Modena Tours
Visit Modena
Modena is one of the hidden gems of northern Italy. Unlike the nearby and much more crowded Bologna, Venice and Florence, Modena is mostly unknown outside Italy. And it is precisely for this reason that the city of Modena can still offer an authentic and tranquil experience of the Italian dream of the dolce vita. Its arcaded streets and bars are not packed with tourists like the streets of Venice, on the contrary, the atmosphere in Modena's historic centre is relaxed and convivial. The fact that the city is off the mass tourist routes can also be seen in the prices. Generally less expensive than cities with a high tourist flow. This obviously makes it a popular destination for slow tourism itineraries.
The city of luxury fast cars and excellent traditional food
The city of Modena is definitely worth a visit. To help you plan your trip to Modena we have prepared three detailed guides on what not to miss in Modena. Here are our guides and travel tips about activities and attractions not to be missed in Modena:
This small city in northern Italy will leave you speechless. In the historical center, you can visit some UNESCO heritage buildings such as the Ghirlandina Tower and the cathedral of Modena. It is therefore the perfect destination for all lovers of art and architecture. You should also plan enough time not to miss the exhibitions in the numerous museums scattered around the city.
Modena is known for its great gastronomic tradition. Modena is located in the center of the Food Valley, an area also known as the belly of Italy. Typical Modenese dishes such as tortellini, gnocco fritto or cotechino are one of the reasons why you should definitely visit Modena at least once in your life. This makes Modena the perfect tourist destination for any lover of good food.
Modena is also located at the center of Motor Valley. It is therefore the perfect starting point for an itinerary to discover the world's most famous and most iconic automotive brands.
Modena 📍
Modena is a medium-small sized city located in the Emilia Romagna region, in northern Italy.
It is situated south of Milan and Venice and north of Florence. It is also only about 40 km from the capital city of Emilia Romagna, the neighboring city of Bologna. Modena is the capital of the homonymous province in the region of Emilia Romagna.
The city is located between the flourishing valley Pianura Padana - an area particularly important for Italian industry and agriculture and the foot of the northern slopes of the Apennines, the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano. In this area, the conoids of the Panaro and Secchia rivers meet. For this reason, the city of Modena is located in a particularly fortunate spot for food production and rich in natural wonders such as the lakes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park (Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino tosco emiliano).
The best travel tips and useful information to plan your trip to Modena 🗺️
Below you will find some useful information to help you plan your trip to Modena. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions:
-
-
-
-
-
1. How many days does it take to visit Modena?
In many travel blogs, the city of Modena is described as a destination that can be visited in just one day. From our experience, we would strongly contradict this.
Obviously, if you are short of time, you can also do just a quick stop to Modena and spend some hours in its beautiful historic center. However, the best option to get the most out of this city would be to plan at least one weekend in Modena.
Three days is in our opinion the minimum to be able to visit the historic center and explore the surrounding area. For example, you can take part in activities unique to this province, such as a visit or lunch at a Balsamic Vinegar of Modena vinegar factory or a visit to Maranello.
If you prefer a slightly more relaxed pace of travel and want to be inspired by one of the capitals of slow-food and slow tourism, we assure you that you can spend as many as 10 days in the province of Modena without getting bored!
2. How much does a trip to Modena cost?
The cost of a trip to Modena obviously depends on the means of transport you have to take to get there, which can affect your travel budget, but also on how you want to stay. But we have good news, Modena is not a particularly expensive city. In fact, compared to other Italian cities such as Milan, Venice or nearby Bologna, the prices are here very moderate. And most importantly, there are few tourist traps. So you don't have to worry too much, because the prices you are going to pay are generally the local prices.
Affordable travel destination:
For those who want to plan a fairly inexpensive trip, there are many possibilities to find affordable accommodation and restaurants in Modena. Both in the city centre and in the surrounding countryside there are numerous accommodations such as flats or cheap B&Bs. Obviously if you book your trip in periods away from festivities such as Christmas and Easter or during the summer holidays, in 'low season' periods you will have a better chance of finding favorable offers.
