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Key Info for Visitors
- Currency: EUR
- Languages: Italian, English, German, French
- Climate: Humid subtropical
- Timezone: Europe/Rome
- Population: Approximately 185,000 residents
- Best Time to Visit: best time to visit Modena is during spring and early autumn when the weather is mild and festivals are active.
- Visa Requirements Visitors from the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter Italy visa-free for short stays up to 90 days. For longer stays or other nationalities, a Schengen visa is required. Visa on arrival is generally not available. Electronic visas (e-visas) are not commonly used for Italy; travelers should apply through consulates or embassies before arrival.
About Modena
Modena is a captivating city in northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, celebrated for its exquisite culinary heritage and automotive legacy. This charming city offers visitors a unique blend of medieval architecture, vibrant markets, and world-class gastronomy. Modena’s historic center boasts stunning Romanesque buildings, including the UNESCO-listed Modena Cathedral, which reflects the city’s rich cultural past. Food lovers are drawn here to savor traditional balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and the renowned Modenese cuisine. Additionally, Modena is a pilgrimage site for car enthusiasts, home to the Ferrari Museum and other luxury automotive landmarks. The city’s lively piazzas, artisan shops, and welcoming atmosphere make it an enriching destination for travelers seeking authentic Italian culture beyond the usual tourist routes. Whether exploring its historic sites, indulging in gourmet experiences, or enjoying local festivals, Modena offers a memorable and immersive Italian experience.
Top Attractions
1. Modena Cathedral – A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its intricate sculptures and historical significance. 2. Piazza Grande – The central square surrounded by historic buildings, perfect for people-watching and enjoying local cafes. 3. Enzo Ferrari Museum – Dedicated to the legendary car designer, this museum showcases Ferrari’s history and iconic vehicles. 4. Palazzo Ducale – A grand Baroque palace that now houses the Military Academy of Modena, notable for its impressive architecture. 5. Mercato Albinelli – A bustling traditional market offering fresh local produce, cheeses, meats, and regional specialties.
Popular Activities
Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the city’s historic sites, participate in balsamic vinegar tastings, and explore the automotive museums. Food tours and cooking classes are popular, allowing tourists to learn about Modena’s culinary secrets. Walking or cycling through the city’s charming streets and nearby countryside offers a relaxing way to experience local life. Seasonal festivals and markets provide cultural immersion, while wine tasting excursions in the surrounding Emilia-Romagna vineyards add to the adventure.
Modena Tours & Experiences
- Top Attractions: Highlights of Emilia-Romagna
- Duration Range: Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the city’s historic sites, participate in balsamic vinegar tastings, and explore the automotive museums. Food tours and cooking classes are popular, allowing tourists to learn about Modena’s culinary secrets. Walking or cycling through the city’s charming streets and nearby countryside offers a relaxing way to experience local life. Seasonal festivals and markets provide cultural immersion, while wine tasting excursions in the surrounding Emilia-Romagna vineyards add to the adventure.
- Group Size: Small groups (up to 15 people)
- Difficulty Level: All Comfort Levels
- Recommended For: The best time to visit Modena is during spring and early autumn when the weather is mild and festivals are active. Pack comfortable walking shoes and light layers for variable weather. Respect local customs by greeting with a polite “buongiorno” and dressing modestly when visiting churches. Modena is generally safe, but standard precautions apply. Credit cards are widely accepted, though carrying some cash is advisable for small purchases or markets.
Average Tour Price: $80
Lowest Price Tour: $50
Highest Price Tour: $250
89 Available Tour Excursions in Modena
Looking for an authentic food experience to explore the true Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena? You’ve found the perfect place! Join us at Acetaia Malagoli Daniele, where the passion for this centuries-old craft comes alive. Led by the Malagoli family, this immersive experience offers a warm welcome and a professional, in-depth explanation of Modena’s iconic "black gold"—all while surrounded by ancient barrels that have been aging balsamic vinegar for generations. The Malagoli family is excited to share their knowledge and passion with you, making this a truly educational experience. Learn about the rich traditions of Modena and discover the differences between the two types of balsamic vinegar: the IGP Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and the DOP Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Though they may sound similar and both are delicious, they are distinctly different products—let’s explore why!
Price: $40.32
Duration: 2 hours
Immerse yourself in one of the most authentic Modena's traditions, where the art of Balsamic Vinegar unfolds through the tales of our family and the secrets of century-old recipes.
