City buses, operated by TPER (Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna; www.tper.it), leave for most points from Piazza Nettuno or Piazza Maggiore in the city center and the train station. You can buy tickets at one of many booths and tabacchi in Bologna for about €1.30 (valid for 75 minutes) or €1.50 if bought on board. A day ticket valid until midnight on the day of validation costs around €5; a city pass, a single ticket that allows 10 rides, costs about €12. Once on board, you must validate your ticket or you`ll be fined.

How do I get around by bicycle? Bikes are very popular among the people of Bologna. They are available for rent on various location around the city (Dynamo, the bicycle parking station, can be found nearby the train station). You can ride on the many bike trails and on the side of the road. Be sure to lock them safely with a good lock, as they get stolen all around town, especially around the University.

Exploring the city by bicycle is one of the best ways to get a feel for the areas you`d like to explore more, and see much more than you ever will on foot. Taking an organized bicycle tour with a knowledgably guide is another great way to get some great information about the city. The Dynamo bike centre along Via dell`Indipendenza runs a 2-hour guided bike tour that`s a great bike tour and history lesson all in one.

When is the best time to visit Bologna? Like most European cities, Bologna comes alive during the warmer months from May – October, when the temperatures are warm and there`s barely any rain.

The average temperatures during July and August are in the mid 80`s Fahrenheit, which might be a little too warm to enjoy exploring the city. Therefore, the best time to visit Bologna is during June or September, when the days are long, warm but not stifling!

What is the food like? Perhaps Bologna`s greatest appeal to tourists, and the source of its fame throughout Italy, is its reputation as a culinary center. It`s known for tortellini, tagliatelle, and other pastas, and its classic dish, tagliatelle al ragu, is known elsewhere simply as tagliatelle Bolognese. Cured meats are a local specialty, and this region is the home of the incomparable Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. There are a number of ways to experience and savor Bologna`s culinary heritage. A good place to begin is in its markets and food shops. The narrow streets of the Quadrilatero, an area between Piazza Maggiore, via Rizzoli, via Castiglione, and via Farini, has been a market since Roman times, filled with little shops and outdoor stands selling all kinds of food, from garden produce, cheese, and fish to freshly made pastas and baked goods.

There are numerous opportunities to learn from Bolognese chefs and home cooks, from group classes to individual lessons on forming perfect tortellini. Another fun thing to do is join a specialized tour led by a local foodie. The 3.5-hour Bologna Food Walking Tour visits one of the city`s oldest food markets and a number of traditional food shops, including a bakery, chocolatier, salumeria (deli), pasta maker, and gelato shop. All along the way are generous samples of Bologna`s specialties.

The currency used in Italy is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.

The official language in Bologna is Italian. Although Bologna it is well known by Italians, it is less so among foreign visitors. Little English is spoken by its residents. Hotel and restaurant staff in Bologna likely speak enough English that you can communicate your order or check into your hotel, but it`s always polite to at least try the local language. We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Bologna is a city that comes alive at night, with its quiet streets on the outskirts leading to lively piazzas. The vibrant student population also brings a lively nightlife scene to Bologna. There are plenty of nightclubs, discos and live music venues, with a handful that remain open until the wee hours of the morning. Good areas for nightlife are the student quarter (via Zomboni hosts various inexpensive restaurants and pubs), the streets around the main square and Via del Pratello, which has long been a meeting place for night owls.

Just strolling the porticos of the city in the evening is fun to do. Throughout the historic center, street lights illuminate every nook and cranny with glowing shades of orange and gold, and cast intriguing shadows everywhere. Walk around and you`ll see practically everyone in the city is outside – socializing until late, dining even later, or arm in arm on a quiet evening stroll.

In most restaurants in Italy you`ll be required to pay a curious and somewhat annoying little fee called `coperto`, which is basically a perperson cover charge.

Its origins stem from the Middle Ages when travelers used to stop at `inns` but would bring their own food to save money. The innkeepers, missing out on earnings from food sales, decided to impose a charge on the customers for the space they occupied, and for things such as cutlery and plates.

Across Italy, the custom still exists, and Bologna is no different. Expect to pay between €2-3 for the coperto charge, which will need to be paid regardless of whether you eat the supplied bread or not. So eat it ALL!

When it comes to shopping, Bologna can hold its own! It is particularly fantastic at the weekend when Zone `T` (via Rizzoli, Via Independenza and Via Ugo Bassi) and the streets of Piazza Maggiore are closed to traffic.

The four main shopping streets (Via dell`Indipendenza, Via Ugo Bassi, Via Rizzoli and Via D`Azeglio) lead off Piazza Maggiore in crossroad formation. All the big name Italian designers can be found here as well as antiques and book shops.

Via dell`Archiginnasio is also lined with exclusive shops, including Gucci and Armani, with nearby Via Farini inviting fashionistas as well. Other shopping areas include Galleria Cavou, near the Archiginnasio Palace, and Corte Isolani close to Piazza Santo Stefano.

Markets: For a authentic experience of Bologna, the streets to the east of Piazza Maggiore (Via dell Vecchie Pescherie and Via delle Drapperie, known as the Quadrilatero district) where numerous stalls selling everything from seasonal fruit to fresh fish, seafood and meats.

The Mercato delle Erbe, on Via Ugo Bassi, sells fresh fruits and vegetables every morning from 7:15 am to 1:00 pm and evenings 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, except Sunday, and Thursday afternoon. There`s also a daily produce market on Via Clavature, east of Piazza Maggiore.

VAT: Value added tax is 22%. Travellers from outside the EU can claim back sales tax on purchases over 155 euros.

Generally speaking, shops open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm and 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm, although larger department stores and supermarkets may stay open throughout the day. Nearly everything is shut during August, on Thursday afternoon and on Sunday.

Popular souvenirs to shop for in Bologna include Pignoletto, a local sparkling white wine, as well as pasta, oils and leather goods, including handmade shoes.

Emergency, dial 112

Ambulance, dial 118

Hospital Bellaria: Bellaria Hospital `Carlo Alberto Pizzardi` is one of the public hospitals in Bologna.