10 Things to Do in Bologna in Summer

Summer is one of the best times to tour Italy, at least for people who don't have problems with high temperatures. At the same time there is the fact that some of the best things to do and see in Bologna are specifically during this time of the year. Which means that fun is guaranteed for all kinds of tourists in most corners of the city.

So I advise you to read this post in which I have taken it upon myself to compile these plans, activities and sites that can keep you entertained if you decide to visit the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region during any of the summer months.

Cinema and public squares are two very important elements of Italian culture and in this festival held annually from June to July both aspects are combined. This to offer a unique and unforgettable experience to both the locals and the hundreds of tourists who come daily to the city.

The name of the festival in English means under the movie stars and alludes to the fact that great classics of Italian or European cinema are screened in the middle of Piazza Maggiore. All in the open air, creating one of the biggest events of this style in the whole continent.

The specific dates of the festival are changing during every year, as the usual is that they are assigned for Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between mid-June and July. The best thing about the whole thing is that the activity is free of charge and offers you an opportunity where you can begin to understand the importance of the Italian film industry while enjoying a perfect summer evening under the stars.

At the same time, the fact that it is an evening activity allows you to participate in some of the best tours of Bologna during the day without any logistical interruption. This is very convenient for you to get to know the city on your own terms and with the accompaniment of guides specialized in its history, architecture or gastronomy.

Any attraction that is a safe escape from the sun and heat that defines Italy and the rest of Europe during the summer becomes a hit this time of year. That's why FICO Eataly World is one of the best places to visit in this city from June through mid-September. Basically, it is a large air-conditioned complex that is presented as a theme park dedicated to the gastronomic history of Italy as well as the relationship between mankind and food.

It is a great place to visit both alone and with the family as there are plenty of activities to do on site. There is also plenty of food to enjoy for free in each of the places that are dedicated to selling their handmade or luxury products.

This amusement park is divided into 7 thematic areas and the activities and shows vary every day. It also has outdoor areas that can be entertaining if the temperatures are favorable and you should know that it is open from Thursday to Sunday during all summer months. The place offers both guided tours and completely free access for you to explore the place on your own terms.

It is a relatively new place and the simple fact that it is a place dedicated to the world of gastronomy has contributed to it becoming one of the best places to visit in the city. In fact, it joins the best automobile museums in Bologna as the main modern attractions of a city in which the medieval center is the real protagonist.

The best plans in a city also have to do with battling the weather conditions that sometimes occur in the same and in that context the tours of the famous crypts of Bologna is another of the great plans for tourists during the summer months.

The truth is that many mansions and palaces in the city center have these subway structures that can help you understand how the planning of a home worked during medieval times. However, many of them are inaccessible to the average tourist, as you can only enter with tickets that are booked in advance.

So if the crypt plan sounds interesting to you, especially to escape the sun and heat of the city by touring an unusual area, then it is advisable to book a tour focused on this experience. Everything is even more appropriate knowing that many of them are planned for small groups of people.

In fact, it is a plan that is part of the best things to do in Bologna during autumn, as it would also be an excellent way to escape from the rain that characterizes the city at that time of the year.

The Ferragosto is an event that begins on the 15th of August and is basically a festival whose name comes from ancient Rome. And is that the Latin word Feriae Augusti represents the celebration proposed by Augustus, the first Roman emperor in history, in order to commemorate every year the end of the work in the fields with a few short vacation days.

Over the years it also became a religious holiday and today is believed to be the celebration of the Catholic feast that has to do with the Assumption of Mary into heaven. Either way it is an event that marks the beginning of the summer vacations until September 1 and specifically the weekend of August 15 is usually the most festive of all.

So it is quite appropriate that on these dates you participate in some of the best gastronomic tours of Bologna. Since by the second and third week of August it is likely that many family businesses and small tourist establishments will be closed because the main Ferragosto celebration has already passed.

Bologna is a university city in Italy and specifically during the summer the almost 100,000 students who live in the city leave it to enjoy their vacations before starting the next academic year. In turn, the University of Bologna is one of the great tourist attractions of the city and the buildings that make up its campus are true architectural gems.

In fact, it is one of the oldest universities in the Western world and for some historians is the oldest university that remains giving classes today uninterrupted since its founding. It was founded in the middle of medieval times.

So touring the university area of Bologna, which is located north of the historic center of the city, is an excellent choice for tourist entertainment during the summer. In fact, it is also one of the best things to do in Bologna at Christmas, as the museums and architectural gems of the university campus will also be empty for the end-of-year vacations.

