Eating Bologna Food and Wine Tour
Description
Welcome to Bologna, where medieval streets lead to bustling markets, and every meal tells a story. With its rich history and world-famous cuisine, this city is a dream for food lovers. On this three-hour food tour, you’ll explore the Quadrilatero, Mercato di Mezzo, and the lively University District. Taste fresh pasta with rich Bolognese sauce at family-run trattorias, enjoy handmade tortellini, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, artisanal cured meats, and exquisite balsamic vinegar—each bite packed with tradition. Pair it all with local sparkling wines, and you’ll see why Bologna is called “La Grassa” (The Fat). Join us for 10 delicious tastings, great wine, and the fascinating stories behind Bologna’s incredible food scene.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Piazza Maggiore, the heart of Bologna since 1200, is surrounded by historic landmarks like the Basilica of San Petronio and the Neptune Fountain. Once a hub for trade and civic life, it remains the city's main gathering place.
We'll visit a traditional delicatessen, a local institution known for its top-quality cured meats, where you'll try different types of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese with Balsamic Vinegar. Nearby, we’ll see skilled ladies, the 'sfogline', making pasta by handand, and you'll also try it yourself!
Step inside a historic Bolognese deli rooted in family tradition and craftsmanship. Discover high-quality local products and enjoy a tasting of classic mortadella paired with homemade local focaccia.
Mercato di Mezzo has been a hub of flavors and trade since medieval times. Transformed into Bologna’s first covered market after Italian unification, it was revitalized in 2014 and now offers local food and wine specialties.
One of Bologna’s oldest bakeries, family-run since the late 19th century and still preserving its original charm. Discover a long tradition of artisanal baking and enjoy a tasting of their classic rice cake, a beloved local specialty.
The Two Towers are iconic symbols of Bologna, marking the ancient Via Emilia’s entrance. Built in the 12th century, they reflect Bologna’s past power and prestige, with one offering panoramic views and the other famed for its dramatic tilt.
At a neighborhood pillar for three decades, we'll taste true local flavors. Savor a tasting of rich Friggione and traditional tigella (or crescentina) topped with delicate prosciutto, along with Lambrusco wine.
This historic osteria was named after the bell factory located there. Soak in its rich past, from papal births to student confraternities and ancient frescos. Enjoy a tasting of tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce, tortelloni in sage and butter, with Pignoletto wine and finish with an espresso and a chocolate tortellino.
Since the 18th century, this area of Bologna has become a cultural hub, with the University of Bologna moving its Dean's offices to Palazzo Poggi in 1803. Today, it's the city's student district, blending historic buildings with contemporary street art and graffiti.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This activity requires a minimum of 2 guests. Should this not be met, we will contact you directly to help you get rescheduled or reimbursed.
- Children under 4 years old do not need a ticket and can join the tour for free. However, food is not included. Paid tickets with food included are available for ages 4 and up.
- Please note that the tastings mentioned are a selection of the delicious foods we often feature. Both offerings and tour stops may vary by day or season, but you're sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!
- Have dietary requirements? Simply email us or add a note at booking, and we’ll do our best to accommodate vegetarians, gluten-free guests or other dietary needs where we can. For guest safety, this experience isn’t suitable for those with severe or life-threatening food allergies to ingredients found on the tour, and the company cannot take responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances.
Reviews(148)
Ella was amazing and very informative. We had a wonderful time.
Thank you so much for the review! We're thrilled to hear you had a wonderful time exploring with Ela and that you found the tour so informative. It was a pleasure hosting you!
An amazing, authentic dive into Bologna food culture and history! Ela was a phenomenal guide-knowledgeable, personable, and a pleasure to spend time with. All tasting were authentic, and off the beaten path. Highly recommended!
This is music to our ears! We love taking our guests off the beaten path to uncover the real history and flavors of Bologna. Ela is truly fantastic at what she does, and we are so happy you enjoyed her company. Grazie mille for the high recommendation!
Excellent tour! Small group and not too much walking, good way to get oriented with the city. Ella was wonderful. It was great to get the insights on the best local places to eat. All of the food was amazing!
Thank you so much! We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour, the delicious food, and getting to know Bologna through local eyes. Ela will be so happy to hear your kind words! We're glad the tour helped you get oriented and discover some favorite local spots. Hope to see you again for another tasty adventure!
Terrific variety and balanceof Bologna food. The tour guide had a vast knowledge of the area and was very educational.
Thank you for the wonderful review! 😊 We're delighted you enjoyed the variety of flavors and the perfect balance of Bologna's food scene. It's great to hear Andrea's knowledge and passion helped bring the city’s history and culture to life. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you again for another delicious adventure!
So beautiful and informative Benedetto. She made our Bologna visit very relaxing and felt very comfortable . ♥️🇮🇹
Thank you for your lovely words! ❤️ We're so happy to hear that Benedetta helped make your time in Bologna relaxing, enjoyable, and full of great memories. She’ll be delighted to know she made you feel so comfortable. We hope to see you again soon in beautiful Bologna or other Eating Europe's destinations
Excellent stops at local establishments including observing ladies making tortellini then making our own! Great lunch at restaurant with their own home made pasta and wine! Returned to the lunch spot for dinner and to bakery to purchase sweets we sampled on the tour! Elena our guide was superb! Informative, knowledgeable, personable and entertaining with tons of history included. The length was perfect and the local venues small and family owned. Group of 7 was great. Highly recommend to include this on your visit to Bologna! 10 out of 10!
Wow, 10 out of 10 — thank you! We're so happy you enjoyed meeting the local artisans, making tortellini, and discovering some of Bologna’s best family-run spots. The fact that you went back for dinner and more sweets is the ultimate compliment! Elena will be thrilled to hear your kind words. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another tasty adventure soon! 🍝🍷✨
This was an excellent food tour. One of the best walking food tours we have taken. 3 hours of temping foods from Bologna. Our guide was amazing. Not only did we enjoy the food, but she provide the history of Bologna and the food. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! 😊 We're thrilled you enjoyed both the food and the stories behind it. Isadora will be delighted to hear your kind words—she loves bringing Bologna's flavors and history to life. Hope to see you back for another delicious adventure soon! 🍝✨
Andrea was so knowledgeable and took us around Bologna, having us experience delectable bites. He did a great job also mixing in the city’s history and culture.
We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring Bologna with Andrea! His passion for the city's food, history, and culture always makes for a memorable experience. Thank you for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you on another Eating Europe tour in one of our 20+ destinations across Europe. 🍷🍝
Andrea was a great tour guide! He pointed out cultural features of the town as well as sharing history and food facts. You will get plenty of good food and drink. I would highly recommend this walking food tour!
Thank you for the wonderful review! Andrea will be happy to hear you enjoyed learning about Bologna's culture, history, and culinary traditions along the way. We're especially glad you appreciated the balance of storytelling and delicious food. Thanks for recommending us!
That was a fantastic tour with great local insights and great choices of food. We felt we touched the soul of Bologna with Elena. La grass! La Russo and La dotta
What a beautiful way to describe the experience—thank you! We're delighted that Elena's local insights and carefully selected tastings helped you connect with the true spirit of Bologna. She'll love reading your feedback. We hope you'll continue exploring Europe's food cultures with Eating Europe!
