• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Carbon Neutral

An amazing walk around the historical city center of Bologna and its roman and medieval secrets. After which, depending on the time of day you prefer, a lunch or dinner with typical Bolognese food!

Destination

Bologna, Italy

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano, Español

Included

• Private guide
• Meals

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 Paolo.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Piazza Maggiore - 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. Meeting

   Meet up at Piazza Maggiore, behind the statue of Neptune.

4. Explore

   Starting from Piazza Maggiore, historical explanation of the city

5. Visit

   We will visit the main places of interest and city secrets

6. Lunch or Dinner

   Depending on the time of your choice, we will go for either lunch or dinner in a local trattoria.

7. End of tour

   After a plentiful and lovely meal, I will reaccompany you to the meeting point and I will share more travel tips on Emilia Romagna

8. 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.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

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

Richard 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

10 September 2022

Paulo shared his deep historic and cultural knowledge of his home town and alma mater, Bologna, with us over a memorable 3 hour personal tour of the city. His research is impeccable and he lightens the subject with cheeky anecdotes and off-the-cuff remarks which personalise the experience (now I can compare myself to a God, not just a mere mortal)! The tour was capped off with an excellent lunch of local cold meats and pastas washed down with a refreshing regional sparkling wine during which Paulo entertained us with stories from his student days and former career. As with all enthralling lunchtime conversations, we then proceeded to resolve the problems of the World and compare our love of 70s rock music! Ciao, Paulo!Bologna with Paulo

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

7 May 2022

We enjoyed our tour with Paulo. He really knows his history and obviously loves sharing it! We also enjoyed sitting down to a traditional Italian lunch and engaging in conversation. We feel like we have gotten to know Bologna and it's food quite well for first-timers!Bologna lunch and History Tour

njlondon

26 May 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 May 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 May 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 May 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

Mary

17 April 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 April 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

Jamie🇺🇸 United States

5 April 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!

Sally

19 January 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!

Hilary🇺🇸 United States

2 December 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!

Thomas E🇺🇸 United States

20 October 2024

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

Margaret🇺🇸 United States

15 October 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

Yvonne 🇨🇭 Switzerland

18 September 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

George

12 September 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 August 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 July 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 July 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 July 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 July 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

Sean🇺🇸 United States

24 June 2024

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

Sue

17 June 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 June 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

Keith

23 May 2024

We had a fabulous tour of Bologna with Paolo. He was the perfect host for our 10 tastings tour. 10 tastings of Bologna

Ingrid🇺🇸 United States

14 May 2024

I enjoyed every minute of my tour with Paolo. He is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Bologna!! I highly recommend this tour for a customized exploration of the city!Excellent local guide!!

Anja

31 March 2024

It was a wonderful and special day with Paolo. He had to handle a family with 3 Teenager and he made it perfect ☺️ He showed us delicious street food and had a lot of knowledge about history things. Thanks for the day, Paolo! Tasty Bologna

Peter🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 October 2023

Paolo was very friendly and a real fun character. He was very knowledgeable about Bologna and local foods. I would highly recommend. Great guide and a Fun day out

Jason🇨🇦 Canada

31 August 2023

We had a great time with Paolo - the tour was equal parts history, learning about Bologna, and delicious. Paolo's sense of humour turned a tour with a guide into a walk around Bologna with a friend. Highly recommended! Fantastic experience in Bologna!

Gill🇬🇧 United Kingdom

13 August 2023

Was a pleasure meeting Paolo and exploring Bologna with him; seeing his city, tasting the foods and learning about both the city and food history. Very informative, presented with humour and passion.Passionate Paolo

Mark🇺🇸 United States

29 July 2023

Overall, it was a pretty good experience. Things started off a little shaky, when I went to the wrong door and after a little bit of confusion he met up with this but he seemed a bit miffed at the snafu. Not a great beginning. He had put together a good tour and we really did enjoy it. However, there were times when he seemed either distracted and or a disinterested, and he was on his phone quite a bit. He also didn't give us any introductory overview of what to expect, and my tour partner had to ask him what do we expect. He actually seemed surprised by the question. Probably the highlight of the tour was where we ended up; a cute little bar area where you can bring in your own food that dated back to the 1400s. It truly seemed like a little hole in the wall, and we felt like the locals who knew about a private little spot. Great food, but could have been better

Bradie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

11 July 2023

We had a great time on our Tour with Paolo. We tasted local dishes and wines and received some great recommendations for restaurants and places to explore in Bologna. Overall a brilliant day and would recommend to others. Great tour with Paolo

