Where is Emilia Romagna
The Emilia Romagna region is found in northern Italy. The River Po sits on the northern end whilst the magnificent Apennines mountain range borders it to the south. The regions of Liguria and Tuscany are its western borders whilst in the west, Emilia Romagna finds the Adriatic Sea. It also has a border with San Marino, one of the smallest countries in the world. With rolling hills and mountain ranges, rivers and the sea, there is plenty to love about the Emilia Romagna natural landscape. The capital of the Emilia Romagna region is the beautiful and under-rated city of Bologna.
The major cities that make up the Emilia Romagna region are: Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ferrara, Ravenna, Forlimpopoli, Bagno di Romagna, Vergato, Castenaso, Forli, San Piero in Bagno, San Piero in Casale, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Piacenza, Cesena
What to do in Emilia Romagna
The Emilia Romagna region of Italy is one of 20 that divides up the country. Each region is unique, especially when it comes to food. Emilia Romagna’s food is what the area is famous for. Fittingly, it is known as the food valley of Italy. Not only is it home to some of the most incredible food in Italy, but it is also where three of the big Italian food types are made: Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Modena vinegar.
It is also home to some of the biggest names in motorsport: Ducati, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari and Pagani. Museums, test tracks and hot laps are all part of the Emilia Romagna experience.
If you are planning on spending time in Emilia Romagna or in Bologna, these articles will give you heaps of tips, advice and inspiration on some of the best things to do in Bologna and the best things to do in Emilia Romagna. Bologna is the best city to base yourself whilst visiting Emilia Romagna.
Each of the following articles is detailed and will show quite simply why we love this region so very much. If you are looking to spend a day, a week or even longer in this area, these are the perfect guides for you, all found in one easy to find location.
Best things to do in Emilia Romagna Italy
The ultimate guide to spending a week in Bologna Italy
This article has everything you need to know to spend a week in Bologna. The best things to see, the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay. It also has some amazing day trips from Bologna. If you can only read one guide before you travel to Bologna, this is it!
Experience Bologna like a local on a vintage vespa tour
Doing a vespa tour in Bologna is the perfect way to travel like a local and get to explore places outside the city. Get into the hills of Bologna, take a wine tasting, have a picnic and feel the wind in your hair. Vespas can be self-hired or done in a tour situation. This article gives a detailed example of a vespa tour.
San Marino - Why one of the smallest countries in the world shows that size doesn't matter
Don't miss visiting San Marino, one of the smallest countries in the world. A fairytale village sits atop a mountain in the Italian Appenines. Read on for our list of how to spend a day in San Marino.
Bologna cooking classes: A true Italian experience cooking with a local in their home
Doing a cooking class in Bologna is a must-do when visiting. With so many on offer, it's hard to choose the best one. Our tip is to do a cooking class with a local in Italy. Read our article and watch our video to see how much fun we had cooking with a local in Bologna.
The best food tours in Bologna: Experienced food and travel writers reveal their favourite food tours
Food tours in Bologna and in the Emilia Romagna region are another great way to spend a day. Here some leading Bologna travel experts give you their best food tour in Bologna tips.
Cesenatico: Exploring one of the most popular seaside towns in Italy
A fishing village that was once a very important part of the maritime history of the Italian east coast makes for a wonderful day trip from Bologna. Today, there is still plenty of fishing and a fantastic beach and boat museum.
Things to do in Ferrara: Exploring one of Italy's most beautiful cities
Ferrara is the hidden secret of the Emilia Romagna region. Only a short train ride from Bologna, it boasts an amazing palace and cathedral, a cobblestoned old town square and incredible local food.
A truffle extravaganza: A day of truffle hunting and truffle eating in Italy
Love truffles? Get out into the forest on a truffle hunting tour and fulfil a dream to see how these nuggets of gold are found. Spend the afternoon relaxing and eating truffle inspired food. It's a great day trip from Bologna.
Off the beaten path Italy: Exploring the hills of the Romagna region in Emilia Romagna
The Romagna Hills are within easy reach of Bologna and the whole area is worthy of spending several days here. Here you can visit ancient cheese caves, go truffle hunting and visit beautiful medieval villages. Read on for our full list of things to do in this area of Emilia Romagna.
My top 3 amazing food experiences in Parma Italy
This was our own favourite food tour. A whole day dedicated to eating, tasting and watching the authentic production of making Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Parma ham and Modena vinegar. Once you learn how they are made, you will never eat anything but the real thing again.
Travel resources
Travelling to Italy? Our favourite travel resources are listed below. We use all of these when planning and booking our travel.
Book your flight: Flights are an important part of travel and we’re always looking for the best deals. If you can travel mid-week and be flexible, you’ll often find great deals on flights. We also use Skyscanner and Expedia for flight bookings. Dollar Flight Club is a great resource for getting special advance offers and even error fares directly to your inbox.
Book your accommodation: We all love to stay in different places, from the comfort of a self-contained apartment or house to a resort or luxury hotel. Sometimes we need something quick, easy and comfortable for an overnight stay.
We use all of the following online booking portals depending on where we want to stay and the type of accommodation we are looking for.
- VRBO and Stayz (in Australia) – great for holiday rentals of more than seven days and often have discounts for longer periods.
- Booking.com and Expedia – two of our favourites due to their cancellation and refund policies.
- Trip Advisor – perfect for getting reviews, checking availability and pricing comparisons all in one place.
Book your rental car or motorhome: We always use Discover Rental Cars anywhere in the world for car hire. Anywhere Campers is our preferred motorhome hiring company in Europe, especially if you want to be able to pickup and drop off at different locations (even countries) in Europe. We recommend Apollo Motorhomes in Hamburg (use our code APDEBEERCROI for €50 off your hire) If you’d like to buy your own motorhome in France, we use and recommend France Motorhome Sales. Use our code FMS1022 or tell John we sent you!
Book a tour: We travel independently, but when we do book we book them with reputable companies who have a great cancellation and refund policy. If you are looking for advance tickets to an attraction, group or private tours, we use and recommend Get Your Guide and Viator. Both have a great range of tours and flexible cancellation policies. If you are looking to do a food tour in Europe, we also recommend Eating Europe Tours.
Be covered: We always travel with travel insurance. We did it before the pandemic and it’s even more important for us to do so now. We use Cover-More in Australia. SafetyWing has great rates for travellers who are away from home for extended periods.
Be ready: Make sure you pack a few essentials: universal adaptor, power bank and noise-cancelling headphones
Check out our Travel Resources page for further tips and information to help you plan your travel.
