Bologna, known as ‘the red, the fat and the learned,’ is also a welcoming city for families. There are many activities that can be enjoyed with children, as well as places to visit.

Here are 10 suggestions for things to do in Bologna and the surrounding area with children.

1. Read books in the Sala Borsa

The large Sala Borsa Library, located right in the heart of the city, has a rich section dedicated to children and young people, with books suitable for ages 0 to 12 in many languages.

For younger children, there is also a room with rugs and cushions, with a corner where mothers can breastfeed in comfort. Here, you can also request the key to the public toilet inside the library, which is equipped with a changing table and toilet for young children.

2. Running and playing in city parks

Just a few minutes from the centre of Bologna is the large Giardini Margherita park, ideal for a “green break” where children can run, play, ride on the merry-go-round, ride bikes or rollerblade, eat ice cream and watch turtles and carp in the pond that runs through the heart of the park.

A little further from the city centre, there are two other parks that are easily accessible on foot or by bus and are well worth a visit with the family for a walk or a picnic: Parco Villa Ghigi, just outside Porta San Mamolo, and Parco Talon in Casalecchio di Reno.

3. Explore Grand Tour Italia (formerly FICO) and Luna Farm

A few kilometres from the centre of Bologna is Grand Tour Italia (formerly FICO Eataly World), a large theme park entirely dedicated to food and regional traditions.

In this space of about 50,000 square metres, you can follow an experiential trail called “5,000 steps through the regions”, where each region is represented by a typical tavern, an area selling local and artisan products, and an educational area with installations, quizzes, videos and interactive materials.

But Grand Tour Italia is not just about food: it also hosts exhibitions, events, workshops and shows, many of which are designed specifically for families and children.

Inside Gran Tour Italia, but accessible with specific tickets, there is also an indoor go-kart track and the Luna Farm, an indoor theme park designed especially for children. It is a place where children can have fun with rides, interactive games and farm-themed settings in complete safety.

4. Visit the many curious museums

In the Bologna area, there are many museums dedicated to objects, traditions and products of the territory that we can truly define as curious: some ideas?

In Anzola dell’Emilia, there is the Gelato Museum, created by Carpigiani to interactively tell the story of this delicious food from its beginnings; the museum also organises numerous workshops throughout the year that allow children to experiment and become budding ice cream makers and pastry chefs.

In Budrio, there is the Museum of Ocarinas and Terracotta Musical Instruments, which tells the story of the birth and history of this small terracotta flute typical of the Bologna area.

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  Gelato Museum Carpigiani

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  Gelato Museum Carpigiani

5. Get your hands dirty in a cooking class

What could be better than spending a few hours with your children baking and getting your hands dirty? In Bologna, there are numerous organisations that organise cooking classes, some specifically for children.

These courses teach you how to prepare some of the most typical recipes of the local tradition (tortellini, tagliatelle and so on) and perhaps round off the experience by tasting what you have made with your own hands.

6. Take a leap into prehistory at the Dinosaur Park

The Parco della Resistenza in San Lazzaro di Savena is home to Dinosauri in carne e ossa, an exhibition that allows visitors to discover what the most famous dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, such as the ancestors of the sloth and the crocodile, looked like in real life: thirty models reconstructed strictly to life size, to tell the story and evolution of life on earth.

Wide eyes and open mouths are guaranteed!

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  Dinosauri in carne e ossa, San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna)

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  Dinosauri in carne e ossa, San Lazzaro di Savena (Bolog

7. Take a stroll through the Middle Ages with the Time Machine

At the Virtual Reality Museum in Via Zamboni 7, Bologna, you can (upon reservation) enjoy numerous experiences with the Time Machine: “Bononia” is a reconstruction of Roman Bologna in the 1st century AD, “Tower Power” allows you to fly among the towers and streets of 13th-century Bologna, while “Al Canel” allows you to navigate the ancient waterways of Bologna to discover the many activities linked to the canals.

The experiences take place wearing a Virtual Reality headset, sitting comfortably and under the guidance of a tutor.

8. Discover the city aboard a mini train

How can you visit the city without walking too much, which is often boring for children? The solution is to board one of the little red trains that depart from Piazza Maggiore to discover some of the most beautiful places in the city.

There are two options: the CityBOExpress travels through the streets of the historic centre, while the SanLucaExpress takes you to the top of Colle della Guardia, to the scenic Basilica of San Luca.

9. Dive and slide at the Acquapark della Salute Più

During the summer months, the AcquaPark della Salute Più, the outdoor section of the Villaggio della Salute Più spa, is open in the hills of Monterenzio. It is a green and blue oasis nestled in the hills of Bologna, with slides and pools designed especially for children: fun is guaranteed!

10. Discover the evolution of motorcycling at the Ducati Museum

For all motorcycling enthusiasts, Borgo Panigale is a sort of Mecca, and it is precisely at the Ducati factory that the Ducati Museum has been established, which traces the entire history of the company through the Ducati production motorcycles that have marked the different eras and the Ducati racing motorcycles that have built the sporting legend with their victories.