Bologna

Why this trip

Forty kilometres of covered walkway means the weather cannot ruin this one.

• Out 07:15, back 21:05 · direct · 2h 20m
• You stay in Centre — 18th-century frescoed grande dame.
• The one thing you'd do: Marconi Express monorail — €11, 7 minutes from the airport to the station. Fastest airport link in Italy.

• 🍷 Food and wine
• 🏛 Culture fix
• 💌 Romantic
• 🥂 Luxe for less

The best trattorie take bookings two weeks out and don't do walk-ins.

The plan

The signature run · around Quadrilatero

1. Day 1

   Arrive and dive in

   • 17:30Marconi Express monorail€11, 7 minutes from the airport to the station. Fastest airport link in Italy.
   • 18:30Aperitivo in the QuadrilateroStanding outside with a lambrusco and a plate of mortadella.
   • 20:30Dinner at Trattoria di Via SerraBook it. Tortellini in brodo, tagliatelle al ragù, done exactly right.If the weather turns: No table? Osteria dell'Orsa is first-come and consistently good.
   • 22:30Walk to Santo StefanoSeven linked churches around a silent square. Better at night.
2. Day 2

   The main event

   • 09:00Market morningMercato delle Erbe and the Quadrilatero stalls — pasta makers rolling sfoglia in the windows.
   • 11:00Climb the Asinelli tower498 steps, book ahead, the rooftops go on forever.
   • 13:30Lunch at Sfoglia RinaFresh pasta counter, fast, cheap, excellent.
   • 15:30Portico di San LucaThe world's longest portico climbs 3.8km to the basilica. Bus 20 up, walk down.If the weather turns: Legs done? The Archiginnasio anatomical theatre is ten minutes from the square.
   • 19:00Wine bar in the university quarterCheap, loud, full of students, Enoteca Storica Faccioli for the grown-up version.
3. Day 3

   One last moment

   • 09:30Coffee and torta di risoPasticceria Gamberini, since 1907.
   • 11:00Buy the good stuffParmigiano, aceto balsamico tradizionale, dried tortellini from Atti.
   • 13:30Marconi Express backSeven minutes. You can leave the restaurant table at 13:00 and still make a 15:00 flight.