1, 2 & 3 Day Bologna Itineraries

1

Day 1: Piazza Maggiore & the Historic Center

Morning (10:00 - 11:00)

Basilica di San Petronio

Start at the free nave of San Petronio (opens 10:00) to see the unfinished marble facade and the 1655 Meridian Line of Cassini before the square fills up. Add the paid side chapels (€5.00) if you want the Bolognini Chapel frescoes.

Tickets: No booking needed for the free nave; chapels have optional advance email booking.

Duration: 30 - 45 min

Late morning (11:15 - 12:30)

Palazzo d'Accursio & Torre dell'Orologio

Cross Piazza Maggiore to Palazzo d'Accursio (€10.00) to climb the Clock Tower's two panoramic terraces and browse the Municipal Art Collections — currently Bologna's main open viewpoint while the Asinelli Tower is closed.

Tickets: Not mandatory to book in advance; buy on-site or online.

Duration: 1 - 1.5 h

Travel: 2 min walk across Piazza Maggiore

Afternoon (14:00 - 15:00)

Le Due Torri (Piazza di Porta Ravegnana)

Walk through the Quadrilatero market streets to Piazza di Porta Ravegnana for the Asinelli and Garisenda towers. NOTE: the Asinelli Tower is currently closed for area maintenance with no reopening date announced — this stop is view-from-outside only for now.

Tickets: No booking possible — the tower is closed to all visitors.

Duration: 30 - 45 min

Travel: 10 min walk from Palazzo d'Accursio, through the Quadrilatero market

Route Map — Day 1

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Basilica di San Petronio 2. Palazzo d'Accursio 3. Piazza di Porta Ravegnana

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Check the Asinelli Tower's status before your trip — it has been closed for area maintenance with no announced reopening date; do not plan your day around climbing it.
• The Quadrilatero market streets between Palazzo d'Accursio and Piazza di Porta Ravegnana are a good lunch stop for Bologna's famous food stalls and delis.

2

Day 2: Portico di San Luca & the Hilltop Sanctuary

Open in Google Maps

Morning (09:00 - 10:00)

Portico di San Luca (uphill walk)

Begin at Porta Saragozza and walk the free, fully covered 3,796-meter, 666-arch portico uphill toward the Sanctuary — the world's longest portico, and free the entire way.

Tickets: No booking needed — always open, no ticket required.

Duration: 45 - 60 min uphill

Late morning (10:00 - 11:30)

Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca

Visit the free 18th-century Sanctuary at the top, home to a Byzantine icon of the Madonna, then consider the separate San Luca Sky Experience dome climb for panoramic views (secondary sources quote around €5.00, not independently confirmed — check current pricing on-site).

Tickets: Sanctuary needs no booking; Sky Experience allows walk-up or online booking.

Duration: 45 min - 1 h

Travel: Same complex, continuing from the portico

Midday (12:00 - 12:30)

Return via San Luca Express or on foot

Ride the San Luca Express shuttle train back down to Piazza Galvani (€15.00 adult) if you'd rather not walk back down, or retrace the portico on foot for free.

Tickets: Shuttle tickets bought on-site or online with City Red Bus; included on the Bologna Welcome Card PLUS.

Duration: 20 - 30 min

Travel: Shuttle ride or 45-60 min walk back downhill

Route Map — Day 2

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Porta Saragozza 2. Portico di San Luca 3. Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Wear comfortable shoes — the portico walk is a continuous uphill incline for most of its length, though fully covered from rain and sun.
• The Bologna Welcome Card PLUS (€55) includes the San Luca Express shuttle; the cheaper EASY tier (€35) does not.

3

Day 3: University Quarter & Museums

Open in Google Maps

Morning (09:30 - 10:30)

Archiginnasio & Anatomical Theatre

Start at the Archiginnasio, Bologna's former university seat, to see the wood-paneled Anatomical Theatre and the walls covered in centuries of students' coats of arms.

Tickets: Not mandatory to book in advance.

Duration: 45 min - 1 h

Midday (11:00 - 13:00)

MAMbo (Museum of Modern Art Bologna)

Head to MAMbo for Bologna's contemporary art collection, included on both tiers of the Bologna Welcome Card.

Tickets: Not mandatory to book in advance.

Duration: 1.5 - 2 h

Travel: 15-20 min walk or short bus ride from the Archiginnasio

Afternoon (14:30 - 16:00)

Basilica di Santo Stefano (Seven Churches)

Finish at the Santo Stefano complex, a cluster of interconnected medieval churches known as 'Sette Chiese' (Seven Churches), with a peaceful cloister at its center.

Tickets: Free entry; no booking needed.

Duration: 45 min - 1 h

Travel: 15 min walk from MAMbo, back through the University Quarter

Route Map — Day 3

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Archiginnasio 2. Basilica di Santo Stefano 3. MAMbo

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Via Zamboni, connecting the Archiginnasio area to the University Quarter, is lined with student cafes — a good spot to pause between stops.
• Basilica di Santo Stefano's cloister and churches are free, making this an easy low-cost afternoon after a paid morning museum visit.

Popular

By Country

All

Popular Passes

Popular

Museums

Guides

Best City Pass Guides

Methodology

1, 2 & 3 Day Bologna Itineraries

Day 1: Piazza Maggiore & the Historic Center

Basilica di San Petronio

Palazzo d'Accursio & Torre dell'Orologio

Le Due Torri (Piazza di Porta Ravegnana)

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 2: Portico di San Luca & the Hilltop Sanctuary

Portico di San Luca (uphill walk)

Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca

Return via San Luca Express or on foot

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 3: University Quarter & Museums

Archiginnasio & Anatomical Theatre

MAMbo (Museum of Modern Art Bologna)

Basilica di Santo Stefano (Seven Churches)

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Things to do in Bologna

Save Money with Bologna Passes