• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

You’ve probably heard that Bologna is well-known for its Jewish History, but do you know the stories and origin behind it? Or how much influence it has on the locals daily life? On this private city tour, you are in for a cultural treat!

Destination

Bologna, Italy

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2 horas

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English

Included

• Private guide
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Withlocals.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at In front of 12B Caffè - Bologna to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Cultura de la ciudad

   En este tour privado, vivirás y descubrirás Bolonia a través de su cultura. Ya sea que se centre en una tradición, una parte especial de la ciudad con una historia que contar, creencias culturales o en torno a una actividad cultural que dio forma a la ciudad en lo que es hoy, ¡este tour será un despertar cultural que no te puedes perder!

4. Historia judía en Bolonia

   Tu recorrido se centrará en la historia judía, un tema cultural muy importante en Bolonia. Gracias a tu guía local, aprenderás y verás cómo la historia judía influyó en Bolonia, lo que te permitirá experimentar la ciudad desde una perspectiva diferente.

5. Aspectos culturales destacados

   A medida que profundizas en el tema de tu recorrido, harás paradas para visitar lugares únicos que te darán una imagen completa de la ciudad. Visita el antiguo gueto judío, la sinagoga de Bolonia, el Palacio Pannolini y más, y descubre cómo estos lugares culturales destacados son parte de la vida local, pero tienen tanta historia detrás.

6. Viaje narrativo

   A medida que descubras el lado cultural de Bolonia, podrás sumergirte en él gracias a las increíbles historias y las habilidades narrativas de tu anfitrión local. No dudes en hacer preguntas y siéntete como si estuvieras reviviendo la historia en el presente.

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Dime la fecha de tu viaje y el tamaño del grupo
• Dime tus preferencias y deseos para que pueda personalizar el tour para ti.
• Espera mi oferta personal en tu bandeja de entrada!

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Paula🇩🇪 Germany

21 agosto 2025

Paolo was really nice and knowledgeable regarding food and history and food history. He gave us the perfect Start into our holidays in Bologna and a lot of tips, where to get vegetarian but traditional bolognian food. We would highly recommend him to our friends and family! Guiding two veggies through city of pork

michael🇨🇦 Canada

20 agosto 2025

I’m a big fan of TV shows that tell the stories of people through food, like those by Stanley Tucci or Anthony Bourdain. If you’re like me and love those kinds of experiences, this tour is for you. Paolo is an excellent storyteller who brings the Emilia-Romagna region to life through food. Each tasting was carefully chosen and layered, almost like a song—building flavors one after another until it all came together in a crescendo that my tastebuds won’t soon forget. It’s not just the food that makes this tour special, it’s the way Paolo ties it to history and culture. The dishes came alive once I understood their significance, and it felt like I was tasting Bologna in its truest form. What I enjoyed most was how personal the experience felt. Paolo’s perspective as a local and our thoughtful conversations made the tour so much more than the typical tourist walk. I left feeling like I’d discovered the city through his eyes, and with a deeper appreciation for both its cuisine and its people. If you want a food tour that goes beyond eating and becomes a cultural journey, this is the one to book.The Stories Behind the Flavors of Bologna

Randy🇺🇸 United States

14 agosto 2025

Stephanie did a great job. Highly recommend. Stephanie was very knowledgeable regarding Bologna and the City's history. She was very prompt and flexible on what you want to see. Stephanie's English was excellent.Bologna Tour With Stephanie

Alex

13 agosto 2025

Flora

10 agosto 2025

We did a very tasty and interesting food tour with Stephanie. She really knows the hidden gems. Besides food, she also knows a lot about the history of Bologna and Italy in general. She responded very quickly before we met. We have had a great afternoon in Bologna! Great food tour, friendly guide!

