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Things to do in Parma

Our most recommended things to do in Parma

From Parma: Parmigiano and Parma Ham Guided Food Tour

1. From Parma: Parmigiano and Parma Ham Guided Food Tour

Visit a traditional Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory and learn the secrets of one of the most celebrated ingredients of Italy. Watch the cheese makers at work and taste some cheese with honey and local wine. See how the cheese – protected by the EU – is still produced following traditional methods. Watch the cheese makers pull the product from the milk vats and visit the shaping and salting rooms before going to the stagionatura where the cheese is aged. Savor the sight and smell of thousands of wheels of cheese. Then, taste the delicious cheese with some honey and local wine. After the cheese factory take a short drive to the Parma ham factory. Go to the cellar branding area and see where the meat is cooled, salted, and rested. Taste cold cuts with local wines. Visit an organic Parma ham farm and meet the producer. Finally, taste delicious Parma ham paired with a glass of Malvasia.

Parma: Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting

2. Parma: Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting

Learn the secrets of some Italian specialties on a private tour of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto factories. Enjoy a hassle-free visit with pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Parma. The tour begins at 8:30 AM when the cheese makers pull the cheese from the milk vats. Watch the masters at work as you hear an overview of Parmigiano Reggiano's history from your local guide. Next, visit the seasoning/storage rooms where the cheese is brought for its last stage of production. At the end of the tour, try some different aged Parmigiano Reggiano and browse the on-site shop where you can purchase local products. After, head to the picturesque hills of Langhirano or Felino, which are home to Prosciutto di Parma Ham. The tour begins with a brief history of the production, followed by a visit to the "cold stage," where fresh meats are processed. Learn how the best meat is chosen and see the salting machinery and refrigeration/resting cells. Take a look in the seasoning chambers and savor the traditional ham aromas in the air. Learn about the "spillatura" and how only the best hams pass the test and are branded as the famed "Crown of Parma." Finally, enjoy a degustation of Parma ham accompanied by a glass of Malvasia, a sparkling white local wine. After the tasting, your guide will bring you to your hotel or accommodation.

Parma: Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Tour

3. Parma: Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Tour

Learn the origins of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese throughout a visit to a cheese factory in Parma. Hear how this cheese, protected by the EU, is still produced following traditional methods. Exclusively made in the Zona Tipica of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Bologna and Mantova, Parmesan cheese dates back over 9 centuries. Watch the cheese makers pull the product from the milk vats, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the process of cooking and separating the whey. You'll then visit the shaping and salting rooms, before going to the stagionatura where the cheese is aged. Savor the sight and smell of thousands of wheels of cheese, and learn about the strict tests performed by the Consorzio, such as hammering the cheeses before the fire-branding ritual. Finally, taste the delicious cheese accompanied by some honey and local wine.

Parma: Traditional Food Tour

4. Parma: Traditional Food Tour

With this gastronomic tour in Parma you can immerse yourself in the local gastronomic culture accompanied by a local expert, a person who lives here and who knows all the secrets and curiosities about the area. You will discover local restaurants and the most hidden places, frequented only by locals. Come and taste some of the most famous dishes of the Emilia- Romagna tradition and immerse yourself in the culinary and cultural traditions of this beautiful city. Some of the possible tastings on this tour include: a board of cold cuts, Parmigiano cheese, and glass of wine; Tortelli (egg pasta filled with differents ingredients); Carciofa (a delicious and cheesy quiche; Bomba di riso (a rice timbale seasoned with a meat sauce; and Tigelle, prepared with a mixture of flour, lard, yeast, and water (typically stuffed with salami). You can also try a Duchessa cake – the typical Sunday dessert for local families, and enjoy a Caffè espresso – the only way to end a meal in Italy.

Parma: Cheese, Ham, & Balsamic Vinegar Tour with Tastings

5. Parma: Cheese, Ham, & Balsamic Vinegar Tour with Tastings

On a day-long tour, you’ll Learn the origins of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese throughout a visit to a cheese factory in Parma. Hear how this cheese, protected by the EU, is still produced following traditional methods. Exclusively made in the Zona Tipica of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Bologna and Mantova, Parmesan cheese dates back over 9 centuries. After, head to the picturesque hills of Langhirano, which are home to Prosciutto di Parma Ham. The tour begins with a brief history of the production, followed by a visit to the "cold stage," where fresh meats are processed. Learn how the best meat is chosen and see the salting machinery and refrigeration/resting cells. Take a look in the seasoning chambers and savor the traditional ham aromas in the air. Learn about the "spillatura" and how only the best hams pass the test and are branded as the famed "Crown of Parma." Finally, enjoy a degustation of Parma ham accompanied by a glass local wine. Then We will discover the secrets of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, one of the hidden and still little-known jewels of the Modena area. We will visit a Traditional Balsamic Vinegar producer and the visit will be followed by tasting of 12 years old, 25 years old Traditional Balsamic Vinegar and other balsamic condiments.

