• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Ready to taste the best food in Bologna? Satisfy your cravings for local food and culture with highlights along the way, together with a foodie host. Enjoy 10 delicious and typical tastings that range from sweet to savory as well as drinks on a tasty food tour in Bologna.

Destination

Bologna, Italy

Category

Food Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano, Dansk, Español, Français, 日本語, Nederlands

Included

• Private Guide
• 10 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 10 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. 10 Tastings

   This tour includes 10 food and drink tastings. Your local host has hand-picked each one of the tastings based on their love for food, and knowledge of the city. Enjoy only the most authentic bites the city has to offer!

4. The Classics

   A food tour in Bologna would not be complete without the most typical and beloved dishes in town. Enjoy a bite of the ultimate classics, tortellini fritti and formaggio bianco, and taste them in their true local flavor!

5. Locals’ Favorites

   Discover more of the local cuisine by trying some of the ultimate locals’ favorites food treats. Try unique food, typical of Bologna picked by your local host and hear why they love it so much!

6. Typical Drinks

   With drinks included as part of the tastings this real experience comes with a real local spirit! Your local host will quench your thirst with a selection of drinks like coffee, unique beverages, and alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) cocktails, wine and beer

7. 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. From food, drinks, must-sees and local hot spots; this tour has everything on the menu!

8. Vegetarian Alternative

   Looking for a vegetarian alternative? It’s possible! The tour has been created with alternative tastings to fit your preferences. Just let your host know!

9. 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 take that into consideration so you can have an enjoyable and safe experience

10. 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

Joan

(About local GIUSEPPE)

24 February 2025

Not only did Giuseppe introduce us to the special foods and places in Bologna, but by the time we separated, it felt like we were saying goodbye to an old friend. We won’t share where Giuseppe took us (you’ll need to do a tour with him😉), but we had an assortment of food experiences we would not find anywhere else, including gelato that will likely be the last we’ll ever have because there’s no point in going back to the gelato we are used to elsewhere, and a stop in a place that is so unique we’ve not seen anything like it anywhere in the world. In addition to the food, Giuseppe shared local history and a passion for Bologna. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. (When you meet Giuseppe, you will understand why his photo shows him holding a huge sheet of pasta). Fantastic afternoon with Giuseppe.

r648x5qgk7

(About local GIUSEPPE)

17 February 2025

Our food tour with Giuseppe was wonderful. He was engaging, shared his passion for Bologna, the food, and culture. We tried so many delicious tastes, including my favorite the regional pesto sandwich. molto delicato Grazie Mille Giuseppe!Eccellente

Alice

(About local GIUSEPPE)

15 February 2025

My husband and I had a great time with Giuseppe. He was really knowledgeable, told us loads about the food and drink we were trying and took us to some interesting places. The food and drink was amazing! We would highly recommend Giuseppe! A great tour!

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

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

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!

Katharine Neubauer🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

21 November 2024

Spending the morning with Giuseppe in Bologna was a huge treat! He chose to introduce us to the finest purveyors of all yummy things Bologna. He is charming and knowledgeable, and was so enjoyable to spend time with. We highly recommend you choose him as your local to explore this incredible city with its rich cultural and gastronomic heritage. Totally worth the price!A perfect morning in Bologna!

marykthornton12🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luca)

20 November 2024

Our tour with Luca was fun, personal, and interesting! He knew a lot about the city and food and took us to some great spots. Great time in Bologna with Luca!

michael🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Marco)

1 November 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed our food walking tour with Marco this week. Marco was an excellent guide providing us with a blend of information about regional produce and the history of Bologna. He is clearly someone who has a deep knowledge and love of local foods and wines. His manner was relaxed but his talk full of insight and humorous anecdotes whilst patiently answering our questions. The three hours of our tour passed quickly, and we particularly enjoyed the visits to the herb market where we tasted samples of balsamic vinegar and local hams, and the atmospheric Osteria Del Sole. This tour was not cheap, but Marco made it good value. Tom Sarah and Michael Tastes of Bologna Oct 24

