Got an Extra Day in Bologna? Here’s Where to Go

Emilia-Romagna is filled with treasures and surprising landscapes. The food may bring you here; the villages, art-filled cities and warm welcome invite you to stay longer. Bologna is the heart of the region, but venture beyond the city and you’ll discover another side of Emilia-Romagna.

We’ve selected some of the best experiences outside Bologna, with ideas for art lovers, food enthusiasts and anyone craving a day in nature—all perfect for a day trip from Bologna. For each destination, you’ll find what makes it special and how to get there, helping you decide where to spend your extra day.

You can explore historic villages and castles with striking architecture, visit dairies where Parmigiano Reggiano tells the story of the land, or find yourself beneath a mosaic-covered vault that sparkles like a starry sky.

Where will you begin?

Do you love exploring charming medieval villages and wandering within the timeless walls of castles? Or do you prefer to lose yourself within the woods, lulled by the sound of a river? If flavour is your guide, you can easily reach the land of Parmigiano Reggiano from Bologna, where a dairy visit becomes the starting point for discovering the countryside, art-filled cities and local traditions.

No matter what your tourist identikit is, Emilia Romagna is certainly the ideal destination for your vacation. The heart of the region, of course, is Bologna, where art, architecture and green spots, even in urban settings, make it a beloved destination for many. 

If you’ve already explored this enchanting city and its porticoes and want to spend a day somewhere special nearby, we’ve selected 10 itineraries for memorable day trips from Bologna. Discover artistic treasures and natural wonders less than 100 kilometres away.

Let’s head out for the day!

Here's where we'll take you:

- House of Saint Benedict in Monteveglio

- A day in the land of Parmigiano Reggiano

- Castel del Rio, the town of the Gothic Line

- Park of the Stars in Loiano

- Rocchetta Mattei in Grizzana Morandi

- Lake Suviana

- Montecuccolo Castle

- Modena

- Parma

- Discovering the mosaics of Ravenna

Monteveglio is an ancient village located in the town of Valsamoggia, on the slopes of the Bolognese hills. It is a very small village, with just 5,000 inhabitants, but really rich in attractions and monuments, and the first of these, the magnificent Porta ad Arco (which in ancient times accompanied the drawbridge) will welcome you at the entrance.

Going on, you will visit the splendid abbey that dates back to the 11th century and was home to Augustinian monks; its construction is due to Matilde di Canossa. Lifting your gaze, you can admire the seventeenth-century bell tower and the fourteenth-century tower, home to a permanent museum on the village history; alongside it is the main attraction, the House of St. Benedict.

Here, there was the oratory headquarters but it was also a rest stop for pilgrims before taking to the road again along the nearby Via Francigena. 

Monteveglio is about 26 km from Bologna and can be easily reached by car or by train, to the Bazzano stop, and by bus 656. If, on the other hand, you love cycling, be aware that there is a dedicated 27-km-long cycle path where you can discover wonderful views among the Pignoletto vineyards.

The land of Parmigiano Reggiano is closer than you think. Its production area begins in the province of Bologna, west of the River Reno, and extends across Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma, reaching the part of Mantua’s province south of the Po. For a day trip from Bologna, a dairy visit is a chance to spark your curiosity and discover how one of the world’s most beloved Italian cheeses is made.

Book an early morning visit at a time when you can watch the cheesemakers at work. You’ll follow the different stages of milk processing and step into the ageing room, where shelves are stacked with golden wheels. Your guide will share knowledge passed down through generations. Dairy visits conclude with a tasting where you can compare the different ages of Parmigiano and recognize the differences in texture and flavor: who knows, it might just change the way you choose cheese.

Pair a dairy near Modena with a stroll through Piazza Grande and the stalls of Albinelli Market; choose Reggio Emilia to explore the historic centre around Piazza Prampolini; or head towards Parma, where you can follow your tasting with a visit to the Cathedral and its pink marble Baptistery. Leave time for lunch in a trattoria, where the Parmigiano Reggiano you’ve just watched being made becomes part of the dishes you taste.

Your extra day in Bologna can become a journey through the landscapes, people and kitchens behind a flavor you already know. Book your dairy visit in advance, checking the times and included activities, then choose one nearby city to complete your day. A car makes travelling between the city and countryside easier.

If you have a few extra days, we recommend considering a longer itinerary to fully experience this incredible region, discovering all five provinces starting right from Bologna.

Let's move to the Romagna hinterland to explore Castel del Rio, a very special place for your one-day trips from Bologna. 

With slightly more than 1,000 inhabitants, Castel del Rio is actually very rich in history, as it was an ancient possession of Matilda of Canossa and later became part of Frederick Barbarossa's empire; in the last century it was also a battlefield, as well a town on the Gothic Line, a fact recalled inside the special museum where numerous military objects are collected. 

Characterized by a lush landscape, the village is surrounded by chestnut and pine forests, perfect for trekking and bicycle rides, and is crossed by the Santerno River, in which it is also possible to bathe in many sections.

If you love natural landscapes but appreciate historical references, Castel del Rio is definitely for you; about 50 km from Bologna, it can be reached in about an hour and a quarter by car or by train to Imola and from there by bus 104. 

Let's move on to another small medieval village 35 km from Bologna, Loiano, which has become a popular destination for astrophiles.

This small town is one of the best spots for sky observation, and that is why the Parco delle Stelle (Stars park) is located here, it is a two-hectare green oasis housing the Astronomical Observatory, equipped with two telescopes, a lecture hall and a planetarium.

