Bologna: Parmigiano & Balsamic Tasting + Ferrari Museum

Cheese wheels and race cars: what a day in Emilia-Romagna actually looks like

You visit a working Parmigiano Reggiano dairy farm and taste wheels of different ages; explore a family balsamic vinegar producer and taste their aged vinegars; then have free time at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello with entry already paid. Hotel pickup from Bologna and return transport are included, and the whole day takes about eight hours with small groups of up to eight people.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Pickup from Bologna hotel or station
• Drive to dairy farm (1 hour)
• Tour Parmigiano Reggiano production
• Taste organic cheeses and local wine
• Visit family balsamic vinegar farm
• Taste various ages of balsamic vinegar
• Free visit to Ferrari Museum in Maranello
• Return to Bologna

The Experience

You don't expect the Parmigiano Reggiano to taste that different depending on age — but standing in the dairy farm cellar, tasting a two-year-old wheel next to a five-year-old one, the difference is obvious. The producer's staff walks you through the whole process, from the cows to the wheels aging in rows that stretch back into the cool darkness. It's not a museum explanation; it's someone who makes this cheese every day telling you why it matters. After the tasting, which includes ricotta and caciotta alongside the Parmigiano, you get a glass of local wine and water to clear your palate before the drive to the next stop.

The balsamic vinegar farm is a family operation that's been making the same product for generations, and the visit there follows the same pattern — you see how it's made, you taste it at different ages, and you start to understand why restaurants in Milan and beyond pay what they do for a bottle. The temperature drops inside the storage area even in summer, so the note about bringing a jacket isn't just a suggestion. After that, there's the drive to Maranello and the Ferrari Museum, which you explore on your own time with skip-the-line entry already sorted. No guided tour, so you move at your own pace through the supercars and the history.

The whole day runs about eight hours from pickup at your Bologna hotel or the meeting point at Piazza XX Settembre (five minutes from the train station) until the drive back. If you're arriving by train, the timing matters — trains need to arrive by 08:30 at the latest, because finding your way out of the underground station takes fifteen to twenty minutes, and the van leaves the meeting point at 08:55 with no buffer for stragglers. Groups stay under eight people, and the vehicle is air-conditioned, which you'll appreciate on the drive between stops. There's no lunch included, so you'll want to eat before you go or plan something in Maranello, depending on how hungry you are by midday.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Bologna city center or the train station, or meeting point at Piazza XX Settembre.
• guided visit of a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy farm with tasting of different ages, ricotta, and caciotta cheese.
• guided visit of a Traditional Balsamic Vinegar PDO farm with tasting of various ages.
• skip-the-line entrance to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello with free self-guided visit.
• wine and water at the dairy farm.
• transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• drop-off back to your Bologna hotel or the meeting point.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Aurea Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste Parmigiano and balsamic vinegar directly from the producers and see the Ferrari Museum, all in one day without arranging separate transport, museum entry, or farm visits — the fixed schedule and included pickups handle the logistics so you just show up on time.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start from Bologna?

Pickup from your hotel is at a time confirmed after booking. If you meet at Piazza XX Settembre (the meeting point near the train station), the van leaves at 08:55 am sharp and does not wait for late arrivals.

Is lunch included in the tour?

No, lunch is not included. You'll have tastings at the dairy farm and the balsamic vinegar producer, but no meal. Plan to eat before the tour or during free time at the Ferrari Museum.

Do I need a guide at the farms?

The producer's staff at each farm conducts the visits and tastings directly — no separate guide travels with you. Other guests may be present during the visits.

What's included at the Ferrari Museum?

Skip-the-line entry is included, and you have free time to explore the museum on your own. There is no guided tour of the museum.

What should I wear?

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for countryside farms. The temperature inside the cellars and storage areas is cool even in summer, so bring a jacket.

Can I book this if I'm arriving by train?

Yes, but your train must arrive by 08:30 am at the latest. The pickup from the train station is at 08:50 am, and finding the exit from the underground station takes fifteen to twenty minutes. If you arrive later, the tour cannot be rescheduled or refunded.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are limited to a maximum of eight participants in one air-conditioned vehicle.

What if I have food allergies?

Inform the operator of any allergies or intolerances before the tour. Last-minute requests cannot be accommodated.