What to see in Bologna near the station, on foot

At a glance

Bologna Centrale is one of Italy’s busiest railway stations: around 58 million passengers a year, 27 platforms, high-speed trains every half hour. Yet everything worth coming to Bologna for is reachable on foot from the station in under 25 minutes.

This guide is written for visitors arriving by train who want to get around without fuss: no buses to plan, no apps to download — just a pair of comfortable shoes and this route.

Via dell’Indipendenza: the avenue that leads to the heart of the city

Leave through the main exit of the station onto Via Pietramellara. Walk a few metres and turn right onto Via dell’Indipendenza: this is the pedestrianised, commercial street lined with arcades that connects the station to the historic centre.

Walking under the portici — sheltered from rain and sun — you will reach Piazza del Nettuno in around 18–22 minutes.

Bologna’s portici (arcades) are not merely a practical piece of urban infrastructure: in 2021 they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city has nearly 40 km of them in the historic centre alone, 62 if you include those outside the old city walls. The arcades you walk beneath on Via dell’Indipendenza have been part of this system since the Middle Ages.

Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno

You arrive first in Piazza del Nettuno, home to the celebrated Fountain of Neptune (1566). From there, an archway leads you into Piazza Maggiore: 115 metres long by 60 metres wide, one of the oldest public squares in Italy outside Rome.

What you find here:

Basilica di San Petronio

On the south side of the square, unmistakable with its unfinished façade — half marble, half bare brick. Construction began in 1390 and was completed in 1663: 273 years of building work. It is the sixth-largest church in Italy and the largest Gothic brick church in the world, with an internal length of 132 metres.

Admission is free. It is worth stepping inside even just to see the astronomical meridian traced on the floor by the mathematician Cassini in the seventeenth century: a bronze strip that cuts across the nave for tens of metres.

Palazzo d’Accursio

Opposite the basilica, closing off the western side of the square. Founded in 1287, today it houses the City of Bologna, the Municipal Art Collections, and the Sala Borsa public library. Entry to the Sala Borsa is free.

Palazzo dei Banchi

The monumental portico on the eastern side is the Pavaglione: 139 metres of sixteenth-century columns where silk was once traded. Today it is one of the most elegant covered passages in the city.

The Two Towers

From Piazza Maggiore, walk east along Via Rizzoli for 400 metres. In a few minutes you reach Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, where the two medieval towers — the symbol of Bologna — rise above the square.

• Torre degli Asinelli: 97.20 metres tall, 498 steps. When open, the climb takes around 45 minutes; booking is mandatory and access is not recommended for those with heart conditions, asthma, or vertigo.
• Torre Garisenda: shorter and with a pronounced lean, it cannot be visited internally but can be photographed up close.

Torre Asinelli tickets (when open): €5 full price, €3 concession (children aged 4–11, over 65s, students, groups). Book at bolognawelcome.it.

2026 note: The Torre degli Asinelli has been closed for maintenance since 23 October 2023 — check the official website for any reopening before planning your visit. As an alternative, Bologna Welcome recommends the Torre dell’Orologio (Palazzo d’Accursio) for a 360° panoramic view.

The Quadrilatero: markets, shops and aromas

Behind the Two Towers opens the Quadrilatero, the city’s medieval market district. The streets are narrow and shops spill out at ground level from historic buildings: delicatessens, fishmongers, greengrocers, wine bars.

This is the right place to buy mortadella straight from the counter, taste handmade tortellini, or simply stop and watch. It is not a tourist district built to order: it is a market that functions every single day.

The main streets of the Quadrilatero:

• Via Clavature
• Via Pescherie Vecchie
• Via Caprarie
• Via degli Orefici

The Archiginnasio and the library

A short walk from the Basilica di San Petronio, at Piazza Galvani 1, stands the Archiginnasio di Bologna: it was the first unified seat of the University of Bologna, built in 1563. Today it houses the Archiginnasio Municipal Library. For up-to-date opening hours and prices, check the official website.

It is well worth going up to the first floor to see the Anatomical Theatre: an octagonal, all-wood room from 1637 where medical students once attended anatomy lessons around a marble table. It is one of the most unusual spaces in Bologna.

Walking route summary

Bologna Centrale
      ↓ ~5 min
Via dell'Indipendenza (UNESCO arcades)
      ↓ ~13 min
Piazza del Nettuno — Fountain of Neptune
      ↓ 1 min
Piazza Maggiore — Basilica San Petronio (free entry) · Palazzo d'Accursio
      ↓ ~5 min (Via Rizzoli)
Two Towers — Torre Asinelli (closed for maintenance in 2026; check for reopening)
      ↓ 2 min
Quadrilatero — historic markets and shops
      ↓ 5 min (Via dell'Archiginnasio)
Archiginnasio — Anatomical Theatre

Estimated total (walking only): ~35–40 minutes. With stops at the sights: a good half day.

Practical tips

Left luggage: available at the station with staff on hand. If you arrive before check-in you can leave your bags and head straight out to explore.

Comfortable shoes: the historic centre is entirely paved in stone. There are no raised pavements and no even surfaces — particularly in the Quadrilatero.

Rain: the arcades cover almost the entire route to Piazza Maggiore. In light rain you can walk nearly the whole way without an umbrella.

Best times: early morning (8–10) for the basilica and nearly empty squares; late afternoon (17–19) for the Quadrilatero with the market stalls still open and warmer light.

ZTL: the historic centre is a restricted traffic zone. If you have a car, do not bring it into the centre — park outside the old city walls or use a park-and-ride. Full details are in our guide to parking near the station.

FAQ

How much can you see in one day in Bologna, starting from the station? With a full day you can comfortably do the route described above (station → Piazza Maggiore → Two Towers → Quadrilatero → Archiginnasio). If you add the Civic Medieval Museum or more time in the Quadrilatero, allow at least 6–7 hours.

How do you get from the Two Towers to the Archiginnasio? Head back along Via Rizzoli towards Piazza Maggiore and turn left onto Via dell’Archiginnasio — under 5 minutes on foot.

Is the Basilica di San Petronio free? Yes, admission to the basilica is free. Some side chapels have a separate ticket (around €5); for details check the basilica’s official website.

Can you visit the Torre Asinelli without booking? No, booking is mandatory. Book via bolognawelcome.it in advance, especially at weekends.

Are there drinking water fountains along the route? Bologna has several public drinking fountains in the historic centre. The ones closest to this route are in Piazza del Nettuno and in the streets of the Quadrilatero.

Book your room 20 metres from the station

Bologna Station Suites is 20 metres from Bologna Centrale: you can leave your bags in your room and head straight out on foot towards the centre.

Check availability → · or message us on WhatsApp

Discover our rooms: Our rooms · Explore the neighbourhood: The Neighbourhood