RunCity

Bologna on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Bologna's best-known sights, including Finestrella on Via Piella, Two Towers, Quadrilatero Market Streets and more. It is about 5.5 km on foot, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Bologna leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 5.5 kmDistance
  • 2 hoursWalking
  • about 55 minRunning
Play Bologna in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Bologna
Photo: Fabio Ciminelli · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bologna's centre is made for walking: almost 40 km of porticoes keep you out of sun and rain, and this route covers the old town in about 5.5 km. It starts at the Finestrella on Via Piella, a little window onto a hidden canal, and reaches the Two Towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, leaning side by side. The food lanes of the Quadrilatero lead to Piazza Maggiore with the unfinished façade of San Petronio and the Neptune Fountain.

The covered Mercato delle Erbe, the Gothic San Francesco with its tombs outside, San Domenico and the cluster of churches at Santo Stefano follow, and Santa Maria dei Servi stands behind one of the city's most graceful porticoes. The bonus stop is the Giardini Margherita, the big park just outside the old walls. Come hungry: the Quadrilatero is the place for mortadella and tortellini.

1234567891011

Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Finestrella on Via Piella

    Finestrella on Via Piella Photo

    The little shuttered window that looks onto a hidden canal.

    Photo: Revol Web from Bologna, Italia · CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. Two Towers

    Two Towers Photo

    Asinelli and Garisenda leaning side by side.

    Photo: Vanni Lazzari · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Quadrilatero Market Streets

    Quadrilatero Market Streets

    The lanes of food stalls and delis behind Piazza Maggiore.

    Photo: karel291 · CC BY 3.0

  4. San Petronio Basilica

    San Petronio Basilica Photo

    The unfinished marble-and-brick façade on Piazza Maggiore.

    Photo: Unknown author · Public domain

  5. Fountain of Neptune

    Fountain of Neptune Photo

    The bronze sea god towering over the fountain.

    Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Mercato delle Erbe

    Mercato delle Erbe

    The covered food market on Via Ugo Bassi.

    Photo: Fabio Di Francesco · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. San Francesco Basilica

    San Francesco Basilica

    The Gothic church with its flying buttresses and tombs outside.

    Photo: Roberta Mattioli · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. San Domenico Basilica

    San Domenico Basilica Photo

    The basilica façade on its quiet square.

    Photo: Georges Jansoone · CC BY 2.5

  9. Santo Stefano Basilica

    Santo Stefano Basilica Photo

    The cluster of old churches on Piazza Santo Stefano.

    Photo: MenkinAlRire · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Santa Maria dei Servi

    Santa Maria dei Servi

    The church behind its tall, graceful portico.

    Photo: sailko · CC BY 2.5

  11. Giardini Margherita

    Giardini Margherita Bonus

    The big city park where Bolognesi relax by the pond.

    Photo: Lorenzov79 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Play Bologna in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Bologna on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 5.5 km, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Bologna is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Bologna?

    Open Bologna in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Bologna leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Finestrella on Via Piella and finishing at Giardini Margherita. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

    Nearby cities