Boasting Europe’s oldest university and a rich food culture, Bologna entices travelers that love exploring Italy but might want to get off the beaten path. And as the capital of Emilia-Romagna, the culinary riches of the region will impress even the most discerning foodie.

And did we mention the low prices?

The intriguing mix of students and gastronomic treasures makes Bologna a tempting destination for Cheapos. If you can picture yourself wandering under ancient porticos, sampling fine foods at a fraction of the cost back home, and staying in historic hotels, it’s time to add Bologna to your Italian itinerary!

In this guide

• When to go
• Getting there
• Getting around
• Free and cheap things to do in Bologna
• Eating on the cheap
• Recommended cheap eats in Bologna
• Saving on nightlife
• Cheap hotels in Bologna

Budget guide to Bologna, Italy

From €6 plates of yummy tagliatelle al ragu to a cheap private tour of a rooftop observatory, here’s how to navigate Bologna on a budget.

When to go

Bologna doesn’t attract throngs of tourists like Florence or Rome, but you will still find plenty of foodies, backpackers, and a day trippers from Florence. We recommend going when the university is in session during spring or fall to get a good feel for this vibrant city.

On a recent trip in late May, just before classes came to a close for the year, the weather was near perfect. Temperatures hovered in the 80s during the day and dropped to a cool 60s in the evening.

Related: 11 Tips for saving on your trip to Italy

Getting there

Bologna makes an easy day trip from Florence. Trains run frequently throughout the day and the 35-minute ride costs about €15. Bologna is only an hour away from Milan and two hours from Rome on the high-speed train (Frecciarossa).

You can check for fares on trenitalia.com and remember the general rule that the earlier you book, the more you save.

Related: Driving in Italy: 7 Tips for staying safe and on budget in a rental car

Getting around

If you’re coming from Milan or Rome, Bologna will feel tiny. After you disembark from the train station, you can walk to Piazza Maggiore, smack dab in the center of town, in about 15 minutes.

The city center is fairly flat, so it’s easy to walk to almost any destination. If you go up into the surrounding hills, then you’ll need to be ready for a steep climb or consider a bus or taxi ride.

Bologna also features miles and miles of covered porticos making it easy to stay out of the rain or the sun, depending on what season you’re visiting. The city does have public buses and a bike share system, but I became addicted to exploring the winding streets on foot.

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Almost every street in Bologna is lined with spectacular porticos.

Free and cheap things to do in Bologna

In Bologna, it isn’t about the blockbuster attractions. To find the charms of the city, look at and experience the city itself…

Piazza Maggiore

The main square in the city is a great place to begin your stay in Bologna. Flanked by beautiful palaces and churches (like the enormous Basilica di San Petronio), it’s still the hub of Bologna. Come in the evening to see the beautiful buildings all lit up.

Porticos

You can’t miss the famous porticos in Bologna, as they line just about every street. In fact, when you add them all up, they measure more than 38 kilometers long. They make for a refreshing respite from the sun (or the rain in the winter) and endless photos ops for architecture geeks (like me!).

In fact, the longest portico in the world stretches almost four kilometers up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, a hilltop church overlooking the city.

Walking by the base of Garisenda Tower.

Le Due Torri (The Two Towers)
Piazza di Porta Ravegnana

Bologna is famous for a skyline of ancient towers but only a few still stand. Today,  the Two Towers (Le Due Torri) are the city’s most famous landmark. The Asinelli Tower boasts 498 steps up to the top and is the tallest leaning medieval tower in the world. You can buy tickets in advance for €5 if you want to make the climb. The Garisenda Tower is not quite as impressive but was made famous by Dante.

University of Bologna

As the oldest university in Europe, this institution can trace its roots back to 1088! Roaming around here is fun and free. Just bring a youthful spirit to blend in and see how students live (but mostly play) today.

The International Museum of Music
Str. Maggiore, 34
Price: €5

See ancient instruments up close in a 16th-century palace building and learn about the rich history of music in Bologna. The day we toured the museum, there was a school group enjoying demonstrations by local musicians, so we got a free concert, too!

Teatro Anatomico
Piazza Galvani, 1
Price: €3

Located inside a spectacular public library, this lecture hall was used for anatomical demonstrations. The carved wood ceiling and walls of the Teatro Anatomico date back to the 1600s.

Museo della Specola
Via Zamboni, 33
Price: €5

Take a guided tour through a historic observatory with an astronomy student. The tour ends with a wonderful 360-degree view of the city.  You need to sign up online in advance to reserve a spot.

Basilica di San Petronio is a massive Gothic beauty on Piazza Maggiore.

Should you buy a Tourist Card?

If you come to Bologna with a long sightseeing checklist, you might want to consider the Bologna Welcome Card. You can get the Easy card for €25 which gives you admission to the top attractions, a 2-hour walking tour, and discounts at local restaurants and shops. If a hop-on, hop-off bus tour is your idea of fun, it might be worth it to get the Plus card for €40.

