Parma Food Valley: Parmigiano & Prosciutto Tasting Tour

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Italian08:30

Guide in English or Italian08:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Two Hours in Parma's Cheese & Ham Heartland

You visit a working Parmigiano-Reggiano factory and a family Prosciutto di Parma producer, taste both products straight from the source, and learn why these specific hills produce the world's versions. A professional local guide handles the route and timing, transport is included, and the whole experience fits into a half-day without feeling rushed. Book with any dietary requirements noted in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Parmigiano-Reggiano and Prosciutto

• Visit Parmigiano-Reggiano producer
• Learn cheese making process
• Taste Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• Visit family-run Prosciutto di Parma factory
• Discover ham production and climate
• Taste Prosciutto di Parma ham

The Experience

You step out of the car and the smell hits first, not sharp, but deep and warm, like a room where something real has been aging for years. That's the Parmigiano-Reggiano factory, and you're about to walk into the exact process that's been happening the same way since Benedictine monks figured it out ten centuries ago. Your guide (someone who actually knows these producers, not just the script) walks you through the copper heaters where the curds get stirred by hand, then the salting, then into what they call the wheel cathedrals, those endless rows of aging cheese stacked floor to ceiling. It's not a museum. People are working. And at the end, you taste it straight from the source, which tastes nothing like what you've had before.

After that, you're heading to a family-run ham factory for the Prosciutto di Parma PDO part. This is where the marino wind matters. It actually blows from the Ligurian Sea through the river valley, and that specific wind is why the best ham can only come from these hills. Your guide explains why as you walk through, and then you're tasting it, and you understand why people get particular about where their ham comes from. The whole thing is a half-day, so you're not exhausted, but you've seen how two of the world's most famous foods actually get made, not just read about them.

Transport is handled. You get picked up in an air-conditioned car with a driver, so you're not navigating or parking or figuring out timing. Bottled water and beverages are included. One thing to know: because these are artisanal operations, not industrial ones, the working cycle doesn't repeat the same way every day, so you might not see craftsmen actively at work at every stop, but the factories still run, and the tastings still happen. The tour provider will send you the exact itinerary before you go, so there are no surprises on the day.

What’s included

Your half-day includes a professional local guide who knows the producers, visits to an authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO factory and a family-run Prosciutto di Parma PDO producer, tastings of both products, bottled water and beverages throughout, and air-conditioned transport with a driver (if the car and driver option is selected). The tour provider will send you the confirmed itinerary before your departure date.

Days and timesDaily · 08:30

AgesAges 12+ · 4 to 11 years · Under 4 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts36 pickup points to choose from.Meeting point, per the operator: “PLEASE NOTE!!! If you selfdrive, the meeting point could change, so PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH VIATOR (even in your spam box): you will receive a mai…”

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by FOOD VALLEY TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see how Parmigiano and Prosciutto actually get made without spending a full day arranging separate visits. The guide, transport and timing are all handled, so you step straight into the production floor and taste the real thing.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

4 to 11 years. Under 4: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

How long is the Parma Food Valley tour?

It's a half-day experience, typically around 4–5 hours including transport and tastings.

Do I need to arrange my own transport?

No. Air-conditioned transport with a driver is included if you select the car and driver option. Public transportation is also available nearby if you prefer.

Will I see people actually making the cheese and ham?

You'll visit working factories, but because production is artisanal and not industrial, the craftsmen may not be actively working at every stop. The tour provider will confirm the schedule before your departure date.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Let the tour provider know at booking. They can advise on the tastings and adjust if needed.

What's included in the price?

Professional local guide, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma tastings, bottled water, beverages, and air-conditioned transport (if the car and driver option is selected).

Can the itinerary change?

Yes, the specific factories may change for availability reasons, but similar producers will be substituted. The tour provider sends the final itinerary before departure.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

It's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace is easy and involves walking through factories and tasting areas.