Jan-Willem🇳🇱 Netherlands

5 agosto 2025

Veel kennis over de geschiedenis

Angelique🇳🇱 Netherlands

4 agosto 2025

De tour met Paolo was top!! We kunnen niet anders zeggen. We hebben dingen geproefd en plekken gezien die we zonder hem niet geproefd hadden of voorbij gelopen hadden. Ook over de verhalen achter het eten en de gebouwen weet Paolo veel te vertellen. Het mooie is dat je Bologna op een andere manier leert kennen. Zeker een aanrader voor als je een bezoek aan de stad gaat brengen. Het mooiste is om dit te doen aan het begin van je trip want Paolo heeft ook vele suggesties voor eten, drinken en authentieke restaurants. Fantastisch

Lydia🇺🇸 United States

2 agosto 2025

Paolo was very friendly and had great stories throughout our entire tour. It felt like meeting up with an old friend! He took us to some great spot, introduced us to foods and places we wouldn’t have tried on our own. Lots of fun!

James🇦🇺 Australia

10 julio 2025

Our food tour with Paolo was fabulous. His passion for food and Bologna itself is clearly evident and infectious. The tour itself was well thought out and perfectly paced, providing an experience that is only possibly with the help of a guide. Thanks Paolo!Bologna Bites are Better

Emily🇺🇸 United States

14 junio 2025

We spent a lovely two hours with Frederik. He knows so much about the history of Bologna and how the culture weaves into the cuisine. We tasted classic Bolognese bites and toured the Medieval markets while learning about hidden historic gems along the way. We would highly recommend spending time with Frederik to get your bearings in Bologna. He helped us plan our time in the city and gave great recommendations. Great mix of food & history

Steve & Sarah🇺🇸 United States

13 junio 2025

Frederik is a terrific guide! He is friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable about his home city. Pride of place came through clearly as he took us on a most wonderful wander through the center of Bologna. When Frederik found out that we were interested in music, art and architecture, he made sure to point out beautiful details about the people and places important to the cultural life of the city. We walked miles with him, seeing the medieval towers and the markets full of meats and cheeses; fruits and vegetables; pastas and trattorias. He highlighted for us the intersection and interplay of history and architecture. By the end of the tour, we knew that one visit to Bologna would not be enough and already want to come back. And, at the end of the tour, he found a table for us in one of his favorite trattorias and helped us order lunch and gave us some great tips of other neighborhoods through which to wander before heading back to our hotel to rest our weary feet.Companionable Guide to the Best of Bologna

Willemijn

8 junio 2025

Thanks to Stephanie for sharing Bologna’s history with us. She is a great guide and a very pleasant person to be with. I would approach her again on my next visit to Bologna. I was really sorry to find out that the organsation takes almost 40% of the paid price. Stephanie is a great guide

Kristopher🇺🇸 United States

31 mayo 2025

1

Stephanie provided our small group of four a wonderful, informative and lovely tour of the historic center of Bologna. She provided a wealth of information on the history of the city and gave us time to absorb the culture and beauty of the buildings and life of Bologna. We experienced the beauty of the churches , the experience of the university and history of the rooms including the classroom for the autopsies and study of the cadavers, the art and architecture. Stephanie was engaging, kind and informative. We would highly recmommend her tour. A memorable time in Bologna

Ernie🇺🇸 United States

30 mayo 2025

Fredrik was prompt, friendly, and well informed. We were there on a Sunday which was challenging, but he exceeded expectations. The history, food, and traditions were well explained. We were a last minute booking and he was accompanied and gracious. We are now hooked on Parmesan and balsamic vinegar. Life changing. When asked for a dinner recommendation, he not only offered a suggestion, he made the reservation. It was a delightful, memorable dinner that made our time in Bologna. Highly recommend, Fredrik. Delicious, Informative and Friendly

njlondon

26 mayo 2025

Excellent mixture of food experiences with history and humour from Paolo in his beautiful city. We will never make the mistake of mixing spaghetti with meat again!! One of several food “monstrosities” Highly recommended Fantastic food tour with Paolo

James

18 mayo 2025

we had a disastrous time with our 2 bookings with this organisation and were mucked around so much we finished up cancelling one of the planned tours. But finally and after much correspondence we got Paolo and all the problems were forgotten. He was great and showed us a side of the Bolognaise food we had never seen before. His knowledge and clarity of explanation were both very good.Finally someone good

