with a decadent birthday dinner in the sumptuous dining room, where a live harpist serenaded us while we enjoyed a five-course tasting menu.

It was a great birthday present, and the perfect way to end our 24 hours in Bologna.

24 Hours in Bologna

The next morning we were up early to catch our train from Bologna to Florence. As it pulled away from the city, I wished we’d been able to stay longer and discover more of the culinary highlights.

And the sightseeing ones, too. After all, I’m sure there’s more to do in Bologna than eat. But eating is the best thing, obviously.

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