Hello, I will be in Bologna for 6 nights in mid-April. I have one trip planned to Modena (Ferrari museum & food market) & one trip planned to Parma (meeting a tour guide for 3 hours & doing lunch) & will doing the Mosaics in Ravenna on my way in. How important is it to get tickets for museums & sites ahead of time in Bologna?? The Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica? Is there a particular Food tour we should consider? Your recommendations welcome. Grazie Marianna
Posted by
Phoenix, Arizona
87 posts
We've been to Bologna twice, and never bought tickets ahead of time for museums. The Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, in fact, was practically our private playground the day we went. I would recommend booking ahead of time for the Ravenna mosaics. Reservations at the Bologna restaurants are essential. We took a Taste Bologna food tour, and enjoyed it immensely. Even if you decide to take a different company's tour, be sure to check their blog entries on their website for a lot of good info on Bologna.
Posted by
78 posts
I agree with jcmdunc3: it's unnecessary to purchase Bologna site tickets in advance. But make dinner reservations early by the day of - sound advice for Italy in general.
We booked slots with Italian Days Bologna Food & Wine Tour #1, in which you're taken by minibus to factories outside Bologna and an acetaia near Modena. It was well-organized, informative, and a lot of fun. https://www.italiandays.it/
Posted by
Vignola, MO, IT
803 posts
Two of the sites on the Ravenna mosaics ticket must have specific times - I know you didn't ask this but wanted to make sure you know. I would spend the night in Ravenna if you could - it is lovely in the evenings with very few people around. There is also a museum there and another site worth visiting...Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra. No need to book anything in advance in Bologna. I prefer the food tours outside of Bologna in the Emilia area (Castelvetro, Modena).