Paula

(About local GIUSEPPE)

30 October 2024

I like that Giuseppe took us to the mercado delle erbe. It is away from the main tourist areas. There he connected us with authentic fresh pasta makers where we enjoyed fresh tortellini in broth and fresh tortelloni with butter and parmesan right there. He explained that there are fewer fresh handmade pasta shops and this was one of the best. We also visited an olive & grocery vendor, and a cheese & prosciutto shop where he purchased samples of foods we would consume later. Giuseppe used to run a pasta making business so he was very knowledgeable about this. He was very friendly and personally knew the vendors here. We witnessed Giuseppe helping out the roast chicken proprietor remove a rack of hot chicken from the rotisserie because her husband couldn't work that day. Giuseppe was truly knowledgeable and genuine.Authentic Bologna Experience

Terrie🇮🇹 Italy

(About local GIUSEPPE)

29 October 2024

Our tour with Giuseppe was exactly what we wanted in a food tour, a tour With Locals. Giuseppe shared his favorite foods, stories and himself. He was thoughtful and considerate, even cleaning the table before we had our first taste. Grazie Giuseppe!Passionate about Bologna

Steve🇳🇴 Norway

(About local Marco)

29 October 2024

Marco was a great host, very personable and full of information. We really enjoyed a nice evening with him and a lot of wonderful food. He took us to some great spots that we would not have found as tourists and made us feel very welcome. Great food and wine. It seems everyone in bologna knows Marco too, and that was really nice and added to our experience. Our only regret is that we should have done this tour on our first night here instead of the last. Highly recommend this tour, definitely worth a little extra money to book this instead of via tour. Fantastic evening with Marco

Beth🇦🇺 Australia

(About local mauro)

28 October 2024

Mauro took us on a unique journey through Bologna to some of his favorite places. He was so knowledgeable and ensured we were treated to more than just the classic Bologna dishes. He also explained the iconic Bologna 'porticos' and took us to Basilica Santuario Santo Stefano. If you love food and have already done the classics like Tortellini in Brodo and Ragu, look no further than a day out with Mauro. A great way to explore Bologna!

Jay🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

24 October 2024

When I first contacted Giuseppe I explained that my wife had mobility limitations and we would would like to do a foodie tour but without much walking. He assured me this was possible, and I decided to give him a try. This was a fantastic decision! We booked Giuseppe several months before our vacation. A week before we left he sent a quick confirming email which was a nice point of reassurance. He had arranged for a private driver to meet us at the train station since we could not walk from the station to the customary tour meeting point. A day before the booking he emailed to confirm our train reservations. To my surprise, Giuseppe met us on the train platform! He took us to the private car, gave directions to the driver, and then followed us on his scooter. We went to the open market in the historic center, where he took us to various booths to sample a variety of local olives and giardiniera, watched proprietors make and cook for us several kinds of filled fresh pastas, discussed the wide variety of cheeses and hams available at a historic shop, choosing several to compare, and paired everything with his recommended local wine. He then cleaned a sampling table for us and we enjoyed everything while he further discussed the selections and answered any questions we had. He accomplished this within a circumference of about 25 yards! We then cut through the courtyard of the world's oldest university (started in 1088) as the quickest route to the city's main piazza. He offered an historical discussion that lasted just long enough to get us to a bar across the piazza for caffé and local dolci. When the tour was complete Giuseppe took us, at our request, to a nearby shop where we could buy Modena balsamic vinegar. He waited until we finished that shopping, and then led us a half-block to a major intersection where we waited while he called a cab for us to get us back to the train station. Giuseppe provided a highly creative approach and was attentive to our special needs beyond anything we could have imagined.Creatively attentive to our special needs

Dan

(About local Hermes)

24 October 2024

Hermes was very friendly and a pleasure to be with . His command of English was exceptional. Walking through the markets and smaller shops was a great way to experience the day to day lives of the Bolognese. We would not hesitate to do another tour with Hermes. No excuse for not eating well in Bologna

Kate🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sarah)

