Free things to do · Bologna · Italy
11 free things to do in Bologna
Bologna without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vanni Lazzari, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Bologna without paying an entry fee: Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain, Basilica of San Petronio, Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda) and Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca are all free. Check the BolognaFiere trade-fair calendar before booking; hotel rates rise sharply during big fairs such as Cosmoprof and Cersaie.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and August
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
1.Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain
Try the 'whispering gallery' under the Palazzo del Podestà with a friend: stand in opposite corners facing the wall and speak quietly.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
- After dark
Religious site · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
2.Basilica of San Petronio
Look for the small hole high in the vault that projects a disc of sunlight onto Cassini's meridian around midday, and cover shoulders and knees.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Rainy day
Landmark · Piazza di Porta Ravegnana
3.Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda)
Check whether Asinelli climbs are running before you plan around one; for views over the red roofs, the San Luca hill is a reliable alternative.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
Religious site · Colle della Guardia
4.Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
Walk up and ride the San Luca Express tourist train back down if your knees dislike the steep descent.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Free
- Outdoors
- Iconic
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Religious site · Santo Stefano and Strada Maggiore
5.Santo Stefano (Seven Churches)
Visit early in the morning when it is at its quietest, then have coffee under the porticoes of the piazza.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Couples
- Rainy day
Market · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
6.Quadrilatero market streets
Come mid-morning to watch the shops at work, and return in the early evening for a glass of Pignoletto and a board of cured meats.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · San Domenico
7.Basilica of San Domenico
Look closely at the two kneeling, candle-bearing angels at the base of the Arca: one of them is by Michelangelo, carved when he was about 20.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Architecture · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
8.Biblioteca Salaborsa
It is free, central and has free Wi-Fi, which makes it a useful rainy-day stop between sights.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
- Architecture
Market · Via Ugo Bassi
9.Mercato delle Erbe
Shop for picnic food in the morning, then come back in the evening when the food stalls and bars fill with locals.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Via Piella
10.Finestrella di Via Piella
There is often a short queue for photos; walk on along Via delle Moline for more glimpses of the canal.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
- Couples
Park · Santo Stefano and Strada Maggiore
11.Giardini Margherita
Bring a picnic from the Quadrilatero and join locals on the grass on a warm evening.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero | Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain, Basilica of San Petronio, Quadrilatero market streets and Biblioteca Salaborsa | 1 hour + 45 minutes + 1–2 hours + 30–45 minutes |
| Piazza di Porta Ravegnana | Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda) | 30 minutes |
| Colle della Guardia | Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca | Half a day |
| Santo Stefano and Strada Maggiore | Santo Stefano (Seven Churches) and Giardini Margherita | 45 minutes + 1–2 hours |
| San Domenico | Basilica of San Domenico | 45 minutes |
| Via Ugo Bassi | Mercato delle Erbe | 1 hour |
| Via Piella | Finestrella di Via Piella | 15 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Piazza Galvani
Archiginnasio and Anatomical Theatre
Look into the Stabat Mater hall, the old law school's lecture room, on your way to the anatomy theatre.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · University Quarter (Via Zamboni)
Pinacoteca Nazionale
Combine it with Palazzo Poggi further along Via Zamboni for a half-day in the university quarter.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · University Quarter (Via Zamboni)
Palazzo Poggi Museum
The anatomical waxes are graphic; older children tend to prefer the ship and map rooms.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Santa Maria della Vita
It is a short detour from the market lanes; allow a quiet 20 minutes in front of the terracotta mourners.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Museo Civico Archeologico
Head to the Egyptian rooms first if you are visiting with children.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
More ways to save
- Check the BolognaFiere trade-fair calendar before booking; hotel rates rise sharply during big fairs such as Cosmoprof and Cersaie.
- Many of the best sights are free: Piazza Maggiore, San Petronio, Santo Stefano, San Domenico, the Salaborsa and the San Luca portico walk.
- Regional trains to Modena, Ferrara and Ravenna cost far less than high-speed trains and take only a little longer.
- Buy picnic food in the Quadrilatero or at the Mercato delle Erbe and eat it in the Giardini Margherita.
- State museums such as the Pinacoteca Nazionale usually take part in Italy's free-entry first Sunday of the month.
- An early-evening glass of wine with a few cured meats can stand in for a light dinner.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bologna expensive to visit?
Bologna is moderately priced for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Bologna?
Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain: Try the 'whispering gallery' under the Palazzo del Podestà with a friend: stand in opposite corners facing the wall and speak quietly.