Italian gelato is a world reference of quality and specifically in the city of Bologna is the museum that belongs to the Carpigiani University. This has been an institution dedicated to teaching the art behind the production of this culinary element and most of the true experts in Italian Gelateria have been linked in some way with this important site.

So visiting this museum is an excellent way to spend your time in the summer. Especially since it is an air-conditioned attraction that offers you the chance to enjoy one of the most refreshing foods in all of Italian gastronomy.

The site is located on the historic Via Emilia just outside the city and in fact for many people it is part of the best museums in Bologna. Which are also an excellent alternative for entertainment, as they are all an escape from the heat. In addition, they are characterized by a less significant influx of tourists than other Italian museums during the summer.

Public swimming pools are not usually an overly interesting tourist destination for foreigners. However, the Piscina Sterlino over the years has become one of the best attractions for all visitors to Bologna, as it is a great way to cool off from the high summer temperatures. It is also an excellent way to share urban traditions under the terms of the local people.

It is a swimming pool that at the same time is surrounded by totally public green areas that become one of the best places in the whole city to relax. All this in a totally free place, while enjoying the wind in the summer afternoon.

It is located just outside the city walls in one of the best residential neighborhoods in the south of Bologna. So it is an excellent way to explore some of the areas that are not traditionally touristy in this Italian town. At the same time you can combine it with a ride on one of Bologna' s best tour buses, as it is an activity that only takes up a few hours of your day.

Visiting a lake is often a favorite summertime activity for those who live in a landlocked city. For this reason it is not surprising to know that one of the best things to do in Bologna is an excursion to the Parco regionale dei laghi Suviana e brasimone, which is one of the largest lakes in this section of Italy.

It is formed from the construction of a dam for the production of hydroelectric energy and is located a couple of kilometers south of Bologna. It is characterized for being a protected natural area with a great amount of landscapes as well as an infinity of trails for those who enjoy this sporting activity.

It is also a place that is characterized for being a favorite destination for those who are looking to practice some water sports or for those who are just looking for some water in one of the hottest times of the year. It is undoubtedly one of the best excursions from Bologna, at least during the week with the highest temperatures of the summer. And its proximity to the city allows it to be a plan that can be combined with other activities in the same day without any inconvenience.

The Terma di San Petronio is one of the most special places in the city of Bologna. It is the only spa dedicated to health located in the center of an Italian city. Many hotels have their own thermal baths, but they become privately accessible places that are only available to guests.

In this case we are talking about a site that you have to pay to access, but it is definitely available to the public. It is known for the healing properties of its mineral waters as well as for being an excellent opportunity to escape the summer heat and have fun with the family.

In turn, it is one of the best places to relax and recharge your energy after a tiring day and then take part in some of the best things to do in Bologna at night. It is no secret that after several weeks of Italian partying the body needs a little rest.

Another of the great things to do in Bologna that may be a little overlooked by many people is the opportunity to sit and enjoy an Italian aperitif in one of the many porticoes of the city. The truth is that this section of most of the city's buildings, which is characterized by a kind of covered walkway where you can sit and enjoy the outdoors with the protection of the sun, becomes a good way to face the summer.

In fact, enjoying an Apperol Spritz just in the afternoon in one of the porticoes is a tradition that you can not miss on your summer trip to Bologna. Especially knowing that these urban spaces have earned the city a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Bologna's summer temperatures are similar to those of the rest of Europe which means that they are quite high during all months of the season. The maximum temperature is likely to exceed 40°C if there is a heat wave and it will most likely not drop below 20° even on the coldest nights.

Bologna's tourist flow during the summer is higher than that of the whole year. However, it is characterized by being a little lower than other destinations in the country such as Rome, Milan, Naples or Venice.

However, booking in advance for most tourist services is highly recommended and arranging a transfer from Bologna airport to your accommodation is an excellent alternative. At least if you do not want to deal with the high demand of cabs that will be at the time of your arrival.

Summer is also the most expensive time of the year to visit Bologna. This is logical, as it is the most expensive time of the year to visit most European destinations due to the high demand of people from all over the world.

However, you should know that Bologna is also a slightly cheaper destination than other Italian destinations. At the same time it offers many entertainment alternatives totally free of charge like the ones I have mentioned in this post.

In your suitcase to visit Bologna during the summer you can not miss clothes that are comfortable and breathable to help you cope with the long days of sightseeing that you are going to have under high temperatures. In fact, it is very important not to forget sunscreen and comfortable shoes that can be worn all day long without interruption.

It is also very appropriate to take a couple of stylish clothes with you. You never know when a more exclusive plan might come up and you need to dress that way.