Bologna, Italy

• Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna and an easy Italian city to visit alone. It has the oldest university in the Western world, and the large student population keeps the center busy, so people walking, eating or drinking alone are an ordinary sight that nobody notices.
• Bologna is known for its kilometers of covered porticoes. They shelter you from sun and rain, and most routes through the center run under them past shops, cafes and bars that stay open into the evening. The historic center is compact and mostly pedestrian, so nearly everything is reachable on foot.
• Violent crime against visitors is rare. Problems are mostly petty: pickpocketing around the station, on crowded buses and in busy squares, and some rowdiness in the student bar streets after midnight. The area around the main station and the Montagnola park feel rougher after dark and are best avoided late at night.
• Bologna is nicknamed the food capital of Italy, and eating alone is easy: osteria counters, market stalls, aperitivo bars and trattorie all cater to one or two people, and staff in the center usually speak enough English to get by.

Italian is the main language. English is widely understood in the historic center, at hotels, in restaurants that cater to visitors and among students, but less so in neighborhood trattorie, markets and on buses. The single emergency number 112 has multilingual operators, and the 1522 helpline answers in English and many other languages. Learning a few phrases such as 'buongiorno', 'per favore', 'grazie' and 'mi scusi' helps.

• Dress is casual and stylish. Shorts and sleeveless tops are fine in the city, but cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches such as San Petronio and the Santo Stefano complex.
• Italians eat late: lunch is around 12:30-2:30 PM and dinner rarely starts before 7:30 PM. Aperitivo hour, from about 6 to 9 PM, is a relaxed way to eat and drink alone, since a drink often comes with snacks.
• Many shops and some restaurants close in the afternoon or on Sundays and Mondays. Book popular trattorie ahead. Asking for a table or counter for one is normal.
• Say 'Buongiorno' or 'Buonasera' when you walk into a shop or cafe; it is expected. You can order coffee at the bar standing up, which is cheaper than sitting at a table. Service charge rules vary, so check whether a 'coperto' cover charge is listed on the menu.
• Catcalling and persistent attention are uncommon but can happen, mostly in nightlife areas. A firm 'No' or 'Lasciami stare' (leave me alone) and stepping into a shop or cafe usually ends it.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. Emergency Services (all services): 112. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• The historic center is compact and largely walkable, and the porticoes keep you sheltered in any weather. Most sights, markets and restaurants are within a 20-minute walk of Piazza Maggiore.
• City buses run by TPER cover the areas beyond the center. Buy a ticket before boarding at a tabaccheria, a ticket machine or in the TPER app, and validate it on board if it is paper. Keep your bag closed and in front of you on crowded lines, particularly the ones serving the station, where pickpockets work.
• From the airport, the Marconi Express monorail takes about 7 minutes to Bologna Centrale, and a city bus connection and taxis also run. Licensed white taxis are booked by phone, app or at a rank, not hailed on the street in the usual way. Late at night a taxi from the station to your accommodation is a better choice than walking with luggage through the station surroundings.
• Bologna Centrale is a major rail hub with fast trains to Florence, Milan, Venice and Rome. Keep luggage in sight on platforms and trains, and watch for people offering unrequested help at ticket machines.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.

Explore Bologna with local guides and curated experiences.