Parma or Modena? Why Not Both! The Best Things to See on a Bologna Day Trip

Parma or Modena? Why not both? Take a day trip from Bologna to Modena to Parma Italy. Take a Modena day trip or a Parma day trip from Bologna.

There are so many iconic Emilia Romagna destinations to explore in Italy. If you are staying in Bologna, there are a number of fantastic day trip options. 

You may be wondering: should you take a da trip to Modena or Parma. I say, "Why not both?!"

A day trip from Bologna to Modena to Parma packs in a ton of what Emilia Romagna is famous for: amazing food! 

Eat your way through Modena and Parma and feed your eyes at the same time. Read on for highlights from two of Emilia Romagna’s most well-known towns.

1. Coffee and Brioche Under the Portico in Modena

We got an early start on our day trip from Bologna to Modena so our first order of business upon arrival was a coffee and something sweet. 

We sat at a high table under a portico and munched on a sweet almond paste filled brioche plus some free butter cookies served with our macchiato.

2. Pasta with a Drizzle of Modena's Balsamic Vinegar

There was definitely a food theme running throughout our trip to Emilia Romagna and this was especially true in Modena. 

We enjoyed a plate of filled pasta with a drizzle of Modena's namesake balsamic vinegar adding just a touch of sweetness to the dish.

3. Modena and Parma's Regal Architecture

Both Modena and Parma featured medieval towers, regal government buildings and churches which added great atmosphere to our exploratory walks.

SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Looking for some other amazing destination ideas in Italy? Why not: Spend 2 days in Milan on a weekend city break in Italy's fashion capital? Plan a winter weekend in Venice or Rome? Find out why Trieste is worth visiting? Go on a one week Sicily road trip itinerary which you can try all the best Sicilian foods and even go on a Palermo street food tour? Spend the weekend in Bergamo (a top Ryanair destination!) and take a day trip from Bergamo to Lake Iseo? Enjoy the Dolomites by spending a day in Bressanone if you find yourself in Innsbruck, Austria?

4. Parma's Colorful Facades

Parma in particular also features bright facades that added a dash of color to our walks.

5. Modena's Mercato al Binelli

Mercato al Binelli is a famous food hall in Modena. Be prepared for sensory overload as all sorts of treats and delicacies abound.

6. Spot the Luxury in Modena

Italy is home to fast cars and Modena is home to the Ferrari Museum on the outskirts of town. We didn't have time to visit the museum but we kept our eyes open on the streets for high end cars. We managed to spot an Alfa Romeo.

7. Richly Decorated Duomos

Both Modena and Parma feature grand churches but Parma's cathedral is particularly over the top with colorful frescos adorning every surface and gold accents. Beautiful!

8. The Wee Turtles of Parma

We strolled through Parco Ducale in Parma and discovered (much to our delight) a pond filled with wee turtles.

9. Parma's Patient Pooches

Residents of Parma seem to have a penchant for shopping and for dogs. We spotted more than one patient pooch sitting quietly which waiting for its owner to finish browsing.

10. Fine Dining at La Forchetta

Emilia Romagna destinations are famous for food generally but the best food in the region can be found in Parma. 

We treated ourselves to dinner at La Forchetta where we dined on three courses and a bottle of wine including a lovely pasta dish mixed with ham and julienned asparagus. Amazing!

We simply love basing ourselves in a city (in this case Bologna) and then exploring Emilia Romagna's day trip destinations on a long weekend away. 

Looking for other places to visit in the Emilia Romagna region? Why not spend a day exploring cool things to do in Ferrara.

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