Book 24h in advance! Italy is known for its food but the region of Emilia Romagna might be the best swath of Italy for culinary delights. And this private half- or full-day food tour packs in all that is delicious in the region. Opt to drive yourself or to have a driver take you, and then commence this fulfilling journey of edible treats in one of Italy's most gastronomic regions. Visit a prosciutto producer and a maker of Parmigiano in Parma, for example. Expect to eat like a real 'buona forchetta," the Italian word for a good eater. On the full-day tour, learn about balsamic vinegar.

Half- or full-day private food tour from Bologna or Parma
Discover the revered culinary heritage of Emilia Romagna, an area famed for its fresh produce
Visit a Parmesan cheese dairy, a Parma ham producer and a wine cellar
Pair filled pasta, cheese and cured meat with local wine during lunch at a local wine cellar
Tour a traditional balsamic vinegar house to learn how they make their specialty condiment (if full-day tour option selected)
Pickup and drop-off from central Parma or Bologna included (if car and driver option selected)
Receive undivided attention from a private guide

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off (if car and driver option selected)
Expert guide until lunch included
Professional driver (if car and driver option selected)
Transport by air-conditioned driver (if car and driver option selected)
Parmigiano, Parma ham & Balsamic Vinegar tastings
Lunch with wine

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Transportation service if Own car option is selected

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

Roadhouse
Viale delle Esposizioni, 3/A, 43122 Parma PR, Italy
PLEASE NOTE!!! If you selfdrive, the meeting point could change, so PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH VIATOR (even in your spam box): you will receive a mail containing the PDF FILE with the RIGHT MEETING POINT.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

The driver will pick the clients up at their hotel ONLY if transportation service is selected: - at 07:00 am from Milan - at 07.30 am from Bologna - at 08.30 am from Parma Otherwise in selfdrive mode the guide will meet you at the starting point Viale delle Esposizioni, 3, Parma at 08:30 am OR directly at the dairy. PLEASE CHECK THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE SUPPLIER TO HAVE THE DETAILED PROGRAM AND THE RIGHT MEETING POINT.

What To Expect

Half-Day Tour (5 Hours): Choose the half-day tour and get picked-up at your hotel or another designated meeting point in the center of Parma to commence this fun food-themed tour of the region. If you're driving your own car, pick up your guide in Parma and begin the tour of northern Italian deliciousness in Emilia Romagna.

The first stop is at a diary to sample some of the famed Parmesan (or Parmigiano) cheese. Often referred to as the 'King of Cheese,' Parmesan is aged for 12, 18 or 24 months and has a slightly different taste for each age. Learn about the process of making this amazing cheese and, of course, try some yourself.

Next up: stop by a producer of prosciutto. In Parma, this cured ham is famed the world over. Learn about the process of curing prosciutto and sample some of the melt-on-your palate pork. After, visit the medieval town of Torrechiara for a photo op in front of the imposing 15th-century castle.

Move on to lunch in a wine cellar in Parma where you'll get the chance to munch on cured meats, locally made cheeses and homemade cakes. Wash it all down with a glass of Malvasia or Lambrusco, a lovely sparkling red wine from the region. When you're done, head back to Parma or Bologna where the tour ends by being dropped off at your hotel or your own designated drop off point.

Full-Day Tour (7 Hours):

Follow the tour above as part of your morning itinerary. Then, post lunch, go try some authentic balsamic vinegar in Modena and Reggio Emilia, handcrafted by masters whose techniques go back to the Middle Ages. Learn how balsamic is made and taste some of it, as the guide instructs on what makes excellent balsamic vinegar.

In the afternoon, return to Parma or Bologna (depending on option selected), where your tour concludes.

Please note: A minimum of two people per booking is required.

CPL Parma Consorzio Produttori Latte Soc. Coop. R.L. - Via Puppiola

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Castello di Torrechiara

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Salumificio Conti

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Mulino di Casa Sforza

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Tenuta Medici Ermete

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
For the self-drive option, please meet your guide in Parma (address provided in your booking confirmation). The guide may come in your car, or will be driving her/his own car and you would follow in your car.
Please note that the locations mentioned in the program might change for availability reasons with similar ones.
Please pay attention to the program that the tour provider will send you before the departure date through the Viator message center
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Cindy_P

The whole day was amazing. Our driver was punctual, professional, and friendly. The car was immaculate and he had a bottle of water for each of us. Our guide, Jacomo was extraordinary. The breadth of his knowledge was commendable and he had a fabulous way of bringing the experience to life. Beyond learning about the process of making parmigiano and Parma he gave us history of the products and the region. He was so much fun and we really connected. Lunch was delicious and allowed us to learn more about life in this region. We finished the tour by learning and tasting how real balsamic tastes. It was an incredible day and I would encourage anyone to take this tour.

