Let's recall something that I wrote in the past, the fact that I've been fangirling Matteo Brighi ever since I was only 11. And if there's anything I remember about him, it is the fact that he was in his peak performance when he was loaned to Bologna FC from Juventus in the early 2000s.
So, when Chris of Authentic Traveling contacted me to cover Bologna for the $10 series, I was so excited as the city is on my bucket list due to my obsession with Matteo Brighi. đ
Fast forward to today, it's time for Chris to share with us the tips to spend your $10 in the city of Bologna. So, here we go!
Table of Content
When in Bologna, Please Do Not Order Spaghetti Bolognese!
Bologna might just be one of the few remaining hidden gems in Italy less affected by the mass tourism of more popular destinations like Rome, Venice, and Cinque Terre. But while most people outside of Italy havenât heard of Bologna, chances are youâre familiar with the food.
Bologna is known for world-famous Italian dishes like tagliatelle bolognese, lasagna, and parmigiano cheese. Bologna is just a 30-minute train ride from Florence and an easy day trip from Italyâs Renaissance capital, but the city is completely different in character from Florence due to its medieval founding.
Bologna is frequently referred to by Italians as âBologna â La Rossa, La Dotta, La Grassaâ. The city, red in color, was nicked named “La Rossa” or the red one for not only its color but its communist roots. “La Dotta” meaning the erudite one refers to the University of Bologna, the worldâs oldest university. Lastly “La Grassa” or the fat one, refers to the food properly noting Bolognaâs status as the King of Italian Food.
But while many might think it would cost an arm and a leg to try some of the best Italian pasta in Italy, itâs possible to get a great meal in Bologna for under $10!
I was fortunate enough to spend a year studying in Bologna at Johns Hopkins University, and as a student, I slowly became an expert on finding some of the best deals in the city.
If I had $10 to spend in Bologna, there are two different ways I would spend it: food or experience.
Food
My favorite restaurant in Bologna is Osteria DellâOrsa. Popular with tourists and locals alike, this restaurant is always open and constantly serving up delicious Italian food at affordable prices. Sometimes youâll have to wait for a table, and you might get seated at one of the shared tables, but that all makes for the experience.
I recommend ordering the tagliatelle bolognese or the lasagna â both just âŹ6.50 or about $7.00.
Most foreigners arenât familiar with all the types of Italian pasta, but essentially for each possible variation in size or shape, the pasta gets a new name.
Before I came to Italy, I thought everything was just spaghetti. I quickly learned that wasnât the case. Tagliatelle is a slightly thicker noodle which better catches the thick Bolognese sauce. Whatever you do, donât ask for spaghetti bolognese or they might throw you out of the restaurant!
After ordering you food, make sure to get a glass of their house red wine. The wine comes in all sorts of sizes, but a glass or two should cost more than 2-3 euros capping out our 10 dollars.
Experience
If food isnât for you or you have some extra time to check out the city, I recommend climbing the Due Torre to catch a beautiful view over Bologna. The tower costs just âŹ5.00 for adults and âŹ3.00 for students. Itâs one of the cheapest things to do in Bologna and arguably the best.
When youâre done, you can do my favorite Bologna past time â get a bottle of wine and a pizza and people watch in Piazza Maggiore. Piazza Maggiore is the central hub of Bologna right in front of the Basilica di San Petronio.
Every summer there is a film festival in Bologna with free movies nightly in the piazza, but during the rest of the year the piazza is always filled with young people enjoying their evenings.
A student pizza joint called Pizza Casa is one of my favorite places for a cheap meal in Bologna. A margarita pizza costs just $3 and itâs big enough that it is pretty difficult to finish by yourself.
I like to grab a pizza then head to one of the grocery stores to pick up a bottle of Italian wine. Wine typically cost $3-$5 per bottle bringing our total, tower included, to $10.
My favorite wine from the province is Sangiovese â a sweeter red, but some other favorites are Lambrusco (a bubbly red) or Pignoletto (Bolognaâs version of prosecco). The great thing about Bologna – and all of Italy – is that there are no outdoor drinking laws.
Save some money and crack open a bottle of wine in the piazza with friends because youâll never have problems with the police for drinking outside.
If youâre looking for other things to do, check out my article on the Best Instagram Photo Locations in Bologna. I show you some of the most photogenic spots with links to more articles on other awesome things to check out in Bologna.
Chris started traveling solo in 2012, and since then he hasn't looked back as he has visited over 90 countries in total. He is on a mission to break out of the main tourist areas, use public transport, and explore deeper to find real authentic travel experiences.Â
I never feel like $10 goes a very long way anymore, but I guess it totally could – as long as you’re smart with your finances! đ