Cutting Bologna from my Itinerary?

Welcome to Italy travel planning with its embarassment of riches. There is no shortage of great places to go and there's no way to fit everything into one itinerary. I've been to about 25 or so cities/villages in Italy, including Bologna. We enjoyed Bologna and there is indeed very good food there. However, for my interests, it's definitely a second-tier city. Save it for your second or third trip to Italy. (If this is your first trip, you're reeeeeally going to want to go back after you're done.) It might help if you share your current complete itinerary (including when you're planning on being there.) Happy travels.

My husband and I loved the 2.5 days we spend in Bologna a few years back. One doesn't go there to see particular "sights." It's more just to spend a couple of low-key days strolling around, eating delicious food in Italy's culinary capital, and enjoying the youthful vibe that comes from it being Italy's oldest university town. We spent our time taking long walks through the maze of porticoed sidewalks, and marveling at the throngs of students relaxing, enjoying their wine and cheese under the porticos while listening to spontaneous live music in the piazzas. The food was fantastic, and I found it to be a nice break in an otherwise ambitious itinerary. Good luck!

I am so glad to read everyone's input on staying in Bologna! We too have been wrestling with whether to go there or just go for a day trip and stay in the Lake region instead. Our general itinerary thus far is: 2 nights in Venice, the possible 3 nights in Bologna, 3 nights at Lake Garda (Sirmione?), and 3 nights at Lake Como flying out of Milan. Still undergoing review! Our trip is in September! All suggestions welcomed!

Priscilla, there's no way I'd spend more time in Bologna than in Venice. Venice is one of my favorite cities, and I've been there three times.

I really enjoyed Bologna. They have a tower to climb if you need to work up an appetite, but you will not need any help in that department. After 2 nights I was a bolognese sauce zombie, and I was sneaking mortadella back into my hotel room each night. The oldest university in Europe is there and the central large piazza cafes are good for people watching, but mostly the city's atmospherics and food are the main attractions. I spent two nights (in other words two long lunches and two long dinners) and that worked for me. I did not each for several days thereafter.

"each" should be "eat"

I for one am glad that Rick doesn't talk much of Bologna! It's a beautiful, non touristy city where one can experience the Italian way of life withoout staying in a village! With all respect, if you are planning a first trip, skip Bolognaa. Then on a later trip when you have tired of the tourists and the sites of the great cities and you want to experience the life of an Italian city do visit Bologna. My absolute favorite city...but please don't put it in a guidebook!!

We spent three days in Bologna this May on our seventh trip to Italy. We like to go back to our favorites and try a new place on each trip. Bologna just wasn't our place. Nor for our two young adult daughters, one having lived and studied in Italy and who has a masters in Italian We stayed in a great location but the city wasn't that beautiful, charming, or historical in comparison to so many others we've been to. We also daytripped to Parma which was boring and Verona which was so touristy. We loved our daytrip from Verona to Simione on Lake Garda. Have you considered Orvieto? It's so easy to access just north of Rome on the way to Florence, has a nice ambience, farmers market, amazing Cathedral, good hotel prices,delicious Orvieto wine and fun people watching.

CK, I had a day in Bologna this last June. Like Karen I was not impressed, it wasn't for me either. I found it a bit dreary in fact. But I can second her recommendation of Orvieto, which I loved - taking the funicular up to the top, the church and square and sitting outside having lunch and wandering round the streets.

I'm a fan of Bologna. It is a city that, for most of it, is unspoiled by tourists masses converging to key sightseeing places and attracting expensive-and-bland food, souvenir shops and the likes. Yet, it is a city with a very large stock of early medieval buildings, and many hidden gems. But, save for the Due Torri, probably there isn't other worldwide, instantly famous site like Torre Pendente, Piazza San Marco, Duomo di Firenze etc. It is, though, probably the best city to experience a glimpse of regular, normal Italian life in a place other than a village with average pop. age > 60 years. Moreover, it is indisputably one of the best places to splurge on delicious food without breaking the bank, a place to eat very well on medium-range restaurants. In my opinion, Bologna makes an excellent break for 2 nights in an otherwise busy Italian itinerary full of busy sites/cities and crowded places. However, if one feels the pressing need to "check out" a list of famous sights as large as possible, then one might get frustrated. Its location, also, couldn't be more convenient for rail trips to Milano, Venezia, Verona, Firenze etc. Indeed, the city is close to Firenze by high-speed train: only 42 minutes.

Thanks Andre! You expressed why I love Bologna...
A more useful post than mine I'm sure:-)

Thanks so much for all of the responses. I think I've got it figured out and have begun booking my accomodations. Surely, however, I'll have a few more questions and requests for travel tips. It's a pleasure to read your posts!

If this is your first trip, I would definitely check out the 5 Terre. We personally love Riomaggiore. A little less crowded. We just took our third trip to Italy this June and Bologna was on our itinerary. We loved Bologna! The most incredible food and markets of the whole trip. Definitely a city with a younger vibe.We were fortunate enough to be there during Par Tot Parata. WOW! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtGP1P5piO4&feature=youtu.be Personally I would not stay 2 nights in Milan. Give the extra night to Rome.