Alex🇺🇸 United States

16 mayo 2025

Truly our favorite part of our Bologna trip. Paolo was incredible from his knowledge of history and cuisine to his friendliness with all those we met at each shop as well as his general, fun demeanor. We learned, we ate, we laughed. I couldn’t have asked for a better food tour or guide. Grazie, Paolo! You’ve got to book your tour with Paolo

Jann🇪🇸 Spain

14 mayo 2025

We spent a lovely morning with Paolo. He was both knowledgeable and entertaining. He was also very patient with our questions and at the times we took a little longer than necessary - balsamic vinegar tasting for example, this was great fun! I think though rather than a food tour I would recommend a historical walking tour of Bologna as you can get the food everywhere, at your own pace. Charismatic and informative

Andreas

27 abril 2025

The Tour was valuable and informative. The food was varied and delicious. Interesting tour with great insights

Mary

17 abril 2025

Paolo knew all the best spots to hit. He introduced us to local cuisine we did not know existed. He was attentive to my limitations and we walked at my pace. There was never any pressure to buy. I loved the old indoor market and could have strolled there longer! I highly recommend him as a guide with excellent English.A great day in Bologna

Jean

12 abril 2025

We had a great time with Paolo on a food tour with just the two of us. We learned alot and enjoyed all the samplings along the route. Thanks Paolo for being such a fabulous guide!Fun and friendly foodie tour

Eric🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 abril 2025

Stephanie knows her Bologna inside & out. Any questions were met with informative & concise answers. Highly recommended!A highly informed guide!

Jamie🇺🇸 United States

5 abril 2025

Paolo was wonderful to tour with, showcasing not only a vast knowledge of the city, but also history of the food and restaurants he showed us! Arrive hungry because these are not tiny tastings and you will end the day very happy and full! Special thanks to Paolo for working around my mobility issues and our dietary restraints. He was very accommodating and understanding! Grazie Mille, Paolo! Sono felice incontrarti!Knowledge to share and very flexible!

Liam

18 febrero 2025

The perfect guide. Great insider knowledge of Bologna, flexible and great fun. Highly recommended. Fantastic!

Sally

19 enero 2025

Paola was wonderful! He was so knowledgeable & very friendly. We enjoyed our tour with him very much! Highly recommend! Paolo was a fantastic tour guide!

Heinz🇨🇭 Switzerland

9 enero 2025

Stephanie war sehr charmant - gutes Französisch und stark in Geschichtszahlen und kennt die wichtigen Monumente sehr gut. Etwas weniger kann "der Alltag" - wie leben wir heute in Bologna zur Geltung. Werde Stehpanie aber auf jeden Fall weiter empfehlen oder wieder selber buchen. Dank und Gruss aus Bern/Schweiz Gruppe Enzo Gabi

Ron🇺🇸 United States

29 diciembre 2024

Fredrick, is a great guide. He is fun, knowledgeable, organized and connected to the city. Our tour was fantastic. Highly recommend Fredrick. RonFood Tour Bologna

Charles🇺🇸 United States

21 diciembre 2024

Frederick was an enthusiastic and expert on Bologna. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with him. Enthusiastic and expertise

Hilary🇺🇸 United States

2 diciembre 2024

We had an amazing time with Paolo for a food tour of Bologna. He took us to real gems that highlighted the local products and gave us a great overview both of the culinary history of the region and Bologna in general. We learned a lot and left with full bellies and greater appreciation and understanding of the rich cultural and historical heritage of the area. I am still dreaming of the perfect Tigella treats and that ultimate espresso! Grazie Mille, Paolo!Deep knowledge of culinary delights!

Panos🇬🇷 Greece

24 noviembre 2024

Professional and friendly

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

1 noviembre 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Frederik. He is personable, informed and extremely passionate about Bologna. We learned so much about the history and culture of the city and experienced aspects that we couldn't have done without his guidance. We recommend him highly and will book tours with him when we return! Fantastic tour

Thomas E🇺🇸 United States

20 octubre 2024

A terrific intro to Bolgnese cuisine. Personable, knowledgeable, interesting. Got some great restaurant recommendations, too.Worth doung!

