Parma food tour with factory visits: Cheese, balsamic, prosciutto

Meet the makers behind Parma's three most famous foods

A 6-hour guided tour of Parma visiting small family-run factories that produce Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar and prosciutto, with lunch included and a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French. Hotel pickup is available on request, and the tour welcomes children from age one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Parma food producers and lunch

• Meet at arranged meeting point
• Visit cheese factory
• Visit balsamic vinegar factory
• Visit prosciutto factory
• Enjoy a delicious lunch

The Experience

You arrive in Parma with a free afternoon and no plan to eat. This tour solves that by taking you inside the workshops where the region's three signature products are actually made. You'll speak directly with the owners of small family operations, not watch from behind glass or read a placard. The itinerary covers all three: the cheese factory where Parmigiano Reggiano ages in wooden forms, the balsamic vinegar maker where the liquid sits in barrels for years, and the prosciutto producer where the ham hangs and cures. A live guide in your language walks you through each one and explains what you're seeing as it happens.

Lunch is built into the 6 hours, so you're not hunting for a restaurant afterward or eating on the run. Coffee and tea come along the way, and snacks appear between stops. The meeting point can be arranged to fit where you're staying, and if you need transport to get there, you can ask when you book. Infants and small children can come. Specialized seats are available if you're traveling with a baby, and strollers work on the route.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• snacks.
• coffee and tea.
• alcoholic beverages.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• hotel pickup on request.

Days and timesDaily · 08:30

AgesAges 6+ · 1 to 5 years — Free

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts3 pickup points to choose from.Meeting point, per the operator: “We will meet next to the restaurant, close to the motorway.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Food and Cooking with Laura

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to meet the actual owners and see how Parma's three most famous foods are made, rather than taste them in a restaurant or buy them in a shop. The 6-hour format with lunch built in works for a full free afternoon, and pickup from your hotel means you don't need to arrange transport yourself.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

161 verified traveler reviews

5 ★146

4 ★13

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

1 to 5 years, free.

What exactly happens at each factory on the Parma food tour?

At the Parmigiano Reggiano maker, you see how the cheese is formed and stored in wooden forms as it ages. The balsamic vinegar producer shows you the barrels where the liquid sits for years to develop its flavor. At the prosciutto facility, you watch how the ham is hung and cured. The owners explain the process at each stop, and you get to see the work as it actually happens inside the workshop.

Is transportation from my hotel included in the tour price?

Pickup is included if you request it when you book. You can arrange the meeting point directly with the guide to fit where you're staying, or you can meet at a location in Parma if you prefer to make your own way there.

How long is the tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs 6 hours total. The start time can be arranged with the guide when you book, so you can fit it into your schedule in Parma.

What's included in the tour price besides the factory visits?

Lunch is included, along with snacks, coffee and tea throughout the 6 hours. Alcoholic beverages are also part of the package. The live guide in your chosen language is included, and pickup from your hotel is available on request.