Melanie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 July 2023

Paolo was a great guide - we tasted many different flavours of Bologna. Everything we ate was delicious and felt very authentic Bolognese. Paolo explained lots of the local customs and ways of eating. The Osteria was a revelation - who knew we’d like Lambrusco. All ghosts of teenage parties were laid to rest! Thanks to Paolo for a great intro. As I write this we are sitting in one of the bars he has recommended, it has not disappointed. We recommend Paolo 100%. Find the hidden food dpots of Bologna

Amy🇺🇸 United States

27 May 2023

Did a tour with Paolo and I highly recommend! He was so knowledgeable about the history of Bologna and his passion for the city and Italy can’t be missed! He went above and beyond sharing more about Italian culture and lifestyle. We found his approach refreshing making sure this wasn’t just your basic tour but something customized to our interests. Must Do Tour!

Mathijs🇳🇱 Netherlands

25 April 2023

Paolo is een goede en integere gids, die uitstekend Engels spreekt en echt veel weet over Bologna. Tip is om je goed in te lezen want hierdoor worden de gesprekken alleen maar interessanter. Wij boekten een privé tour, waarbij eten en de hoogtepunten van de stad centraal stonden. Een prima introductie van de stad.Aardige en kundige gids

Theo🇨🇨 Cocos (Keeling) Islands

26 March 2023

Best tourguide experience we have ever had. Paulo is bar far the most passionate and entertaining and knowledgeble guide we have experience in the 10 years we are using guides. If anything, he is too cheap and should charge more for his servicePaulo

Uwe🇩🇪 Germany

22 March 2023

We had the pleasure of exploring Bologna with Paolo as our tour guide and all we can say is that it was an absolutely fantastic experience! Paolo has a deep knowledge of the city, its neighborhoods and people, and he was able to share his extensive knowledge with us in a way that really brought the city closer to us. What we particularly liked about Paolo was his ability to impart the knowledge in a fun and accessible way that was easy for all participants to understand. He told us fascinating stories and anecdotes about the city that helped us better understand its culture and history. In addition, Paolo was an extremely pleasant and nice guide. He was patient and attentive, making sure that all participants were doing well and were comfortable. He was also very flexible and was able to cater to our wants and interests to ensure we had the best possible experience. We would recommend Paolo to anyone looking for a private guided tour of Bologna. His knowledge and passion for the city is second to none and his ability to convey it is truly impressive. Thank you Paolo for a wonderful experience!Paolo👍👍👍

Leilani🇺🇸 United States

26 February 2023

Last week we did the 10 Tastings of Bologna tour with Paolo. There were three of us traveling in our small group and a slow elderly dog so we knew we needed a private tour. Prior to booking the tour, I used the WithLocals feature that allows you to send a message to the tour guides to ask them questions in advance. First I had to select our preferred date and time, and then select from the available tour guides. I decided to select Paolo to ask him if this type of tour accommodated dogs. I am really glad I selected Paola because he was immediately responsive and told me our situation was no problem. I went ahead and booked our tour with Paolo and it was a fantastic experience! We were very impressed with his knowledge of the history of the city of Bologna and how well he incorporated that into our food tour. He adjusted our tour accordingly throughout the day checking with our preferences and remaining very mindful to any of the likes/dislikes/allergies, etc., that he asked about prior to the tour beginning. The food was great and we loved that the tour was private. The bars and restaurants were all relatively packed and being part of a large non-private group would have been difficult. About a week or so prior to our tour, I had asked Paolo for a list of possible restaurants to consider for our one night in Bologna and he immediately provided a list of recommendations… I would suggest booking early though as every restaurant we called a week before the tour was already full. I would highly recommend choosing Paolo if your considering a tour in Bologna. Paolo was very friendly and funny throughout the tour and he really made us feel less that we were part of a tour but that we were just hanging out with a local!Awesome time with Paolo

Unknown

21 February 2023

We had the pleasure of experiencing "The 10 Tastings of Bologna" with Paolo this weekend, and it was a worthwhile experience. Unfortunately, we were a few minutes late due to parking in the city to meet him, but he still provided us with a great tour that lasted three hours. Paolo's knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion for Bologna's food, culture, and history were impressive. In many of the tastings, the vendors could share a little of their knowledge which made it fun. For example, some mentioned that Paolo gathered the food and headed to the Osteria, where they ate it. Unfortunately, they failed to note that it is the oldest Osteria in Bologna, dating back to 1465, and is the only Osteria where you can bring your food. The history of the signless Osteria and the proprietors was worth a visit. He offered us the option of going there with our food. Upon reflection, it would have been an incredible experience to have eaten the food in the Osteria as he explained why the various food tastings are special or unique while also offering you Bologna's rich history with the background of the lively Osteria. Our time with Paolo was fantastic, and I highly recommend him to those who want to experience Bologna passionately. I will be back to experience more!An Unexpected Experience