Price: $55.73
Duration: 1 hours
During our half day together we will: - Visit of a Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan cheese) factory + cheese tasting - Visit of a acetaia (Traditional Balsamic Vinegar producer) + balsamic vinegar tasting - Happy hour break (includes wine & balsamic paired with seasonal or homemade products) Transfer from Bologna to Modena in private car and return included in the price (for 3pax max. For larger groups, please ask for quotation) Itinerary might change according to time of the year and weather forecasts
Price: $177.87
Duration: 3 hours
A journey to discover secrets and most authentic flavors of our land. We will start from the King of Cheeses, the Parmigiano Reggiano, visiting a family-run farm, where this excellence was born ten hundred years ago and it is still made with the same ingredients and techniques. It is a result of hand-made experience of one man: the “casaro” (the cheese maker) who creates the “wheel” of Parmigiano Reggiano, in a full-artisanal way. We will continue our gourmet experience visiting one of the best producers of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia. Here, we will discover the secrets beyond this unique and sophisticated product. At the end of our journey we will have a tasting of both products in their different ageing, appreciating their characteristics, aromas and flavours.
Price: $177.87
Duration: 4-5 hours
La Vedetta being immersed in the hills of Castelvetro will allow you to fully experience the entire production process of balsamic vinegar.
Price: $33.20
Duration: 1 hours
This is a private tour dedicated to couples, families, or small groups of friends. The tour can be personalized in all details.The tour leader is a friendly person who loves meeting people from all over the world and spending time with them like friends. Visits will be inside real local factories producing cheese, balsamic, and wine, in case the places are unavailable on the date of tours, they will be replaced by similar ones in Modena.
Price: $640.35
Duration: 5-6 hours
If you're looking for a fun and curious way to visit Modena, you've come to the right place! With this digital guide created with the support of a local, you will be able to visit all the most important monuments at your own pace. You'll get to know the stories and curiosities of Modena! But also you will discover everything about local foods, Italian Aperitivo in authentic local restaurants, and much more! What are you waiting for?
Price: $7.11
Duration: 5-6 hours
Join us for a flavorful journey through Modena, where history and cuisine come together. Start in Piazza Grande, exploring its iconic landmarks, including the Cathedral, Torre Ghirlandina, and Palazzo Municipale. Next, visit Giuseppe Giusti for a balsamic vinegar tasting and learn about its centuries-old craftsmanship. Visit Mercato Albinelli and then dive into the world of Lambrusco, paired with a traditional charcuterie board. Enjoy a plate of homemade pasta at a local restaurant, representing Modena's rich culinary heritage. Stroll through Piazza Mazzini to learn more about the city's vibrant past, then finish with a refreshing gelato. This tour offers the perfect blend of history, culture, and authentic flavors, providing a truly unforgettable experience. Don’t miss out, book today and taste Modena like a local!
Price: $105.54
Duration: 2 hours
An unforgettable journey into the heart of Modena’s culinary heritage! This experience is a must-do for any food lover visiting Modena! Discover two of the region’s most iconic treasures—Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena—on a journey led by the passionate team at Acetaia Malagoli Daniele. Explore an organic dairy farm, meet the cows, visit the milking room, and watch skilled cheesemakers craft Parmigiano Reggiano. Then, step into an attic filled with centuries-old barrels, each aging the balsamic vinegar to perfection. This one-of-a-kind, family-run food experience offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the traditions, culture, and craftsmanship that make Modena’s flavors so special. By the end, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the region’s iconic flavors. The experience takes place in two different locations. Transport is needed to reach the first and also to move to the second, which, like the first, is located in the countryside.
Price: $128.07
Duration: 3 hours
Are you a motorsports enthusiast and a food lover? We have the perfect tour for you! Join us now for a unique experience designed for those passionate about motors and food. Choose between two 8-hour remarkable itineraries through the food scene and history of Modena: 1) Balsamic & Lamborghini - This itinerary includes visits to Parmigiano Reggiano, the Lamborghini museum, and Balsamic Vinegar production with a buffet lunch. You’ll be free to explore the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena in the afternoon. 2) Lambrusco wine & Ferrari - This itinerary includes visits to Parmigiano Reggiano, Lambrusco wine production and lunch in a local restaurant. You’ll be free to explore the Ferrari Museum in Maranello in the afternoon.
Price: $332.03
Duration: 8 hours
A tour with a local guide, that will enable you to discover and appreciate the most significant sites to visit in Modena old city center in 2 hours.
Price: $213.45
Duration: 2 hours
Immerse yourself in a private pasta-making class at a local's home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a selection of local wine. During the lesson, the local home cook will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional pasta recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.
Price: $174.04
Duration: 3 hours
I will accompany you to my land, among the hills of Modena where I was born and raised, to live together an authentic experience between flavors, traditions and nature. We will start with a visit to a dairy to discover the secrets of the production of Parmigiano Reggiano, from processing to seasoning, with final tasting. Then we will move to a traditional vinegar factory to learn about the process of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and taste different types, including the “extravecchio”. Afterwards, a small organic farm awaits us: we will start with a welcome aperitif, then prepare together the ricotta and spinach tortelloni with a lesson in Emilian cooking. Finally, we will have lunch together with a genuine menu based on local products: tortelloni, cheese, homemade jams, Lambrusco, water and coffee. Possibility of pick up and private tour on request. A journey into the truest flavors of Emilia.