I was more focused on food, with a few museums and tours squeezed in between meals, so I decided not to get the card. However, I did stop by the tourist office in Piazza Maggiore to inquire about football tickets, and the staff was extremely friendly and incredibly helpful with local tips.

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Heaven on a plate: Tagliatelle al Ragu!

Eating on the cheap in Bologna

As the capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna sits at the heart of an incredible food region. From aged balsamic vinegar in nearby Modena to the famous ham and cheese from Parma, the city offers foodies an unforgettable culinary experience.

While many of these delicacies might cost a small fortune back in the US, you can pick up local delicacies like Proscuitto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano in Bologna for only a handful of euros. Browse the markets to see what looks good and don’t be afraid to engage with the folks behind the counter.

Tagliatelle al Ragu is the most famous dish in Bologna — and for good reason! This rich sauce coats hearty plates of pasta for one of Italy’s most delectable creations. A plate of tagliatelle al ragu costs around €6-12 depending on how fancy you want to get.

Remember to order the house wine that usually comes straight from a barrel. A liter won’t cost you more than €7 or €8!

Gelato is another standout of Bologna’s gastronomic scene. Many of the shops stay open until 11 pm or midnight, so you can plan a late-night stroll with a final stop for a cup of gelato.

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Our favorite cheap eats

Here are a few restaurants, bakeries, and gelato shops from my recent trip that get the Cheapo stamp of approval:

Trattoria Belfiore
Via Marsala, 11

A neighborhood trattoria in every aspect, Trattoria Belfiore is a great spot to grab a sidewalk table and watch the city go by — while eating an amazing plate of ragu of course!

A perfect plate of Tortelloni at Ristorante Biagi.

Ristorante Biagi
Via Saragozza, 65

For a bit of cheapo splurge, a meal on the outdoor patio of Ristorante Biagi is a lovely way to spend an evening. You’ll be surrounded by families and groups out for a special night. The antique interior of Ristorante Biagi is beautiful, too. Reservations are recommended on weekends.

Osteria dell’ Orsa
Via Mentana, 1

One of the cheapest plates of ragu can be found at the loud and bustling student eatery, Osteria dell’ Orsa. The bill for two bowls of pasta, a liter of wine, and a huge salad was less than €30. It gets bonus points for staying open until 12:30 am every night!

Swing by the wonderful Osteria del Sole for a glass of wine (or 3!) before dinner.

Osteria del Sole
Vicolo Ranocchi, 1

Essentially untouched for decades, this old-school wine bar is popular with locals and tourists alike. Hidden off an alley near Piazza Maggiore, glasses of wine cost just €2. Swing by a market beforehand (or stop by the food stand just outside the door) because Osteria del Sole lets you BYOF — Bring Your Own Food!

Caffe Rubik
Via Marsala, 31

Lined with classic cassette tapes, Caffe Rubik is a cozy coffee shop that turns into a cocktail bar in the evening. Start your morning with a cornetto (Italian croissant) and perfect cappuccino in a porcelain cup for about €2.

Related: How to order coffee in Italy: Navigating coffee culture like a pro

Cremeria Santo Stefano
Via Santo Stefano, 70

The blissful gelato shop creates unique and delicious flavors. There’s a menu in English to help you decipher wonderful concoctions like mascarpone cheese and pine nuts.

Panificio Priori
Via Clavature 22

This tiny but beautiful bakery has been serving traditional local pastries since 1920. Point at whatever looks good and load up a few bags to take back to your hotel room.

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Hungry for more? Keep this list handy of 5 must-try classic dishes for your next trip to Rome.

Students hanging out late into the night at Piazza Giuseppe Verdi.

Nightlife for less

The vibrant student scene adds a lively (and sometimes loud depending on where you’re staying) element to Bologna when the sun goes down. Check out a jazz club for live music, join the fun-seekers in a student pub, or just buy a bottle of wine and head to a piazza to hang out like the locals do.

For a list of live music venues, you can check the Bologna Tourism website.

For a more sophisticated night out, check the schedule at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Largo Respighi, 1). This beautiful opera house dates back to the 1700s and hosts everything from classical music and dance performances to classic operas by Italian greats like Verdi.

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Nuovo Hotel Del Porto offers 3-star comfort and free breakfast.

Cheap hotels in Bologna

Bologna is so small that it’s hard to choose a bad location for a hotel. That said, we prefer to stay closer to the city center, although there are some cheapo picks just north of the train station. And as mentioned before, if you are sensitive to noise, you might want to avoid any rooms that face the street close to the university.

Here a few cheap hotels in Bologna worth considering:

B&B Ambra

Although it won’t win any Italian design awards, B&B Ambra will surprise you with incredibly low rates in the heart of the city. Accommodations are simple but all come with private bathrooms, TV and free Wi-Fi. Rooms start at just $70.

Nuovo Hotel Del Porto

This three-star stay has a modern feel with air-conditioning and handsome decor. Wake up each morning to a free breakfast buffet. They even have a parking garage for those brave enough to navigate the streets of Bologna by car. Rates start at $90 per night for a Double or Twin Room.

