Private Parma Food Walking Tour with 10 Local Food Tastings
Description
Explore Parma’s rich culture and fascinating history the best way possible – through its cuisine! Avoid the touristy spots and eat where the locals eat guided by your private local guide. Make 5 stops at the top specialty shops, delis, eateries, pastry and gelato shops, selected for their historical significance or critical acclaim. Discover prized produce from Parma and nearby such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Modena Traditional Balsamic Vinegar and Lambrusco. Learn how to appreciate them under the guidance of an expert Parmigiano Reggiano Taster and Sommelier. Unveil the secrets of Parma Ham, Culatello, and other traditional cured meats, tasting them paired with the finest local wines. Experience a real Italian Sunday Lunch, feasting on homemade pastas, savory pies, freshly made desserts, coffee and gelato. You will leave with a stomach full of traditional food, plus local knowledge and sightseeing tips to enhance the pleasure of your trip, and a mind filled with lasting memories.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover Parma’s historic center and its unexpected and eye-catching glimpses of extraordinary artistic beauty and the most authentic Parmesan and Italian food from our favorite vendors, feeding locals for generations. Visit an Old Patisserie, a Sandwich Shop, a Deli, a Fresh Pasta Shop or a Traditional Trattoria, and an Artisanal Gelato Shop.
Meet your guide in Garibaldi Square, overlooked by beautiful buildings such as the Captain’s Palace, the Town Hall and the Governor’s Palace, and also shops, restaurants and cafes which have earned the city the title of “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy”.
Take a look at the Teatro Regio exterior, one of the most important Opera Houses in the world, where internationally renowned artists, such as Paganini, Verdi, Toscanini, Callas and Beniamino Gigli, have played, sung and worked.
See the exterior of the Palazzo della Pilotta, built in the early Seventeenth Century by the Farneses as an imposing container for the court's services. Let yourself be captivated by the characteristics of Parma's cuisine and the sumptuous banquets of the Farnese era.
Take a look at the Monument to Giuseppe Verdi.
Stop by one of the city's Oldest Pastry Shops to taste Parma traditional cakes and pastries.
Admire the Cathedral exterior.
Observe the magnificent Baptistery exterior.
Experience Parma's Top Street Food stopping at a traditional Sandwich Shop.
Visit one of the Oldest Delis in the city center to discover the gastronomic delicacies that have made the city of Parma famous in the world, Prosciutto di Parma and the tasty products of the Parma charcuterie such as Culatello di Zibello, Coppa, Culaccia, Coppa, Salame Felino accompanied by bread, water, and exquisite local white wine.
A Fresh Pasta Shop or a Traditional Trattoria is a must-see stop walking through the city of Parma, to learn about the ingredients of the famous Emilian homemade pasta and its different shapes, to discover the flavors of typical dishes and curious anecdotes. Taste 2 different types of traditional Fresh Homemade Pasta with a glass of Lambrusco wine, water and fresh bread.
Taste 3 different ages of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Discover the origins, history, and production process behind the "King of Cheeses." Learn to appreciate its organoleptic characteristics through sensory analysis, thanks to a tasting session led by an expert taster. By the end of this unforgettable sensory experience, you will view this renowned product in a whole new light!
Pass by the beautiful Santa Maria della Steccata Church, a splendid example of Renaissance architecture.
Cap off your gastronomic stroll through the streets of the center with a taste of delicious Artisanal Gelato made with the best local raw materials without additives and preservatives. Discover authentic artisanal gelato, that is both healthy and sustainable: every ingredient is selected from local farmers, prioritizing ancient, organic, and biodiversity-rich varieties. Experience gelato crafted exclusively from premium, intensely flavored products that reflect the traditions and culture of our region.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- Please advise of any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian and gluten free options available with prior notice. Please advise when booking
- Not available for vegans
- A moderate amount of walking is involved (3 km)
- This is a private tour, run exclusively for you and your family or friends
Reviews(622)
Highly recommend Michelle and this tour, we found her extremely knowledgeable and friendly. She was very personable and helpful. The food was delectable! Thank you Michelle and Best Wishes!
Dear Kym, thank you for your review! It’s truly a joy to hear that you consider this experience "a must when in Parma" and that you found the food delicious. We’re glad you were able to savor the authentic flavors of our region and hope to see you again in the future. Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
Our first full day in Italy, we booked a food walking tour with Michelle Valeria Costa of Artemilia Guided Tours, and it ended up being the highlight of our whole two-week trip. Michelle is a Parma local and a certified Level 2 Parmesan taster, and you can tell — she knows the food and history of the region inside and out. We started at a café with a traditional puff pastry “sandwich” filled with spinach, chard, and cheese. It was so good that even my son, who won’t touch anything green, went back for more. From there we hit Pasticceria San Biagio for Torta Duchessa di Parma, then a meat and cheese shop for an incredible spread of cured meats, Parmesan aged three different ways (Michelle showed us the right way to smell and taste it), and balsamic vinegar — the real aged stuff was unbelievable. We finished with pasta at a trattoria and gelato at one of the top-rated shops in Italy. We kept talking about this day for the rest of the trip. If you’re headed to Parma, don’t skip this — book with Michelle. She also does cooking classes, and we’re already planning to do one next time we’re back.