Oto🇦🇹 Austria

14 February 2023

Heyjoo🇸🇪 Sweden

1 November 2022

The tour started at 11 and ended at 12,45. It was not 3 hours tour. The food we had two sandwiches and bread with mortadella and one dessert, a bottle of wine. For sure it was not 10 different local dishes. I will not recommend this tour to my friends. Not worth money

Sean

25 October 2022

Paolo gave us a local's perspective yet had perfectly accented English. He adjusted his talk to our level of gastronomic knowledge, which we appreciated. We'd never have tried the food experiences he showed us without his help. Fun! insider's guide

Chris🇺🇸 United States

4 October 2022

We had a great tour with Paulo! He took us to a number of great shops and pointed out local delicacies we probably wouldn't have tried on our own. Even better, he provided great context on the culture of Bologna and shared his own unique perspective. His English is outstanding. Food and Culture!

Shannon🇺🇸 United States

27 September 2022

If you want to be entertained while learning the history of Bologna (not just about the food), take a tour with Paolo. It’s clear he loves his job, he has great relationships with the food vendors we visited, and has a wonderful sense of humor. For those who can’t speak Italian, he speaks excellent English, (sounds like he’s American). And to top it off, we received a list of his “must see” sites, restaurants, food stores, bars and wines, and can attest that he has great taste in dining! Thanks for a delightful three hours.Delightful, and that’s no baloney

Erin🇺🇸 United States

27 September 2022

Paolo was very passionate about Bologna and the food of the region. Unfortunately, I was unimpressed with the tour he delivered. Our tour was less than two hours even though we paid for a three hour tour. He was a bit unprofessional and made inappropriate comments throughout the tour. He was eating the food that we had paid for as part of the tour and left the tour to go smoke outside. Overall, we got a taste of the region but for 200+ euros I expected a much better experience. Bologna Tour

Fiona🇬🇧 United Kingdom

26 September 2022

If you are expecting a tasting tour with small stops along the way and tasting different specialities - this isn’t it. Instead it’s a case of Paolo buying a few things and then taking you to an osteria to eat them. On the plus side we went places we possibly wouldn’t have done and sampled a few things but it was not what I was expecting and was a huge amount of money for what it was. Paolo was disillusioned and cynical and as someone who works in tourism I found that particularly frustrating . This was a special occasion for a reunion and whilst we did learn something the whole experience was too long, lacking in content and overpriced . A shame. Make sure you understand the plan

Debra🇺🇸 United States

26 September 2022

We thoroughly enjoyed our 10 Tastings of Bologna tour with our guide Paolo. He has a great sense of humor -- which we enjoyed -- and was very informative about the various sites and passionate about the foods of Bologna. It was fun to go around to the various shops (where Paolo knows all the locals) before eating all our purchases at a fun (and old) wine bar that we never would have discovered on our own. Thanks, Paolo, for a fun, interesting and tasty morning!Terrific Tasty Tour

Susan🇺🇸 United States

23 September 2022

We were a group of 10 who have been on many food tours around the world. The tour felt like being a child and running errands with your mom. We literally followed him around from place to place as he ordered food and sometimes just standing around for 20 to 30 minutes waiting for the order. We felt like we were always in the way of other patrons. Very little information about the city and history of Bologna. By the time we got to the osteria to enjoy the food he had picked up, the entire group was starving and disgruntled. Paulo was very condescending and inappropriate at times. The entire tour was not fun. Not what we expected

Eddie🇺🇸 United States

23 September 2022

We had a great tour with Paolo. He’s passionate about the food and culture of Emilia-Romagna, knowledgeable and fun to talk with. We picked up food along the way and enjoyed it with a great bottle of pignoletto at the oldest osteria in Bologna. Bologna Food Tour

Dario🇨🇭 Switzerland

19 September 2022

Eine spannende Tour mit vielen Insights und witzigen Details. Genau das, was wir uns vorgestellt hatten. Da wir bereits gut informiert waren und italienisch sprechen … erhielten wir einen tieferen Einblick in Geschichte und Kultur. Paolo verfügt über ein profundes Wissen und schüttelt die eine oder andere Anekdote locker aus dem Ärmel. Sehr gut. Grazie!Customized, interessant und witzig

Shelley🇦🇺 Australia

16 September 2022

Paolo is an entertaining and knowledgeable guide. Unfortunately he was often distracted during our tour by calls on his mobile. Along with long chats to shop owners, Paolo’s attention often seemed to be elsewhere and we were a little disappointed with the tour. Still we did get to taste some good food and learn about the history of the region, but the whole experience could have and should have been better.