7 Best Day Trips from Bologna

1. Modena

• 20 minutes by train from Bologna Centrale
• Visit for the balsamic vinegar

Modena is most well-known as the home to balsamic vinegar. I've always been a fan of this topping but my husband was not. That is until he tried the real stuff in Modena, now he tops all his salads off with our stock we picked up in Modena.

On top of balsamic vinegar, Modena is also the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti. Enzo Ferrari is the famous race car driver and founder of Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti was a famous tenor. Although one might be more of a household name than the other, both have museums in Modena you can visit.

It's important to note that there are two Ferrari museums and the one in Modena is the Enzo Ferrari Museum, where you'll visit his birthplace and a museum, not where the racetrack is. If you have your eye on taking a spin around the track, you'll find that just a short drive away in Maranello.

Outside of these 3 common pulls to Modena, a day trip here is also the perfect chance to explore a lovely small town. The city center is relatively small and flat so you'll easily be able to explore by foot and get lost on the narrow and colorful alleyways.

If you're only spending a weekend in Bologna, I'd recommend just this day trip so you still have plenty of time to enjoy the city.

Where to Stay in Modena

Although most people think a day trip from Bologna is long enough to see the highlights in Modena, if you enjoy small towns, you'll love some extra time here. Plus, like many other recommendations listed in this article, these towns are more popular with day trippers than those staying overnight so you'll have the place seemingly to yourself in the evenings and mornings.

📍Stretch your Modena day trip into an overnight one by booking a stay at:

• Budget Stay: Casa Federico: Located just slightly out of the city center, this hotel offers private rooms with shared spaces, like a lovely terrace to start your day off with a coffee in the sunshine.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Home 28 Appartamento: Prefer to have an apartment where you can cook some of your own meals and have more space to spread out? This 2-bedroom apartment can comfortably sleep 4.
• Luxury Stay: Salotto delle Arti: Go back in time (but in the chic way, not the grungy way) with a stay at this stunning boutique hotel. No detail has gone overlooked within the rooms or the grounds.

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2. Parma

• 50 minutes from Bologna Centrale
• To try Parma ham and the real Parmesan cheese

Did someone say Parma ham? While I'm Team Mortadella, I can't deny the irresistible saltiness that prosciutto di Parma offers. Combine it with Parma's other heavy hitter, Parmigiano Reggiano and, really, that's the biggest pull to making Parma one of your day trips from Bologna.

If you want to squeeze more into your day trip, you could combine a stop in Parma with your trip to Modena since Modena is just about directly between Parma and Bologna.

Although most people around the world have heard of prosciutto and Parmesan cheese, you haven't really had the real thing until you've had it here. The thing is, while Italy does export a lot of its glorious food, it's extremely strict about what actually constitutes as prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano and unless they have those official names, they aren't the real thing.

So, go to Parma to have, likely, your first real taste...and have sliced meat and parmesan cheese ruined forever.

Apart from eating or embarking on a food tour, there's still plenty to keep you entertained on a day trip to Parma. For art and history buffs, you'll enjoy a visit to the National Gallery and Palatina Library. Everyone should pay a visit to the main square, Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi and take a look inside the main cathedral, Cattedrale di Parma.

Where to Stay in Parma

Want more time in Parma? Like Modena, the city changes when the day trippers leave and only the locals or slow travelers remain.

📍If you're looking for a great place to stay in Parma, consider:

• Budget Stay: B&B Rosa di Parma: This one-bedroom apartment is ideal for those that want some peace and quiet yet still easy access to the center of Parma and the train station.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Parma Centro House: Another one-bedroom apartment but more centrally located so you can see much of Parma within quick walking distance.
• Luxury Stay: Bellacorte: This luxury boutique hotel offers everything you'd need for a comfortable stay in Parma. You're perfectly located and have ample amenities at your fingertips here.

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3. Ravenna

• 1 hour 10 minutes from Bologna Centrale
• Visit to see the mosaics and see why it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Out of all these day trips from Bologna, Ravenna is one least known, at least outside of Italy, unless maybe you're an art lover.

