Well hello to you my reader chums! Italy is where I feel at home and Bologna is now up there as one of my favourite Italian cities ever. Bologna isn't like the usual tourist hotspots, it has that true authenticity to it and that's why I fell in love with it so much. It's an underrated city for sure.

If you're thinking about planning a trip to Bologna or heading there soon, here is everything you need to know before visiting Bologna.

Learn some Italian 

Bologna isn't like Rome, Venice, or the many other touristy cities in the sense that it's not packed with tourists and sightseeing tours, it's visited more by other Italians or you'll pass locals on the streets as you roam. Because of this, it's important to be aware that not everyone you come across will speak good English and sometimes no English at all. This is why I'd recommend, trying to learn a couple of handy phrases to keep you in the loop and able to communicate whilst in Bologna.

Walk everywhere by foot (if you can)

Bologna is a small enough city that you can reach most places on foot and walk to wherever you want to go. It's a gorgeous city simply to roam and always find something unique or historic to look at - and you can appreciate that the more you spend your time walking around the city. I'd say to give yourself at least a day to roam like a local as you'll find gems you didn't even know were there when you're busy focusing on getting to specific places.

You can't really eat any bad food

Bologna is the capital of good Italian food and many people flock here to be in authentic Italian food heaven, and I was the same. Unlike other touristy Italian cities, food in Bologna is created with pride and with traditional values in mind, so pretty much wherever you choose to eat, you can guarantee that food was prepared homemade and fresh. Bologna is home to many cured meats, ragu, and tortellini so I'd highly recommend eating those dishes whilst you're there.

Coperto charge

In most places you dine across Bologna, you'll be required to pay a Coperto charge which is basically just a service charge and will be a couple of euros. This is why I'd say to always eat the bread or snacks they give you for free to get your money's worth.

It's not a great destination for vegetarians or vegans

Bologna is renowned for its food scene and the majority of that food has a high meat percentage, with many of their specialties surrounding meat. For instance, their most famous dishes are tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo (broth), and lasagna al Forno, plus Mortadella has a raving name for itself too. If you are vegetarian or vegan, be wary that options may be available but a lot more limited than in other cities. In the student quarter, you're most likely to find more restaurants to cater to your needs/preferences. 

Bologna can get cold and foggy

When we picture Italy, we imagine continuous hot days but that's not the case all year round. In Bologna, as it's located in northern Italy and near the mountains, when autumn is fully underway, be prepared for cold and foggy days, the same as we get in the UK.

Bikes are very popular in Bologna

I didn't realise this until I got there and saw many locals riding around on their bicycles or mooching on foot. This is because it's forbidden to use cars in the main centre of the city between 7am and 8pm - make sure you're wary of this if you're looking to drive there.

Bologna is a prime destination for domestic travel

I could rave about the Italian train system all day as it's inexpensive and very accessible to get around the country. Bologna is a great base to head to other major cities including Verona, Venice, Rome, Florence, and many more. For instance, Verona and Venice are around a 90-minute journey and you can get to Florence in just 40 mins.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3