For those seeking to get deeper into some of northern Italy’s smaller towns, one day in Parma is a perfect idea. And not just for your stomach which will love you for sampling Parmigiano Reggiano or prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham). Parma offers an array of delicious foods, but has much, much more than that.
So if you’ve got one day in Parma, let us guide you through the best way to spend it. Prepare for walking, eating and oohing and aahing.
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Getting to Parma
Parma is located in northern Italy, in our most favourite region of Italy, Emilia-Romagna. If you’ve visited towns like Bologna and Modena and enjoyed your visit, you’re almost guaranteed to fall in love with Parma too.
Nestled in the heart of northern Italy, there are numerous ways to get to Parma. In our opinion, it’s best enjoyed as part of wider trip to northern Italy. It makes a great stop between Milan and Bologna for instance.
Bologna is the nearest major airport, located around 90 minutes by car from Parma. For our visit, we transited via train from Verona via Bologna. A train from Bologna Centrale will take around 45 minutes. Be sure to check your chosen train before booking. Some of the slower regional trains can blow this trip out to nearly double that time. We book our train trips via Omio, who have a comprehensive coverage of the Italian train network.
Getting around Parma
Like many great Italian cities, Parma is best explored on foot. Parma’s train station is approximately 15 minutes walk from the city centre. This makes it easily accessible for those arriving by train.
On a hot summer’s day, you may want to hide in the shadow of the buildings or under some of the porticoes you’ll find around the city.
Hired a car?
Hired a car for your northern Italian adventure? Parma struggles with some of the same issues as you’ll find throughout Italy, in not having an abundance of parking.
If you find yourself a car spot, we’d recommend leaving it there for your one day in Parma and only return when you need it. There’s absolutely no need to drive from place to place.
Need to hire a car? We use Skyscanner to book our cars when abroad.
How to spend your one day in Parma
National Archaelogical Museum
To kick off your one day in Parma, we’re going to start inside, at the historic National Archaelogical Museum. Housed inside the Palazzao della Pilotta, the museum is also home to the National Gallery and Library. For €13 (price correct at June 2019), you’ll get entry into all 3 areas. And it’s definitely worth it, because it’s difficult for us to recommend one part over another!
On our visit, we far underestimated the breadth to be explored in the museum. We had a few extra days in Parma on our visit. With one day, you’ll need to be quite considered about where you visit and how long you spend in each area. The museum covers artefacts from the Bronze Age, Ancient Egypt and has an impressive collection of coins as well.
For Egyptian lovers, you’ll want to check out this section which houses a selection of mummies in a small room. We’ve been privileged to visit the Cairo museum and the Egyptian Museum in Turin. But in the quieter National Archaelogical Museum, it was the first time we were alone just us and some Egyptian mummies. Another one of those travel moments of awe where you have to pinch yourself.
Long before spending much of my working life in banking, I’ve always found joy in collections. And this extends to coins and currency, inspired by the collections by Grandfather had given me as a child. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy the impressive coin collection back to 260 BC.
Check out the National Gallery
Interconnected with the Archaelogical museum, the Galleria Nazionale (National Gallery) is home to some of Italy’s most famous artists’ works. The first thing you’ll notice is the impressive gallery itself. With sky high ceilings supported by grand columns, natural light fills the room from above. And all this with just us and a few other people in a phenomenal gallery in Italy. It’s almost unheard of.
We enjoy a good museum but aren’t what we’d call art experts. But even for the relatively uninitiated, you’ll find familiar names. Leonardo Da Vinci, Correggio (who left quite an impression on Parma) and Sandro Botticelli have some of their best work displayed here. Da Vinci’s Head of a Woman (La Scapigliata) and Corniche a Edicola are some of the more well known pieces in the gallery. During our visit, there was also a temporary Monet exhibition. Keep an eye out for what else is happening on your trip.
The Teatro Farnese
Our most favourite sight during our visit however, was the Teatro Farnese (Farnese Theatre). Built in the 1600s, this theatre is the prototype for many of the theatres we see around the world today. Entering it when empty with nothing but the noise of the creaky floorboards beneath is an awe-inspiring experience. The smell of timber and light streaming in from outside transports you back hundreds of years. Take your time on the stage to take in what it must have been like to play to a packed house hundreds of years ago.
The National Library
Our inability to read Italian didn’t stop us enjoying the visit to the National Library. Like many impressive libraries throughout Europe, this library houses some magnificent reading rooms.
Some of the books on the shelves look like they won’t be with us for much longer, showing the wear and tear over the years. The next reader may just be the last.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll end up spending too much time slowly ambling through the museum and galleries. And there’s nothing wrong with that – that’s why we travel, to take it all in! When you’re done here, you’ll have worked up an appetite, so it’s time to head off for a local lunch.
Lunch at Pepen
Go to Parma and have a sandwich for lunch? Are you serious? We stumbled past Pepen on one of our wanders in the middle of the day. As much as we look to Swarm and Google Maps to help inform our dining choices, this hole in the wall had the best recommendation of all. Dozens of locals loitering outside chowing down on sandwiches. Loud, hilarious servers who enjoy turning lunch into theatre. And feeling like we could have visited 30 years ago, and not much about this experience would have changed.
