Modena food tour: Tortellini, balsamic & local guide

A full meal on foot, one Modenese dish at a time

A three-hour walking food tour through Modena led by a local guide who stops at four restaurants and food sites to serve you tortellini, balsamic vinegar, fried crescentine, and gelato: the equivalent of a complete meal. The guide speaks English and Italian, shares the history behind each dish, and keeps groups small so everyone gets personal attention. Water and at least one alcoholic drink are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Modena food and cultural walking tour

• Begin at Modena's main square
• Pass by Albinelli Market
• Taste local cold cuts platter
• Enjoy Modenese tortellini tasting
• Visit Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini
• Eat crescentine modenesi with cold cuts
• Taste traditional balsamic vinegar
• Have creamy gelato near Piazza Roma

The experience

The tour starts in Modena's central square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then moves through the Albinelli Market. A covered market that is a national monument, lined with stalls of fresh produce and local specialties. From there you walk to your first tasting stop, where you eat Modenese tortellini, the delicate pasta parcels filled with meat and cheese that define the city's food identity. The guide explains what makes them different from tortellini elsewhere and why they matter to locals.

Your second stop lands in Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, where you taste crescentine modenesi: savory fried dough pockets served with local cold cuts. The square itself is part of the experience: historic buildings and local life happening around you while you eat. From there the tour takes you to taste Modena's balsamic vinegar, the one product the city is known for worldwide. You learn how it is made and what the age and color tell you about its flavor. The final stop is gelato near Piazza Roma, made from local ingredients, eaten in the elegant surroundings of the square.

The guide is a local foodie who speaks both English and Italian during the tour, so you get context and stories for each dish: why it exists, how it is made, what it means in Modena's food culture. Groups stay small, which means the guide can answer questions and adjust the pace. Water is included throughout. At least one alcoholic drink comes with the tour. By the end of three hours, you will have eaten the equivalent of a full meal without having to plan stops or make reservations yourself.

What’s included

• English-speaking local guide who shares the history and stories behind each dish.
• water throughout the tour.
• at least one alcoholic drink.
• four food tastings at different stops that together make up a full meal (tortellini, crescentine with cold cuts, balsamic vinegar, and gelato).

Options for this experience

2 options

Traditional Modena Food Tour, an experience by Do Eat BetterGuide in English or Italian · Available from 2 Jan 2027

Modena Food Tour with a Drink CardGuide in English or Italian · Available from 2 Jan 2027Drink card with a special option: at least 3 alcoholic drinks, with a choice of wine, beer or other drinks (18+ only)

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Jan 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Do Eat Better Experience

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to eat a real meal while learning Modena's food culture from someone who lives there, rather than eating small samples at a restaurant table. The walking pace and small group size let you ask questions and linger at each stop without feeling rushed.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What exactly do I eat on the Modena food tour?

You taste Modenese tortellini at the first stop, crescentine modenesi (fried dough with cold cuts) at the second, balsamic vinegar at the third, and gelato at the fourth: four tastings that add up to a full meal. The guide explains each dish and its place in Modena's food tradition.

How long does the Modena food tour take?

The tour lasts three hours from start to finish, including all four food stops and the walking between them through the historic center.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay extra for?

The tour includes the local guide, water throughout, at least one alcoholic drink, and all four food tastings. Gratuities are not included. The three purchase options vary in what drinks are offered. The standard tour includes one drink, while the Drink Card option gives you more.

What is the Albinelli Market, and why do we stop there?

The Albinelli Market is a covered market in Modena's historic center and a national monument. It is lined with stalls of fresh local produce and traditional delicacies, so it gives you a glimpse into the city's culinary heritage and the ingredients that define Modenese cooking.