Bologna with kids: 15 best things to do, map & local tips [2026]

Bologna may be famous for its food and red rooftops, but it also hides a world of surprises for families.
From hands-on gelato workshops to puppet shows, dinosaurs, and peaceful gardens, the city offers fun for all ages.

Ready to explore Bologna through your kids’ eyes? Let’s dive in.

Why should you bring your family to Bologna instead of Florence or Venice?

Bologna with kids is easy and fun: most attractions are walkable under porticoes, food is kid-friendly, and there are many hands-on activities.

Here are a few good reasons to enjoy Bologna with your family:

• Compact city center – easy to explore on foot or with a stroller.
• Porticoes – the famous arcades protect you from sun and rain, perfect for kids.
• Kid-friendly food – pizza, gelato, pasta… even picky eaters are happy here.
• Authentic experiences – fewer tourist crowds, more real-life Italy.
• Variety of activities – museums, parks, farms, and workshops, all within short distance.

Bologna doesn’t just welcome you. 
It makes your family part of the city.

Top 15 things to do in Bologna with kids

Let’s go through the best Bologna kids activities, each with age tips, highlights, and practical info.

When I was a kid, I used to spend my summers in the mountains with my grandparents. 
I was so picky that I only wanted to eat hot gelato! (Yes, my granddad had a good laugh about it.)

Luckily, my taste changed over the years, and now I can't live without gelato.

If your kids love it too, Bologna has the best gelato in the world—and an entire museum dedicated to it!

What to expect at the Carpigiani Gelato Museum?

• Learn about the history of gelato, from ancient times to today
• Join hands-on workshops to create your own gelato
• Taste delicious and unique flavors

📍 Where: Via Emilia, 45, 40011 Anzola dell'Emilia BO
👦 Best for kids aged: 6 - 18
www.gelatomuseum.com

My secret oasis to relax. 
Just near the vibrant life of Piazza Maggiore, you find Bologna's most important public library.

It's my mandatory stop after a Bologna food tour, to get a coffee, some silence, and a quick look at music magazines. 

But Biblioteca Salaborsa can be amazing for kids, too. 
A full section is dedicated to them, from 0 to 99 years old.

If you have a baby, there's a room for you with rugs and cushions and a corner where mothers can breastfeed. 

Books about fear, friendship, food, and nature can be found on the shelves.

The library also has a terrace with a small vegetable garden.
Before the summer harvest, kids can read books about courgettes, aubergines, and tomatoes.

📍 Where: Piazza del Nettuno, 3, 40124 Bologna BO
👦 Best for kids aged: 0 - 99

www.bibliotecasalaborsa.it/ragazzi/

Historical museums sound boring just from the name.

And how hard is it for a kid to walk through rooms full of bows and arrows, mummies and swords and follow the only rule of NOT TOUCH ANYTHING?

Fortunately, Museo della Storia di Bologna is different.

An old map of Bologna welcomes you at the entrance, and it's probably one of the few things you can't touch.

From the origins of Felsina, the Etruscan name of Bologna, to the development of portici and towers, from the underground canals to the piano that Mozart played: Bologna is narrated in an unconventional and interactive way.

A great indoor activity for rainy days or hot summer afternoons!

📍 Where: Via Castiglione, 7, 40124 Bologna BO
👦 Best for kids aged: 4 - 18

Did someone say dinosaurs?

At Museo Geologico Cappellini, kids will be amazed by a 26-meter-long Diplodocus skeleton.

Walk under the giant dinosaur's bones.
Learn about fossils and prehistoric creatures.
Discover how the Earth has changed over millions of years.

Perfect for little (and grown-up) Jurassic Park fans!

📍 Where: Via Zamboni, 63, 40126 Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 3 - 14
sma.unibo.it

A small museum with big charm. At Museo Davia Bargellini you’ll find old puppets, wooden toys, curious objects and portraits that spark questions (“Did kids really play with that?”).

It’s quiet, compact, and perfect for a gentle dose of culture between a park and a gelato.

📍 Where: Strada Maggiore, 44, Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 5–12

Titullo, Pallino, Ramona, Platero.
No, they're not hidden characters of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Those are the names of pigs and donkeys that you can meet at Dulcamara.

Up on the hills, just 20 minutes from Bologna city centre, you find an amazing farm for kids and adults.

Dulcamara also offers a petting zoo, a restaurant, and even a small agriturismo with rooms and a camping area. A perfect spot for a family escape!