Price: $332.03
Duration: 3-4 hours
Visit the lovely town of Modena with a local and discover why its food and specialties are so famous throughout the world. We will start with a typical breakfast then we will walk towards the local historic market where we will be able to taste different types of local cheeses and cured meats (including the famous Parmigiano Reggiano and our "ciccioli"). We will then accompany you to taste our traditional Balsamic Vinegar and we will finish our tour with a delicious homemade ice cream. Your host will tell you anecdotes and traditions of the city and will accompany you to discover all the culinary secrets of this beautiful Emilian town.
Price: $148.23
Duration: 3 hours
This experience is made unique thanks to the familiar and welcoming environment. You will find yourself in contact with the hostess, in the green of the Emilian countryside, immersed in an oasis of peace and pampered by tradition. In addition, in addition to learning how to make pasta, you will also visit the vinegar cellar of the Malagoli Daniele family and taste their balsamic vinegars. Finally, you will taste your creations while indulging in a pleasant moment in serenity.
Price: $227.68
Duration: 5 hours
The Classic Tour invites you to explore one of our Balsamic Vinegar factories in the charming town of Castelvetro di Modena. Designed to introduce you to the various production methods of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, this tour takes you through its evolution, highlighting the aging process in barrels made of various fine woods. The experience concludes with a guided vertical tasting, showcasing five distinct stages of Balsamic Vinegar aging.
Price: $28.46
Duration: 1 hours
Meet your host Monica, a guide at the modern Malpighi acetaia, for a local balsamic vinegar tour and tasting. You will learn about why the region of Modena is world-renowned for its balsamic vinegar and how it is made. You will visit two barrel rooms and a museum of vintage vinegar utensils. The proportion of black to white grape juice and the order of the wood that the vinegar is transferred in is what distinguishes the Malpighi family’s vinegar from others. After your tour you will enjoy a tasting of vinegars of various ages, ranging from 5-25 years, and see if you can determine the age of each vinegar based on its taste. You will leave the experience with one bottle of Saporoso (100 ml) and one bottle of flavored balsamic vinegar.
Price: $46.00
Duration: 0 hours
Through a visit to two local producers you will live a truly unique experience! In the Acetaia you will discover customs, anecdotes, traditions and production processes linked to Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, while in the Cellar the ancient ancestral method referring to wines produced by hand and respecting the highest quality! The Acetaia is located in the ancient country farmhouse, immersed in the greenery of the plain, while the cellar is on the hills of Modena and thanks to the special position, you can enjoy an exciting view! Two familiar and welcoming places where you will live a unique and extremely authentic experience! This experience is absolutely perfect for young couples, groups of friends and families! Infants, children and teenagers can participate, but only children at least 18 years of age or children at least 16 years of age but with explicit parental permission will be able to taste the wine. In the cellar you will visit the vineyard. Comfortable clothing is recommended!
Price: $110.28
Duration: 4 hours
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Important Tour Information
- Bring comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing
- Check tour cancellation and refund policies
- Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early
- Carry valid identification and tour booking confirmation
Frequently Asked Questions
Local Food & Cuisine
Modena’s cuisine is world-famous for its traditional balsamic vinegar, which is aged for years to develop its complex flavor. Signature dishes include tortellini, gnocco fritto (fried dough), and zampone (stuffed pig’s trotter). Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is a staple ingredient. Dining customs emphasize fresh, high-quality ingredients and slow cooking. Noteworthy restaurants include Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-starred establishment acclaimed globally, and Trattoria Aldina, known for authentic local fare.
Getting Around
Modena is accessible by train from major Italian cities such as Bologna, Milan, and Florence. The nearest airport is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, about 30 minutes away by car or shuttle. Within the city, public buses and taxis are available, but the compact historic center is best explored on foot. Bicycle rentals are also common. Transportation costs are moderate, with affordable regional train tickets and local bus fares.
Travel Tips
The best time to visit Modena is during spring and early autumn when the weather is mild and festivals are active. Pack comfortable walking shoes and light layers for variable weather. Respect local customs by greeting with a polite “buongiorno” and dressing modestly when visiting churches. Modena is generally safe, but standard precautions apply. Credit cards are widely accepted, though carrying some cash is advisable for small purchases or markets.
Culture & Customs
Modena’s culture is deeply rooted in tradition, with a strong emphasis on family, food, and craftsmanship. Social interactions are warm and formal greetings are common. Important festivals include the Festival of San Geminiano, the city’s patron saint, celebrated with parades and events. Dining is a social affair, often enjoyed slowly with multiple courses. Visitors should be punctual for appointments and respectful in religious sites.