Thank you, Roman, for such a heartfelt review! It’s truly touching to hear that the day we spent together was the highlight of your two-week trip to Italy. I’m happy that the traditional erbazzone even won over your son, who usually avoids vegetables. Taking part in a food walking tour is also a way to push your boundaries, because that’s often where you discover flavors you never knew you’d love! It was a pleasure to share with you the proper way to taste and appreciate Parmigiano Reggiano and the stories behind our extraordinary regional specialties. We look forward to welcoming you back for a cooking class whenever you return to Parma! Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
While this tour was a bit more expensive than we typically go for, it was well worth it! Our guide, Lisa, was very knowledgeable, friendly and took us to many great spots! Her local knowledge and willingness to share was much appreciated. We really enjoyed this tour!
Thank you, Dane, for your wonderful feedback! We are delighted that you appreciated Lisa’s expertise and warm personality. We believe the true value of a private tour lies in the exclusive attention you receive: having a dedicated guide focused solely on your group allows for a deeper, more personal connection with the local culture and the foods being tasted. It is a pleasure to know that you found the investment in this private experience worthwhile. Thank you for recommending us! We hope to have you as our guests again in the future. Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
The tour was magnificent! Michelle was a fantastic tour guide and took us to wonderful establishments. Everything we ate and drank was delicious and I can't imagine having had a better experience. Anyone who likes food and wine must take this tour in Parma!
Thank you so much for your amazing review! Our deeply-rooted goal is to help our guests truly feel and connect with Parma, even in just three short hours. Knowing that you fell in love with our culinary heritage and felt our passion means everything to us. We look forward to sharing more of our land with you in the future! Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
Amazing!! Erica was the best tour guide. We had so much fun, loved the food and learned so much! Would recommend this 100%!!
Dear Michelle, thank you so much for your review! We are happy that your experience with Erica was both fun and educational. We hope to see you again in the future for more discoveries in our beautiful region. Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
The food at each stop was excellent. Michelle's love and excitement for her hometown was very evident when she spoke about the different dishes we were trying. She elaborated on her education in becoming certified as a private tour guide and as a certified taster of cheeses, Prosciutto / Parma ham, wine and balsamic vinegar. I believe she said that she had a master's in art history, and so time between stops was filled with educational and historical information about Parma. I would do this tour on day one of your stay in Parma and ask Michelle's recommendations for restaurants based on your tastes. She has been spot on with her recommendations for us so far and does not seem 2 have made her recommendations based on kickbacks from businesses, but rather based on putting her hometown in its best light.
Thank you, Nick, for your detailed review! We believe that a solid foundation in production and tasting techniques is essential for sharing our region’s culture and gastronomy in the most comprehensive way possible. I am particularly touched by your observation regarding my recommendations. My only goal is for our guests to have the best possible experience of Parma, offering suggestions based on genuine quality and personal taste rather than any external incentives. It is wonderful to know that my recommendations helped you have an enjoyable experience. Thank you for choosing Artemilia! Kind regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
Michelle was amazing! So knowledgable about Parma, and it's food and wine and culture. 10/10 recommend!
Hi Sandra, thank you so much for your kind words! We are happy you enjoyed discovering Parma’s food and wine scene with Artemilia and we hope to see you again in the future. Kind regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
Our guide was amazing! She lived in the local area and was so knowledgeable about Parma. The food was excellent. The tour was so fun!
Hi Andrea, thank you for your feedback! We are glad you enjoyed this experience and had fun with your guide. We hope to have you as our guests again in the future. Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
We met Erica at the appointed spot in the beautiful city of Parma. She took us to described food destinations, starting with gelato first since it was so hot. The gelato location had unique flavors and makes everything in house. We got to try 2 flavors and it was delicious. Next was the pastry and cakes shop, which was requested to stay open for us, so we had the place to ourselves. We tried 2 different types of cakes; they were small in size, enough for a tasting. The balsamic tasting was great. We tried 3 different aged vinegars. Erica shared lots of information and the shop was super cute. Then we tried the different types of Prosciutto di Parma with Parmesan cheese and wine. By this point we were getting full, but we had one more stop. We went to a sit down restaurant and had different types of pasta: the tortellini in broth and in red sauce and 3 “raviolis” filled with: pork, spinach/cheese, potato All the while, Erica pointed out sites and gave details and information. She was kind and honest. We would definitely recommend
Thank you, Summer, for your wonderful review! We are very happy that Erica was able to combine delicious food with educational insights and suggestions about what to see in Parma. We designed this tour to be a complete culinary journey that actually corresponds to a festive meal for the locals, that is exactly why we always advise guests to arrive hungry! Thank you for your recommendation, we hope to see you again in the future. Best regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
Our guide, Michelle, was both knowledgeable and passionate about the local food and the rich history behind it. The places we visited were all fantastic and the tour was a highlight of our trip!
Thank you, Aimee, for your kind words! We are so happy to hear that the tour was a highlight of your trip. We hope that this introduction to the rich local culinary heritage inspires you to further explore the area in the future. In that case, we will be happy to have you as our guests again! Kind regards, Michelle Valeria Costa
