Bologna, Italy - The best tours for Foodies in Italy

Explore the Cities and Towns of Emilia-Romagna

Our Local Expertise in Bologna

Over 20 years of creating unforgettable experiences

Licensed & Insured

We are a fully licensed Italian tour operator. All our guides hold official regional accreditation, and our drivers are NCC-certified professional chauffeurs.

Local Knowledge

Our team lives and works in Bologna. We don't just know the landmarks — we know the hidden alleys, the best tables, and the stories that make this place unforgettable.

Tailored Experiences

Every itinerary is custom-crafted for you. Whether it's a private guided tour at dawn or a wine tasting in a family vineyard, we design experiences that match your pace and interests.

Overview

Bologna is the capital city of of the northeastern region of Emilia-Romagna, is the food capital of Italy, a thriving business city and a major university town with a red-bricked Historic Centre.
 
In spite of two leaning towers (outdoing Pisa's in the region of Tuscany) in addition to  a wealth of other attractions, Bologna is largely free from tourist crowds and well worth a visit. It is also one of Europe's most important conferences cities.
 
The city dates back to to over 2,500 years and saw its glory days around the 12th century when students from all over Europe flocked to study here, in what was then a major city in the Papal States.
 
It is not just the city centre's bricks that are red. Bologna is known for its passionate interest in politics. Socialism and communism have played a major role of Bolognese life, ever since determined partisan resistance in World War II.
 
Summers are what most would consider hot and humid, with the average temperature around  (32°C in Jul/Aug). However, the summer is full of festivities. Seek solace in the shady porticos which stretch for a lengthy 40km along major streets of the Old Town. In winter, the temperature drops to below 10°C (Jan/Feb). The best time to visit is spring and autumn.
 

Map

Our Private and Small Group Tours

Our Multi-Day Holidays Tours

Explore Towns and Cities in Emilia-Romagna

Discover the charming cities and towns that make Emilia-Romagna unique

Quick Enquiry Form

Tell us about your dream trip and we'll craft the perfect itinerary for you.

Bologna

Stories That Stay With You

Here's what our guests share about their unforgettable journeys

“I am a travel agent from Lebanon and have organized several group tours as well as individual tours of Italy with Italy Vacation Specialists. I highly recommend them as one of the very best tour operators in Italy to work with, given their professionalism and work ethic which I feel is second-to-none in the travel industry. All of the staff, the guides, the coaches and even the meals we enjoyed we”
[Read More] Nicole Haddad, Lebanese Travel Agent
“Jesse & Giuseppe, Sandy and I have been looking through my slides of our trip to Southern Italy. We had such a good time with you and Giuseppe that we wanted to let you know again. You were the best guides ever.”
[Read More] Bob & Sandy
“Dear Guiseppe and Jesse, We just returned from our most wonderful vacation to Italy and wanted to first thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip, and second to provide some feedback for the future. Hotels 1. Hotel Sovestro in San Gimignano was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and helpful and made the first portion of our journey very stress free. They made us feel like we were p”
[Read More] Ron and Deb Crosby
“In September of 2018 I brought a group of 12 from Venice to Sicily and organized all of my services with the Italy Vacation Specialists. Being a travel agent and in the business, I know how complicated organizing travel arrangements can be in Italy and the IVS team took a huge burden off of me! I would like to start of by saying "THANK YOU" both for the amazing job you did on our trip. There was n”
[Read More] Ann Brownell, KHM Travel Group
“As a travel agent, but also a traveler to Italy, thee is no other company I would recommend than the Italy Vacation Specialists. Not only do they really care about what they are doing, they also really know Italy and try to educate many people about ways they can best see the country and not fall into tourist traps. I have been on 4 trips with the IVS team, firstly when they did my first 2 trips f”
[Read More] Laura Chomiak, Travel Agent
“I have traveled to Italy 2x with the IVS for my own pleasure trips and 2x for business with IVS. These guys really pay attention and make your trip go like clockwork. Italy is nuts, just saying! There are so many rules and restrictions now, so we did not want to drive ourselves. Having traveled with them many times and done business on several occasions, most definitely USE this company. They know”
[Read More] JoAnne Beaudoin, Retired Nurse
“I traveled with JoAnn West through your services, guided by Giuseppe, in July of this year. What a wonderful experience; your service is really top notch! If I return to Italy for a tour, I will absolutely use your services again and recommend you to my friends!”
[Read More] Lucretia Brower
“I am a travel agent with All About Honeymoons and I would highly recommend Italy Vacation Specialists. Jessica was wonderful in helping us plan in a last minute anniversary vacation during high season without any issues. She even checked on our clients while on vacation to make sure things were going well. I plan on using them again soon for all my future bookings!”
[Read More] Tammy Joyce, All About Honeymoons
“In August 2018, my family of four and myself travelled from Vancouver, BC to Rome Italy and spent 3 weeks touring Italy with IVS. This company had come highly recommended by many friends and associates of ours who had used them before and indeed to say they do an outstanding job is an understatement. You can tell while being in Italy that it is one complicated place to run tours in, just by the sh”
[Read More] Vijaya Sunil CPA, CGA
“This company really knows their stuff and recommended our family to stay longer in each location. We didn't listen to them, but wished we had in every single place we went. They recommended Sestri Levante over the Cinque Terre which was our favourite destination on our entire trip. We visited Rome where we stayed in the outstanding Hotel Locorno where they know the owner there, like in every place”
[Read More] Sean & Veet Chapman, CGA

For customized holidays and expert advice for travel in Italy and the Mediterranean, Get in touch with your travel agent or contact us via our.

  • Direct In Italy: +39 375 823 5314

  • Toll Free: 1-866-779-2565