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Bologna day trip from Florence?

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As part of our 2 week itinerary to Italy this summer we will be spending 4 nights in Florence. We are a family of 6 including my husband and I and our two kids (ages 11 and 16) and my mom and her husband. I have the following planned. I have some question on Day 3...and how best to maximize our time in Florence and the different interests of our group.

day 1: Arrival day
- Arriving from Venice early afternoon
- Check into accommodation and stroll through Florence (following Rick Steve’s Renaissance Walk)
- Visit Accademia Gallery

day 2: Private car hire to see Pisa and scenic drive through Tuscany

day 3: Flex Day: Question - I know my husband and son would love to see the Ferrari museum - so was thinking we could all do day trip to Bologna and they could head to Ferrari museum (I was thinking of surprising them with a special experience that I found where they would be picked up in Bologna in a Ferrari and driven to the museum). We could meet back up in Bologna and head back to Florence together. Is it worth spending a day in Bologna? Or should the rest of us stay behind in Florence and explore more?

day 4: morning Visit Uffizi Gallery; afternoon Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class

day 5: leave by noon to head to Rome

Posted by
7828 posts

Or should the rest of us stay behind in Florence and explore more?

Your plans only include Accademia and Ufizzi?
There are so many other things to see and do in Florence- and you are off on day trips 2 of your 4 full days.
Duomo, Mercato Centrale, Santa Croce, Sam Marco, Oltrarno, etc- so much more than what you have planned.

Bologna is interesting and worth a visit but IMO not as worthwhile as more sightseeing in Florence.

Posted by
344 posts

I like Bologna a lot but agree that this day trip doesn’t seem like the best use of time for you all. I don’t know about the Ferrari museum, which looks like it’s near Modena, which is not Bologna but not too far away. Bologna is on the main train line from Venice to Florence and all trains will stop there. If that’s how you’re traveling and your husband and son really want to see the Ferrari place, how about if they get off in Bologna on your first day and do that while the rest of you continue straight to Florence, and they take a later train to Florence and meet up with you again there?

Posted by
730 posts

Bologna is just 30 minutes away by high speed train BUT neither Ferrari museum is in Bologna. Modena or Maranello but if you had a driver that would work out for you. I love Bologna but I'd spend more time in Florence. Lamborghini is just outside of Bologna and the factory tour is also quite interesting and there is a museum there also. I'd have them go to Bologna and I would stay in Florence.

Posted by
10975 posts

Since Bologna is only a 30-minute train ride nowadays, that would be a wonderful treat for them. I agree that you could send them, but do you really want to visit the factory and just be waiting for them? Probably not.

So, I agree with the others that there is plenty to experience if you stay back in Florence. However, Florence in summer is like dealing with summer crowds at Disneyland. If you went to Bologna for the day and visited the sites, you'd be able to experience an Italian city as it should be, without the frenzy, selfies, lines...so sad to say.
But I'd definitely skip the car factory and let them enjoy getting away and enjoying it.

Posted by
64 posts

That’s a pretty quick visit to Florence, so I’d recommend against Florence or Modena.

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