Luxury vacation:
Nevertheless, Modena is also the perfect destination for lovers of luxury and dolce vita holidays. For those who want to be pampered by the excellence of Emilia Romagna, we recommend staying in establishments that reflect the true spirit of Modena, visiting the Motor Valley and embarking on a journey to discover the culinary specialities of the region such as the famous black gold of Modena - the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Absolutely the perfect tourist destination for those who dream of luxury gourmet food tours and blazing red Ferraris.
3. What is the best mode of transportation for traveling in Modena?
Visiting Modena on foot:
To visit the historic center of Modena you will not necessarily need a car or use public transportation, because Modena is a human-scale city where everything can be conveniently reached on foot. It is a perfect example of a walkable city.
Visiting Modena by car:
If you plan to discover the picturesque landscapes and villages surrounding the city, it is advisable to have a car at your disposal. Some experiences that the area around Modena offers, such as a hike in the Modenese Apennines or a visit to an acetaia, may be more difficult and require more planning if you do not have a car at your disposal. This is not to say that arriving by car is strictly necessary to reach the city; equally viable options are renting a car locally or booking a tour by bus.
Visiting Modena by bike:
For those who want to discover the city of Modena by bicycle, we recommend two bike-sharing services:
C'Entro In Bici
A free bicycle rental service made possible by the City of Modena in 2003. It is still the most popular bike-sharing service in Modena and has a total of 312 bicycles distributed in 42 pick-up points.
To take advantage of the service, it is necessary to fill out a registration form at IAT the Tourist Information Office and pay a deposit of 20 euros to receive a key to be able to pick up the bicycles from the appropriate stations located throughout the city center. At the end of the period of use, you will receive the deposit upon return of the keys.
Bicycles can be utiliyyed daily from 7:00 a.m. to midnight.
Information and opening hours of the IAT Tourist Information Office of Modena (IAT Ufficio di Iinformazione e Accoglienza Turistica di Modena)
Address:
Piazza Grande, 14 - 41124 Modena
Tel.: 059 203 26 60
Fax: 059 203 26 59
Email: info@visitmodena.it
Mo. - Sa.: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
For more information see the dedicated page at http://www.unesco.modena.it/it/organizza-la-tua-visita/link-servizi/noleggio-bici
A Flusso Libero
Through the Moovas Tribe app, which is available for both IOS and Android, you can sign up for the A Flusso Libero service and see where your nearest bike is. Unlike C'Entro In Bici, as revealed by the name itself-A Flusso Libero-is a free floating bicycle rental service. Thus, bicycles are scattered around the city and do not have to be returned to a specific station after use, but simply parked after use.
Costs vary depending on usage:
- A single ride costs 0.90 Euro per 15 minutes
- Rental for 8 hours costs 14 Euro
- Rental for 30 days costs 25 Euro
4. Which are the best accommodations and hotels in Modena?
One piece of advice we feel like giving you is to stay in one of the many Agriturismi or villas in the countryside surrounding Modena. Often these farmhouses, in addition to offering local products and cuisine, also offer a B&B service. By staying in one of these cottages, you will not only have the opportunity to be immersed in the nature and territory surrounding the city but also to fully experience typical Modenese hospitality.
The best hotels and B&B in Modena
- Massimo Bottura's Casa Maria Luigia
The B&B Casa Maria Luigia has been conceived by Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura and his wife, Lara Gilmorethe to offer a complete experience to tourists coming to visit Modena. They offer visitors hospitality and typical Modenese cuisine. According to an article of the Financial Times this is perhaps the best B&B in the world. It is located in a renovated 18th century villa in the Modenese countryside, which includes a restaurant and a "acetaia" - a cellar for traditional balsamic vinegar.
- La Casa di Valeria
At Casa di Valeria you can stay amidst the vineyards of the Modenese countryside and is very close to the 'Oasi Vivinatura Lagosele'. A perfect place to undertake activities in the midst of nature, especially for children.
