• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Did you know that the Bologna tour of your dreams exists? Yes! On this 100% personalized tour, your wishes will come true, thanks to your local host. Customize and see only the places that spark your interest. From classics like Basilica to neighborhood walks - Your wishes are our command!

Destination

Bologna, Italy

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano, Dansk, Español, Français

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Tour does not include entrance tickets
• tasting or transport
• All can be arranged with your host through a personalized offer

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 6 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 Giannino Stoppani Bookshop - 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. 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

Sean

(About local Isadora)

7 December 2024

Our family took a day trip to Bologna. We were staying in Florence for a week. We took the high speed rail (great experience). To kick-off our time in Bologna, we booked a 3 hour walking tour with Isadora. We're so happy we decided to do this. Isadora was engaging, knowledgeable, and so much fun! Highly recommend! Fantastic time with Isadora!

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Frederik)

1 November 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

Erin🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Frederik)

13 October 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

Eric🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luca)

10 September 2024

This was our first visit to Bologna. Luca provided a great introduction to the city. He is VERY knowledgeable about the history of the city which gave us insights we never would have otherwise known. Our time with Luca was personalized and attentive and appreciated. Highly recommended. Luca was Great !

Emily🇺🇸 United States

(About local Marco)

13 July 2024

We are so glad we booked a tour to see Bologna with a local! Super easy experience and good communication. Marco was a fabulous guide! He was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and knew all the good places to eat! He went above and beyond to help my son who has Celiac’s Disease find good places to eat with gluten free options. Our family made wonderful memories and got to see way more of the city with this tour. Highlights were the incredible gelato at the Cremeria Cavour and coffee treat. We tasted balsamic vinegars, and explored many of Bologna’s churches. Marco is a tremendous guide and we highly recommend booking one of his tours. Thank you, Marco!!!Perfect!

Vicky🇺🇸 United States

(About local Luca)

15 September 2023

Luca was our guide for this personal tour of Bologna and I can’t say enough great things about the experience. Luca took the time to get to know us and what we would like to see and delivered. He showed us the popular spots but also some off the beaten path areas. He got us a sampling of the amazing food and we visited the oldest bar in Bologna. He also gave us some suggestions for sights to see in Milan as we were going to be there later on our journey. If you’re planning a trip to Bologna you need to book this tour! Highly Recommend!

Amy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Paolo)

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!

Uwe🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Paolo)

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👍👍👍

William🇺🇸 United States

(About local Isadora)

29 June 2022

Isadora planned a perfect food tour throughout Emilia-Romagna, taking us to a reggiano-parmigiano factory, prosciutto factory, and balsamic vinegar producer. It was a fascinating and delicious day! Isadora is a food expert and wine connoisseur who expertly answered all our food and wine questions, and gave many great recommendations. Her English is excellent and she is both charming and entertaining. Outstanding Food Tour with an Expert

Michel🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Isadora)

16 July 2021

We met in our hotel and she was just great. She knows a lot and so friendly.M wife abd I wanted a good impression of the city and it was very nice; try local food, look how pasta is made Italian style, history of the town, drink local in the oldest bar in town and even brought a special rice cake with her… if you go to Bologna do take Isadora you will not regret it….The best guide in Bologna

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

Kristopher🇺🇸 United States

(About local Stephanie)

31 May 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

(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

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

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

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

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

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

Eric🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Stephanie)

5 April 2025

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

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!

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

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

Liam

(About local Frederik)

18 February 2025

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

Unknown

(About local Isadora)

31 January 2025

Isadora was an excellent guide very informative. Would highly recommend! She also has great taste in restaurants!! Claudio Fasulo Amazing

Tony

(About local Isadora)

31 January 2025

What a great 3 hours spent with Isadora. A great story teller , personable and so interesting. We learned so many amazing facts about Bologna. Which we never would have without this tour. To top it off Isadora gave us 2 amazing recommendations for restaurants. We did them both and they were beyond amazing!!! Thank youAmazing must do!

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!!!

John

(About local Barbara Eletta)

12 January 2025

Barbara's love for her city becomes evident very quickly and you get absorbed in her passion and respect for Bologna. The secrets and the history this city holds blew my mind and it was great to have Barbara with us to narrate and navigate the city streets and past.Knowledge and Passion

Heinz🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Stephanie)

9 January 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

(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

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

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