10 Things to Do in Bologna in Spring

One of the most distinctive things about Italian cities is the fact that the interesting plans for tourists are constantly changing throughout the year. That while the most representative buildings of each place remain as permanent and reliable attractions. For that reason it is important to become familiar with the best things to do in Bologna according to each season. For perhaps what is recommended for the winter is not the same as what is advisable for the summer.

I recommend that you continue reading this post, because in this case I have grouped together several activities and plans that are ideal for when you decide to visit the city of Bologna during the spring months.

When you arrive in the city, you will probably only be interested in participating in one of the best tours of Bologna. And this is only logical, as this is one of the most culturally rich cities in all of Italy, which is no small feat. However, throughout the spring there are some very important events and one of them is the Bologna Children's Book Fair. It is organized year after year during the month of March in a convention center of the BolognaFiere.

You have to understand that the event as such is a bit business-focused, as it is a convention that brings together the most important literary agents, graphic designers, publishers, illustrators and translators in this field to discuss and present the major innovations in the sector.

However, everyone recommends attending as a tourist because it is a perfect opportunity to spend several hours browsing through books from publishers from all over the world and to appreciate really beautiful illustrations focused on children's learning.

In any case, you should know that it is a plan that you can complement with tours of the city of Bologna. The convention usually lasts several days and with a couple of hours you will have toured it in its entirety.

Bologna is among the main Italian cities focused on tourism and for this reason it is not surprising to know that one of the most important events of the whole year that takes place during spring has to do with opening its doors to as many people as possible.

It is Di Verde in Verde and this is a weekend in May in which the municipality of the city decides to open the doors of more than 50 private gardens. All located in some of the most impressive mansions in the city. The event is given with the intention of making the architectural heritage of the city accessible to all.

Clearly this is a once in a lifetime occasion where you will be able to get to know some of the greatest gardening treasures. Especially knowing that Bologna is a city known throughout the world for the majesty of its green spaces.

Plus, there is the fact that it is an activity that will only take up a few hours of your day and you can complement it with some of the best gastronomic tours in Bologna. These will also open the doors for you to learn the secrets of one of the best culinary capitals of Italy.

Italy is a country where culture can be perceived just by walking its streets and during the month of June, just before the end of spring, the Biografilm Festival is organized. This is an international event dedicated to the world of documentary film, but since Bologna is all about captivating as many people as possible, it has become an event that also involves the gastronomic world and art all over the city.

Participating in any of the different activities of this festival is one of the best things you could do in Bologna at night during the late spring. Especially knowing that the festival usually occupies at least about 10 days of the month of June every year.

The Parco del Cavaticcio is usually the place where the film screenings are organized as well as where many of the film conferences are held. However, you have to know that the concerts, the food fair and any other art and culture shows may be going on simultaneously all over the city.

So one of the best things you can do is to keep an eye on the official website of the festival if you consider that it could be one of the best entertainment alternatives when visiting the city of Bologna during the end of spring.

For many Italians the region of Emilia-Romagna is one of the most beautiful in the entire north of the country. Exactly for this reason something you can't miss is the idea of visiting the surroundings of Bologna. The Oasi la Rizza is one of them and it is a protected natural area located in what was once an ancient rice field.

. Reaching it is quite easy, as it is just a few kilometers from the city center and is located halfway between Ferrara and Bologna.

In turn, you should know that spring is the perfect time for this decision because you can admire the arrival of many species of migratory birds among which the grey heron and the white stork stand out. In fact, a short trip to this area is considered one of the best excursions from Bologna, at least when you are looking for a short break from the city.

You should also know that the inner areas of the Oasis have been upgraded for tourism and nowadays there are many pedestrian paths. As well as observation huts and other infrastructure designed to protect the tranquility of the wildlife and ecosystem.

The Canale Navile is a relatively small canal that stretches from the center of Bologna to the neighboring community of Bentivoglio. For decades it has been an epicenter for exercise and recreation for the local population in both spring and summer.

Fortunately today there is both a pedestrian and bicycle lane that runs along its path. So enjoying a cycling session along this route is one of the best things you can do when visiting the city in spring.

Firstly because it is a good way to exercise if you have been thinking about it throughout your trip and secondly because the path offers you privileged views of the plains surrounding the city of Bologna. At the same time it is an excellent way to appreciate one of the jewels of industrial archeology.

And it should be noted that this canal is centuries old and was created as a space that could supply drinking water to the city of Bologna. In fact, it is a good activity to make an itinerary in which you propose to visit some of the best car museums in Bologna. Especially knowing that most of them are outside the city both in Modena and on the road to Ferrara.

