bologna, modena and parma

Discover the heart of Italian cuisine

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our food lover’s tour

Price from $US 5,490 / person • Deposit: $US 500
DEPARTURES: OCTOBER
STARTS / ENDS: BOLOGNA

Locally curated experiences

Pay in preferred currency

Flexible payment terms

TOUR DETAILS

• DURATION: 6 days/ 5 nights
• GROUP SIZE: Max 10 guests
• ACTIVITY LEVEL: Light/short walks
• DEPARTS/ARRIVES: Bologna

TOUR DETAILS

PRICE

From $US 5,490 / person

DURATION

5 Nights / 6 Days

GROUP SIZE

Maximum 10 guests

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Light / short walks

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES

LOCAL IMMERSION

FOOD AND WINE FOCUS

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Bologna food tour
  • Taste real Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and visit an acetaia
  • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese farm
  • Prosciutto di Parma
  • Tortellini cooking class

UPCOMING TRIPS

2025 Departures

INCLUSIONS

We have strived to make our Emilia tour as all inclusive as possible with no hidden surprises.

Included in your tour price

  • 3 nights in a charming luxury 4 star country house and 2 nights in beautiful 4 star hotel accommodation in Parma
  • Guided orientation walking tours with expert local guides
  • Unique experiences: Bologna food walking tour, Parmigiano Reggiano dairy visit, Balsamic Vinegar Museum visit, wine tastings, tortellini cooking class, gelato workshop, castle visit, perfume making workshop
  • Meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 aperitivo and 5 dinners as specified in the itinerary, wine and bottled water is included with meals other than breakfast
  • Luxury air-conditioned transport
  • Tips and gratuities for drivers and guides

Not included

  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Flights and local transportation to the tour departure point
  • Incidentals such as laundry, individual transfers, snacks and drinks, spa treatments
  • 2 lunches

TOUR DESCRIPTION

In Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, food is an institution that inextricably links the people who live there to their land and the culture. Nestled between the Po River, and the Reggiano Appenine mountains, the unique and fertile landscape surely adds to the deliciousness of the region’s iconic produce.

Join us on a 6 day adventure on the ultimate food lover’s tour through charming villages and vibrant cities, as the scent of rich prosciutto and the piquancy of sharp Parmigiano Reggiano wafts down the streets tempting you for a taste. This is truly authentic Italy where the pace of life is a little bit slower, and where the tourist hordes are yet to find their way.

acetaia batteria modena

Our exclusive food and wine focused tour introduces you to well known Bologna and takes you further afield to discover Modena, Parma, and the surrounding countryside where you’ll meet the people of Emilia to discover their way of life and connection to the land.

We meet food and wine producers who have worked this land for generations, chat to artisans, and soak up wonderful views that leave you with a deep appreciation for the importance of slow living and slow travel.

BOLOGNa food tour highlights

DAY 1-2 Bologna and Parma

Enjoy a foodie walking tour around iconic Bologna before we whisk you away to elegant Parma. Feast on prosciutto di Parma, our first real ‘Bolognese’ ragu and indulge in an olfactory experience with a perfume making class.

Places: Bologna and Parma

Hotel: Grand Hotel di Parma (or similar)

historic pasticceria modena

DAY 3-4 Marvellous Modena 

Discover the culinary gem Modena and the untold stories behind this small city of artisans, historic food shops, world-famous restaurants, and art. Visit a magnificent fortress and indulge in Lambrusco at an artisanal winery. Trust us, you’ve never tasted it like this.

Learn how to make perfect tortellini – its the ultimate souvenir to bring home.

Places: Modena and Emilia countryside

Hotel: Opera 02 (or similar)

DAY 5-6 Emilia Tastes and Traditions

Discover delicious Parmigiano Reggiano at a local dairy, (that just so happened to be featured on Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy), and of course savor the richness of the ‘black gold’ of Modena aka Balsamic Vinegar.

Meet the locals who carry on important medieval traditions, the volunteers of a local chestnut museum, and artisan gelato makers, who each continue to uphold Emilia’s reputation as the heart of Italian food.

Places: Spilamberto and Emilia countryside

Hotel: Opera 02 (or similar)

Our Beyond Bologna tour departs from the beautiful city of Bologna at 10am at a local hotel near the Bologna Centrale train station.

Our Beyond Bologna tour ends back in Bologna around 5pm at the Bologna Centrale train station.

Bologna can be reached by high speed train in just over 30 minutes from Florence, an hour from Milan and Venice, or 2 hours from Rome. If you prefer to travel by plane, the city has an international airport that services Italian and European destinations.

Please let us know well in advance if you have any dietary needs, including allergies. It is quite a meat and dairy heavy cuisine so it can be a little difficult for vegetarians and not advisable for vegans. We’re happy to work with tour accommodation and restaurants to ensure that you have suitable meal options.

Absolutely! We always welcome solo travelers in our groups and generally have at least a couple of solo guests join.

Light to moderate physical activity levels are required on this tour as our guided walks range from 1-2 hours at a time. Please get in touch if you have concerns.

Alongside USD, we offer payment in Australian, Canadian and New Zealand dollars, Euro and British pounds using the mid-market rate at time of payment on xe.com. Please reach out to us at info@untolditalytours for a quote.

Yes we can set up a payment plan that works for you. Please reach out to us at info@untolditalytours to organize this once you have paid your trip deposit.

Our Beyond Bologna tour offers unbeatable value for money and includes 4 star accommodation, luxury transportation, most meals, guided tours, entrance fees, artisan visits, local experiences, a dedicated tour host and more.

Most guests find they spend money on souvenirs, a few snacks and additional services such as laundry and spa treatments. You have two free time lunches but our guests often find this a welcome relief from the sheer amount of food during the rest of the tour.

When you book a tour with us, we take care of all the details so you can sit back, completely relax and enjoy your Italian experience.

Yes our 2026 tour schedule has several opportunities to combine this tour with another Untold Italy experience. Please reach out for more information.

The unexpected can occur and becoming ill or injured in a foreign country is a very daunting experience, therefore we require guests take insurance with international evacuation coverage for all trips.

Please consider cancelation insurance also because refunds are made available only per our terms and conditions, and we are unable to make exceptions for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies.
You should book a policy as soon as the trip has been confirmed. Some companies to consider:
  • World Nomads – simple and flexible travel insurance for independent travelers. Includes 24×7 assistance when abroad
  • Safety Wing Nomad Insurance – designed to meet the unexpected medical and travel needs faced by people traveling outside of their home country
  • Travelex (USA residents only) – comprehensive travel insurance options covering medical assistance and delays

Unfortunately these providers may not offer policies for those aged over 69. In this case you can try Travel Insurance Master – a service that allows you to compare quotes and insurance policies.

Discover Emilia

Let’s travel to the Emilia region virtually and learn about its iconic food products, charming cities and towns and unique culture.

This region is one of the wealthiest in Italy, built on world renowned products from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to fast Ferrari cars. Rarely visited by English speaking travelers, here you’ll find a local charm and slower pace of life.

map of emilia romagna

Emilia-Romagna Travel Guide

Uncover the highlights of the region

read the guide
tigelle lunch

Dishes to try in Bologna

A chat about the dishes of the Emilia region

listen to podcast

2025

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