Where Parma and Modena are most well-known for their food and fast cars, Ravenna is known for its ancient yet well-preserved mosaics. These monuments came from the early days of Christianity. For those who are religious and those who aren't, they're still a site to behold. Coming from the 5th and 6th century, it's rare you get to see art that has stood the test of time like these sites.

There are a handful of mosaics in the city center you can see on a day trip, including:

• Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
• Basilica of San Vitale
• Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo
• The Arian Baptistry

Outside of seeing these historical sites, a Ravenna day trip is a good one for those looking for a unique city with a fascinating history and to swap in a typical tourist destination with someone lesser-known.

Where to Stay in Ravenna

Want more time to see more this city has to offer or maybe make some trips from here to the Adriatic Sea?

📍In Ravenna, I suggest a stay at:

• Budget Stay: Casetta Sogno: This apartment rental is just outside of the center of Ravenna but offers more space, a small yard, and is pet-friendly.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Chez Papa: This historic home was converted into a cozy bed and breakfast, ideal for those looking for a unique stay.
• Luxury Stay: Gironda: Another bed and breakfast yet this one has more of a touch of luxury, with frescoes on the walls, a fitness center, and bike rentals.

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4. Rimini

• 55 minutes from Bologna Centrale
• Visit for a visit to one of Italy's liveliest coastal cities

Ready for the coast? Rimini, also in the Emilia-Romagna region, is located on the Adriatic Sea.

Although not very well-known outside of Italy, Rimini is one of the most popular beach destinations for locals. Unlike many beaches in Italy, Rimini actually has a sandy coast, adding to its allure. That means, in the summer it can get busy but will offer lively nightlife and plenty to do. Up to you if that's your cup of tea or not!

In the off-season, Rimini is much more laid-back but still offers plenty to see, do, and, of course, eat.

All year round, you can enjoy the interesting history that stretches from the Roman times. Long ago, this was an important port for the Roman Empire and again in the Middle Ages.

While most of us, myself included, will be drawn to the sandy coastline, especially on hot summer days, if you're in Rimini, you need to explore at least some of the history:

• See the Arch of Augustus, the oldest surviving Roman arch in all of Italy
• Walk across the Ponte di Tiberio, or Tiberius Bridge, which dates all the way back to the 1st century.
• Didn't see enough mosaics in Ravenna? See more at Tempio Malatestiano

In more recent history, Rimini came on the map as the home of Federico Fellini, one of the most well-known film directors from Italy. You might not know him by name but you've likely at least heard of the films La Dolce Vita and Casanova.

Where to Stay in Rimini

If you want to extend your time in Rimini to include a day trip to San Marino, I recommend staying overnight. You can certainly stretch yourself and do it in one day but you will be rushed for time. If you have the extra day, why not take your time?

📍In Rimini, I suggest a stay at:

• Budget Stay: Marina Centro Suite: This centrally located studio apartment offers all the basics at an affordable cost.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Residenza di Charme: Swap the coast for quick access to the train station and to be right in the center of Rimini's old town.
• Luxury Stay: Demo Hotel Design Emotion: Choose between a variety of rooms and suites to find the one that'll fit your needs, all within walking distance to the coast.

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5. Florence

• 40 minutes from Bologna Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (the central train station)
• Visit to see one of Italy's most famous cities

Florence, Firenze in Italian, is easily one of the most well-known and well-visited cities in all of Italy. And for good reason. It's every bit as romantic and beautiful as movies and pictures make it out to be.

But do know with all that hype does come some downfalls. Florence is extremely crowded, pretty much all year. Where Bologna hasn't yet gained international fame, Florence certainly has.

It's undeniable that the city is beautiful, the wine is fantastic, and the food is mouthwatering...but honestly, those 3 things can be said about almost anywhere in the country, not just in Tuscany like many assume.

If you've had Florence on your wish list for a while, it's certainly worth visiting but if you're more into off-the-beaten-path destinations, I would spend the day somewhere a little less known.

If you do go on a Florence day trip though, I recommend you:

• Eat an authentic panino. While we know Italian sandwiches as paninis, panini is actually plural so 1 sandwich would be 1 panino.
• Take some pictures of the Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge). It's cuter off the bridge than on it, unless you can go for a stroll at a not so popular hour.
• People watch at Piazza della Signoria, one of the central plazas in the city.
• Get up close to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. You've seen this church in pictures but nothing quite compares to seeing it in-person.

