Best Food & Ferrari Day Trips from Bologna (2026)
For food and Ferrari culture, the three strongest day trips from Bologna are Modena, Maranello, and Parma. Modena is the easiest all-round choice, Maranello is the Ferrari-focused option, and Parma is best if Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma are your priority.
If you want a wider list, including Florence, Venice, Ravenna, Verona, and Ferrara, use our Best Day Trips from Bologna by Train guide.
For the practical side of reaching the station and airport, see the Bologna Transport Guide 2026. If you are still choosing a base, compare where to stay in Bologna or find your Bologna hotel on Expedia.
Which Day Trip Is Best for You?
| Destination | Best for | From Bologna | Main planning issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modena | Food, markets, architecture, Ferrari history | 25–32 min by regional train | Decide whether to stay in the city or continue to Maranello |
| Maranello | Ferrari and Formula 1 | 1 hr 15 min on the direct morning coach | Fixed shuttle times and advance planning |
| Parma | Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, art, opera | 50–57 min by regional train | Food producers are outside the city center |
Modena is the best first choice for most travelers because it works well without a tour. Maranello needs more transport planning, while Parma becomes much easier if you book a countryside food tour in advance.
1. Modena: Food, UNESCO Architecture, and Ferrari History
Train time: 25–32 minutes from Bologna Centrale
Regional fare: €4.50 one way
Best for: Food, architecture, markets, balsamic vinegar, Ferrari history
Modena combines a compact historic center with one of Emilia-Romagna’s strongest food traditions. It also gives you an easy route into Ferrari history without requiring a full Motor Valley tour.
What to Do in Modena
Mercato Albinelli: Start here if food is your priority. The permanent stalls are closed on Sundays, while the market’s restaurants keep separate hours, so check your travel day before building lunch around it.
Piazza Grande, Modena Cathedral, and Ghirlandina: The cathedral, tower, and square form Modena’s UNESCO World Heritage site. Construction of the cathedral began in 1099, and the facade includes sculptures by Wiligelmo.
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar tasting: Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP comes in two official age categories. Affinato is aged for at least 12 years, while Extravecchio is aged for at least 25 years. Visiting an acetaia gives the aging process much more context than a shop tasting alone.
Osteria Francescana and Franceschetta58: Osteria Francescana remains a three-Michelin-star restaurant in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Franceschetta58 is another Modena restaurant listed by Michelin and offers a less formal alternative.
Our pick: balsamic lunch in ModenaPair Modena With a Bologna Cooking Class
A Modena food day pairs naturally with an evening pasta class back in Bologna. The two cities share many Emilian traditions, including egg pasta, ragù, and filled pasta.
Best Cooking Classes in Bologna: learn to make pasta from scratch with a local host
For a more detailed Modena itinerary, including Ferrari logistics and balsamic producers, read our Bologna to Modena Day Trip guide.
2. Maranello: The Ferrari Day Trip
Best for: Ferrari, Formula 1, automotive history
Simplest direct option: 09:00 coach from Bologna Autostazione
DIY option: Regional train to Modena, then shuttle or SETA bus to Maranello
The Museo Ferrari is in Maranello, about 18 km south of Modena. That distinction matters because arriving at Modena Centrale does not put you within walking distance of the Maranello museum. To combine Ferrari with Lamborghini, Ducati or Imola, see our guide to the Motor Valley from Bologna.
How to Get to the Ferrari Museum From Bologna
The dedicated Modena to Maranello shuttle has two daily departures from Modena railway station:
- 10:40 departure: arrives in Maranello at 11:15; return departs at 14:45 and reaches Modena station at 15:20.
- 15:20 departure: arrives in Maranello at 16:00; return departs at 18:00 and reaches Modena station at 18:30.
Online booking is required for the dedicated shuttle. If the operator shows no availability, the service is full.
SETA line 800 also connects Modena and Maranello. Its timetable changes, so check the schedule for your exact travel date rather than planning around a generic frequency.
There is also a direct outward coach from Bologna Autostazione, Piazza XX Settembre, bay 25. It leaves at 09:00 and reaches Museo Ferrari at about 10:15. Vivara lists the fare at €22 for adults and €20 for children. Return shuttles leave Maranello at 12:00, 13:45, 15:00, 16:30, and 18:00, but they take you to Modena rather than back to Bologna. You then return to Bologna independently by train, and that rail ticket is not included.
Ferrari Museum Tickets and the Regional Train Discount
A Trenitalia Tper regional ticket can reduce Ferrari museum admission. The verified 2026 rates are:
- One museum: €27 from October through April or €32 from May through September; €20 with an eligible regional ticket.
- Both Ferrari museums: €38 from October through April or €42 from May through September; €32 with an eligible regional ticket.
Keep the regional ticket you used and show it at the museum. Depending on the season and ticket type, the reduction is €6–€12 per person.
When a Guided Tour Makes More Sense
If you want Ferrari plus food production in one day, a tour can remove most of the local transport planning. Our pick lasts about 8.5 hours and combines a Parmigiano Reggiano producer, a balsamic vinegar producer, a Lambrusco winery and Museo Ferrari in Maranello, with lunch. Choose the transfer option if you want pickup from Bologna, and check the listing for the exact inclusions on your date.
