Parma Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Parma tours and things to do in Italy’s food capital: taste real Parmigiano-Reggiano at a dairy, savour Parma ham and balsamic vinegar, admire the frescoed cathedral and baptistery, and stroll the elegant old town. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
rating
Explore Parma by interest
Whatever brings you to Parma — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Parma
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Parma Cathedral
Correggio fresco.
Parmigiano Dairy
Cheese tastings.
Parma Ham
Prosciutto cellars.
Balsamic Cellars
Aged vinegar.
Lambrusco Vineyards
Sparkling reds.
Piazza Garibaldi
Old town heart.
Baptistery
Pink marble.
Teatro Regio
Opera house.
Nearby awayParmigiano Dairy
Cheese tastings.
Langhirano awayHam Cellars
Prosciutto.
Modena awayBalsamic Cellars
Aged vinegar.
Emilia awayLambrusco Vineyards
Sparkling reds.
Centre awayCathedral
Correggio fresco.
Centre awayOld Town
Elegant streets.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Parma visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild and pleasant — a fine time to visit.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and busy, with long evenings.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
The harvest season — ideal for food tours.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cool and quiet, with cosy trattorias.
For food
Autumn for the freshest produce and festivals.
Best overall
May, June and September for warm, calm days.
One day
The cathedral, old town and a cheese tasting.
Two days
Add a ham cellar and Lambrusco tasting.
Three days
Add balsamic and day trips in Emilia.
For foodies
The cheese, ham and vinegar tours.
For art
The cathedral and baptistery.
For the city
The old town and opera house.
On foot
The old town is small and walkable.
Tours & transfers
Tours reach the dairies and ham cellars.
By bike
Parma is a famously bike-friendly city.
By train
Parma is on the fast Milan–Bologna line.
Where to stay
Stay in the historic centre near the cathedral.
Euro
Italy uses the euro; cards widely accepted.
Dairy tours
Book early — cheese-making starts at dawn.
Ham tasting
Pair Parma ham with a glass of Lambrusco.
The cathedral
Look up for Correggio’s dome fresco.
The opera
See the Teatro Regio, a temple of opera.
Balsamic
Real balsamic is aged for years — taste it.
Food passes
Combined food tours cover several producers.
Dairy tours
Cheese visits fill up — book ahead.
Ham tours
Cellar tastings fill up — reserve early.
Wine tours
Lambrusco tastings fill up — book ahead.
City tours
Cathedral tours fill up — reserve early.
Balsamic tours
Producer visits fill up — book ahead.
Autumn peak
Harvest season is busy — book well ahead.
City tour
Around €26–50 for an old-town walking tour.
Cheese tour
About €74–110 for a Parmigiano dairy tour.
Ham tour
Roughly €74–120 for a Parma ham tasting.
Balsamic tour
Around €89–130 for a balsamic vinegar tour.
Wine tour
About €140–180 for a Lambrusco wine tour.
How to save
Join group food tours to save over private ones.
Parma through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely.
- Best for
- Long evenings.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Warm.
- Best for
- Food & harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Cosy dining.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Quiet.