Where to Stay in Florence

Florence is a really big city so you could easily expand your day trip to an overnight one, especially if you have a car and want to see more of Tuscany.

📍Stay somewhere central while in Florence to be able to see more of the city by foot:

• Budget Stay: Il Mercato Centrale B&B: If you're just staying one night in Florence, being close to the train station will make coming and going super convenient.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Granduomo Charming Accommodation: If the Duomo is top of your list for this to see in Florence, why not stay right at it?
• Luxury Stay: Hotel degli Orafi: A stay here puts you in the perfect location to explore Florence and soak up crowd-free views of the Ponte Vecchio.

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6. Verona

• 50 minutes from Bologna Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova
• Visit to see my favorite city in Northern Italy

Verona is my favorite city in Italy, at least thus far. I've been to Verona twice and while right now I happily live in Trieste, I can envision a future where I move to the City of Romance instead.

If you're short on time, a Verona day trip will give you enough to see the highlights but don't be surprised when I try and convince you to stay at least 1 night here since there are so many things to do.

Verona is most famously known as the home to the real life Romeo and Juliet, their Roman amphitheater, and being just minutes away from one of Italy's most beautiful lakes, Lake Garda. But, beyond that the city is full of incredible architecture, fantastic food, and being super pedestrian-friendly.

In fact, much of the old town in Verona is car-free, making your walks along the cobblestone streets even more enjoyable.

I might sound like a broken record by this point but if you have just a few hours in Verona, I recommend you put on your walking shoes to see the old town by foot, indulge in some Italian classics (and not so classics like horse meatballs), have a glass or two of Valpolicella wine, and do some shopping. In Verona, I found more Italian brands for clothing, shoes, and bags at affordable prices than most other cities.

While in Verona, make your way to:

• Piazza Bra: This is the main plaza with the colosseum from Roman times, it's also the start to Via Mazzini, one of the best walking streets in the city.
• Piazza delle Erbe: This piazza is surrounded by some of the most stunning architecture in the city, in my opinion. Year-round it hosts an open-air market but in my opinion not with the best souvenirs.
• Piazza dei Signori: If you visit Verona around Christmas time, this is where the Christmas market is held. All other times it's quieter but still beautiful to see.

Where to Stay in Verona

If you stay more than one night in Verona, you'll get to take it a bit slower getting to know the city. Plus, you'll have some time to visit Lake Garda. If you're up for it, I recommend visiting northern Lake Garda, like Malcesine but if you're short on time, Garda and Peschiera del Garda are quick and easy trips.

📍If you're looking to stay a night or two in Verona, I recommend a stay at:

• Budget Stay: B&B Teatro Ristori Verona: Located in between the Old Town and the train station, this is a convenient location for someone staying the night or wanting to make a day trip to Lake Garda.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Vicolo Amanti: This two-bedroom apartment has so much charm, ideal for a stay with a family, group of friends, or a couple that want a little extra space.
• Luxury Stay: Hotel Milano & SPA***S: Did you ever imagine soaking in a rooftop hot tub while overlooking a Roman colosseum? Now you can.

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7. Venice

• 1 hour 30 minutes to Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia (there are 2 Venice train stations, Santa Lucia is the one on the island)
• Visit to marvel at the floating city

Venice gets really mixed views from tourists but I'll just go ahead and say it: I love Venice. If you've never been here, I really do think it's something special and worth at least a few hours of your time.

But, that being said, I think there's a right way and a wrong way to see the floating city.

Many people visiting Venice, especially those that go for a day trip, cross the Rialto Bridge to flock to St. Mark's Square, never veering too far from those icons. If this is your plan in Venice, it's likely you'll walk away disenchanted, annoyed by the crowded alleyways and the perpetual construction and flooding (or both) at St. Mark's.

Instead, I recommend you go anywhere else in Venice. Let yourself get lost in the labyrinth of alleyways, fill up on cicchetti (small breads with endless toppings), and let yourself marvel at the architectural feat building this city was.