Reviews

5.0

99 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 99 reviews

Culture and traditions of Parma

Adrian_F, Apr 2024

Our guide, Guilia was fantastic. Her topic knowledge was first class and she was able to impart it very well. She is a lovely , warm young lady who is passionate about her local food ,culture and tradition of the Parma region. We could not have been more satisfied Adriano, Guilia, Ed, Cathy, Andrew and Amanda

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi guys, thank you so much for your kind review. Giulia will be extremely happy to read it! See you again in the Food Valley!

Best tour ever!

Cindy_P, Apr 2024

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi Cindy, thank you so much for these beautiful words, it's such a joy to read them and we're happy you enjoyed everything. Hope to see you again! :)

Well worth the day for a foodie

Mark_F, Mar 2024

All the stops were great. The cheese making and vinegar tasting were amazing and I loved the Parma ham tour. Monica was an amazing guide and lunch was delicious.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi Mark, thank you so much for the review! Hope to see you again in the Food Valley :)

A true feast for the eyes!

Jennifer_C, Feb 2024

Stefania was so knowledgeable and personable. She made it so interesting for my nieces, ages 11 and 8. A true feast for the eyes to see how and where these products are made. Cannot recommend this tour enough. A long day indeed (we came from Bologna and car was arranged for us) and pricey but oh so worth it.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for these beautiful words, we're so happy to read them! :) Hope to see you again with your lovely nieces to live other experiences in the Food Valley of Italy

Truly a private tour

Dan_G, Dec 2023

Our guide Monica was wonderful. Very knowledgable and nice to talk to. We were the only people in the factories - pretty special.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Hi Dan, thank you so much for your kind words. Hope to see you again in the Food Valley!

A Perfect Day for a Food Lover

Mark_S, Nov 2023

We had an amazing time with Simonetta who took us to a Parmigiano Reggiano factory, a Parma ham factory and a vineyard that makes aged Balsamico. She was an amazing guide, filled with tons of interesting information and a genuinely lovely person with which to spend the day. With each of the tours we feel that we got a great sense of each process with it all coming together with a tasting. Before heading to the Balsamico vineyard, Simonetta brought us to lunch at a lovely and delicious restaurant that was filled with locals and their families. It was as genuine an experience as we could have asked and we were thrilled by the day. By grouping the 3 tours and lunch together, you get an excellent sense of the countryside around Parma which adds to your understanding of each process. A perfect day for a food lover.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hi Mark, thank you so much for your detailed review. Hope to see you again! :)

Great tour!

Daniela_R, Oct 2023

Highly informative tour. Riccardo was very knowledgeable about the Parmesan and prosciutto topics and even the wine served. He was able to answer all our questions and easy to talk to. Balsamic tour was done by the owners. The driver was very sweet and prompt!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Daniela, it has been a pleasure to organze the tour for you, hope to see you again!

Once in a Lifetime excursion!

Robert_L, Oct 2023

One of the reasons we came to this area specifically was to be able to visit Parma and it’s amazing foods! Our driver from Bologna to Parma was great and our tour guide Stefania was amazing in every way! Highly recommend this full day excursion!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Robert, thank you for your beautiful words. We'll wait for you again in the Food Valley to discover much more! :)

This was an amazing...

Tracey_T, Oct 2023

This was an amazing experience!!!! Highly recommend. Our food travel guide was amazing, well worth the cost of doing a tour instead of trying to plan on our own.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Tracey, thank you so much!!!

So much in one tour!

Jennifer_H, Oct 2023

Stefania was a wonderful guide! She was so fun and knowledgeable and we really enjoyed the private tour experience - getting to ask questions and talk to people along the tour. All 4 of our stops (Parmesan Reggiano, Prosciutto de Parma, lunch, and Balsamic Vinegar) were just perfect and delicious! The processes were fascinating to learn about and the tours provided such great perspective and appreciation for the authentic products of the region. Thank you Stefania!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for the review, we'll forward it to Stefania, she'll be really happy :)

the visits to all 3...

