• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

The way to a city's heart it's through its food! And on this private food tour, you'll get to know Bologna through its cuisine and the tastings favorite of the locals. A local food expert is ready to give you a taste of the real Bologna satisfying your cravings for local food and city highlights.

Destination

Bologna, Italy

Category

Food Tours

Duration

2 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano, Română, Dansk, Español, Français

Included

• Private Guide
• 6 Local Food & Drink Tastings
• Vegetarian Options Available
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

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 the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at In front of 'Pollo e Patate Pollomino' - 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. Food Introduction

   This culinary kickstart tour is short and sweet! A perfect way to get acquainted with the local cuisine, its best tastings, and where to find them - all with the help of a local food expert

4. Locals’ Favorites

   Kickstart your time in Bologna by discovering the local cuisine. Try some of the ultimate locals’ favorite food treats like local cheeses and piadina picked by your local host and hear why the locals love them so much!

5. City Highlights

   This tour is more than just food; it’s a cultural experience! In between food stops, discover city highlights for a well-rounded experience that will satisfy your appetite for Bologna. Check out Basilica di San Domenico, Due Torri and more city highlights along the way

6. Food Recommendations

   With this private food tour, you’ll be set to keep enjoying the most authentic food and drinks in Bologna. Your food expert host knows where to go and what to order and will give you recommendations based on your likings and dietary preferences

7. Special Diet or Allergies?

   If you follow a special diet or have an allergy to a specific food, let your host know! They’ll make sure to consider that so you can have an enjoyable and safe experience

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.

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

Tim🇺🇸 United States

(About local Marco)

4 June 2025

We have a nice two hour tour with Marco - very knowledgeable and colorful fellow who helped us find some excellent local spots, including date some great foods and answered our questions and did a great job showing us around. We even got to try rolling tortellini which is a bit tricky ! We recommend Marco. Marco was great

Ernie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Frederik)

30 May 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

Thea

(About local Jason)

14 May 2025

Disappointing Start to Bologna's Culinary Scene – Feeling it was definitely not worth the money We recently joined a Foodies Tour in Bologna with high expectations. As accomplished home chefs with a deep appreciation for international cuisine and fine wines, we had shared our background with the tour guide in advance, hoping for an elevated, curated experience. We imagined being led by a knowledgeable, well-presented guide who would introduce us to the true culinary heart of Bologna. Unfortunately, the reality fell short. Our guide arrived casually dressed, lacking the professionalism or enthusiasm we had anticipated. While first impressions aren't everything, they do set the tone—and this one was disappointing. Our initial stop offered promise: a tasting of local balsamic vinegars of various ages and complexity. This was genuinely interesting and informative. However, the tour quickly lost momentum. We were shown shuttered storefronts—apparently historic, multi-generational family businesses—that were closed due to the time and day of our tour. It was baffling that the tour would be scheduled at a time when key locations weren’t even accessible. After a brief history of the Piazza Maggiore and the twin towers, we were led into a side alley and given a meager snack: a small ham and cheese toastie, halved for sharing. Next came a street food vendor serving lasagne—presented on a single paper plate with four forks for the group. This trend continued with a fast-food-style pasta place offering dry, claggy tortellini—again served communally. The final stop was perhaps the most disappointing: a food court, where we were left to choose from a selection of subpar local wines. The samples were of poor quality, and the guide made no effort to assist or educate us. By this point, the experience felt more like a poorly organized food crawl than a gourmet tour. The tour left us disillusioned—not just with the experience, but with Bologna itself. Fortunately, we decided to explore the city independently. Away from the tourist trail, we discovered charming eateries and hidden gems that truly showcased the region’s rich culinary heritage. With a little effort and curiosity, Bologna revealed itself to be a city full of delectable food, wonderful wines, and warm hospitality. In the end, while the Foodies Tour was a letdown, our own exploration brought us lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for this beautiful city. Our advice: skip the organized tour, and instead, let your palate—and your curiosity—lead the way. Definitely not worth the money

Esther🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Marco)

