A city of city of cheese, ham and eye-catching baroque architecture, Parma is a mecca for dedicated foodies keen for a slice of its rich culinary heritage.
(Photo: ParmaLook Food Tours Experience / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
For over seven centuries, locals in the Italian city of Palma have used traditional methods to craft the region’s legendary cheese and dry-cured ham. Visiting dairies and prosciuttifici offers a fascinating glimpse into the artistry behind these world-renowned delicacies. With tastings straight from the source, dramatic countryside views and passionate producers sharing their inside knowledge, these immersive experience bring Italy’s most beloved foods to life. We’ve picked out 5 of the city’s best Parmigiano and Parma Ham tours below.
Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting
This half-day tour takes you from Parma to nearby artisan hotspots specialising in Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. You and your small group of fellow tour guests will travel by van from Parma to visit a cheese factory for an inside look at ageing wheels, before heading to a ham producer nestled in picturesque rolling hills Here, you’ll sip local wine while tasting aged Parmigiano and acclaimed ham, and there’ll also be the chance to browse boutique on‑site shops. Your English‑speaking guide, entry fees, tastings, and transport all included in the tour price. From $132 per person.
Cheese Factory Tour & Tasting near Parma
(Photo: Gord Webster via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
If you’re short on time, or budget, this 1‑hour guided tour near Parma might be just the ticket. Taking you into the confines of a 120‑year‑old Parmigiano Reggiano factory at Azienda Agricola Bertinelli, you’ll witness cheesemakers in action – cooking, moulding, salting – before stepping into the warehouse for a nose around. Afterwards, you’ll get to take part in a tasting session featuring three different ages of Parmigiano (15, 24, 36 months), paired with local wine and Parmigiano cream. The tour prices includes hotel transfers, your guide and entry fees, plus cheese, wine and water. From $57 per person.
Food Market Tour with Parmesan Tasting in Parma
There are few better ways of getting to know a place than by taking in the sights, sounds and aromas of a local market. This 2‑hour food‑market expedition invites you to wander through the bustling stalls of Parma’s Piazza Garibaldi, sampling local dishes and delicacies along the way such as Anolini pasta, Parmigiano Reggiano and Spalla Cotta salami. There’ll be a stop at an artisanal deli for a special Parmesan taster, and as you stroll the cobbled alleys your guide will regale you with stories of how the city and wider region’s food traditions have evolved down the years. All tastings are included. From $40 per person.
Parmigiano Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic Vinegar Tour
(Photo: Parmalook.It)
For a more extended experience, this full-day tour may well appeal. Starting in Parma, you’ll travel in a private minivan with an English‑speaking guide to a family‑run cheese dairy, then on to the ham curing rooms in Langhirano, and finally a historic acetaia (vinegar factory) in Modena, widely considered the heartland of Balsamic Vinegar. Along the way, you’ll learn about cheese-making, ham-aging, and vinegar barrel-cellaring before enjoying a tasting of each, all paired with local wines . All transport, entry fees, tastings and audio headset are included. From $149 per person.
Parmigiano-Reggiano & Parma Ham Gastronomic Half Day-from Parma
Starting from Parma city centre, this 5-hour tour takes you into the heart of the region’s cheese and ham-producing facilities. First, there’ll be a guided walk through a dairy, where you’ll get to watch cheese curds being broken, brined and aged by experts. If that whets your appetite, then good news: next up is the chance to savour three ages of cheese with local red wine and accompanying regional bites. Next, you’ll head to a Parma ham factory where you’ll explore salting rooms before sampling prosciutto with Malvasia wine. Included are transport, guide, entry fees, tastings and pick-up/drop‑off. From $125 per person.