Venice really isn't big but you might put in more steps than expected because there aren't too many bridges, especially to cross the Grand Canal. If you're not keen on walking too much, instead of buses Venice offers ferries that'll scoot you around the island city. Buy a day ticket if you plan on taking multiple trips.

I can understand the allure of the Grand Canal and a gondola ride but if you're worried a Venice day trip will be "too touristy," skip the tourist attractions and see what you can stumble upon.

Where to Stay in Venice

If you decide to spend a night in Venice, you might also want to visit some of the surrounding islands, like Murano and Burano. Or, you might simply want to see the city without the day trippers, which really does provide a unique experience.

📍For a great stay in Venice, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: Ca' Rosetta: While the location might not be the most convenient for exploring Venice, you'll be close to the train station and to the ferry stops to go to Murano and Burano.
• Mid-Tier Stay: San Vio Palace Luxury Apartments: This is where I stayed in Venice when I visited with my mom, husband, and pets. It gave us a cool location and plenty of space for us to spread out.
• Luxury Stay: Cà Beatrice: This is a great place to stay if you're traveling with a group and need up to 6 beds and want to be in one of the cooler areas of Venice.

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Things to Know Before Your Trip

Bologna is such a wonderful city but to really gear up properly for your trip, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind.

Where to Stay in Bologna

If you look at Bologna on a map, you'll see there's a highway that circles the city center. I recommend staying anywhere inside that circle so you can get around on foot instead of having to rely on public transportation (although the public transportation is easy to use - more on that below!).

If you're using Bologna as your base for plenty of day trips, staying closer to the train station (like in the mid-tier option highlighted below) will be the most convenient. That way you can walk to and from the station and not need to rely on a bus to get you to your train.

📍A few of my top recommendations for places to stay in Bologna are:

• Budget Option: Casa Petronio Apartments: They offer a variety of apartments with 2-bedrooms, 1-bedrooms, or a studio to choose from. A bike rental and coffee shop is conveniently located in the same building.
• Mid-Tier Option: Central City Rooms m09: This is where we stayed in Bologna and we really enjoyed it. It's pet-friendly so we could bring our pets with us and it's really close to the train station which made coming and going easy.
• Luxury Option: Grand Hotel Majestic gia' Baglioni: For a taste of luxury and to be just steps from Piazza Maggiore, you'll love your stay at this high-end hotel where you'll feel as if you became a queen in the 1800s.

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Italian Travel Tips

In general, there are a few things to keep in mind when traveling anywhere in Italy:

• Knowing a few words and phrases in Italian will take you far. Yes, many people, especially those in cities, will speak some English but it's really the effort that counts here. Don't know where to start? Take our guide to 40+ basic words and phrases to know in Italian before your trip.
• Food is king in Italy and each city has their own specialty. Sure you can find Italian pizza all around the country but Napoli is where you'll want to go for the best. When in Bologna, eat Bologna classics and on each day trip, try out what that specific city or region is known for.
• Unless you really want to get out in the country, rely on the train to get around the country. In general, train travel in Italy is comfortable and convenient. It's often easier than trying to find parking in crowded cities. You can use apps like Trainline to buy train tickets in advance.
• Try a free walking tour to learn some basic history and cultural tidbits about everywhere you go. If you're looking for more context, a food tour is a great way to get to Italy's heart, which just happens to actually be the stomach.
• Take your time. I know it can be tempting to tick off as many destinations as possible but by traveling slowly you'll have the chance to see much more than just the tourist hot spots and will walk away with a greater understanding of a place. Trust me, your opinion of somewhere will likely change the longer you spend there (and the more meals you get to try).

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Which Day Trip from Bologna Will You Go On?

While you'll have plenty to keep yourself entertained while you visit Bologna, there are so many great day trips from the city center you can take advantage of.

In less than one hour you can roam around UNESCO World Heritage Sites, eat some of the most famous foods in the world, and take a spin around a rack track.

With so many nearby towns and cities to visit, you won't be left wondering what to do with your extra days in Bologna. Instead you'll be trying to figure out how to narrow down your growing list of places to visit because honestly, each and every place on this list (and even more that I skipped over) are well worth a day trip from Bologna.

So, where will you start?