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Highlights
Cycle and taste your way through Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region
Immerse yourself in Emilia-Romagna's picturesque towns, brimming with artistic and historical treasures.
Indulge in regional specialties each step of the way, like Prosciutto di Parma and of course, a range of local wines.
Discover well-preserved medieval castles, as you pedal between quaint villages and explore historic sites.
Cycle through Italy’s gorgeous landscape along tranquil paths and charming country roads.
Embark on a transformative week exploring Emilia Romagna by bike—nourishing your mind, body, and soul on the 8-Day Self-Guided Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour! Immerse yourself in cities rich in art, culture, and history, exploring a gastronomic haven. Indulge in authentic delights like Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Balsamic Vinegar. Experience the warm embrace of locals and their renowned kitchens. Leisurely cycle along quaint country roads, rivers, and fields. A feast for your senses awaits!
Embark on a transformative week exploring Emilia Romagna by bike—nourishing your mind, body, and soul on the 8-Day Self-Guided Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour! Immerse yourself in cities rich in art, culture, and history, exploring a gastronomic haven. Indulge in authentic delights like Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Balsamic Vinegar. Experience the warm embrace of locals and their renowned kitchens. Leisurely cycle along quaint country roads, rivers, and fields. A feast for your senses awaits!
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Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Parma
Arrival in Parma and check-in. Take your time to visit the city, start with Piazza del Duomo and its octagonal Baptistery. Not far away is the Palazzo della Pilotta, which will give you the opportunity to visit two masterpieces, the Farnese Theatre and the National Gallery. And don’t forget that besides being a city of history and culture, Parma is also officially designated UNESCO’s city of gastronomy!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Parma
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Parma – Château de Torrechiara – Parma
The first day on your bike allows you to explore the gentle hills around Parma. The riverbed of the Parma shapes the valley, the surrounding slopes are gentle, the roads are bordered by vineyards and this is the homeland of the famous Prosciutto di Parma. Arrival at Torrechiara Castle, which dominates a medieval village and stands majestically on the hill offers a superb view over the surrounding area. Return to Parma in the afternoon.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Parma
Distance: 55km, 240m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Parma – Reggio Emilia
Today’s stage takes place in the production area of the Parmigiano Reggiano, probably the most famous Italian cheese in the world. To the South of Parma and Reggio are hills, to the North is the river Po and its ancient flood plains. You will ride in between these landscapes, through peaceful countryside, and pass through quaint villages with well-preserved medieval castles, such as Montechiarugolo or Montecchio. Arrival in Reggio Emilia, the city of origin of the “tricolore”, the Italian flag.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Reggio Emilia
Distance: 55km, 250m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Reggio Emilia – Correggio – Carpi – Modena
Today you’ll explore the Po plains, surrounded by cultivated fields and vineyards (try the local sparkling red wine – Lambrusco!). You will soon reach the beautiful village of Correggio, before continuing to Carpi, a town with a long history and one of the largest squares in Italy, where the Palace of the Pio dating back to the Renaissance stands. The stage ends in Modena, a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Romanesque cathedral.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Modena
Distance: 55km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 Modena – Vignola – Castelvetro – Modena
Modena is the homeland of traditional Balsamic Vinegar, and on your way out of town you can visit a real “acetaia” to get to know all its secrets. You continue along a beautiful cycling path towards Vignola before arriving in Castelvetro, a charming little village perched on a hill. It is the perfect spot for a gourmet lunch or snack break with local cold cuts, a piece of Parmesan and a glass of wine! Return to Modena, possibility to stop at Luciano Pavarotti’s house-museum.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Modena
Distance: 65km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Modena – Nonantola – San Giovanni in Persiceto – Bologna
Your day of cycling begins along small country roads to Nonantola, where you can stop to visit the Benedictine Abbey, before arriving in San Giovanni in Persiceto. The city of Bologna is close, you can see the dome and iconic shape of San Luca off in the distance, the church which dominates this historic city skyline. You will enter Bologna along the Navile Canal, which will take you to the heart of the city through greenways lined with trees and urban parks.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bologna
Distance: 70km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7 Bologna – City Tour by Bike
Bologna is an incredible city cultivated, dynamic, creative, and gourmet at its core. Its three nicknames are “La Dotta”, which means the erudite, as it is the seat of the oldest university in the world; “La Rossa” for its red roofs, and you can check them out from the top of one of its towers; and above all “La Grassa”, which means fat but also abundant for its rich, generous, and traditional cuisine. We recommend discovering Bologna by bike. Don’t forget to cap off your exploration of the region with a local favorite – lasagna alla bolognese and Sangiovese wine!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bologna
Distance: 15km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 End of Tour
Individual departure from Bologna after breakfast and hotel check-out.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour Price and Dates
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only.2024 Departures The departures are available every daily, from April 6th to June 15th and from August 25th to October 23rd. You can also upgrade the hotel category for an extra supplement.
- Single room: from EUR1585*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR1235*
Accommodation on Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour
You will stay in 3 star hotels that offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Standard rooms are of double occupancy. You can upgrade to 4-star hotels with a supplemental charge (please inquire if interested).
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers between your accommodations. Any other transportation is not included.
Also Included
- Digital travel pack
- Travel app for smartphone
- Telephone assistance
Not included
- Flights or airport transfers
- Visas if required
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to tourist attractions
- Personal expenses
- Tourist taxes (to be paid to hotels directly)
- Insurance
- That is not noted as included
Optional Extras
- Upgrade to single room
- Bike rental
-
- Trekking bike
- E-bike
- Cooking class on day 8
- How hard is the Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?
- Are meals included on the Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Parma to start this tour?
- Is the tour material Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour in English?
- Where does the Parma to Bologna Food & Bike Tour end?
- Can I rent a bike?
- Can I bring my own bike?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Italy?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Italy?
We rate the difficulty of this tour as a 2 / 5. Expect to cycle stages from 55 to 70 km per day according to the programme with one shorter stage. The terrain is mostly flat, you will have to face a maximum of 250 m of difference in height for 3 days. You can also rent an e-bike to make this trip easier.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel, since you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided with all the information you’ll need to follow the route each day and often have access to phone support or other kinds of assistance. However, self-guided travelling requires good navigation skills and those who don’t feel confident in unknown places should consider booking guided tours.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover cycling. Get your travel insurance.
The closest airport to Parma is Giuseppe Verdi Airport (PMF), which is approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) northwest of the city center. You can find flights to Parma from major Italian cities and some European destinations. Parma can also be reached by train or bus.
Yes, the tour material is in English language.
The tour ends in Bologna.
Yes, you can rent a bike during the booking process. Renting an e-bike is also an option.
Yes. If you bring your own bike, it should be a bike suitable for the demands of the tour.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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