The latter is reached by walking along a path that reproduces a scale model of the solar system showing the various planet sizes and distances. Moreover, the park frequently becomes a collective observation point because telescopes are set up for visitors to be used on special events.

If you enjoy scanning the night sky then you cannot miss Loiano among your one-day trip destinations from Bologna; it can be reached by car in just under an hour or by bus 906 from the bus station. 

We have already mentioned this amazing place but we can't forget to mention it among the destinations for your one-day trips from Bologna.

Rocchetta Mattei is located in the town of Grizzana Morandi and will enchant you with its particular overlapping styles architecture, from Baroque to Art Nouveau, passing through Andalusian and Moresque.

The castle consists with peculiar shapes and patterns, and was built in 1850 by the visionary Count Cesare Mattei (the inventor of Electromeopathy), on the ruins of an ancient 13th-century fortress.

There are many wonders to explore in this building, from rooms to courtyards and even monumental staircases, which recreate original Escher-worthy optical illusions. We won't reveal anything more and let you enjoy the wonderfulness of the visit.

Grizzana Morandi is just 50 km from Bologna and can be reached by train (stopping at Riola station) or by car.

Let's complete our tour of around the province of Bologna with the beautiful green oasis that surrounds Suviana Lake.

Located within the Suviana and Brasimone Lakes Regional Park, at about 400 meters in altitude, it houses a hydroelectric power plant since the 1930s, as well as a beloved destination for the Bologna residents (and others) who wish to cut out a day in touch with nature.

Indeed, here it is possible to take walks in the beautiful paths surrounded by chestnut, oak and coniferous trees, perhaps admiring deers in their natural habitat, cycling among the scenic roads, canoeing and windsurfing, or, you can to simply lie down on the grass and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.

Lake Suviana, 60 km away from Bologna, can be reached by car in about an hour and a half; the train ride is much more complex and inconvenient and therefore we do not recommend it.

Let's move to the province of Modena and get immersed in a fairy-tale atmosphere at the beautiful Montecuccolo Castle in Pavullo del Frignano, a small town halfway to Bologna, nestled in the beautiful Apennine landscape.

Located on a rise in the center of a small fortified village, the castle is a vestige of the power of the Montecuccoli family, which ruled the area from the 12th century onward. The highlight, however, from which a splendid overview can be admired, is the keep, a striking square tower that was restored in the 19th century.

Numerous meetings, events and festivals are held in this wonderful setting throughout the year, thanks to the successful activity of the local associations. 

To fully enjoy its atmosphere, delighting in tasty dishes or staying in luxurious rooms, you should know that you can stop at the inn within the walls. 

Montecucciolo Castle is just one hour away from Bologna by car; again, reaching this site by train is more complex and we would not recommend it. 

For your one-day trips from Bologna, Modena and its beautiful old city center are a choice you could definitely consider, because you can get there in a really short time and more precisely in half an hour by train or about 40 minutes by car.

As you stroll through the heart of the city, you will admire the beautiful Gothic-style cathedral and the famous Ghirlandina, a bell tower that is the unquestioned symbol of the city.

This small and charming town is also famous for its balsamic vinegar, Lambrusco wine and many gastronomic delights, but also for being the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti.

Learn more about one of the world's most famous tenors in his house-museum, admiring mementos of his life and performances, photographs and stage costumes, as well as furniture and objects that he commissioned to be handcrafted. 

Let's continue exploring Emilia for our one-day trips from Bologna and make a stop in Parma. A city of such elegance and vitality that it has earned the nickname "little Paris", it is the capital of the Food Valley thanks to the large number of typical products that originated here.

But it is also the city that gave birth to Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini, and they, among others, will accompany you in your discovery of Parma if you follow the path of the well-known talking statues.

Born from a project by Parma teenagers, Talking Teens - Le Statue Parlano!, the statues of 16 famous people are placed in as many spots around the city, and if you use the number or QR code on their plaques you will receive a 2-3 minute phone call telling you interesting facts and trivia about the provincial capital. This is a nice and original way that takes advantage of modern-day technology in order to learn more about local history and at the same time get an alternative and entertaining tourist route.

About 100 km away from Bologna, Parma can be reached in an hour by train or car.

How about moving to Romagna? For the last destination of the one-day trips from Bologna, we chose the beautiful Ravenna, the city of mosaics. And it is through these that we want to explore the city. 

Some of Ravenna's most beautiful mosaics can be found inside its most famous monuments, such as the Basilica of San Vitale, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Galla Placidia Mausoleum, the Mausoleum of Theodoric, and the Arian Baptistery; depicted scenes, of course, come from the Old and New Testament and the life of Jesus, represent sacred subjects or the building patrons; in our opinion, you should not miss the wonderful starry vault depicted on the dome of the Galla Placidia Mausoleum, where precious golden stars stand out against a blue background. We won't reveal more so as not to spoil the surprise: It's worth it! 

Ravenna is about 70 km from Bologna and can be reached in about an hour and a quarter by car or train. 

As you may have noticed, just a few kilometers from the Two Towers there are enchanting places that can please every kind of tourist, from the trekking and cycling lover to the regular castle-goer. Moreover, in less than an hour by train or by car, you can explore other provincial capitals and all the wonders they hold.

In short, for your one-day trip from Bologna you will have no problem selecting the right destination that best fits your travel habits or you can take advantage of it to discover something unusual but nevertheless wonderful.