21 October 2024

Sarah is very knowledgeable about wines and gave us a great insight into some of the most iconic foods of the region, as well as a little information about the city throughout the tour. She was very generous with her time, and helpful with her communications before meeting. The tastings were spot on in terms of variety and quantities. All in all the tour gave us a great introduction to city and its culinary offerings, and left us only hungry to explore more! Definitely recommended.Great intro to Bologna's food and wine

Thomas E🇺🇸 United States

(About local Paolo)

20 October 2024

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

Daniel

(About local GIUSEPPE)

18 October 2024

A very informative cultural and taste experience. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality and depth of the information provided by Giuseppe and the food & beverage tastings were unique and well varied.a great & unique experience

Sandra

(About local Frederik)

16 October 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

(About local Paolo)

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

Carole

(About local Frederik)

10 October 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

Jeff🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

7 October 2024

Giuseppe was a great host and guide - our small group (me, wife and mother in law) learned a lot about Bologna’s unique foods and also saw some of the city and landmarks. Giuseppe is clearly passionate about his home town - would recommend him if you’re looking for more personalized tour than the larger tour groups we saw. Great lesson in Bologna food and culture

Christal

(About local Sarah)

3 October 2024

I'm a demo cooking instructor and my husband is reallly into wines -- Sarah curated a wonderful food and wine tour that met all our interests and expectations. She always managed to throw in wonderful stories and history tidbits about Bologna and we never would have found anywhere else. Loved her, loved the tour! Sarah KNOWS Bologna!

Cynthia🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

2 October 2024

Giuseppe gave us the best food tour! He took us to places locals visit and that he liked. All were so delicious! He gave us some history lessons as we were walking and answered all our questions. He was so nice and I would definitely recommend this tour!Great experience!

Randy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luca)

1 October 2024

Luca is articulate, organized, personable, and passionate about his city and its food. He has spent years in the US and understands our peculiarities. He is flexible, and geared our tour towards foods we had not yet sampled. Highly recommend Luca!Intelligent, passionate and fun

Barbara 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luca)

27 September 2024

Luva was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable about the city of Bologna, its food and culture. He was very adept at integrating information about the city and its history as we walked to different stops to taste many foods native to the area. He took his time with us and was very helpful to suggest what else to see in the city in our own. He gave us directions to get back to the train station that included a stop at a great place for gelato. The group was very impressed with Luca Excellent

Elaine

(About local Luca)

26 September 2024

Laura🇦🇺 Australia

(About local GIUSEPPE)

20 September 2024

My daughter and I loved our 3 hour tour with Guiseppe. We tasted wonderful food and learned so much. So good to spend time with a local and have the ability to ask so many questions. It was a wet day in Bologna and this was the perfect way to enjoy it. A must do tour in Bologna

Richard

(About local Frederik)

19 September 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

EDWIN

(About local Luca)

18 September 2024

Our group of four had a great time with Luca. He’s got a lot to teach on local food and drink as well as the history of the city. I like that he has multiple stops set up. He has an easy manner and does a great job of making you feel welcome in this truly unique city. Get out there and sign up for this one….you won’t be sorry! Great experience in Bologna

Yvonne 🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Paolo)

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

Peter🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sarah)

17 September 2024

We’re so grateful to Sarah for such an enjoyable time. The ten tastings of Bologna more than lived up to its name. We really appreciated how Sarah adapted the tour to the things we told her we liked, and the result was an afternoon that left us satisfied with the things we ate and drank as well as what we saw and learned of the city. The beautiful weather helped, of course, but that’s just a bonus. We peppered Sarah all kinds of questions, not just about the food, and she gave us great advice for the rest of our time in Bologna. Plus, she was so welcoming and friendly. We’re so happy we booked a tour with her!What a fantastic afternoon!

Corinna

(About local GIUSEPPE)

16 September 2024

Our group had a great tour where we were able to try delicious food and get a lot more information about it. We also learned a lot about the preparation and regional aspects. We had a lot of fun and a great time together. We recommend booking a tour with Giuseppe! You will not regret it.

