Things to Do in Parma in One Day
We went to Parma to try its world-famous prosciutto, and discovered one of the prettiest cities in Emilia Romagna. Though not that big, there are lots of things to do in Parma in a day.
Parma is a university city with superb architecture, delicious food, and a relaxed vibe. You can cover the basics in one day. However, we strongly recommend spending at least one night.
You will have the city all to yourself and get to mingle with the locals. Parma is perfect to discover the best of Italy: art, food, and people.
Stroll along Parco Ducale
As soon as you exit the train station, cross the river and walk 10 minutes to the city’s grandest park. Parco Ducale has it all: trees, palaces, fountains, towers, and locals strolling about.
The Torrione Visconteo is from 1358. A bar opens there during the summer. Keep walking until you reach the fabulous Palazzo Ducale di Parma. Built in the 16th Century, it’s now a police station.
Ditch your phone and walk along the park. Some of the trees are hundreds of years old. Check out the lake and admire Trianon Fountain.
Explore the Palazzo della Pilotta
Cross the river once again and head to The Palazzo della Pilotta. The 16th Century Palace homes the National Gallery, the Museum Bodoni, the Archaeological Museum, the Palatine Library and the Farnese Theatre.
We fell in love with the palace and spent 3 hours walking about. The National Gallery has a vast collection of paintings, including some by Da Vinci.
You can tour the Farnese Theatre, a wooden masterpiece from 1618. However, our favorite was the Palatine Library. The 1769 library is one of the most beautiful in the entire world!
Visit the Complesso Monumentale di San Paolo
The massive Complesso Monumentale di San Paolo is just across the street. The 16th Century convent homes the Pinacoteca Stuard, the Camera di San Paolo, the Burattini Puppets, and the Camera di San Paolo e Cella di Santa Caterina.
You need a couple of hours to see it all, including the lovely gardens. Access to the fantastic Pinacoteca is free. Pay the ticket to access the Camera di San Paolo. The frescoes by Corregio will take your breath away.
The Castello dei Burattini holds the biggest collection of puppets and dolls in Italy. It’s free, and you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy it!
Enter the Cathedral and the Baptistery
As every city in our beloved Italy, Parma has a stunning Cathedral. It presides over the Piazza del Duomo. The other building on the medieval square is the Baptistery.
Entrance to the Cathedral is free. If you think the 1178 facade looks stunning, wait till you get inside. Check out the capitals and raise your head to admire Corregio’s masterpiece: the Assumption of the Virgin.
Pay the entrance ticket to access the Baptistery and the small museum next to it. The pink Verona marble Baptistery is gorgeous! Frescoes, sculptures, and art cover the entire octagonal structure.
Visit a Mannerist Church
Parma has one of Italy’s best mannerist Churches: San Giovanni Evangelista. The early 16th Century style is all about fantasy, color, and the bizarre. No entrance fee. The marble facade changes colors throughout the day. The inside is majestic.
From the church, walk along the arches to the monastery. The monastery is huge and includes several cloisters and a chapter house with frescoes by Corregio. Don’t rush and absorb the atmosphere.
We loved the 16th Century library inside the monastery. It holds over 20000 books and medieval codes! Look for the stunning collection of ancient maps. We couldn’t believe our eyes.
Have Coffee in a Historic Café
We were pretty tired after visiting the above-mentioned attractions and wanted to rest a bit. We found the Gran Caffè Cavour on pedestrian Cavour Street. You can sit outside to people watch or inside to cool.
The place is super authentic. We only had coffee and cakes and love them. We also went at night for an aperitif. The drinks were pretty good and came with delish finger food.
Our favorite ice cream parlor is 1 block to the south: Gelateria la Golosa. Their ice cream is sinful! They open till 11:30 PM so we also went at night.
Tour a Historic Theater
Though newer than the Farnese Theatre, the Teatro Regio is equally grand. The 1829 opera house is as lavish as it gets. You can check for performances here.
We booked a fantastic tour in English. We were lucky and got to see a rehearsal taking place on stage. It was an unforgettable experience.
Once done with the theatre, walk a couple of meters to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Steccata. It’s free. The church looks Greek and homes a 1601 nursing Madonna.
Roam around Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi
The best place to mingle with the locals is Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, meters from Basilica di Santa Maria. There are a couple of bars and restaurants with outdoor sitting perfect to rest and people watch.
You have to check out three buildings: the Governors Palace, the Palazzo del Podesta, and the Palazzo del Comune. The Governors Palace has permanent and temporary exhibits.
The tourist office is inside the 13th Century Podesta Palace. No entrance fee to visit the city’s town hall, Palazzo del Comune.
Try the Famous Parma Ham and Parmesan Cheese
Parma is famous in Italy and the world over for its incredible ham and cheese. You simply can’t leave the city without trying them. We had them in many places.
To us, Degusteria Silvano Romani has the best ham in Parma. The place is near Piazza Garibaldi on Farini street. It opens for lunch and dinner and is also known as ‘La Prosciutteria’.
For the best Parmigiano Reggiano, we suggest visiting Caseificio Ugolotti, just outside Parma. They’ve been producing cheese since 1930!
Visit a Nearby City or Town
Parma is a great place to set base and explore the best of the region. You can go in no time to Modena, Bologna, Castello di Torrechiara, and Mantua.
We strongly recommend going to Modena, just a half an hour train ride from Parma. Modena is simply stunning. Spend the night and continue the next day to Bologna.
Bologna is one of our favorite cities in Europe. We’ve spent weeks in the city and never had a dull moment. The train from Bologna to Parma takes approximately 1 hour.
Where to Stay in Parma
You have to spend at least one night in Parma. The best hotel in the city is the Grand Hotel di Parma. The former hospital became a lavish hotel in 1900. Its set in middle of a splendid garden.
The Starhotels du Parc is next to Ducale Park. The modern building has big and comfy rooms. It has secure parking and impeccable service.
Your final option is the Novotel Parma Centro, close to the train station. We like it because it has a pool, very much appreciated in the summer. This hotel is great value for money.