9 May 2025

Tolle geführte Tour. Tall Guy Marco hat uns ein paar schöne Ecken gezeigt :) War alles sehr schmackhaft, wenn auch der Preis etwas hoch. Vielen Dank Lecker

Sarah-jane🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jason)

3 March 2025

We had an incredible experience with Jason in Bologna! The food tour was a true highlight of our trip—Jason was knowledgeable, passionate and friendly. We got to taste a variety of authentic local dishes, from rich pastas to delicious cured meats, all while learning about the city’s rich culinary history. The pacing was perfect, allowing us to savor each stop without feeling rushed. It felt like a personal journey through Bologna’s food scene, and we left with a deeper appreciation for the local culture and flavors. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Bologna!Great intro to beautiful Bologna

Vicki🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Marco)

3 December 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed Marcos tour. Took us to places that we would have never found. From the markets where we met him to our final coffee stop each place was so interesting. Our highlight was Osteria del sole…..we have never experienced anything like it. So much history and we loved the concept of taking your own food. The balsamic tastings was a new level for us. Marco was the best. Highly recommend him.Foodies delight

Laura🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

19 November 2024

Jason was very passionate about his city and teaching us everything we needed to know. We did the food tour and it was fantastic. If you are going to understand Italian food, you must go to Bologna and do this tour. The tortellini will never be the same in the states again. I would come back to Bologna just to eat for a few days. Don't sleep on this town and don't sleep on Jason. Also - some reviewers said they didn't feel there was a lot of food - I have to disagree - go on this tour HUNGRY. I expected just a few bites but could easily make a meal out of this tour, unless you actually think that the food they serve at Olive Garden is "italian" and that their serving sides are normal... Jason was the Best

Sinead 🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Marco)

4 October 2024

Marco was a great tour guide and brought us to some amazing places! He also gave us some brilliant tips for our time in Bologna. Thanks Marco! Great tour!

Isak 🇩🇰 Denmark

(About local Marco)

13 September 2024

We had a really nice time with Marco! We got a lot of local insights and fun stories and Marco took us to some really great places for delicious food. We can definitely recommend it!Fun and informative tour with Marco!

Robert 🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Luca)

21 July 2024

Very pleasant private food tour with Luca! We learned things we would never have known about Bologna and its wonderful food and ate some really nice things along the way. I'd recommend that if you try something nice, like the Formaggio di fossa cheese, buy it there and then! very informative

Unknown

(About local Luca)

9 July 2024

We scheduled our tour with Luca for soon after we arrived in Bologna. That proved to be a great decision. Luca introduced us to the local markets and specialty foods as well as gave an excellent overview of things and recommendations for restaurants and sites of interest. After the tour when we were looking for a place to watch F1 racing, he responded to our message and sent to the right place. Top level. I highly recommend Luca. Luca is great

Cherita🇺🇸 United States

(About local Frederik)

24 June 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!

Roy🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Luca)

30 April 2024

Luca is a great storyteller, he knows as much from food and his city Bologna. We loved the combination of history and food on our first day (with a real local guide). It makes us feel home. Thank you Luca for the amazing kickoff.(Food)Storyteller

Denise🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Luca)

14 March 2024

Luca is an exceptional guide who was able to pass on an insider’s knowledge of the city. We like Bologna before the tour - but we loved it afterwards! You will be able to find the best places to eat and visit with a personalised map with suggestions provided by Luca afterwards. Do yourself a favour and book a tour with locals. We highly recommend Luca.Wonderful insight into food and culture

gillian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Luca)

14 September 2023

We though Luca was a great guide and had a we really appreciated the information about the City and the food .Great experience!

