Where to Shop and Eat: 11 Bologna Market Tours

1.Bologna Food & Market Tour with 6 Tastings, Pasta, Wines & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,328 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $118Our pick

Spend 3.5 hours tasting Bologna with a guide such as Claire, Federica, Caterina, Mattia, or Gabriela. Visit the Quadrilatero market, watch pasta made by hand, compare aged Parmigiano and Modena balsamic, sample local meats, wines, gelato, and a secret dish. The group is capped at 12 people.

“Come really hungry. The food is delicious and plentiful. Caterina is a great tour guide, friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable. We learned so many things about Bologna's contribution to the culinary world.”

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2.Tastes and Traditions Food Tour with Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 162 reviews · from $100

Walk Bologna with a small group of up to 12, tasting nine local specialties at eight stops. Start with coffee and torta di riso, visit Mercato delle Erbe, sample Parmigiano Reggiano and mortadella, learn why spaghetti bolognese is not a local classic, and finish near the Two Towers.

“Trying different food. Our guide was amazing giving us so much helpful information about cooking and good food. Benadita I believe? Thank you”

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3.Private Bologna Food & Market Tour with 6 Tastings & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $405

Spend about three and a half hours with a private local food guide in Bologna’s old town. You’ll visit the Quadrilatero market, sample Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh pasta, regional cured meats, Modena balsamic vinegar, gelato, wine, coffee, and a secret dish, finishing near Piazza Santo Stefano.

“Caterina was a brilliant guide, highly recommended . Lovely insight into Bologna history and cuisine”

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4.Devour Bologna Tastes & Traditions Food Tour with Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · from $103

Start near Neptune Fountain with coffee and pastry at Bologna’s oldest pastry shop, then visit Mercato delle Erbe for cheese and mortadella. Continue to historic Osteria del Sole and a trattoria serving handmade pasta before ending near the Two Towers with dessert. Expect eight tasting stops, wine, and a maximum of 12 people.

“There were eleven of us on board he tour. We were from different parts of the world, but all got along very well. It was due to the atmosphere set by the guide snd we all had a wonderful time.”

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5.Guided Food Markets Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 65 reviews · 2 hours · from $50Best value

Walk Bologna’s Mercato delle Erbe and Quadrilatero with an English-speaking local guide such as Benedetta, Sonia, or Valentina. Learn how locals shop and cook, then choose and pay for the tastings you want, usually about €17 in total. Expect fresh pasta, Parma ham, mortadella, Parmigiano, balsamic, bread, wine, and gelato.

“Just excellent. Benedicta was hugely knowledgeable and charming. She coped with all our various intolerances skilfully! In our opinion much better to select and pay only what you want rather than a 4 hour eating marathon. Great value for money - thank you!”

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6.Small Group Food market Walking Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 59 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Spend about two hours walking central Bologna with an English-speaking local guide. You’ll visit the Quadrilatero Market, see San Petronio and the Two Towers, stop at three food businesses, taste local specialties, enjoy wine, and receive a voucher for a sweet treat. Guides Emilia and Elena have earned especially warm praise.

“The tour was really interesting, not only could we taste a lot of traditional food from Bologna, we could also learn about the history of the city and how the foods were produced (how is balsamic vinegar made, what different cuts are in Mortadella, what is the meaning behind the shape of Tortellini etc.).”

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7.Food markets tour with a local!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $50

Join Benedetta My Bologna for a relaxed, English-language food walk through Mercato delle Erbe and the Quadrilatero. In about two hours, you choose and pay for your own tastings, from tortellini and piadina to mortadella, balsamic, wine, and gelato. Groups are capped at eight, and the walk ends near Bologna’s Towers.

“Benedetta was very knowledgable and took us to wonderful local places to get food. I recommend this tour!”

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8.Private Market Tour and Cooking Class in Bologna with Giovanna C

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $139

Meet Giovanna at Neptune’s Fountain for a private walk through Bologna’s old market, then shop for ingredients and cook in her home. You may prepare tagliatelle, lasagne, tortellini, or gramigna, plus a seasonal dish and dessert. Wine, family conversation, and a four-hour evening meal are included.

“Spectacular! We loved our time with Giovanna and her family. We learned some key tips on making pasta and a bolognese sauce. We laughed, learned that Francesca is a New England Patriots fan! The family simply loved the evening. The wine just like the conversation continued to flow. Simply a must”

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9.Cesarine: Market Tour & Cooking Class at Local’s Home in Bologna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $226

Spend about four and a half hours with a local Cesarina in central Bologna. Shop for ingredients at a neighborhood market, make three traditional dishes such as tagliatelle, tortelloni, piadina, or tiramisu, then eat at your host’s table with local wine. Hosts may include Paola, Oriana, Maurizio, Marzia, or Sisto.

“My wife and I were matched with Paola and we are so happy that this happened! We met her by the Fontana del Nettuno (Neptune Fountain) in downtown Bologna and asked her to show us the city market more frequented by locals (versus the more touristy one) and so she did. We went and bought a few ingredients together and she explained everything around the market. We then all chatted on our way to her beautiful home, where she led us through preparing a three-course meal of Piadina, Tortelloni, and Tiramisu. We ate the food we made at her table and she made us feel at home. It was honestly…”

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10.Market and Cooking Class at a Local’s Home

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 17 reviews · from $214

Meet your host at a private Bologna home after booking, visit a local market, then prepare three regional dishes with an English- or Italian-speaking home cook. Hosts such as Martina, Oriana, and Paola bring their own style, from pasta and tiramisu to garden dining, with local wine served at the table.

“Really loved this experience. The market part was great for getting to know food and culture and the cooking was relaxed and delicious! Am ready to try at home! Plus Martina was a great host. Good conversation, knowledgeable and proud. Having the cooking class in her home allowed for informality and was a nice touch!”

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11.Market, Cooking Demo and Meal at a Local’s Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $157

Spend four hours with an English- or Italian-speaking Cesarina in Bologna. Visit a local market, choose seasonal ingredients, watch a private cooking demonstration, then sit down in a local home for four courses, coffee, water, and regional red and white wines. The group is private, and dietary needs can be arranged in advance.

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