10 Things to Do in Bologna in Summer

Summer is one of the best times to travel around Italy, at least for people who don't have a problem with high temperatures. At the same time, some of the best things to do and see in Bologna are specifically during this time of the year. This means that fun is guaranteed for all types of tourists in most corners of the city.

So I suggest you read this post in which I have compiled these plans, activities and places that can keep you entertained if you decide to visit the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region during one of the summer months.

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

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

The specific dates of the festival are changing from year to year, usually being allocated 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 to 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 means that you can take part in some of the best tours of Bologna during the day without any logistical interruptions. This is very convenient for you to get to know the city on your own terms and with the accompaniment of guides specialised 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 is a hit at this time of year. That's why FICO Eataly World is one of the best places to visit in this city from June to mid-September. Basically, it's a large air-conditioned complex that presents itself as a theme park dedicated to Italy's gastronomic history as well as the relationship between mankind and food.

It's a great place to visit either on your own or with the family as there are plenty of activities to do inside. There is also plenty of food to enjoy for free in each of the places that sell their handmade or luxury products.

This amusement park is divided into 7 themed areas and the activities and shows vary every day. It also has outdoor areas which can be entertaining if the temperatures are favourable and you should know that it is open from Thursday to Sunday throughout the 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 Bologna' s best automobile museums as the main modern attractions in a city where the medieval centre is the true protagonist.

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

The truth is that many mansions and palaces in the city centre have these underground 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 they can only be entered with pre-booked tickets.

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.

Ferragosto is an event that starts on the 15th of August and is basically a festival whose name comes from ancient Rome. 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 work in the fields with a few short holidays.

Over the years it also became a religious festival and today it 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 start of the summer holidays until September 1st and specifically the weekend of August 15th is usually the most festive of all.

So it is quite appropriate that on these dates you take part in some of Bologna' s best gastronomic tours. 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 celebration of Ferragosto 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 the city to enjoy their holidays before the start of the next academic year. In turn, the University of Bologna is one of the city's major tourist attractions 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 it is the oldest university that has been teaching continuously since its foundation. It was founded in mid-medieval times.

So touring the university area of Bologna, which lies to the north of the historic city centre, 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 holidays.

Italian gelato is a world reference of quality and specifically in the city of Bologna you will find the museum that belongs to the Carpigiani University. This is 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 to this important site.

So visiting this museum is a great way to spend your time in the summer. Especially as 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 one of the best museums in Bologna. They are also an excellent alternative for entertainment, as they are all an escape from the heat. They are also characterised by a less significant influx of tourists than other Italian museums during the summer.

Public swimming pools are not usually a very 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 a great way to share urban traditions on the terms of the local people.

It is a swimming pool that is surrounded by green areas that are completely public and that make it 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 neighbourhoods in the south of Bologna. So it is an excellent way to explore some of the non-traditional tourist areas of this Italian town. At the same time, you can combine it with a ride on one of Bologna' s best tour buses, as it's an activity that only takes up a few hours of your day.

Visiting a lake is often a favourite activity for those who live in a landlocked city during the summer. It is therefore not surprising to learn that one of the best things to do in Bologna is a trip to the Parco regionale dei laghi Suviana e Brasimone, which is one of the largest lakes in this section of Italy.

It is formed by the construction of a dam for the production of hydroelectric power and is located a couple of kilometres south of Bologna. It is characterised by 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 characterised by being a favourite destination for those looking to practice some water sports or for those who are just looking for a bit of water in one of the hottest periods of the year. It is undoubtedly one of the best excursions from Bologna, at least during the hottest week of the summer. Its proximity to the city makes it 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 health spa in the centre 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 being an excellent opportunity to escape the summer heat and have fun with the family.

It is also one of the best places to relax and recharge your batteries after a tiring day and then take part in some of the best things to do in Bologna in the evening. It's no secret that after 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 aperitivo on one of the many porticoes in the city. The truth is that this section of most of the city's buildings, which is characterised by a sort of covered passageway where you can sit and enjoy the outdoors with the protection of the sun, is 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 you can't 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 is unlikely to drop below 20°C even on the coldest nights.

The number of tourists in Bologna during the summer is higher than all year round. However, it is characteristically 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 don't want to deal with the high demand for taxis on 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 free entertainment alternatives such as the ones I have mentioned in this post.

In your suitcase to visit Bologna during the summer you should pack comfortable and breathable clothes that will help you to face the long days of sightseeing in high temperatures. In fact, it is very important not to forget sunscreen and footwear that is comfortable and suitable for uninterrupted use throughout the day.

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'll need to dress that way.