Lynne

(About local Marco)

12 September 2024

We enjoyed our tour with Marco. He was very engaging and spoke excellent English. He knew a lot about the area and told us about more than just the food that we were enjoying. Answered all our questions. The food was great. Ten Tastes does not really capture the tour. We had certainly more than tastes We were stuffed by the end of the trip. Marco was willing to tailor the trip to our interests and experiences. Recommend taking the tour early in your visit to Bologna as it gives a good orientation to the city and its food.Great intro to Bologna

HUGH🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Luca)

5 September 2024

Luca’s knowledge combined with his engaging personality was the perfect mix for our three hour food tour of Bologna. The tastings were comprehensive and his recommendations have proved to be flawless. Luca’s tour is the best way to introduce yourselves to Bologna and the foods peculiar Emilia Romagna.We Lika Luca

Kim

(About local Jason)

4 September 2024

We had an enjoyable tour with Jason! He took us to try several local dishes and we had a balsamic vinegar tasting, ending with delicious gelato. Jason also left us with many additional suggestions of places to see and restaurants as well as giving us some local history along the way. Great tour by a local

Cathy🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Marco)

31 August 2024

Marco was very welcoming and immediately got us on our way to tasting a wonderful selection of Bologna based specialities. This is exactly what we'd hoped would be the case. A bit of Bolognese history thrown in as we moved from one venue to another. He also provided us with some helpful advice regarding other places of interest in Italy (particularly Ravenna and Naples). The food was really nice. Finishing off with a local cake and the best Macchiato we've ever had rounded out a great experience - thanks Marco.A brilliant Bologna food tour

Heather🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

31 August 2024

We spent a wonderful afternoon with Giuseppe! He shared his love of both the local food and insights into Bologna’s past. When we mentioned something we like to eat or have interest in, he said let me get you something else to try! All the vendors love him, describing him as their best and favorite customer. The fresh filled pasta, lasagne and carmelized onions, the mortadella and the ending gelato were all part of our memorable afternoon We felt very full and had a very special day!! Wonderful food tour with a lovely guide!

Helen🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local GIUSEPPE)

31 August 2024

Giuseppe is a very knowledgeable food expert who was a delight to be with. We learnt lots about the wonderful food in Bologna and tried some delicious wines. Excellent food tour

Jacklynn & Andrew🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

7 August 2024

Arrive hungry! Giuseppe gave us an amazing gastronomic experience sampling the best Bologna has to offer. We loved all of the food and Giuseppe’s explanation of the history of food in the region and his recommendations for sampling at each of the stops. Our favorite was the gelato which has been awarded one of the best in all of Italy. Highly recommend booking a tour with Giuseppe! You will not regret it.Amazing Bologna Food Tour!

Nial🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

2 August 2024

Giuseppe was a fantastic guide, we experienced some wonderful food, wine, ice cream, learned the secrets to a Bologna Lasagne, learned a lot about the history of the area, the history of the city. We had lots of questions and Giuseppe had all the answers, we all had a wonderful time and definitely recommend spending some time with Giuseppe’sGreat Food, Great Time, Learned alot

Joe🇺🇸 United States

(About local GIUSEPPE)

30 July 2024

The tour was low stress and very interesting. We did not feel rushed as we moved across town. Giuseppe did a wonderful job explaining the various types of food, how they are made and why they are local to Bologna. Low key tour!

Gabby🇺🇸 United States

(About local Marco)

25 July 2024

Marco went above and beyond to show us the local culture and food! amazing

Irwin

(About local Paolo)

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.

Karin🇦🇹 Austria

(About local GIUSEPPE)

17 July 2024

Unsere 3-stündige Food-Tour mit Giuseppe war perfekt! Super Essen, sehr nette Erklärungen dazu, außerdem Infos zur Stadt und zu den Leuten. Wir hatten 2 Kinder dabei, für die hat Giuseppe immer extra Sprite besorgt :-) und ist auf alle Wünsche eingegangen. Wir haben uns wirklich sehr wohl gefühlt! Mille grazie! Perfekt!

Jennifer🇺🇸 United States

(About local Paolo)

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