What to Expect at Museo Ferrari
Museo Ferrari in Maranello covers road cars, motorsport history, and changing exhibitions. Formula 1 is a major part of the appeal. Allow around 1.5–2 hours if you want time to read the displays rather than move straight through.
The Museo Enzo Ferrari is a separate museum in Modena. Its modern yellow building is designed to resemble a car bonnet, and the museum focuses more directly on Enzo Ferrari’s life and the company’s origins.
Ferrari Test Drives in Maranello
Several Maranello operators sell supervised Ferrari road drives in different models and durations. Prices and driver requirements vary by product, so check the booking page for the exact car, minimum age, license rules, and drive length before paying.
3. Parma: Cheese, Ham, Art, and Opera
Train time: 50–57 minutes from Bologna Centrale
Regional fare: €8.50 one way
Best for: Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Romanesque art, opera
Parma is the strongest choice if food production matters more to you than cars. The city center is also worth a full day in its own right, with the Cathedral, Baptistery, Teatro Regio, and a compact historic core.
What to Do in Parma
Parma Cathedral and Baptistery: The Baptistery was begun in 1196 and is one of the city’s defining medieval monuments. Inside the cathedral, Correggio’s frescoed dome is the main artistic draw.
Eat the products associated with Parma: Look for Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and Prosciutto di Parma DOP, then add torta fritta if it is on the menu. The city is a good place to taste these products, but the production sites themselves are outside the center.
Teatro Regio: Parma’s historic opera house can be visited even when you do not have a performance ticket. Standard guided visits last about 30 minutes, although rehearsals and performances can change access.
Visiting Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto Producers
This is the main logistical difference between central Parma and a food-production day. Dairy and ham producers are outside the historic center, so a factory visit needs separate transport or an organized tour.
The linked tour combines Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma ham, and balsamic vinegar producers in a 6.5-hour itinerary with fixed meeting arrangements. Book the tour first, then choose a Bologna to Parma train that gives you enough margin for the meeting time.
For the full city and factory logistics, read our Bologna to Parma Day Trip guide.
Our pick: Parma cheese & ham tourCan You Combine These Day Trips?
Modena plus Maranello: Yes. A practical version is Modena in the morning, followed by the 15:20 shuttle to Maranello. It arrives at 16:00, and the 18:00 return gives you about two hours before heading back to Modena.
Modena plus Parma: Possible, but not a good use of a day. Both cities reward several hours, and combining them mostly adds station time.
Ferrari plus food producers: A guided Bologna departure is the cleaner option when you want Ferrari, Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar in one day. It removes the need to coordinate trains, local buses, and rural producer appointments yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which day trip from Bologna is best for a first visit?
Choose Modena. It is 25–32 minutes from Bologna by regional train and combines the UNESCO center, Mercato Albinelli, balsamic vinegar, and Ferrari history. You can keep the day entirely in Modena or add Maranello if Ferrari is the priority.
How do I get to the Ferrari Museum from Bologna?
You have three practical choices: take a regional train to Modena and use the dedicated shuttle, take SETA line 800 from Modena, or use the 09:00 direct outward coach from Bologna Autostazione. The dedicated shuttle leaves Modena station at 10:40 and 15:20. If you use the direct Bologna coach, the return shuttle ends in Modena, so you still need a train back to Bologna.
Is a guided tour worth it?
For central Modena or central Parma, no tour is required. A tour becomes more useful for rural food producers or for combining Ferrari with multiple food stops, because those places are spread beyond the city centers.
How much do the trains cost?
A regional round trip is €9.00 between Bologna and Modena and €17.00 between Bologna and Parma at the verified 2026 fares. Ferrari museum admission is €27–€32 for one museum or €38–€42 for both, with lower rates for eligible Trenitalia Tper regional-ticket holders.
See our Bologna Transport Guide for train ticket booking tips
Can I visit Museo Ferrari without a guided tour?
Yes. The museum itself can be visited independently. The part that needs planning is Maranello transport, especially if you rely on the dedicated shuttle’s two daily departures.
Plan Your Emilia-Romagna Days
If you have three nights in Bologna, one day trip usually fits without cutting too deeply into the city itself. With four or more nights, two regional day trips become easier to justify.
For Byzantine mosaics and Dante’s tomb, use our Bologna to Ravenna Day Trip guide.
For Venice logistics, see our Bologna to Venice Day Trip guide.
- Where to Stay in Bologna: best neighborhoods and hotels for your base
- Best Day Trips from Bologna by Train: the full 9-destination guide
- Bologna to Florence Day Trip: complete train and itinerary guide
- Bologna to San Marino Day Trip: a completely different kind of day
- Best Cooking Classes in Bologna: add an evening pasta class
- Bologna Transport Guide: train station, tickets, and getting around
- 5 Hidden Gems in Bologna: if you prefer staying in the city
Every destination within easy reach of Bologna is collected in Day Trips.