Greg🇺🇸 United States

(About local Riccardo)

4 June 2025

My wife and I had a fantastic experience with Riccardo. He met us at the train station and for the next 3 hours we discovered the history and beauty of Bologna. It truly is a 'sleeper' city in Italy. As a former history professor at the local university, Riccardo possesses an incredible level of historical knowledge and passion for the city of Bologna. His tour is one of the best we have ever done. Bologna Day Trip

Laura🇺🇸 United States

(About local Riccardo)

29 May 2025

Riccardo is a fantastic tour guide. He knows so much about medieval history and the mosaics at Ravenna. I have a PhD in history and I walked away with so much new knowledge! He also structured the tour perfectly, showing me the most impressive mosaics last so they are still in my mind. We had a lovely lunch with lively conversation. Wonderful person, great guide, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!Very friendly and knowledgeable

njlondon

(About local Paolo)

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

Brenda🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

23 May 2025

Jason was very knowledgeable and provided context for interesting sites and food stops. Loved learning about and sampling local dishes from family run local businesses and was very understanding and flexible when I got delayed in meeting up with him. It was very worthwhile to spend my only free time touring with Jason!Fun walking food tasting tour!

James

(About local Paolo)

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

(About local Paolo)

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

(About local Paolo)

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

Greg🇺🇸 United States

(About local Riccardo)

13 May 2025

This is my favorite Riccardo moment—entering a nondescript residential building and showing us a 16th century circular staircase designed in the mannerist style—then walking us to the top of the steps to take in a breathtaking view of the city. We were the only people there. Riccardo’s story to tell is that Bologna is one of the most well-preserved cities in Europe, and that one didn’t need to go to a museum to see these wonders—they were everywhere, on the streets, in the buildings where people live and work. Medieval houses with original wood frames? Medieval towers? Look around you. Want to see a painting by Fillipino Lippi, not on a museum wall, but hanging in the exact location where it was painted for? Here you go. He knows his history, art history, and had boundless energy. Bologna really came alive with his tour—a living city with a rich history. Highly recmmend. Bringing Bologna to Life

Alison🇺🇸 United States

(About local Riccardo)

11 May 2025

Riccardo was one of the most passionate and knowledgeable guides we've had. Having been a professor, his level of expertise was unmatched, and he was very diligent about taking good care of his customers. We had a lovely day learning about the beautiful art, architecture, and history of Bologna.Highly recommend!

Mikaela🇫🇮 Finland

(About local Riccardo)

7 May 2025

We had a fantastic 3,5 hour tour, with focus on art and history according to our wish. And saw many hidden gems/art treasures. I could not imagine a better guide. Wish the tour would have lasted 2 more hours. Bologna tour with Riccardo

Kerry🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Jason)

6 May 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 hrs with Jason. He packed a lot into the short time we had with him. Starting in the Piazza Maggiore, which is surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, he gave us a fantastic overview of the history and culture of Bologna over the following 3 hrs. We visited the Basilica of St Petronius, the “unfinished church” and the collection of historic, and ancient churches that make up St Stephen’s, which were fascinating. Additionally we walked through the market/foodie area, which had all manner of specialist providers, bars and restaurants. Jason’s tour gave us a real taste of Bologna, which we could expand upon over the remainder of our stay. He also followed up the tour with a lovely message containing additional information, including restaurant recommendations in Bologna, which was appreciated . Jason’s enthusiasm for his city, and its history and culture was palpable, and we would highly recommend doing this tour with Jason. Fabulous introduction to Bologna

Claire

(About local Jason)

30 April 2025

Jason is passionate about Bologna and knows a lot about the city. It was a great introduction to Bologna, with facts about the culture, history, food. My 15 years old was also interested the whole time, but my 11 years old found it too long and not enough adapted to his age and interest.A great overview of Bologna!

Andreas

(About local Frederik)

27 April 2025

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

Madalene 🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Marco)

22 April 2025

We enjoyed the food tour with Marco, it was very interesting to learn about different foods in Bologna. Food was really good and more than enough, topped with the best gelato. Marco spend time with us and very willing to answer questions Excellent foodtour with Marco

Mary

(About local Paolo)

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

JO ANN🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

16 April 2025

Jason was great. very knowledgable on time kept in touch with us prior and gave a great recommendation list for after the tour Highly recommend Great experience

Jean

(About local Paolo)

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

Marjon

(About local Luca)

7 April 2025

Luca told us a lot about the city and took us to nice places where we tasted typical bolognese dishes and delicious wine. I eat gluten-free and he has done his best to arrange alternatives for me while my family enjoyed the pasta and cake. Thanks Luca!Great experience

Jamie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Paolo)

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!

