A practical look at navigating the city's porticos and trattorias on a modest budget.
The walk to San Luca is a serious workout, but the view of the red-roofed city from the top is worth the effort.
We arrived at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport on a September afternoon and took the transfer into the city center. After dropping our bags, we headed straight for Osteria dell'Orsa. The lines were long, but the pasta was affordable and served quickly in a casual, high-energy environment.
The next morning, we climbed the stairs of Le Due Torri for a view of the city. We spent the rest of the day visiting the Basilica di San Petronio and looking at the intricate woodwork inside the Archiginnasio of Bologna. For lunch, we grabbed supplies at Tamburini, a local deli, before ending the day with a hearty dinner at Trattoria Anna Maria.
On our third day, we started the long trek through the Portico di San Luca, which leads all the way to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It is a steep walk, but the covered path provides shade. Once back in the city, we spent an hour at the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, then had a quiet dinner at Osteria Bottega followed by a drink at Bar Billi.
We spent our fourth day in the University District, starting with a walk through the Mercato delle Erbe. We looked around the University of Bologna campus and the Museum of Palazzo Poggi. We made sure to stop at Cremeria Santo Stefano for gelato—the pistachio was the standout—before finishing the day at Ristorante Da Cesari.
On our final morning, we stopped at Caffè Terzi for a strong espresso and walked through the Quadrilatero to pick up some food souvenirs. It was a straightforward walk back to catch our transfer to the airport. The city is very walkable, and staying within a $500 budget was easy as long as we balanced the sit-down dinners with market snacks.
- Food
- Walking
- History
- Italy
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Written by the traveller with Travlyo's help. The Bologna guide ·