Europe Nook
Reviewed October 2026, the Bologna Welcome Card bundles entry to Bologna's civic museums, a guided walking tour, and the Clock Tower climb into one pass. Two tiers are sold: EASY at €35 and PLUS at €55, with PLUS adding the San Petronio chapels, a City Red Bus tour, and the San Luca Express train. This guide covers what each tier includes, how the 15-day validity window works, and whether the savings clear the price for your trip.
Featured image: The Two Towers of Bologna, photographed before the present access restrictions. Photo: Juan Antonio Segal, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted to WebP.
What Is the Bologna Welcome Card? A Fast Answer
The Bologna Welcome Card is an official city pass, issued directly by Bologna's tourism body rather than a reseller. It covers eight civic museum collections, the Pinacoteca Nazionale, and Palazzo Pepoli's city history museum, alongside a guided walking tour, the Clock Tower climb, and a city bike rental. Two versions exist, EASY and PLUS, priced at €35 and €55. The pass suits city breaks of two to four days, when several museum visits and one guided tour comfortably fit the schedule. Shorter visits centred on one or two sights usually cost less with individual tickets.
Bologna Welcome Card EASY vs PLUS: What's Included
Both tiers share the same core. That core covers the Clock Tower climb, the Discover Bologna guided walking tour, a city bike rental, and entry to the civic museums, Pinacoteca Nazionale, and Palazzo Pepoli. PLUS adds three extras: the chapels inside San Petronio Basilica, a City Red Bus tour, and the San Luca Express tourist train. Three services need advance booking on either tier: the guided tour, the Clock Tower, and the bike rental.
| Included with your card | EASY (€35) | PLUS (€55) |
|---|---|---|
| Clock Tower climb | Yes | Yes |
| Discover Bologna guided walking tour | Yes | Yes |
| City bike rental | Yes | Yes |
| Civic Museums (8 collections) | Yes | Yes |
| Pinacoteca Nazionale | Yes | Yes |
| Palazzo Pepoli history museum | Yes | Yes |
| Tagliavini Collection & Santa Maria della Vita | Yes | Yes |
| San Petronio Basilica chapels | No | Yes |
| City Red Bus tour | No | Yes |
| San Luca Express tourist train | No | Yes |
Bologna Welcome Card Price and Where to Buy
EASY costs €35 and PLUS costs €55, both sold as digital cards delivered by email after purchase. Buy either version online through Bologna Welcome or in person at the city's tourist information offices. Confirm the exact inclusions list at purchase, since the operator updates offerings from time to time. Discount partners for extra tours, exhibitions, and restaurants come attached to both tiers, though discount depth is set by each partner rather than a fixed rate.
How to Activate and Use the Bologna Welcome Card
The card activates the moment you use its first on-site service, not at purchase. From that point it stays valid for up to 15 days, or until every included service has been used, whichever comes first. Check the purchase voucher for the deadline to activate an unused card. Each included facility or tour allows one admission only, so plan a single visit per venue rather than a repeat trip.
Is the Bologna Welcome Card Worth It? A Break-Even Guide
Bologna Welcome states that EASY can save up to €77 and PLUS up to €86, counting combined attraction fees and the included tours. Reaching those figures depends on visiting most of the included museums and joining the guided walking tour, the Clock Tower, and the bike rental. Skip two or more of those components and the arithmetic gets tighter, since museum-only admissions add up more slowly than a full attraction-and-tour itinerary. Travelers who would rather skip the guided walking tour can compare it against a self-guided walking tour of the historic centre at no cost. That comparison matters most on short trips, where fitting in enough paid attractions to clear the card price is the real constraint.
Reaching PLUS's €86 savings requires booking the Clock Tower, walking tour, and bike rental in advance—all three need booking before you use them.
Mistakes to Avoid: Museum Closures and Mandatory Bookings
Bologna's civic museums do not share one closing day. Some shut on Mondays, others on Tuesdays, so check each venue's hours before buying the card, especially if your itinerary centres on one or two specific museums. Book the Clock Tower, the guided walking tour, and the bike rental as soon as you receive your card, since all three require advance reservation. Discover Bologna runs daily in Italian and English, but French, German, and Spanish departures are limited to Saturdays. Same-day arrivals who want to start sightseeing right away should consider storing luggage before sightseeing rather than carrying bags through museums and the walking tour.
Getting to Bologna and Around the City With Your Card
TPER’s Q airport bus costs the urban fare (€2.30 with a contactless card or a ticket bought beforehand). Daytime buses run between the airport and Ospedale Maggiore; continuing to Bologna Centrale normally requires a city-bus connection. Only specified early-morning and after-midnight journeys extend to Centrale. Check the dated timetable for both directions, especially for late flights; the usual daytime frequency is about 30 minutes.
Other Emilia-Romagna Tourist Cards, Briefly
A card for another city has separate attractions, booking rules and validity. For a Ferrara day trip, compare that city’s card only against the sites you will actually enter. Buying the Bologna Welcome Card does not cover the regional train or attractions outside its published partner list.
Plan another day from Bologna
Keep a separate day for the car-free trips from Bologna. Choose a destination by the time available after getting to Centrale, rather than using the train journey alone as your total travel time.
Sources and review
Reviewed 6 October 2026 against the official pages below. Timetable searches, ticket availability and temporary operating notices still need checking for your own travel date. Walking times and itinerary allowances are editorial estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bologna Welcome Card worth it?
It depends on how many included attractions and tours fit your schedule. Bologna Welcome states EASY can save up to €77 and PLUS up to €86 when you use most of what's included. Visiting only one or two museums makes single tickets the cheaper option.
How long does the Bologna Welcome Card last?
The card activates with your first on-site service and stays valid for up to 15 days, or until you use up every included service. Check the voucher for the activation deadline.
How do I use the Bologna Welcome Card?
Book the Clock Tower, the Discover Bologna guided walking tour, and the bike rental in advance, using the instructions sent after purchase. For every other included site, arrive during opening hours and show your card at the entrance. Each service admits you only once.
What's the difference between EASY and PLUS?
Both tiers include the Clock Tower, the guided walking tour, and the bike rental. Both also cover entry to the civic museums, the Pinacoteca Nazionale, and Palazzo Pepoli. PLUS adds the San Petronio chapels, the City Red Bus tour, and the San Luca Express train, for €55 against EASY's €35.
Do I need to book anything in advance?
Yes. The Clock Tower climb, the Discover Bologna walking tour, and the bike rental all require mandatory advance reservation after purchase. The guided tour runs daily in Italian and English, but French, German, and Spanish slots are limited to Saturdays, so book early if you need one of those languages.