Parma: Parmigiano-Reggiano Tour and Tasting

6. Parma: Parmigiano-Reggiano Tour and Tasting

Meet the dairy guide directly on site and start your visit of an authentic producer of Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO: you’ll discover how the King of all cheeses has been literally made by hand in the same way since the Benedictine monks invented it 10 centuries ago! From the curdling into the typical copper heaters to the salting and the final ageing in the so-called wheel cathedrals, you will be a privileged witness of almost all the steps of production of this out-and-out food icon. Tasting at the end. You will join a shared tour made by the staff of the dairy. The producer can be max 30km far from the city center.

From Bologna: Parma Cheese & Ham Factory Tours and Tastings

7. From Bologna: Parma Cheese & Ham Factory Tours and Tastings

This tour of Parmesan excellence starts from the Bologna train station where our staff will provide you with tickets for the train from Bologna to Parma and back. Once in Parma you will meet outside the Parma train station with our staff who will will welcome you and make you sit on our minibus or Van. The first stop will be the producer of Parmigiano Reggiano where it will be possible to directly witness the processing of Parmigiano Reggiano. The tour begins at the dairy, a room where the milk is cooked in the so-called "caldere" from which the wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano are then extracted. It will then be possible to visit the brine room and the maturing warehouse in which it will be possible to try to "beat" the Parmigiano Reggiano as the experts of the Consortium do. At the end of the tour there will be a tasting of Parmigiano Reggiano of different ages accompanied by typical mustards and local red wine. We then continue to the ham factory, where the famous Parma ham is born. The visit starts from the rooms where the fresh pork meat is processed and where only the best legs are selected for Parma ham. We then continue in the maturing cellars where the "sugnatura" will be explained and where the Parma hams will be "tapped" in the presence of visitors to discover their aromas and evaluate their goodness. At the end tasting of ham and wine from the hills and then return to the city.

From Parma: Parmesan Cheese, Ham and Balsamic Vinegar Tour

8. From Parma: Parmesan Cheese, Ham and Balsamic Vinegar Tour

Enjoy a guided day tour of Parmesan cheese and ham tasting from Parma. Continue to a vineyard for balsamic vinegar tasting paired with local delicacies. Depart early to reach a cheese factory and watch the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. You will also get the chance to taste this famous cheese. Next, proceed to the idyllic hills of Langhirano or Felino, home of Prosciutto di Parma Ham. Visit an organic Parma ham farm and meet the producer. You will taste delicious Parma ham paired with a glass of Malvasia. To conclude the day, travel to the balsamic vinegar farmhouse in the city of Modena. Marvel at the view while walking in the splendid 40-acre estate, before visiting the production rooms. Finally, you will taste 3 traditional Balsamic vinegar which are 15, 22, and 28 years old, combined with some local dishes.

From Parma: Parmesan, Parma Ham & Balsamic Vinegar Tour

9. From Parma: Parmesan, Parma Ham & Balsamic Vinegar Tour

Get to know the delicious products of Parma on this guided half-day tour. See how they make Parmigiano Reggiano, discover the beautiful Parma countryside, and learn the secrets of balsamic vinegar. Leave from Parma in the morning and head toward the Highlands. Stop at a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese dairy and tour it with your guide. Learn every step of the natural process that leads to the “birth” of the king of all cheeses. Enter the impressive aging rooms and stand surrounded by 5000 Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheels before tasting cheese of different ages and learning how it improves over time. Return to the bus and travel through the beautiful Parma countryside. Head inside a Parma ham factory and follow the journey of this prestigious ham, from careful meat selection to its meticulous aging. Taste the unique sweetness of Parma ham and other local cold cuts. Next, stop in a cozy trattoria and try the best of Parma cuisine. Dig into delicious starts, tortelli d’erbetta (homemade pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach), and a seasonal dessert paired with a glass of Lambrusco wine, water, and coffee. Finish your tour with a visit to a 300-year-old mansion dedicated to balsamic vinegar. Listen to the story of a family that considers vinegar its most precious gift in life and admire barrels filled with black gold, aged up to 25 years. Taste balsamic vinegar of different ages and discover unusual recipes before returning to Parma.

Parma Classic Walking Tour

10. Parma Classic Walking Tour

A private tour to discover one of the most flourishing cities in Italy, rich in culture, tradition and delicious food. Find out more about the history of Parma and its splendid monuments, including the Pilotta's Palace, the Farnese Theater, the Roman Bridge, Piazza Garibaldi and the Church of Santa Maria della Steccata. You will also stroll in Piazza Duomo, admiring the Cathedral and its Baptistery.

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What people are saying about Parma

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 468 reviews

The experience was great! We visited a small artisanal cheese factory outside Parma. The lady that was in charge of the tour was very kind, smiling and she explained everything with details! She did the tour in Italian and English and a he also tried to explain Italian phrases and keywords of the whole process. We got to see the production of parmiggiano from scratch, we visited the room where they keep hundreds of them and we also had a small tasting at the end which was delightful! Highly recommend the experience!

Great tour. Matteo was a good host and very knowledgeable about both Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto and the explanation of both processes were done in such a way that was easy to understand. Would highly recommend this tour.

This tour was so good! The factory staff are really welcoming, and our tour guide was so fun. We got lots of cheese at the end. 100% recommended!!

It was a good experience in general, would be better if the activity page would tell which place the tour will be going.

Highly recommended, learned a lot. Mattia explained the process very well