Sandra

16 octubre 2024

We signed up for a 3 hour tour of regional foods. What we got was a 2 hour tour. Frederick provided us with 5 pieces of meat and cheese each. We asked for some gluten free substitutions. Rather than provide gluten free pasta he served olives and crackers. For "regional" dessert he took us to a gelato shop. This was a cheap alternative to true Bolognese dessert. I requested to purchase some local items. He made excuses that they were not in season inspite of having seen them in stores. The whole experience seemed like a cheap rip off.Con Artist

Margaret🇺🇸 United States

15 octubre 2024

I signed up for a basic food tasting tour with Paolo, but got so much more! Paolo is a wealth of information about bolognese food as well as a historian. He explained the 3000 year history of the city concisely and hit high notes! He was patient with questions and never rushed us. I would spend a day with Paolo even if there was no fabulous food involved! Wonderful Tour

Erin🇮🇹 Italy

13 octubre 2024

Frederik is amazing. My spouse and I had the pleasure of joining a walking tour of Bologna led by Frederik, and it was an outstanding experience. From the moment we met, Frederik's passion for the city was evident. His knowledge of Bologna’s history, architecture, and culture added depth to every stop on the tour. The pace of the tour was perfect, allowing us to soak in the sights without feeling rushed. Frederik also recommended local eateries and hidden gems, enhancing our overall experience in the city. Overall, I highly recommend this walking tour for anyone wanting to explore Bologna. Frederik is a fantastic guide who truly brings the city to life!Bologna’s Best

Carole

10 octubre 2024

We signed up for this tour based on the advertised agenda and picked our guide based on reviews. The day of the tour we received a note that the guide and the location of the tour had been changed. That was not an issue. We met Frederick at the new spot and proceeded on the tour. He is very nice and has a lot of historical information to offer. We appreciated that, but since we had signed up for a food tour with 10 tastings and gelato at the end and were bringing our grandson, the itinerary was not what we wished for. We understood that he wanted to provide “quality over quantity”, but the experience was long and hard for us at the beginning because we did not ever stop for tastings. We finally arrived at the shop of Paolo, who was wonderful. We then had a small portion of lasagna and a platter of meats and cheeses along with a glass of wine. That was the tasting. Paolo did provide Nutella for our grandson. That was a hit with him, but again since we had paid the prices we did for the experience, we were disappointed with the reality. All in all an interesting experience, but not as advertised. Informative, but not as advertised

Kathy🇺🇸 United States

23 septiembre 2024

Stephanie took the time to understand our backgrounds and tailored our experience accordingly. She shared her comprehensive knowledge of Bologna past and present with us. We learned volumes about the past of the city along with some very humorous anecdotes. We invited her to have lunch with us where she generously continued to share her knowledge of Italy and Europe. We would highly recommend her as a private tour guide. Bologna in context

Richard

19 septiembre 2024

Hi - we did a tour with Frederick last week in Bologna; he is very friendly and educated about not just the food in this city, but also the history. He answered all our questions and was very easy to talk to and get along with. However, here are several issues we have with the tour - 1) The tour was scheduled for 1130AM - I was asked to move it to 1230 which was fine, we re-arranged our schedule. But the guide was 15 minutes late and showed up at 1245pm. 2) The tour was scheduled for 3 hours on the booking, but it was barely 2 hours. We learned a lot in the 2 hours, but with the costs of this tour, it really shouldn't be advertised for 3 hours if it's not going to be? 3) Maybe most disappointing, was the lack of food tasting/served. We toured around the old part of the city to different places to learn about Bologna's history and food, which was great but no food in this part of the tour. Then we walked a little bit to one shop, where we sampled a very small piece of lasagna and then was offered a few meats and one cheese on two boards, with a glass of wine. For how this tour is advertised, only one food eating stop and so little food to sample? I've been on many food tours worldwide, and this was by FAR the smallest amount of variety of foods I've been able to sample and taste on a tour. Again, we liked Frederick, but due to the shortened tour, complete lack of food variety to taste.. with what you pay for the tour, I don't think I would do it again. Calling it "10 local food and Drink tasting" is downright false advertising, apologies. Good tour but falsely advertised

