Tucked between Bologna and Milan in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, Parma feels like Italy’s best-kept secret. This elegant northern Italian city is famous for Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma, but it serves up so much more.
So, is Parma worth visiting? 100% yes from me, but it may not be the perfect fit for every traveller. Here’s my honest lowdown.
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Ten Reasons Why I Love Parma
1. Parma is a small city with an understated elegance
Parma has a quiet sophistication that slowly grows on you.
This is not a city that shouts about its beauty. Its cobbled streets lined with ochre and terracotta buildings are effortlessly graceful without ever feeling showy.
2. It feels real
This is a city designed for locals first and visitors second, which gives it a lived-in quality that’s increasingly rare in popular Italian destinations. During the day, you’ll share the streets with residents going about their business, shopping for food and catching up over coffee.
The one downside is that at night, parts of the centro storico felt downright deserted. Whilst I loved the peaceful evenings, I’ll admit that if I’d been travelling solo, I might have found this slightly unnerving.
3. The Parmigiani are genuinely friendly
Some of my favourite moments weren’t at famous monuments but chatting with people. From the staff at the café where we had breakfast each morning, to the shopkeepers who were graciously patient with my ropey Italian, to the family who ran our aperitivo bar. These interactions added a personal dimension to my trip that I could never have planned for.
4. Parma is home to two of the most beautiful sacred sites in Italy
Parma Cathedral and its neighbouring Baptistery are architectural masterpieces.
Step inside the Duomo and look up at Correggio’s Assumption of the Virgin swirling across the dome, a Renaissance fresco that rivals anything in Rome or Florence. Parma’s octagonal baptistery, clad in pink Verona marble and decorated with intricate medieval carvings, is beautiful inside and out.
Parma Cathedral, Correggio’s dome
Parma Baptistery
5. The art collection in Palazzo della Pilotta
This sprawling Renaissance palace complex houses the Galleria Nazionale, an art collection that punches well above its weight. Works by Correggio, Parmigianino and other masters from the Parma School fill its rooms, yet you’ll rarely encounter crowds.
Your ticket for Palazzo della Pilotta includes admission to the jaw-dropping wooden Teatro Farnese.
Head of a Woman called “La Scapiliata”, Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1492-1501)- Madonna della Scala, Correggio (c. 1524)
6. It’s compact and walkable
It became a standing joke that everything was a five-minute walk from our wonderful hotel next to the Baptistery (Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati). But it was true.
Parma is so easy to navigate. No wasted time figuring out public transport.
You can stroll from the cathedral to Palazzo della Pilotta in ten minutes, then wander to an aperitivo across town without breaking a sweat. Works for me.
7. Food glorious food
Yes, I know everyone says this about Parma, but it bears repeating.
Tuck into anolini in brodo, stuffed pasta served in rich meat broth, or tortelli d’erbetta. Even a simple spread of culatello, prosciutto and local cheese, accompanied by a glass of lightly sparkling Lambrusco, tastes better here.
And Parmigiano Reggiano appears at every meal, from grated over pasta to chunks served with traditional balsamic vinegar as an appetiser.
Fi about to tuck into antipasti
Lambrusco
Anolini in brodo
Tortelli d’erbetta
8. Parma is a jumping-off point for tours of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma factories
Taking a half-day trip to watch Parmigiano Reggiano being made ranks among my most memorable Italian experiences.
I’ll never look at it in the same way again after witnessing enormous copper cauldrons of milk transformed into wheels of cheese, then walking through ageing rooms filled floor to ceiling with future Parmesan. Similarly, visiting a prosciutto producer and seeing legs of ham hanging in temperature-controlled rooms was fascinating.
As we didn’t have a car, we did this excellent tour with a local provider. I’ve written more about our Parmigiano cheese experience here.
9. It’s cheaper than other big cities in Northern Italy
Compared to Milan, Venice or even Bologna, Parma is refreshingly affordable.
Restaurant meals with wine were rarely more than €70-80 for two of us (we ate very well). Accommodation prices were considerably lower than in nearby cities.
€2.50 for a glass of Lambrusco? I’ll drink to that.
10. Parma attracts a fraction of tourists descending on hotspots like Florence
If you’ve paid a visit to Florence or Venice, you’ll know what I mean. Whilst I love both of these cities, the crowds can wear you down.
Walking through the Baptistery or Palazzo della Pilotta without queuing for tickets or swerving to avoid selfie sticks felt like a luxury.
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Why You Might Need to Think Twice
We spent a very chilled four days here, exploring the city’s main sights and taking a half-day trip to see how local cheese and ham are produced. Although it wasn’t an issue for us, by day four, we were struggling to identify more things to do in Parma. But we were happy taking it slowly, indulging in a spot of retail therapy and eating and drinking our way across town.
However, we are all different, and if you are the sort of traveller who likes to cram in as many experiences as possible or craves a buzzy nightlife, it may be a different story.
Parma doesn’t have endless museums or late-night entertainment. The evenings are quiet, with most locals heading home after dinner rather than bar-hopping until dawn. If that’s not you, hit the highlights on a day trip to Parma from Milan or Bologna instead.
Is Parma Worth Visiting?
For me, absolutely yes.
Parma delivers a slice of authentic Italian life wrapped up in world-class art, architecture and food. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and immerse yourself in Italian culture without the tourist circus, Parma should be high on your list.
Just don’t expect non-stop action, or you might find yourself wishing you’d allocated fewer days here.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.