Modena Food Tour: 10 Tastings with Balsamic & Parmigiano

Ten tastings across Modena's oldest bakery, covered market and hidden trattoria

A 3.5-hour food tour of Modena led by a live English-speaking guide, moving through the city's oldest bakery, a family-owned balsamic vinegar bottega, the historic Mercato Albinelli covered market, and Piazza Grande to taste aged balsamic, four varieties of Parmigiano Reggiano, a classic Modenese pasta dish, regional wines, traditional sweets, artisanal gelato and a signature secret dish. The itinerary and menu may shift based on location availability and weather. Comfortable shoes are essential, as the tour involves a fair amount of walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Modena food and cultural tasting tour

• Meet at local meeting point
• Learn about Luciano Pavarotti
• Taste aged balsamic vinegar
• Visit Mercato Albinelli market
• Taste Parmigiano Reggiano and bread
• Enjoy classic Modenese pasta dish
• Have artisanal gelato at GIOELIA Cremeria

The experience

You start at one of Modena's oldest bakeries, tasting three traditional Modenese sweets before moving to a family-owned bottega where you taste three aged balsamic vinegars: the foundation of the city's culinary identity. The guide walks you through the craft behind each one, explaining how time and wood shape the flavor. Non-alcoholic options are available if you prefer to skip the wine pairings.

Mercato Albinelli, the historic covered market founded in 1931 with around 65 stalls, is where you taste four varieties of Parmigiano Reggiano and the city's beloved round flatbread with local pesto, paired with sparkling Lambrusco. The market is still a working space (vendors are selling, locals are shopping), so you see how Modenese people actually eat these things. From there, the walk continues into Piazza Grande, the medieval main square surrounded by the Cathedral and the Ghirlandina Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At a historic trattoria overlooking the square, you sit down to a classic Modenese pasta dish with a regional wine.

The tour finishes at GIOELIA Cremeria with artisanal gelato, and before you leave, the guide reveals the signature secret dish. Something exclusive to this tour. Water is included throughout. The whole experience takes 3.5 hours, which leaves you the rest of the day to explore on your own or rest at your hotel.

What’s included

• Three aged balsamic vinegars tasted at a family-owned bottega.
• four varieties of Parmigiano Reggiano at Mercato Albinelli.
• three traditional Modenese sweets.
• a classic Modenese pasta dish with regional wine at a historic trattoria.
• the city's round flatbread with local pesto and sparkling Lambrusco.
• artisanal gelato.
• the signature secret dish.
• a second local wine pairing.
• water throughout.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full 3.5 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 11:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?At 3.5 hours, the tour fits into a free afternoon or morning without consuming your whole day, leaving time to wander Piazza Grande on your own, visit the Cathedral, or return to your hotel before dinner. The walking is steady but not strenuous, and comfortable shoes are all you need.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Acetaia Giusti and why does the tour start there?

Acetaia Giusti is a family-owned balsamic vinegar bottega where you taste three aged balsamic vinegars and learn the craft behind Modena's most celebrated product. The tour begins at the city's oldest bakery nearby, where you taste three traditional Modenese sweets before moving to the bottega.

How much walking is involved in this food tour?

The tour involves a fair amount of walking through Modena's city center, from the bakery to the bottega, through Mercato Albinelli, and into Piazza Grande. Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended, and the entire experience lasts 3.5 hours.

What is included in the ten tastings?

The ten tastings include three traditional Modenese sweets at the bakery; three aged balsamic vinegars at the bottega; four varieties of Parmigiano Reggiano at Mercato Albinelli; the city's round flatbread with local pesto; a classic Modenese pasta dish at a historic restaurant in Piazza Grande; artisanal gelato; and the signature secret dish revealed only to tour guests. Two local wines are paired with the tastings, and non-alcoholic options are available.

Is the itinerary fixed, or can it change?

The itinerary and menu are subject to change based on the locations' availability, weather, and other circumstances. If you have dietary requirements, contact the operator in advance so they can accommodate you.

What is Mercato Albinelli?

Mercato Albinelli is Modena's historic covered market, founded in 1931 and home to around 65 stalls selling fresh local products. On the tour, you taste Parmigiano Reggiano and the city's traditional round flatbread there, and see how locals shop and eat in the market.

Can I bring a stroller or pram on this tour?

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants can sit on an adult's lap. However, the tour involves a fair amount of walking through narrow market aisles and historic squares, so a stroller may be difficult to maneuver in some areas.