Yvonne 🇨🇭 Switzerland

18 septiembre 2024

We enjoyed a personalized 3 hour food tour with Paulo which was fantastic. His local knowledge of all the foods and the history of Bologna was first class and delivered in an interesting and relatable way. Paulos English is excellent so we felt lucky to have spent the time with him and now feel we have a rich understanding of Bologna. Strongly recommend 10

Tessa🇦🇺 Australia

12 septiembre 2024

We had a fabulous tour with Frederik. He was very knowledgeable and gave us some excellent dining suggestions.Bologna Tour

George

12 septiembre 2024

Paolo was a wonderful guide for our private tour. He is passionate about his city of Bologna, and very knowledgeable about its history and culture. Would highly recommend.Bologna Tour with Paolo

Heidi🇺🇸 United States

27 agosto 2024

I am a travel agent and I sent me clients on a walking tour of Bologna with Paolo. They had a wonderful time. They loved his historical knowledge and he took them down logs of cool alleyways and showed cool architecture. Paolo is very open to doing what the client wants. My clients were unsure what they wanted to see so Paolo took them to the canals first and that was perfect. His communication with me was excellent. I would definitely recommend Paolo as a guide.My Clients Had a wonderful time with Paolo

Irwin

24 julio 2024

We had a v we y nice tour with Paolo. He was very informative about Bologna and it's history. We learned a geat deal about the foods of the area. Good experience.

Jennifer🇺🇸 United States

15 julio 2024

We took this private tour on our first evening in Bologna so that we could take a deep dive into the local cuisine. Paolo was the perfect guide. He has curated an extremely well-rounded experience that truly showcases what this region offers - meats, cheeses, balsamic vinegar, pasta, pastry, and wines. Paolo is extremely knowledgable and incredibly passionate about his city and its amazing food. I highly recommend this experience. A Fun & Informative Culinary Experience

Natalie🇺🇸 United States

6 julio 2024

Paolo was a great tour guide. He took us to try some amazing authentic cuisine and provided us with background on the dishes and their importance to Bologna and the region. Added bonus was the historical information he shared as we passed by significant landmarks on our walk. Would highly recommend!Great Food Tour

Nishit🇺🇸 United States

2 julio 2024

Paolo was a fantastic guide , providing historical context and a deep understanding of the town. He was also able to provide what turned out to be wonderful recommendations for restaurants and bars. Hire Paolo! Highly knowledgeable and friendly guide

Cherita🇺🇸 United States

24 junio 2024

Frederik was so knowledgeable and excited to share his city with us. He gave us some history and took us to a great little local shop for wine and several dishes. He kept us away from the tourist traps and the owner of the shop, Paulo, was very welcoming. I definitely recommend this tour. Fantastic tour!

Sean🇺🇸 United States

24 junio 2024

Paolo was wonderful and fun. He knows EVERYTHING about Bologna. He gave great restaurant recommendations too.Fantastic experience

Sue

17 junio 2024

We booked a last minute food tour with Paolo to learn more about the food in Bologna. It was well worth our time. Paolo was knowledgeable about the food and the city of Bologna. We learned a lot about the city and food that we may not have learned had we not done this tour. Paolo was delightful and we enjoyed our time with him. Great food tour with Paolo

Marco

1 junio 2024

Paolo war sehr nett und fachkundig. Er konnte viel zum Essen und der Stadt erzählen. Leider hat er die Tour bereits nach zwei statt nach drei Stunden Stunden beendet. Auch die Essensauswahl war sehr überschaubar. Dafür war die Tour deutlich zu teuer. Schöne Tour, leider viel zu kurz