Hello! We are leaving from Venice on a cruise next year and given that we spent 4 days in Venice 3 years ago we thought we would explore another Italian city. We are thinking about flying from the US to Bologna, explore Bologna and then take the train to Venice to catch our cruise. We will fly home from Venice. So a few questions --- 1 1/2 days enough to see Bologna? Is it kid friendly? We will have our 8 year old with us. How's the neighborhood near the train station? I know that in Rome most avoid the area around Termini but wonder if the same applies to Bologna. Any other recommendations would be most appreciated.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
Why Bologna? Why not Florence? Bologna is OK for a day, but if you haven't been to or aren't going to Florence, I'd recommend Florence for your 1.5 days instead of Bologna. 1.5 days in Florence is enough to scratch the surface and see the major sights. I've been to Bolonga, we used it as a base to explore further into the Venento region, since we'd already been to Venice on another trip. To answer your other question, hotels near the train station in Bologna are fine. It's a college town, and compared to Rome -it's nothing like Rome! Very quiet streets, good food, a pretty park not far from the station, and it's easy to walk from hotels around the train station to the centro. If you do decide to base in Bologna, I'd recommend you take the tour up the one tower to get a great view of the city. The tower leans, and it's fun to climb up for the view
Posted by
OP
Zionsville, IN, USA
96 posts
Thanks! We spent quite a bit of time in Florence before, this is why we are not considering it. Another thought is to fly in to Venice, go to Burano in the afternoon since we didn't go there in our last trip and then do a day trip to Bologna.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
I spent 2 days in Bologna and really enjoyed it. Great food and a wonderful city to walk around and climb the tall tower in the center of town. Very interesting stuff for kids to see and they all love to climb the tower. - I also have spent time in Padua and would recommend it also. The churches are amazing, the The Scrovegni Chapel frescos are a must see (reservations required).
Both are good train rides into Venice. I would say either place is a good 1 1/2 day visit.
Posted by
Ankeny, Iowa
104 posts
My husband and I were in Italy for the first time this June and spent 5 nights in Bologna. We also went to Florence and Rome but Bologna was our favorite. While there we took a 2 hour guided tour of the city, did one full day of cooking classes at Culinary Institute of Bologna, and also Italian Food Days Experience. I know our boys would have loved the Italian Food Days tour. The owner/guide, Alessandro is very energetic, entertaining and intent on making sure everyone enjoys the experience.
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
I go to that area every year, to Verona, for the opera. Some of the other cities in the area that I've enjoyed are Padua, Mantua and Vicenza. They are all on the main train line from Venice.
I haven't visited Bologna, that's on my list for this year.
Posted by
OP
Zionsville, IN, USA
96 posts
Oh the choices! And just a couple of days to spare. We will think through these. This will be our third trip to Italy and certainly not the last one.
Posted by
Shawnee, OK, USA
396 posts
I love Bologna. As others in this thread have mentioned, it is a university town. Very lively. Known for good food and for the red bricks that abound on most buildings. Climb the tower for a great view of the city. Don't forget to see the church (San Zeno). It is large with lots of little chapels, a meridian line and some altars and angels attributed to Michelangelo. Great fountain in the piazza too. I enjoyed gelato in the piazza facing the church while people-watching. I stay at Hotel San Donato when in Bologna. Short cab ride from train station. Favorite restaurants were Diana and Benso.