Albergo delle Drapperie

A three-star spot near the Piazza Maggiore square, Albergo delle Drapperie is perfect for those looking for charming accommodations with free Wi-Fi. It gets extra points for the friendly staff. Rates start at $96 per night.

Need more hotel ideas for a trip to Bologna? Search over 750 hotels in Bologna.

The post Bologna Budget Travel Guide: How to save on a delicious trip appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Now, before you ask “what were you thinking?” or say “that doesn’t sound particularly Cheapo, Pete,” let me explain further.

Yes, the villa we rented was admittedly off-the-charts decadent. It had seven large bedrooms, five bathrooms, a kitchen nearly as large as my current apartment, a billiard room, a dining room, a massive living room area, an in-ground pool whose gorgeousness was eclipsed only by its vineyard view, and—somewhat inexplicably—a separate, small chapel on the grounds. And just to round it off, there were also large stone lion statues adjacent to the front doors, greeting us upon our return from schlepping around the countryside.

But did we mention the entire week-long stay cost each person roughly $70 per night? Sure, you can beat the pants off that price at a number of our Editor’s Picks in Florence (while actually being in Florence rather than a 45-minute drive outside) but for everything that the villa had to offer, we felt the price was reasonable. And for the sheer experience of the endeavor we were willing to shell out a few extra euros.

Related: Our favorite affordable hotels in Tuscany

But looking back on our trip, there are a number of tips and recommendations that would have been helpful to know when we were planning our stay. Here are some things to consider when renting a villa in Tuscany:

1. Prepare to “hub” it.

If you’re planning to explore a particular region – rather than just one specific city – renting a villa makes sense. Our villa was located near the village of Traversa, making it easy to “hub it” and visit Florence, Pisa, Siena, Cinque Terre, Bologna, and even Venice during our trip. Which brings us to our next tip…

2. Get ready to drive.

Rent a car and plan on driving it a lot. This might seem obvious to most, but prior to our trip we didn’t really consider how frequently we’d be driving around the region. Fortunately we had several eager drivers among us who were particularly adept with manual transmissions. Otherwise, we likely wouldn’t have strayed too far from our residence. Which, again, brings us to our next tip…

3. Get cooking.

While most villa rental agencies offer decadent, home-cooked meals on the premises at an extra cost, part of what made our experience so special was handling all meals ourselves (plus it saved a whole lot of money). There was never any shortage of ingredients at local markets for our nightly dinners and we found that a large part of our daily routine revolved around dinner planning. And we loved it.

4. Get ready for some family time.

For our group, part of what made renting a villa so special was traveling as a big family. Sure, we experienced our fair share of “I think it’s your turn to do the dishes” moments, but we still frequently reflect and laugh about our hysterical experience of sleeping in the Tuscan castle.

When renting a villa in Tuscany might not make sense

1. You don’t like your in-laws. Just kidding. Promise.

2. You don’t like driving through twisty, turny, slightly nerve-wracking roads. If this is the case, you might be better off staying in a city rather than in the winding hills.

3. When the math doesn’t work out. Budget wisely and consider all the incidental expenses of renting a villa. While the per person price of accommodation itself can be similar to that of  2 and 3-star hotels, you’ll also pay for food, car rentals, gas, electricity, a cleaning fee, and any other incidentals that spring up.

Websites that specialize in renting villas in Tuscany and elsewhere

There are many helpful websites that provide reservation services for villa rental throughout Europe. Most offer large format, high quality photos that should stir up your excitement. Here are a few that we recommend checking out:

Parker Villas – Specializes in villas through Italy. Parker Villas was one of the first villa rental agencies we discovered when we started our search.

Tuscany Now – Large listing of villas for rent in Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Sicily, and other regions in Italy.

VRBO – While not technically a villa reservation agency, VRBO does feature many properties in Tuscany and beyond, plus the rates tend to be a bit more reasonable.

Cuendet – Offers villas in Croatia, Italy, France, and Spain (and was the website we used when booking ours).

Tell us: Have you ever rented a villa in Italy or elsewhere? Share your experience with other Cheapos by leaving a comment below.

The post How to rent a villa in Tuscany. Is it right for you? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

At Drogheria della Rosa in Bologna, jovial owner Emanuele Addone keeps you smiling all night. After all, he did take home the prestigious San Pelligrino Cooking Cup. If his contagious enthusiasm doesn’t hit you, the continuously flowing wine certainly will.

Drogheria della Rosa’s cellar has several hundred choices of vino for every budget. Second piatti range from €9 to €15 per dish. Each dish is simple, made from the freshest ingredients, and prepared to perfection. Be sure to reserve a table ahead of time. During the summer months, we recommend outside tables.

Drogheria della Rosa
Address: Via Cartoleria, 10
Telephone: +39 51 22 2529
Hours: 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m., and 8 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday

The post Bologna: Drogheria della Rosa, a classic restaurant appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.