Hi! My husband and I will be traveling to Bologna is a few weeks. We have 3 full days in Bologna. We have a having a hard time deciding where to go from Bologna. Do you suggest going to Parma or Modena or any other place accessible by train? We are big foodies so anything food related would be just perfect! :)
thanks!
We've been to both and prefer Parma. It has a nice museum, of course great shops and food, and is interesting to walk around. We didn't find Modena as interesting, and its more of a walk from the train station to the heart of town.
In Bologna try and do one of the guided walking tours the visitor center offers, although I don't know if they're running if you are going in a few weeks. Bologna has miles of covered walkways to walk, also some nice museums.
Thank you for your kind reply. We are definitely interested in going to Parma. Did you do any tours in Parma? Thanks!
Ravenna!! One hour away by train. Magnificent ancient mosaics in several sites around town. Fine traditional food at Ca' de Ven, no doubt other eateries too, although it is not a town famous for its food, like Bologna and Parma are. A very flat, walkable town, with many, many bicyclists of all ages.
I found a lovely little market restaurant above an nondescript door across the road from the Modena covered market - which see - and we like Modena very much. Really good food, no English, good thing I have some Italian, cheap and wholesome.
That said, Ravenna is top quality. Lovely combination of old and new, and then those mosaics......
Ravenna, then Parma if you have time.
OMG, you say you are foodies? Then you have to take a food tour with the BEST guide ever!
My son and I did this 2 years ago, and still it was the highlight of our trip. A full day spent learning and EATING. #DOP baby.
You will not regret signing up for this. Tell Alessandro hello from me.
Bologna has a wonderful food scene. Day trips to Parma and Ravenna would be good too.
I'll be there in September. I'm also doing the tour with Allesandro above as others recommended it on this board also.
You can test drive some Ferrari's. Check the Bologna soccer schedule and if there is a game while you are in town you can go watch that too.
From Bologna, you can take easy day trips to Parma, Modena, Ferrara, and Ravenna. All are worthwhile, so read more about them and decide which interest you the most.
One warning, though: when I was there (years ago, so it may not still be true), the timing of trains for day trips was tricky. Often, I could get a train out of Bologna at 8:30 AM or 11 AM, but not in between. I often had to get up earlier than I wanted to have a full day in a town, because those 11 AM departures got me in town just in time for everything to start closing.
The mosaics in Ravenna were fantastic. But I liked Parma too - we did a very interesting tour of a parmesan business you would surely like.