Spring is synonymous with flowers and exactly for this reason one of the best things to do in Bologna is to visit the city's botanical garden. It is one of the oldest in Italy and in fact it was an innovative space at the time of its foundation, which took place in the mid-sixteenth century.

Throughout its history it has undergone several relocations, but today it has a definitive location in Via Irnerio 42, right in the heart of the university area of Bologna.

Spring as such is a very suitable time to visit this botanical garden because of the large number of exhibits that are prepared knowing that it is the season when many plants bloom worldwide. You also have to know that this botanical garden has four greenhouses, two for tropical plants and two for succulent plants.

You should appreciate the fact that visiting the botanical garden of the University of Bologna is part of some of the best things to do in Bologna during the summer. But in that case it has much more to do with an escape from the high temperatures that define Italy during those months of the year and less to do with the events that are organized by the university.

The Giardini Margherita is considered by all locals as the green lung of Bologna's city center. In fact it is the most visited park in the whole city and with its 26 ha it is also the largest park in most of the cities of the Emilia-Romagna region.

Visiting this park can be an excellent decision, as during spring it is one of the most pleasant places in the whole city. In fact it is usually crowded with tourists as well as locals who are looking to enjoy the nice weather after many months of low temperatures.

Its strategic location in the south of the city while being close enough to the more urban area makes it an excellent plan to enjoy in the afternoon after sightseeing tours. In fact it is part of the Bologna Hop On Hop Off bus stops. Which are a good alternative if you are looking to get around the city.

On the other hand, if you are still interested in touring another of Bologna' s major springtime attractions then you can't miss Villa Ghigi Park. It is a large park located in the hills surrounding the city and combines both natural and cultivated areas to offer the possibility to all tourists and locals to enjoy quiet walks while having some of the best views of the city center.

So having a picnic with some of the most representative foods of the Italian culinary world is a good idea if you are interested in visiting this place. Especially because it is a privileged place to enjoy a complete panorama of Bologna during the sunset and at a time with a weather as pleasant as spring.

You should also know that this is a plan that will only occupy a few hours of your afternoon and therefore you can complement it with a visit to some of the best museums in Bologna. All of which are within six minutes walking distance from this point, right in the center of the city.

April 25, a date that falls right in the middle of spring, is a public holiday throughout Italy. It is the anniversary of the liberation of Italy and has to do with the commemoration of the end of World War II as well as the end of the Nazi occupation of the country.

By itself it is quite a significant date for the history of the country, but over the years it has become a festive date in which young people take the opportunity to celebrate in style the favorable spring weather. Although if you wish, you could also participate in one of the many political and cultural exhibitions that usually take place in the city center.

So if your trip to Bologna coincides with this date you can not fail to take advantage of participating in some of the best things to do in Bologna at night. Most of them have to do with partying or enjoying the best of the city's gastronomic offerings. In fact, this date is ideal for you to visit the well-known multicultural neighborhood of Bolognina. Especially for the fact that it has a lot of bars with alternative and modern proposals.

Another of the most important dates for Italians also occurs during the spring and it is the Day of the Republic, which falls on June 2. This date has to do with the popular referendum that led to the creation of an Italian Republic after the Second World War. Exactly for this reason it is a very important holiday for the Italian identity.

Throughout Bologna you will find parades and popular events and you will also be surprised to realize that many establishments will be closed because it is a national holiday. For that reason it is appropriate that you opt for activities that will lead you to celebrate with the youth the creation of the Italian Republic and above all that you plan very well any logistical issues.

And there are chances that there will be no cabs as you wait at the airport or even that many hotels are not scheduling reservations if they were not made in advance. So one thing I can advise you is that if you want to enjoy the Republic Day in Bologna right on the day of your arrival in the city is to book in advance some of the transfers from Bologna airport to your accommodation.

The beginning of spring in Bologna is quite cold, as in March you will find minimum temperatures of around 5 °C. However, already for the month of April and for the month of May and June you will find maximum temperatures exceeding 20 °C and this is very favorable to participate in the outdoor activities that I have recommended.

The tourist influx in Bologna during spring is increasing as summer approaches. This means that maybe by March or April there won't be as many people, but by June you will definitely run into bigger problems if you don't book activities well in advance.

Traveling to Bologna during the spring is significantly cheaper than during the summer. This is due to the fact that the summer season is very busy and the prices of hotels and many tourist services increase all over Europe. However, you have to know that traveling to Bologna in spring is still a bit more expensive than doing it in autumn.

If you are traveling to Bologna in early spring I can advise you to bring coats. Especially for the fact that the nights will still be cold. On the other hand, if you decide to travel in late spring then I advise you to bring breathable and above all comfortable clothes to enjoy most of the hiking and sport activities that this city has to offer.