Best Things to Do in Emilia-Romagna (2026 Guide)

Best Time to Visit Emilia-Romagna

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal for city exploration and food tourism. Temperatures are mild (16–24°C), the Motor Valley museums have manageable queues, and the countryside is green. Summer (July–August) is peak season on the Adriatic Riviera — Rimini and Riccione are packed with Italian holiday-makers and prices spike; inland cities like Bologna, Parma, and Ferrara are quieter and hot (30–35°C). Autumn brings white truffle season, the grape harvest, and fresh porcini — the best time for a pure food-focused itinerary. Winter is cold with occasional fog on the Po plain but excellent for lower prices; Bologna and Ravenna are particularly atmospheric in December.

Getting Around

Emilia-Romagna is best explored by a combination of train and car. The Via Emilia — the Roman road that becomes the modern A1 and parallel regional rail line — strings the major cities (Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, Ferrara) along one corridor. Regional trains are frequent and cheap. A rental car becomes essential for the Motor Valley (Maranello, Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini), the Apennine agriturismo country, and smaller hill towns like Brisighella or Dozza. Rimini has direct high-speed rail connections to Bologna (40 minutes) and beyond. Ferrara is 30 minutes from Bologna by train; Ravenna is 1h15. The regional airports at Bologna and Rimini serve international routes.

Best Areas in Emilia-Romagna

Bologna: The regional capital is also its cultural and gastronomic heart. The Two Towers, Piazza Maggiore, the university quarter, and 40km of UNESCO-listed porticoes make it endlessly walkable. The covered Mercato delle Erbe and the Quadrilatero’s street stalls are essential for food lovers.

Motor Valley (Modena–Maranello–Sant’Agata): Within a 30km radius of Modena lie four world-famous automotive museums: Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena (in the house where he was born), Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, and the Ducati Museum near Bologna. Modena itself is a refined Renaissance city with its own UNESCO-listed cathedral and a Michelin three-star restaurant (Osteria Francescana).

Ravenna: This coastal city holds eight UNESCO World Heritage sites — all early Christian and Byzantine mosaics of staggering quality. The Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe are otherworldly. Ravenna is easily visited on a day trip from Bologna.

Parma: The quietest and most elegant of the Emilian cities, Parma is synonymous with its two great food products — Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma — and has an exceptional art collection in the National Gallery and camera di Correggio frescoes. The Parmesan Cheese Museum near Soragna is a worthwhile excursion.

Adriatic Riviera (Rimini–Riccione): Italy’s longest beach strip runs from Cattolica to Cervia. Rimini has a genuine historic centre (Tempio Malatestiano, Arco d’Augusto) plus the famous Acquafan water park at Riccione and the Cattolica Aquarium. Peak season is July–August.

Food & Drink

Emilia-Romagna is arguably the richest food region in the world. The Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) products alone include Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella di Bologna, Culatello di Zibello, Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena (traditional balsamic vinegar — nothing like the supermarket version), and Lambrusco. The Acetaia Giusti near Modena, operating since 1605, is the world’s oldest balsamic vinegar producer and offers tastings. For a proper cooking class, Bologna is the best base. Restaurants range from humble trattorie serving hand-rolled tagliatelle to Modena’s Osteria Francescana (repeatedly ranked the world’s best restaurant).

Practical Tips

• The Motor Valley museums all require advance booking — Ferrari especially sells out weeks ahead in summer. A dedicated Motor Valley day trip from Bologna (car rental recommended) combines Maranello, Modena, and Sant’Agata into one day.
• Ravenna’s eight UNESCO mosaics require a combination ticket (Ravenna Card) — buy it at the first site you visit.
• Parma’s food products can be purchased directly from producers in the Parma countryside; several agriturismo farms near Langhirano offer Prosciutto di Parma tastings and tours.
• The Rocchetta Mattei — a fantasy castle in the Apennine foothills — requires advance booking and is unlike anything else in the region.
• Fidenza Village (outlet mall) is near Parma but is essentially a commercial shopping centre; skip it unless retail is a priority.