Winter holidays Milan/Como/Bologna

day trips from Bologna: Ravenna, Modena, Parma, Ferrara

2 extra nights before heading back to Milan: Mantova, Piacenza, Pavia

Thanks! How much time in Verona? Or not at all?

Mantua and Verona are two nice day trips easier to be done from Bologna (or Modena) than from Milan.
In Emilia Romagna I suggest you even a food tour. This is a cheap solution: https://emiliaromagnatours.it/parma-tours/food-tour-full-day/ (leaves from Parma, but you can go there by train). If you like castles Emilia is plenty of very nice iones, like Vignola, Fontanellato, Torrechiara, Vigoleno: the problem is that you need a car to reach the most of them!
If you like music I suggest you to visit the Pavarotti museum near Modena, the Farnese theatre in Parma and the theatre in Mantua.
As other cities from Bologna I suggest the three UNESCO heritages: Modena, ferrara, Ravenna.

I would spend 2 nights in Verona. Visit the Roman arena . The castlevecchio and its amazing museum. The duomo. Wander through its lovely piazzas.

Thank you! It helps to know Verona has enough to see to make it worthwhile to stay 2 nights 😊

We were in Bologna at Christmas last year. It was a great time to visit and not at all crowded although we were there only for 4 nights. We did a day trip to Ravenna and I highly recommend it. It is very easy by train.

Thank you! Yes we have Ravenna on our list for a day. Did you need to buy any entry tickets for Ravenna or Bologna ahead of time?

Tickets for the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery are timed. I've always been able just to walk up to the ticket office and get in really quickly. My most recent trip was in early September 2022. I doubt you'd have a problem in late December/early January, but I don't know for sure. It's too late in the day now to see what the current-day ticket situation is like. I see that there are still tickets available for all time slots tomorrow. Here's the website for purchasing a combo ticket to five of the mosaic sites: https://www.ravennamosaici.it/en/entrance-time-and-prices/. As you go through the purchasing process, you must select separate entry times for the two timed-entry sites. Note that winter hours are just from 10 AM to 5 PM, but the sites are open 7 days a week.

There are additional mosaic sites in the area as well as a couple of museums with related content that aren't covered by the combo ticket. Sant'Apollinare in Classe is an important add-on; it's accessible via train or bus. According to the Ravenna Tourism website (https://www.turismo.ra.it/en/culture-and-history/religious-buildings/basilica-santapollinare-classe/, Sant'Apollinare in Classe is open Mon-Sat 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM and Sun 1:30 PM to 7:30 PM. There's also a relatively new historical museum out in Classe. I didn't have time to see it even though I had two full days (three nights) in Ravenna. The town has a lot of sights as well as a pretty historic center.

By the way, I wouldn't be surprised if the mosaic sites are rather chilly in the winter; I don't know that there's heating in any of them. Perhaps we have a poster or two who have visited Ravenna during the colder months.

About Ravenna please note that are changing the ticketing system.
Now you can choose
- three monuments (Basilica di San Vitale, Museo e Cappella Arcivescovile, Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo) at 10.50€
- five monuments (Mausoleo Di Galla Placidia, Basilica di San Vitale, Battistero Neoniano, Museo e Cappella Arcivescovile, Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo) at 12.50€
As before you must decide the hour only for Galla Placidia and Battistero.

Thank you all. I did see the 3 vs. 5 difference in tix and we’ll probably do the 5. I will check closer to our arrival to determine if I need to purchase ahead. I was confused about entry times but you cleared that up. Thanks!

We have just spent 10 nights in Bologna with no day trips. It is a wonderful city to just wander around and experience.

Definitely go for the 5-site ticket.

Thanks! We are planning on the x5 tix for Ravenna. And are reducing our days trips to maybe just 2 so we can just soak up what Bologna has to offer. Anyone go up to San Luca? Walk? Or is there a bus? Also, any experience with New Years Eve in Bologna?

I suspect that the biggest crowds and booked up tickets for mosaic sites in Ravenna are related to cruise ship docking nearby. If there are no cruise ships during the winter holidays, then you may not have crowds or trouble reserving. When I visited in fall 2024, I reserved tickets just a couple days in advance. I was able to find a day when all 5 sites for the combo ticket were available and in fact they were selling walk up tickets and not even caring about the timed entry times. However, the day before and the day after had some sites fully booked.

To go up to San Luca there is a touristic train (on road, not rails) if you prefer to don't walk. Is not a long walking, but the last part is really steep.
For new years even there is traditionally a concert in Piazza Maggiore where they burn the Old Year. On top of that private parties everywhere. I suggest booking the restaurant.