Bologna with children, among towers, parks and museums

Bologna is a city full of life, pleasant and easy to visit with children in tow.
Known as a university city, cradle of music and good food, among towers, squares and hidden corners, Bologna offers a successful mix of culture, play and small discoveries: interactive museums, engaging experiences and many opportunities to stop, taste something good or simply enjoy a walk together.
It is also easily visited with strollers as well as on two wheels.
Bologna with children can also turn into a simple impromptu day spent strolling through the beautiful historic center among good food and shopping in the company of the little ones at home (there is no shortage of the official Lego and Disney stores).

Strolling through the center of Bologna

We set out to discover Bologna, map in hand:

With its arcades, pedestrian streets and stores full of goodness, Bologna's historic center is all to discover, starting with its symbol: the Two Towers.
The famous Asinelli and Garisenda Towers dominate the city and fascinate young and old alike.
To see the city from above you can climb the Clock Tower in Piazza Maggiore or the panoramic terrace of San Petronio

Panorama Bologna from the San Petronio

If you think visiting a city with kids can be boring, in Bologna it takes very little to turn the visit into a fun and engaging experience.
Here are three ideas that work really well with kids:

Treasure Hunt for Bologna

Among the most engaging experiences to have in the center of Bologna with children, there is a treasure hunt to discover Bologna that turns the visit into a real game.
Among porticoes, squares and hidden alleys, little explorers follow clues, solve puzzles and discover curiosities about the city almost without realizing it. The route touches iconic places such as Piazza Maggiore and lesser-known corners, making the visit dynamic and fun for the whole family.

You can purchase the ticket for the Treasure Hunt here and set off on an adventure right away.

See medieval Bologna in virtual reality

If you want to really surprise the kids, the Time Machine is an immersive experience that will make them travel back in time.
Thanks to virtual reality, Bologna comes to life before their eyes: towering towers, bustling streets and scenes of daily life that give them a sense of what the city was like in the Middle Ages. It is immersive, immediate and perfect even for those who are normally bored with "classic" visits.

You can buy the ticket for the Time Machine here .

Discover the secrets of Bologna

Like any city with a very long history, Bologna hides little secrets that escape a distracted gaze...but that children love to discover.

A short distance from Piazza Maggiore, under the Arengo tower in the Palazzo del Podestà, there is a sort of "wireless telephone".
Try talking at one corner and listening at the other: the voice comes through crystal clear! A curious acoustic system dating back to the Middle Ages, which always surprises children.

In via Piella, however, there is a little surprise: a small window from which you can admire a corner that looks like Venice.
It is actually one of the city's hidden canals, but for children the effect is truly magical.

Museums in Bologna and beyond

On cold, rainy days, what could be better than holing up in one of the spaces Bologna offers that are perfect for families?
There are plenty of choices, including libraries and museums of art, music and natural sciences. The museums are interactive and with a full calendar of children's activities.

Reading books in Salaborsa

For a post-lunch break, it might be a good idea to stop in the Library - Sala Borsa.
Salaborsa is a great Library, where book lovers young and old truly find paradise.
Here there are rooms dedicated to every age group from the library for toddlers, with sensory books and games, to the perfect one for teenagers, with comics and manga.
Readings for children are often organized.
Participation is free, free and open to all. See the Salaborsa website for the calendar.

MamBo, the Museum of Modern Art in Bologna

If you are a lover of modern and contemporary art and want to immerse yourself in this world together with children, don't miss a visit to MamBo, the Museum of Modern Art in Bologna.
Inside, works are preserved but also the promotion of knowledge and experimentation in artistic research is done.
For this purpose, guided tours and dedicated workshops, there are many ideas and educational proposals offered for families with children.

Museum of Communication

One of the museums loved by families with children is the Museum of Communication, also called the Thousand Voices and Thousand Sounds.
Here you can observe various musical instruments, from gramophones to pianos.
Early radios and TVs with their history and early models of PCs are preserved.
Children can learn about and discover the evolution of the pc up to modern tablets and smartphones.

Museum of Zoology and Geology Collection

For lovers of the animal world, worth marking is the Museum of Zoology with free admission.
Here little budding scientists have the opportunity to observe skeletons and remains of animals and compare the anatomy of various species.

Museum of the History of Bologna

To learn about the history of Bologna, you must visit the History Museum.
Inside you can admire historical city remains, documents and letters that tell the story of Bologna's evolution from ancient Etruscan Felsina to the medieval center to the modern city. A multimedia and sensory journey through 2,500 years of history.
For children, admission is free. The museum was created inside the Palazzo Pepoli.

The multifunctional space "Altro?" at the Mercato delle Erbe

After a morning of art and culture, you are sure to be hungry.
Bologna is known for its excellent Emilian cuisine, there is a space "Altro?" inside the Mercato delle Erbe where good local food is combined with the warm welcome of the managers.
"Other?" (which is a way of saying hello and saying 'I don't need anything else') is a meeting place from breakfast to aperitif, until late. Family friendly and free activities for children are also offered.
Remember to make reservations.

For sunny days: Giardini Margherita park

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If you're in the mood for a nice playgroundjust a stone's throw from downtown, take a walk to the Giardini Margherita Park.
Here kids can run in the park's lawns, play in the playgrounds, and at the end indulge in a good ice cream all together! Perhaps this is why Giardini Margherita Park is a favorite hangout for Bolognese families.

A few kilometers from the center of Bologna

If you stay several days in beautiful Bologna, you can consider moving and spending a day a few kilometers from the center.

The Dinosaur Park

For children who are fond of dinosaurs, just a few kilometers from Bologna there is an address not to be missed: the Dinosaur Park in San Lazzaro di Savenawhere there are Dinosaurs in the flesh!
Here children can discover live how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, such as the ancestors of the sloth and the crocodile, were made.
All the models have been reconstructed strictly life-size to tell the story and evolution of life on earth.
Children are sure to be amazed.

The park is close to an interesting museum dedicated to prehistory

The shrine of Our Lady of St. Luke

On the hills not far from the center of Bologna stands the sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca, a landmark of the Bolognese, from which there is a beautiful view of the city.
You can get to the shrine by your own car, but it is really impressive to walk the path of 4 km that leads from the city center to the top of the hill. The path is a very long, slightly uphill arcade with a few flights of stairs.
Alternatively, there is a red train that leads from the center of town to the shrine.

here to purchase Train tickets to San Luca

And after Bologna? Discover the Motor Valley with kids

If you have a few extra days, you can turn your trip into a real adventure in the Motor Valley, in and around Modena: a perfect idea especially if you are traveling with curious children or motor enthusiasts.
Some truly engaging experiences for the whole family are concentrated in just a few miles:

🚗 Ferrari Museum in Maranello, a journey through Formula 1, simulators and iconic models that will thrill even the youngest children
🚗 Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum, where to discover the history of a myth among cars, tractors and surprising curiosities
🚗 Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, dedicated to the history and evolution of the world's most famous cars

These are easy stages to combine even in a day or mini itinerary, alternating museums, outdoor breaks and more relaxed moments.