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Sally 30,

I am starting to plan a similar trip and was wondering if you've gone already, if so, how was it? If you haven't gone yet, can you share how your planning is going? Thanks.

Sorry to be so tardy in responding regarding our stay in the Grande apt of ViewsofItaly.com. The apt is located quite centrally near the two tours and is within walking distance of many attractions. However the train station is a walk of at least 20 minutes maybe more.

However we used the convenient buses which we caught only a few blocks from the apt and took about 10 minutes to get to the train station.

We took day trips to Modena, Parma and Ravenna. Bologna was a great week for us and we loved the city and the ease to get to other nearby towns.

I was surprised to see this one at the top of the list!

I won't be much help because we actually decided to go to Paris instead of Bologna after much deliberation. It was a tough choice and we are hoping to get to Bologna again sometime soon. We decided against Bologna as most of what we were interested in doing involved day trips which is tough with a toddler who takes a 2+ hour nap smack in the middle of the day.

Please post about your trip Iamq. Maybe we will be ready for Bologna in 2009.

Hi Sally,

I am beginning to think about our next trip to Italy. We have been once before and that was 8 nights in Rome. We like basing ourselves in one place and doing day trips or sightseeing from there. That is what we did in Rome and it worked nicely. We prefer not to rent a car and use trains or buses.

Amongst other places, I was thinking that Bologna would be a good base with good access and considering our interest in pottery, food and eating well, it seemed like a good fit. I started searching through threads here and came up with yours. Your plan sounded exactly like what I imagined, except without the toddler, LOL!

This thread confirmed my thinking and I think I'll move forward with looking into it more. I'm not sure when we will go. Perhaps June 2009 or Spring 2010 for around 8 or 9 nights. Thanks!

Without the toddler, the trip sounds perfect.

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Hi, me again. A year and a half has passed, we have one more trip with the little one under our belt and Bologna is creeping up on the radar again. Thank you for all the advice provided when we were thinking of going there in 2008. We are considering now for a late fall trip for November. Any particular concerns around that time of year (mid-November)? Weather looks okay and we are fine with the cold being from New England.

Our daughter will be nearly 3 and still napping but now has lots of energy to run around shouting through those grand piazzas! Are there any green spaces or playgrounds in the central area for kids?

Depending on where you will be staying, there's a park (giardino) on the southwest side of the historic center, Giardino Regina Margherita. I went running in that park when we visited Bologna in 2007, and remember seeing playground equipment. There's another park that I can see on a google map, Parco della Montagnola. I remember that park as well, and it's quite small, and I only remember green grass, and that it wasn't set in the best area of town.

There may be other park or playground areas tucked away here and there, but that's what I noticed.

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Hoping you can help me decide between two Bologna accommodations. Which do you think would be the better location - an apartment on via Fransinago or via delle Tovaglie? We are looking for something close to the Bologna sites, near some restaurants and shops and, of course, in a safe, pleasant neighborhood. I suppose we can take a bus or taxi to the train station when we go our day trips (but close to a bus route would be handy).

The second location has the advantage of being near a park - Giardini Regina Margherita - which might be good for our toddler. Any comments on the park? is there a playground etc. I like the looks of the first apartment slightly better but both look nice.

Appreciate your input.

I definitely think Modena is a good idea for a daytrip. I enjoyed it myself a lot as a kid, and even think spending a couple of nights there is nice. It's relaxed, non-touristy, clean, full of wonderful restaurants (check out La Gola), and has a nice little mercato on Monday mornings. Bologna is a nice base too

Just bought our plane tickets and we've booked an apartment. Thanks for the advice. I am sure I will have more specific questions soon. Wish us luck!!

Which apartment did you choose? Have a great trip.

Iamq - We chose this one - http://www.perfectplaces.com/a_Apart...als/125116.htm - I am a little nervous in that I don't have much information about it but the owner has been very easy to work with so far and is only requiring a small deposit with the balance paid on arrival. It looks nice. Hope it lives up to it!

Did you end up going to Bologna? Any tips?

I never made it, but it's still on the docket. That's a great assortment of rentals. Your place looks very nice.

sally, that looks great - it looks a lovely apartment.

I'm hoping to go on a language course in Bologna sometime in the next 12 months so I'll be very interested to read your trip report, if you do one. pleease do one!

regards, ann

This thread has me thinking about visiting Bologna on my next trip! Thanks for the info!