Kids can learn to recognize aromatic herbs and forgotten fruits.
They can approach horses and saddle up, press with their feet during harvest, or just relax and play in a quiet park.

​You can also start from Dulcamara for trekking and enjoy scenic walks through fields, rivers, and caves.

📍 Where: Via Tolara di Sopra, 78, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia BO
👦 Best for kids aged: 2 - 14

www.coopdulcamara.it

Need a break from the city's hustle and bustle? 
Bologna’s Botanic Garden is a peaceful oasis.

Walk around the garden with secular trees, a pond and a rock garden.
Look for tropical food plants like tamarind, pepper, cocoa, and ginger, and visit the old herbarium.

Bring your kids by hand in the small greenhouse with carnivorous plants: you want to eat in Bologna, not to be eaten.

📍 Where: Via Irnerio, 42 - 40126 Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 0 - 99
sma.unibo.it

When your kids start jumping under the porticoes, it’s time for a park. 
Giardini Margherita is Bologna’s green lung: wide paths for scooters, shaded lawns for picnics, a small pond with turtles, and playgrounds to conquer.

Bring a ball, grab a slice of pizza on the way, and let them burn some energy while you relax on a bench. 
Simple, free, perfect.

And one of our favorite Bologna attractions for kids.

📍 Where: Viale Massimo Meliconi, Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 0–12

In Bologna, food is a language everyone speaks, even the little ones. 

If you want your kids to have a memory they’ll cherish forever, move from the table to the wooden board. 
Making pasta isn't just a recipe; it's a family bonding moment.

📍 Where: 10 minutes walking from Piazza Maggiore
👦 Best for kids aged: 4–99

Colorful fruit pyramids, fresh pasta, and cheeses with funny names. 
The Quadrilatero is one of the best food markets in Bologna (but not the only one!) and turns shopping into a treasure hunt. 
Let your kids pick a fruit they’ve never tried or count how many tortellini they spot in a window.

Stop for a quick bite: a slice of mortadella for you, a focaccia or a little pastry for them. Everyone wins.

📍 Where: Around Via Drapperie, Via Pescherie Vecchie, Via Clavature
👦 Best for kids aged: 3–99

By the time the sun starts to set, those little legs might be getting tired, and the prospect of hunting for a family-friendly restaurant can feel daunting. 

If you're looking for a shortcut to the best of Bologna without the stress of formal dining, this is the answer.

📍 Where: Bologna city center (meeting point on booking)
👦 Best for kids aged: 5–15

When I was a University student, I used to work at a small theatre.
Every Sunday afternoon, it was Burattini (puppets) time.

The first puppet show in Bologna appeared in the 17th century and became pretty popular.

You can see some old examples of wood-made burattini at Museo Davia Bargellini in Strada Maggiore.

But if you want to amaze your kids, bring them to Burattinificio Mangiafoco: in this small theatre, Margherita brings to life old fascinating stories.

Check also the program of Teatro Testoni - La Baracca, the only theater in Bologna dedicated to the young ones.

📍 Where: Via Giovanni Paolo Martini, 26, 40134 Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 0 - 12
burattinificio.it

“A secret window? In the city center?” Yes. Walk to Via Piella and open the little window to see Bologna’s hidden canal flowing like a mini Venice surprise.

It’s a 5-minute stop that kids love. Try a game: who finds the window first? And who spots the ducks?

📍 Where: Finestrella di Via Piella, Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 3–12

Medieval stairs, thick walls, and a skyline of red roofs: Torre Prendiparte is a vertical time machine. 
Older kids and teens will love the adventure; tiny legs and strollers won’t.

Take it slow, count the steps, and reward yourselves with a gelato after the climb. 
Views taste better that way.

📍 Where: Vicolo Spirito Santo, 3, Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 8–16

Rainy day? 
Head to the Cineteca di Bologna (Cinema Lumière) or the stunning Modernissimo cinema. From restored classics to animated gems, their program often includes family-friendly screenings.

Grab popcorn, sit back, and enjoy a cozy break between museums and markets.

📍 Where: Via Azzo Gardino, 65, Bologna
👦 Best for kids aged: 4–99

Conclusion: ready to explore Bologna with kids?

Traveling with kids is often a balancing act between "seeing it all" and avoiding a meltdown. 

The beauty of Bologna is that it doesn’t force you to choose: the city center is a safe, shaded playground in itself. 

My best advice? 
Don’t overschedule. Pick one "big" activity, leave room for an extra gelato, and let the porticoes guide you.