It’s only a small city – but Parma really packs a lot in. Laid back and elegant, famous for its food and rich history and culture, it’s one of the best cities in the region to visit. Here’s my guide to Parma, including the top things to do.
What’s in this blog:
Is Parma worth visiting?
Absolutely! For the food alone, Parma is worth visiting, Home to parmigiano reggiano and parma ham, eating at its restaurants and cafes are a delight. That’s not all though. A lovely, largely pedestrianised old town, impressive main square and one of the best museum complexes in the region all add to Parma’s charm. It’s well worth a visit.
How long to spend in Parma?
Parma is a small town, and it makes for a great day trip. If you arrive in the morning and hang around until about dinner time, there’s plenty of time to see the main sights and get a sense for the city. It’s a very pleasant place to spend time in though, so you could easily spend a night or two here, and use it as a base to visit surrounding cities such as Modena and Bologna.
Top things to do in Parma
Indulge in Parmese cuisine
Even in Italy, Parma is up there when it comes to gastronomic paradise. This is the home of Parmigiano Reggiano (aka parmesan cheese) and prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham). Tourists flock here to try both, and this alone is enough to make Parma an appealing destination.
Across the charming narrow streets of Parma’s old towns you’ll find plenty of cafes, delis and restaurants serving up the city’s delicacies. Pepén is an especially popular locals spot for sandwiches with Parma ham.
A great way to discover the local food, though, is to go on a food tour. They’ll take you to a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes to try the best the city has to offer. A couple of the top rated options include:
Go on a cheese or ham factory tour
If you want to delve even further into the world of Parmese food, going on a factory tour of the town’s two main delicacies – parmigiano reggiano and parma ham – is one of the best and most unique things you can do.
Several tours offer trips to both parmigiano reggiano and parma ham factories, and will include plenty of opportunity to try the products, as well as to learn more about how these world famous delicacies are made.
Guided tours include transportation to and from the factory, and there are options available for the whole day or half a day. Some of the best options include:
- Parma: Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting
- Parma: Traditional Cheese Factory Visit with Tasting
- Parma: Parmigiano-Reggiano Tour and Tasting
You’ll find plenty more options – especially of cheese factory trips! – on GetYourGuide, which I always use for booking guided tours.
You can read a full guide to the best Parmigiano Reggiano factory tours here, including what to expect and a map of the factories!
Visit Parma’s top cultural sight, the Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta
In my opinion, this is the main sight in Parma. Few towns this size offer a cultural experience as important, varied and, well, big.
Housed in the wonderful surroundings of the Farnese Pilotta Palace, it’s actually a collection of no-less-than six attractions, some of which are utterly marvelous. For 14 euros (2 euros if you’re 18-25!) you can visit (take a deep breath…):
Museo Archeologico – One of the oldest museums in Italy, established in 1760 to house the precious findings from the excavations of the nearby Roman city of Veleia. It has important collections from Roman and ancient settlements in the Parma region.
Teatro Farnese – The oldest modern theatre in the Western world, made entirely out of wood. It was bombed during WW2, so what we see today is largely a copy.
La Biblioteca Palatina – A stunning 17th century library, home to more than 200,000 books including early editions of Dantes
Galleria Nazionale – Parma’s major art collection, including many local artists as well as some of the greats, such as Leonardo da Vinci.
The Bodonia Museum – A small museum about printing, named after Giambattista Bodoni, who made Parma the world capital of the press from the second half of the 18th century.
It’s a lot to pack in, so choose what you’re most interested in. A visit can easily take a few hours. Visit website.
Explore Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi and Parma’s charming old town
In the centre of Parma’s old town is its lovely main square, Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, home some of its most important public buildings and impressive architecture. It’s the centre of life in the town, often thronging with people and occasionally pop up market stalls.
There are a number of bars in the square – a great spot for a glass or two of Lambrusco, the famous local sparkling red wine.
In the streets nearby you’ll find the vibrant old town, a maze of narrow cobblestone alleys with nice places to stop for a drink or something to eat, or some shopping. Life moves slowly, here. It’s a relaxing way to spend an afternoon lounging around Parma’s old town.
To learn more about the history of the town you could also book a walking tour.
Relax in Parco Ducale
Nestled on the banks of the Po is Parma’s main green lung, a nice spot for a relaxing stroll. There are a number of green trails – and if it’s especially hot, it’s a good place to sit in the shade!
Visit the Battistero, one of Parma’s most important buildings
This pink octagonal baptistery, in the same square as the cathedral, is arguably Parma’s most beautiful building. The Battistero’s history goes back nearly 1,000 years, and it’s considered one of the most important Medieval buildings in Europe.
It’s stunning from the outside, and if you’re willing to spend the 12 euro entry fee, its interior is even more intricate, with a famous ceiling and frescoes.
Marvel at Parma’s cathedral
Even older than the Battistero is Parma’s cathedral, dating back to the 11th century. It’s free to enter and utterly lovely inside, with frescoes by local master Correggio covering the cathedral. A must when you’re in the city.
Go to a show
It might be a small town, but Parma still has a reputation as one of the best places in Italy to watch Opera or go to a classical music concert. Teatro Regio is the main theatre with a rich programme year round. For all of the events in the town, visit www.teatridiparma.it (though note that the website is only in Italian).
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Parma on GPSmyCity.
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