Bologna Walking Tour with Audio and Written Guide

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We begin our walk in Bologna on one of the most characteristic streets by discovering a fantastic aspect of the city: its very long porticoes!

   20 min

2. Its name already evokes the allure of the sea and the power of a god. But this Bolognese square is much more than that: a true microcosm encompassing history, art, culture and even a dash of gossip!

   20 min

3. We find ourselves in the renowned Piazza Maggiore, the beating heart of Bologna, the result of a long and gradual process of transformation over the centuries. This space was originally intended for people’s meetings and commercial activities, serving as a hub for the city’s social and economic life.

   30 min

4. The majestic façade of the Basilica of San Petronio certainly does not go unnoticed, with its obvious unfinishedness that almost seems to indicate a knife slashing through it. Its history is shrouded in mystery with stories that mix reality and legend. Let's discover everything!

   20 min

5. Just a stone’s throw from the main square of the city we find one of the most representative historical places of Bolognese culinary culture.

   20 min

6. A beautiful library (unfortunately not visited by tourists) but also a fantastic anatomy room and other rooms that can be visited for 3€.

   30 min

7. Also known as the “Seven Churches Complex” although it is difficult to say what the true origin of this nickname is. The most credited hypothesis goes back to the initial design. Let's discover everything!

   30 min

8. Bologna is full of peculiar stories and I couldn’t help but tell you the one about the three arrows! Let's talk about a famous legend of the city!

   10 min

9. Also known as the Two Towers although they are not the same as those used in “Lord of the Rings” (sorry for the nerdy joke but I had to make it ) are an icon of the city and a must-see for anyone who visits. Unfortunately, they cannot be visited as the facilities are not safe for tourists. It is still worth seeing them up close!

   20 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 170 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 4Bologna self guided with WalkingCap

  We loved the self guided tour as we could do this at our leisure, stop when we wanted and take in more of the sites. Once you got the hang of navigating the app, it was very easy to follow.

  Carol_MOctober 2026via Viator

• 5Walking Tour - On Your Own Terms

  A very easy process to book with fabulous communication by Walking Cap - almost instant. All the information needed in relation to the booking was sent promptly to WhatsApp with the opportunity to ask any questions. Information arrived promptly the evening before our tour with easy to use instructions on how to get the best our of the audio. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Bologna

  KittyDundeeSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 1I feel this borders on fraud.

  The app didn't work in German on my iPhone—or on my husband's, either. I tried opening the app in a different browser, but I couldn't log in because the code is valid for one-time use only. I messaged the provider via the WhatsApp number listed; his response was that the app worked fine for him. That’s pretty brazen. I didn't get my money back. I feel this borders on fraud. So, I cannot recommend the app.

  ennast2026September 2026via Tripadvisor

• 3Spoiled by unclear directions

  Narrative was good but Google maps was not helpful. Better descriptions of route essential

  junem439September 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5On your own pace the highligts of Bologna

  Value for money for sure! Easy to find one of the 2 starting points. And good directions in writing and on your ears. You see the highlights on your own pace and not in a crowed group.

  O2597IGlaurarSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Truly recommended

  Great option for when you want to explore on your own pace. Since we only had a day in the city and wanted to squish everything in the plan, we followed the guide, but had some lunch and did some shopping in-between the stops. Easy to follow. You can listen AND read the information.

  christinakF8462GTAugust 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Bologna

• Its from-price is 96% below the median of the 470 experiences we list in Bologna.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 19 of 470.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Bologna

Bologna, capital of Emilia-Romagna, is a red-roofed university city of arcaded streets, leaning towers and some of Italy's richest food.

Bologna has a university founded in 1088, one of the oldest in Europe, and students fill the medieval centre. Miles of porticoes shelter the streets, and Piazza Maggiore is the main square, with the Basilica of San Petronio and the Fountain of Neptune. Two leaning brick towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, rise from the old crossroads, and the Asinelli can be climbed.

Top-ranked sights in Bologna: San Petronio Basilica (Basilica di San Petronio), Bologna Piazza Maggiore, Two Towers (Due Torri).

See all 470 experiences in Bologna