Shane🇺🇸 United States

(About local Riccardo)

17 March 2025

What a great tour we had with Riccardo! He is very passionate and knowledgeable about Bologna and on any historical topic we were interested in. He took us all over the city. If you are an art and history lover, Riccardo is your man! We highly recommend him! Do yourself a favor and book a tour with him. The tour was One of the highlights of our trip and a new understanding of this beautiful city of Bologna.Fantastic tour of Bologna with Riccardo!

Erika🇺🇸 United States

(About local Marco)

14 March 2025

Marco is a true insider who deftly handled any good related questions we threw at him. We navigated Bologna with several bonus stops. Highly recommend.Thereof no substitute for experience

Danielle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

14 March 2025

Jason was an excellent guide. He brought so much interesting information to the tour. We were a group aged 13-48, and we all had an incredible time on the tour. Highly recommend. You'll gain much insight into the sites you are seeing. Excellent recommendations for food as well! Tour in Bologna

Liam

(About local Frederik)

18 February 2025

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

Edward🇺🇸 United States

(About local Riccardo)

16 February 2025

Riccardo's academic knowledge of the architecture, history and art of Bologna was astounding. I hardly felt worthy being tutored by him with his profound breadth of expertise in all things cultural in magnificent Bologna. He is a professor and personally helped to identify hundreds of things that are now protected as a world heritage items. His enthusiasm and love of his city is infectious and it deepened our appreciation of it profoundly. We are so thankful to have had Riccardo make our visit so educational and unforgettable.Incredible Ambassador of Bologna

Sally

(About local Paolo)

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!

John

(About local Marco)

12 January 2025

Marco is larger then life, both in personality and stature. His knowledge of the food scence in Bologna and surrounding areas is matched with his love and passion for it. Lucky this is a walking tour, because we needed. Each meal was amazing. Marco was also adaptive with his itinerary, as we told him we had already done a city walking tour, so he took as to other locations in the city, which we didn't explore previously.I'm still full!!!

Ron🇺🇸 United States

(About local Frederik)

29 December 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

Michelle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Marco)

27 December 2024

Marco is a special character and we thoroughly enjoyed our day with him. He showed us lots of places the locals go, was full of great tips, very knowledgeable, and of course the food samples were spot on. We’d do it again just to peel a layer deeper. Thank you Marco! Great day with Marco

Miriam🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

27 December 2024

Jason was a pleasure and full of great information. My two adult sons and teenager all enjoyed his tour. It was a holiday so lots of places were closed and yet Jason figured it all out for us. Great Tour

Charles🇺🇸 United States

(About local Frederik)

21 December 2024

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

Kim🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

20 December 2024

We’ve done several tours through WithLocals both as a couple and with friends. Jason’s kickstarter tour of Bologna is the best we’ve done. It was exactly what you would expect of a kickstarter tour. Jason’s deep knowledge of the city and its history gave us the insight to know exactly where we wanted to spend our limited time in Bologna. He gave us the story behind each of the city’s landmarks and great suggestions on what to do, see, and eat while in Bologna. Don’t miss this tour!Don’t Miss Jason’s Tour

Joe🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luca)

9 December 2024

We had a wonderful day eating our way through Bologna with Luca. He is really a wonderful guide and was very accommodating of us traveling with our toddler. Highly recommend a tour with Luca if you're in Bologna. Awesome Day Eating our Way Through Bologna

Nina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

7 December 2024

Jason was a joy to go on a walking tour with. He was incredibly informative and very knowledgeable as well. It was a very well worth it 2 hour tour!! Do not miss this opportunity.Great Day in Bologna

Hilary🇺🇸 United States

(About local Paolo)

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!

Els

(About local Jason)

30 November 2024