Linda_C, Oct 2023

the visits to all 3 places were fantastic, especially the cheese factory.. Our tour guide was the best and took the time to really explain everything to us. Our driver was also very good. Always on time and even showed up early to pick us up.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Linda, thank you so much for your beautiful words!

Leave planning to the professionals so you can enjoy the ride!

Mariela_C, Oct 2023

Well organized! Prompt pickup, very clean car service with a friendly and safe driver, Giorgio. Our tour guide, Monica, was very knowledgeable and an excellent communicator. We loved the experience, especially enjoying lunch outdoors at a beautiful location, and we paid extra for the convenience of the pickup and drop off at our lodging in Bologna. Worth it! Very unique experience to tour the factories and see the manufacturing process first hand.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Mariela, thank you so much for the feedback. We're happy you enjoyed our tour. Hope to see you again in the Food Valley! :)

Great tour

William_B, Sep 2023

The cheese factory tour was awesome. Monica was very knowledgeable and patiently explained the whole process to us. The Parma ham tour and balsamic vinegar tour were great as well. Our driver was superb - he dropped us off at downtown Parma so we could tour the city on our own.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi William, thank you so much for the review! Hope to see you again in Parma to discover much more :)

A Taste of Emilia–Romagna

Alinne_F, Sep 2023

Excellent tour for food lovers. Extremely thoughtful and communicative tour company. They sent a detailed agenda with all of the necessary information in advance of the tour.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Alinne, thank you so much for your beautiful words! Hope to see you again :)

Experience matches the pictures, but better!

Scott_R, Aug 2023

This tour provided everything it promised. The driver was on time and excellent, the guide was extremely knowledgeable. The facilities we visited matched the pictures, but better. It was a fantastic experience and well worth the expense.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi Scott, thank you so much for your kind words! Hope to see you again in Parma :)

Great day around Parma and region

Adam_H, Jul 2023

We had an excellent day. The tour company managed to deal with our badly delayed arrival perfectly. Fantastic tastings and lunch. Would thoroughly recommend

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Adam, thank you so much for the review, we're happy you enjoyed the tour despite the delay :) hope to see you again!

Great guide, fun day.

Emily_R, Jul 2023

Simonetta was extremely knowledgeable. Great tour. Just a heads up that the Parma ham facility is not in operation on the weekend. You can still see the facilities, but not the activity. We still enjoyed on a Saturday.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Emily, thank you so much for your kind review :)

Bucket List Tour!

Joe_P, Jul 2023

BOOK THIS! Amazing experience! Spent time at a dairy while they made Parmesano Reggianio and then went to the factory where prosciutto is made. Both were incredible bucket list experiences. Afterwards we went to a terrific hill top restaurant for lunch and then to a balsamic vinegar tasting. Our guide was wonderful and very informative. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Joe, thank you so much for your words. They make us really proud and happy of our work! Hope to see you again in Parma to discover much more!

Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, traditional balsamic vinegar what could be better!

Mary_E, Jun 2023

We had a fabulous day. Our driver, George, was right on time and so professional during our whole day tour. Hillary our guide at the Parmesan cheese factory and Parma ham production was so informative and interesting. She was very personable, took pictures for us and answered all questions. She took us to lunch which was delicious. The restaurant was so beautiful. After lunch our driver, George took us to an amazing traditional balsamic vinegar producer. It was family owned, the vinegar was fantastic. The explanation of how the vinegar is processed was fascinating. Ended the day with George dropping us right back at our hotel. Highly recommend

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi Mary, thank you so much for your review. It has been a pleasure to have you here in the Food Valley! Hope to see you again :)

The Charms of Parm

Gena_G, Jun 2023

This tour far exceeded our expectations. Aside from all the tastings and fabulous lunch in the most beautiful setting, we learned so much about the region, and the processing of the signature foods of Emilia Romagna. We were expecting a great food and wine experience, but being able to actually see cheese being made, as well as learn about what goes into the making of Parma ham and authentic Balsamic vinegar mad the experience so much more meaningful. Our guide Monica was a great ambassador for the food and culture as well as our driver Rossano. No detail was missed. It was a fantastic experience!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi, thank you so much for your beautiful words!! We're so happy to know you enjoyed so much our experience :) Hope to see you again in the Food Valley!

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