Bolonia Hop on Hop off Bus Tours

Most of the best things to see and do in Bologna have to do with the idea of touring the architectural treasures of the city while combining it with a gastronomic tasting of the best culinary proposals of this Italian locality. Fortunately, throughout the year there are tour buses that facilitate the logistics of this urban exploration.

So I advise you to continue reading this publication to learn all the important details associated with the best tour buses in the city of Bologna. Which stand out for their economic advantages that at the same time facilitate the use of your time in the city.

Throughout the year and especially during the summer season, the typical tour buses that are present in most of the major cities of the world run in the center of the city of Bologna. As Bologna is one of the most visited cities in Italy, it is logical that this type of tourist service is also available. However, you should know that there is only one company dedicated to these tours and only one route is offered for the limited amount of passable streets that exist in the center of Bologna.

Fortunately this does not prevent the possibility that the bus allows you to enjoy the most important buildings of the city center from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. In fact, you should know that these tourist buses are an excellent transportation alternative even if you are not interested in doing the whole route. One of their stops is located at the northern end of the city center in an area very close to the university campus of Bologna.

In the opposite direction there is a stop near the gardens in the south of the city and this means that you cross the central district of Bologna from north to south in record time. Along this route you will get significantly closer to some of Bologna' s best museums. In fact, one of the stops on the route is Piazza Maggiore, which is the most central point for sightseeing tours of the city.

Also, you should know that the bus has an audio guide in more than 10 different languages and that the scheme under which it operates is free stops. This means that you can get off at one point and then resume the route by getting on the next bus that arrives at that specific stop. In fact, the bus fares work as a one-time payment that guarantees you unlimited use of the system from early morning until early evening, when the tour ends.

You have to know that the Bologna tourist bus does not have different routes. And this has to do with the way the city center is configured. In which most of the streets are pedestrianized. Therefore, there is not enough space for a double-decker bus to pass through the few roads that have been set up for vehicular traffic.

However, this route usually starts in Piazza Maggiore, as it is an excellent meeting point and is also an accessible place for most people who are staying in the city center. This also makes each participant's planning of the tour more favorable. Since they can take the opportunity to visit the Basilica of San Petronio and walk the streets around the square at their leisure before deciding to board the bus.

The next stop on this route is usually on Viale Pietramellara, which is a major avenue that is located at the northern end of Bologna's central district. Tourists are usually advised to get off at this stop because they will be able to visit most of the museums that are located on Bologna' s university campus and also enjoy the famous Parco della Montagnola. This is a picturesque public park that dates back to the 19th century and is located on a piece of land where a castle once stood in the 14th century.

The last three stops of the Bologna sightseeing bus are then presented. The third stop is San Michele in Bosco and the fourth stop is very close to Piazza Maggiore. You have to know that this route is one of the best things to do in Bologna during autumn, as it is a safe escape from the frequent rains that usually occur during this time of the year.

On the other hand, if one has to talk about the advantages of using the Bologna tourist bus then one has to highlight the fact that it is a time saver and even a money saver. And is that if a person has several days in the city and is already a little tired of having to walk the same streets all the time then it is seen as an economical transportation alternative. Which is available throughout the day and also guarantees a transfer from the north to the south of the city in a short time.

The same goes for those who are trying to save their energy for other more complex activities. Not everyone enjoys the idea of walking the city and prefers to accelerate the enjoyment of its architecture through a means of transportation that is favorable for urban views. In fact, it is quite common for people who propose a tour of the best automobile museums in Bologna, which are outside the city, to want to use their time with this type of bus tour.

It should also be understood that the flexibility of using the best tour buses in Bologna allows it to be an activity that can be combined with other plans throughout the day. For it can perfectly be a way to learn about the history of the city through the audio guides. This can be combined with the idea of getting off at one of the stops to visit museums, restaurants or commercial establishments that are of interest to users.

In addition, it is also worth noting that the best tourist buses in Bologna are an excellent logistical alternative for the family. It is no secret that having to walk several kilometers a day with small children can be quite a headache, especially in the summer when the streets are usually crowded with people.

The Bologna sightseeing bus tour as such is significantly short when compared to the routes operated by such buses in other parts of the world. For example, on a conventional day the entire route will take about 2 hours in total. This is assuming you decide to get on at the first stop located in Piazza Maggiore and then complete a full cycle without getting off at any of the available points.

