Bologna Food & Market Tour: Tastings, Pasta & Wine

Mortadella, fresh pasta and balsamic vinegar the way Bologna has made them for centuries.

A guided food tour through Bologna's Quadrilatero market district and oldest food shops, tasting regional cold cuts, handmade pasta, aged cheeses and local wines over two to three hours. You choose between a private tour or a small group departure, and the itinerary includes a welcome dish, multiple tastings at historic venues, and a visit to the market itself to sample different ages of Modena balsamic vinegar. Walking is substantial and comfortable shoes matter. Gluten-free and vegan diets cannot be accommodated.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Palazzo della Mercanzia1h
2. Bologna University Quarter1h
3. San Petronio Basilicapassing by

Bologna food and market tasting tour

• Start at Palazzo della Mercanzia
• Introduction by the guide
• Taste traditional Raviola with Mostarda
• Visit oldest Salumeria to learn about meats and pastas
• Enjoy Parmigiano, Prosciutto, Mortadella with local wine
• Taste handmade pasta at local Trattoria with wine
• Visit Quadrilatero food market
• Taste different balsamic vinegars from Modena

The experience

The tour starts at Palazzo della Mercanzia, the 14th-century palace that anchored Bologna's trade for centuries, where your guide sets the route through the city's food quarter. From there you move into the Quadrilatero (the rectangular grid of medieval streets where the market still operates), and the stops unfold as a sequence of tastings rather than a walking lecture. You'll taste a traditional Raviola with Mostarda alla Bolognese at the start, then move to one of the city's oldest Salumeria to learn how the region's cold cuts are made and aged.

The heart of the tour lands at the oldest Osteria in the world, where you taste Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella di Bologna, and aged Parmigiano Reggiano with a glass of local wine. Next comes handmade pasta made fresh at a local Trattoria: two types, each with wine (or coffee if you prefer). The final stop is the Quadrilatero market itself, where you sample balsamic vinegars from Modena, tasting how the vinegar changes across different ages to understand why this tradition still runs deep in the region. A traditional digestif and espresso close the tour.

You'll walk a fair amount through narrow streets, so wear shoes that won't tire you out. The tour runs two hours for the express version or three hours for the full small-group departure. A private option is also available if you want the same route with just your group. Your guide speaks English and leads you through each stop, so you're not navigating the market alone or trying to order in a language you don't speak.

What’s included

• Artisan mortadella sandwich and tigella with lasagna verde.
• two types of handmade pasta.
• Prosciutto di Parma, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar tasting (aged 8–25 years).
• one glass of local wine with the main course and additional local red or white wine at other stops.
• traditional welcome treat and artisanal dessert.
• digestif and espresso to close.
• a live English-speaking guide leading all stops and tastings.

Options for this experience

3 options

Express food tour lasting 2 hoursGuide in English · 11:00, 11:30 and 16:00Pick this option to take part in our 2-Hour Express Food Tour Bologna in a group of no more than 16 people.

Food tour for small groups, lasting 3 hoursGuide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 09:45, the last at 16:30Join our Secret Food Tour Bologna as part of a group of up to 12 people by selecting this option.

Bologna food tour, privateGuide in English · 09:45 and 15:30Select this option to upgrade to a private food tour of Bologna, reserved only for you and your group.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:45, the last at 16:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the same route and tastings with just your group and no strangers. The small-group option works better if you're traveling solo or with one or two others and don't mind sharing the experience. It costs less and moves at the same pace through the same stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is mortadella, and why is Bologna's version famous?

Mortadella di Bologna is a cured pork sausage studded with fat and spices, protected by Italian law to come only from this region. You'll taste it at the oldest Osteria during the tour and learn how it differs from the versions made elsewhere.

How much walking is involved in this food tour?

The tour involves a fair amount of walking through the Quadrilatero's medieval streets and the market itself. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the pace is steady but not rushed. You stop frequently to taste and learn.

Can I do this tour if I'm vegan or gluten-free?

Unfortunately, vegan and gluten-free diets cannot be accommodated on this tour. The menu centers on regional cold cuts, pasta, cheese and wine, and the operator is not able to offer alternatives yet. Contact them in advance if you have other dietary needs to discuss what might be possible.

What's the difference between the express tour and the full three-hour version?

The two-hour express tour covers the main tastings and the market visit in a shorter timeframe. The three-hour small-group tour includes the same stops with more time at each one and additional tastings, so you move at a slower pace and taste more.

Is the Quadrilatero market the same as the food market we visit?

Yes, the Quadrilatero is both the medieval neighborhood and the bustling market area within it. The tour walks you through the district's narrow streets and historic food shops, then spends time in the market itself where locals buy produce, meats, cheeses and other local specialties.

Do I need to book a private tour, or can I join a group?

You can choose: a private tour for your group alone, or a small-group departure where you join other travelers. Both follow the same route and include the same tastings. The difference is who you're walking with.