We headed in to explore the menu of reasonably priced sandwiches. There are a set number of sandwich types, with ingredients including speck, pickles, zucchini and salami. Like preparing lunch for a child, they cut the crusts off for you. So you’re left with nothing but the fluffiest bread.
Definitely a local experience worth trying. Don’t be put off by any impending wait, the line moves quickly.
Visit Duomo di Parma
A short walk from Pepen, you’ll find the Parma Duomo. Europe has many wonderful cathedrals, but this is one you likely haven’t heard of. Like most things in Parma, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of these lesser known landmarks.
Opening the heavy wooden doors and letting the light leak in, you’ll get a glimpse of an array of impressive frescoes. The roof sits some 20 metres above your head, with the sun illuminating some stunning artistry.
If you enjoyed looking at Correggio’s works in the National Gallery earlier, you’ll be pleased to see the frescoes are also his works. You’ll need some time to wander around the nooks and crannies to take in the various stories painted in intricate detail. Building commenced on the Duomo in 1027, but it wasn’t until 1530 that Correggio painted the dome with a fresco. Like a fine Italian wine, things take time in Parma!
Entry is free, but a wise investment is the €2 to illuminate the frescoes. You’ll make your day and anyone else inside too.
The Baptistery of Parma
Unfortunately closed during our visit, the Baptistery is located right next to the Duomo di Parma. This octagonal building isn’t easy to miss and the interiors are said to be quite impressive too with some more awe-inspiring frescoes. Check it out if you can.
A visit to San Giovanni Evangelista
Right behind the Duomo, Correggio also had a hand in the stunning dome frescoes of San Giovanni Evangelista. A more dimly lit church, it’s impressive but not Parma Duomo impressive. Free to enter to get your final fresco fix of the afternoon.
Take a wander over to the Parco Ducale
There’s been plenty of admiring interiors today, so for the rest of the afternoon, we’re heading for a wander. Drop by a salumeria and grab some snack sized meat to go. Cross the Parma River to the gardens of Parco Ducale. These gardens wouldn’t be out of place in many other great European cities. The wide boulevards and tree canopies make for a great spot to escape the heat in summer.
Find a spot to enjoy your snack and meander through the park. Check out the various sculptures, fountains and the Palazzo del Giardino.
We’re big fans of taking Italy slow, it’s la dolce vita after all. So enjoy your afternoon here and soak up this stunning Italian city.
Did someone say aperitivo?
You bet we did. Readers of our other Italian articles will know we’re quite partial to aperitivo. I mean, who can’t enjoy taking some time out in the late afternoon/early evening to share a drink and some snacks? Not us, that’s for sure.
Take a stroll down Strada Farini for your pick of wine bars, salumerias and restaurants for aperitivo. Blessed with a suite of lively places, you’ll feel positively alive after 7pm here.
If you’re looking for some wine, we can recommend Enoteca Fontana. This fun little wine bar also serves up paninis. Grab yourself a glass of Lambrusco or otherwise from €1.50. Don’t expect anything fancy. You’ll know you’re there when you see everyone spilled onto the streets, sitting in the gutter. Drink like the locals do. There is no shame enjoying your glass sitting in the gutter!
Another good option with some reasonable prices is La Cucina del Maestro. Good food and reasonable prices. A great spot to get a fix of some Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano with friendly and efficient service.
A Parma dinner recommendation
For an excellent dinner option, head to Trattoria Corrieri. This cosy restaurant dates back to 1800. And you don’t last that long serving up bad food.
With its delightful interior (iconic red and white check table cloths for the win), it’s the perfect spot to finish your Parma culinary journey. Serving up a range of traditional Parmesan food, above all else, I need to recommend torta fritta. These light pastries are the best accompaniment for your salami, prosciutto or cheese. Warm, fried puffs of goodness, I don’t image these are great for your waistline. But when in Parma, remember the calories don’t count.
You’ll need to save room for your main course, but the light torta fritta was the highlight of our meal.
A last stroll through town
Rounding out your one day in Parma, you’ll need to ensure you have time to wander down Via Ferdinando Maestri. This street is adorned with lamps and lanterns which come to life at night. You’ll have a backing track of some classic Italian opera whilst you wander during waking hours. It’s a warm, buzzy street best wandered slowly as you recount a wonderful one day in Parma.
Where to stay in Parma
Looking to stay in Parma? Parma has a range of good quality accommodation options. During our time in Parma, we stayed at Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati. This property is located right in front of the Duomo di Parma and is about as well positioned as you could ask for.
Rooms are a little older, but spacious and comfortable. A small breakfast is included to give you just the right filling before a day of proper eating.
We absolutely loved our time in Parma. We’re unabashed fans of northern Italy, and Parma only serves to reinforce this point further. A value city, with spectacular food and sights, it’s a hard city not to love. Enjoy your one day in Parma!