However, it is worth noting that different situations can cause this route to be delayed or accelerated. For example, if no one in the group decides to get off at any of the stops along the route, it is likely that the total trip will take one hour and 45 minutes. On the other hand, if at each of the stops a significant number of people get off and on the bus and some of them are in wheelchairs or have a stroller then the whole route is likely to take about two and a half hours.

Either way, you have to know that this experience despite being short is quite entertaining and is convenient to accelerate the possibility of appreciating many places that would not be appropriate to dedicate an individual visit. So this type of tour becomes your best ally for those dates of your trip when you decide to participate in one of the best things to do in Bologna at night. You will be rested and at the same time you will have been able to enjoy the city from a more comfortable and leisurely perspective.

From the tourist bus of Bologna you will be able to appreciate different realities of the city. At the beginning, right at the meeting point in Piazza Maggiore, you will have a privileged view of the heart of the historic district of Bologna. Along the route you will begin to notice the changes that occur between the northern part of the city and this older and more touristic part.

At the second stop you will notice that there is a clear difference between the central district of Bologna and the surrounding neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are already much more similar to the modern Italian cities of today. In addition, you will be able to see the architectural identity that defines Bologna's university district par excellence.

When you head south the panorama changes completely, as the houses start to become real mansions several centuries old and you will be able to admire the natural landscape that characterizes these southern neighborhoods of Bologna. Which are known for having a much more leisurely and calm lifestyle and are associated with the existence of centuries-old families that have marked the power and control of the cultural sphere in this Italian city.

Already for the return to the first stop of the tour you can enjoy a different way with equally important buildings in the center of Bologna. This means that along this bus tour you will see some of the most important areas for the best tours of Bologna. All this under a single fare and in one go, thus favoring your pocket and the use of your time.

The price of the Bologna sightseeing bus depends on the age of the participant. For example, the approximate price for a full fare is about 15 euros per person. This applies to those who are over 10 years old, do not have any disabilities and do not require an accompanying person.

On the other hand, the reduced rate is about seven euros per person and is available for children from six to 10 years old visiting the city in school groups. It is also available for adults on university excursions, if they have a disability or if they require an accompanying person. The same applies to the reduced price for younger children. The approximate rate is about 3 euros per person and it is only available for children under five years old.

You should know that in general the ticket is not refundable and that the entrance is purchased by dates. This means that if you decide to buy a ticket for September 13 in advance, it will only be valid for trips that take place on September 13. The only exception is when the cancellation of the service is due to external causes.

This means that in general this is a very affordable service that you can combine with other equally interesting experiences such as the best gastronomic tours of Bologna. Which can perfectly complement the itinerary of your day leaving each of the plans for both the morning and the afternoon.

The schedules of the Bologna tourist bus are changeable. Depending on the summer tourist influx it is likely that the schedule is readjusted to be available to as many people as possible.

However, during most of the year the schedule is fixed and this means that it is open to the public from 10 am to 6:30 pm. This applies to every day of the week. This means that no matter if you want to participate in this tour on a Sunday, Monday or Wednesday, you will always find the same opening hours.

This is perfect to organize the proper logistics for your trip. You can perfectly schedule one of these transfers from Bologna airport first thing in the morning. You can then enjoy these sightseeing bus tours in the mid-afternoon and leave the rest of your day available for other sightseeing experiences at night. Which makes an ideal scheme for those who have a short one or two day trip to the city of Bologna.

The first thing you need to know about the operation of the Bologna tourist bus is that it is a private institution. This means that it does not have any funding from the city council and therefore there is no responsibility on the part of the government for the cancellation or activation of special routes or unofficial services.

At the same time, it is appropriate to know that in some seasons of the year it is possible that the accompaniment of a guide inside the vehicle is offered to favor the interest of the participants. This person will usually speak both English and Italian. In any case, audio guides in more than 10 languages are available at all times and Spanish is clearly one of those languages.

Unfortunately in this case there is no possibility to monitor through an application where each and every bus is located in order to plan the most opportune moment to get on the next one. However, the small size of the historic center of Bologna guarantees that a bus will pass by every single stop within 30 minutes.

At the same time, you should know that the route is so well planned that with just a couple of other activities you could say that you have already seen most of the city center. This will allow you to have plenty of time available to participate in other plans such as the excursions to the outskirts of Bologna. Which are highly recommended knowing that the Emilia-Romagna region is one of the most beautiful areas in all of northern Italy.