Parma
Parma is an elegant food city, home of Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano, with a Romanesque cathedral and a pink marble baptistery.
(opens the tour on Viator in a new tab)The city on foot
Parma was the capital of a duchy ruled by the Farnese and later by Napoleon's widow, Marie Louise.
Its centre is flat and compact, with delicatessens on every street. Parma is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
What makes Parma distinctive
- Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano
- The baptistery
- Correggio's frescoes
- Opera at the Teatro Regio
Walking tours in Parma
Hand-picked guided walks in Parma, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.
Advertising disclosure: tour links go to Viator. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the price you pay or which tours we choose.
Private Parma Food Walking Tour with 10 Local Food Tastings (opens Viator in a new tab)
A private food walk through Parma with ten tastings. Tour details: Private Parma Food Walking Tour with 10 Local Food Tastings
Guided in English, Italian
See dates & bookBooked securely on Viator
Taste Parma: A Full Meal Walking Food Tour by Do Eat Better (opens Viator in a new tab)
A food walk through Parma with a full meal. Tour details: Taste Parma: A Full Meal Walking Food Tour by Do Eat Better
Guided in English, Italian
See dates & bookBooked securely on Viator
Parma Food Tour: Artisan Kitchens & Full Lunch (Max 8 Guests) (opens Viator in a new tab)
A food walk through Parma's artisan kitchens, ending with lunch. Tour details: Parma Food Tour: Artisan Kitchens & Full Lunch (Max 8 Guests)
Guided in English
See dates & bookBooked securely on Viator
Parma Guided Food Tour with 8 Authentic Local Food Tastings (opens Viator in a new tab)
A food walk through Parma with eight tastings. Tour details: Parma Guided Food Tour with 8 Authentic Local Food Tastings
Guided in English
See dates & bookBooked securely on Viator
Parma Food Tour with Sightseeing and Parmesan Tasting (opens Viator in a new tab)
A two-hour walk through Parma with street food and Parmesan. Tour details: Parma Food Tour with Sightseeing and Parmesan Tasting
Guided in English, Italian, French, Spanish
See dates & bookBooked securely on Viator
By theme: Food tours in Parma
Compare with other cities: Food tours
More walking tours on GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide sells many of the same walks and some that Viator doesn't. Their list for Parma is chosen and ranked by GetYourGuide, not by us.
Search Parma on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
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Main sights
- Parma Cathedral
With Correggio's dome fresco of the Assumption.
Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Parma Cathedral (opens in a new tab) - Baptistery
An octagonal pink marble baptistery.
Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Baptistery (opens in a new tab) - Palazzo della Pilotta
A palace with the Farnese Theatre.
Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Palazzo della Pilotta (opens in a new tab) - Teatro Regio
An opera house loved by Verdi fans.
Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Teatro Regio (opens in a new tab) - Parco Ducale
Gardens across the river.
Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Parco Ducale (opens in a new tab)
Ticket links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Neighbourhoods worth wandering
- Centro storico
The old town.
- Oltretorrente
Across the river.
- Piazza Garibaldi
The main square.
Duomo to the Pilotta
A free self-guided walk in Parma, from the cathedral and baptistery through Piazza Garibaldi to the Teatro Regio and the Pilotta.
See the walkBest areas to explore on foot
- Strada della Repubblica
Through the centre.
- Parco Ducale
Gardens.
- Torrente Parma
Along the river.
Practical walking notes
- Terrain
Flat.
- Lunch
Many shops close in the early afternoon.
- Bikes
Watch for cyclists.
When to visit
- Spring and autumn
Best.
- October
The Verdi Festival.
Getting there and getting around
Arriving
- By rail
Trains reach Bologna in about an hour and Milan in about 1.5 hours.
Local transport
- On foot
The centre is walkable.
- Buses
Cover the city.
Questions travellers ask about Parma
How many days do I need?
One or two days.
Can I visit a cheese maker?
Yes, on tours out of town.
What should I eat?
Prosciutto, Parmigiano and tortelli d'erbetta.
Other cities in Italy

Rome
Three thousand years of history, layered street by street
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Florence
The Renaissance city, small enough to cross on foot in half an hour
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Venice
A city with no cars, where every journey is a walk or a boat ride
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Naples
Loud, layered and unforgettable, with Vesuvius on the horizon
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Milan
Gothic spires, canal-side aperitivo and Leonardo's Last Supper
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Bologna
Porticoes, towers and the best food in Italy
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Verona
A Roman arena and Romeo and Juliet
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Matera
A city carved from rock
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Siena
A Gothic city on three hills
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Lecce
The Florence of the South
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Bari
An old town of pasta and the sea
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Catania
Black stone beneath Etna
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Turin
Arcades, cafés and chocolate
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Genoa
A maze of lanes above a great port
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Pisa
More than a leaning tower
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Ravenna
Glittering Byzantine mosaics
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Assisi
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Perugia
An Etruscan hilltop capital
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Italy
Old towns built long before the car, and still best seen on foot
Explore destinationsSources and review date
- Parma, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-10-28)
- Parma, Wikivoyage (accessed 2026-10-28)