- Hotel Rua Frati 48 in San Francesco
The luxurious 5-star hotel Rua Frati 48 is located in the historic center of Modena, in a palazzo lovingly restored to the smallest detail. This hotel is the perfect accommodation for those who want the ultimate in comfort and luxury for their stay in Modena.
- B&B Salotto Delle Arti
Salotto Delle Arti is an elegant and sophisticated B&B located in the Palazzo Montagnani, at Rua del Muro 86 in the heart of Modena.
- B&B QuartoPiano
The welcoming B&B QuartoPiano will make you feel a home. For the ones who prefere staying in an individual flat in the city center the B&B QuartoPiano also offers an apartment above the roofs of Modena.
- B&B Stella21
Stella21 is a bed and breakfast located in front of the renomated restaurant Osteria Francescana. Stella21 offers an entire apartment, characterized by a modern and comfortable style.
Travel to Modena ✈️
5. What is the best way to get to Modena?
Obviously, this is a very subjective question, as it depends very much on the type of trip you are planning. So here we have collected all the information you will need to plan your trip whether you want to reach Modena by car, train, plane or even bike!
Reaching Modena by car
Reaching the city of Modena by car is very easy, you can take the highway Autostrada A1 and exit at one of the two exits: exit Modena Nord, 5 km from the city center, or exit Modena Sud, 10 km from the city center. The city of Modena is at the end of the A22 Brenner highway.
Parking in Modena:
When arriving in Modena by car, it is important to be careful because, as in many Italian cities, the city center is delimited by the ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato), a restricted traffic zone.
Only vehicles with a special permit, for example residents, can enter the restricted traffic zone. This restriction in the city center is in place 24 hours a day, so it is not possible for tourists to enter the city by car. Tourists with foreign vehicles are also not exempt from ZTL penalties and can be fined.
Here is a list of car parks near the city center where you can leave your car during your trip to Modena:
Free parking near the center of Modena
You can leave your car in one of the following free car parks and then walk to the historic center in a few minutes.
- Parking Piazzale Tien An Men
Free parking with 490 spaces in the area of the Alberto Braglia stadium, close to the centre and Modena station.
Piazza Giovani di Tien An Men, 41123 Modena MO, Italien
- Parking Zona Ex-AMCM
The Ex-Amcm car park (old Teatro delle Passioni car park) is free and offers 549 spaces. It is currently closed for redevelopment work.
Via Antonio Peretti, 9, 41124 Modena MO, Italien
Park and Ride: Free interchange car parks
You can leave your car in free interchange car parks located in areas slightly away from the centre and then continue towards the centre of Modena by public transport.
- Free car park Parco Ferrari, Ex-Darsena in Via Emilia Ovest
- Free parking in Via Gottardi
- Free parking Polo Leonardo in Via Leonardo da Vinci
- Free Parking at the north gate of the train station Porta Nord in Via Manfredo Fanti
- Free parking Piazzale Manzoni, near the small train station
Paying car parks near the center of Modena
- Parking Parcheggio del Centro
The Centro car park is guarded and open 24 hours a day, accommodates 1720 parking spaces (including 342 garages and 58 parking spaces assigned or to be assigned with surface rights) and is two storeys below ground level.
Viale Achille Fontanelli, 18, 41124 Modena MO, Italien
The car park is reserved exclusively for passenger cars and not for motorbikes or motorbikes.
- Parking Piazzale Sant'Agostino
This car park is probably the closest to the historic centre. For this reason it can sometimes be difficult to find a space. On Sundays parking at Piazzale Sant'Agostino is free.
Largo Porta Sant'Agostino, 331, 41121 Modena MO, Italien
- Piazza Dante Alighieri
The parking next to the central station.
Piazza Dante Alighieri, 29, 41121 Modena MO, Italien
- Parking Ex-MOI, Parcheggio ex Mercato Ortofrutticolo via Borelli
Via Vincenzo Borelli, 90, 41121 Modena MO, Italien
- Parking in Zona Viali and Novi Sad Modena
Reaching Modena by train
The city of Modena is very well-connected to the railway network and can be conveniently reached by train. The central Modena station can be reached either by regional or intercity trains or by high-speed trains such as Italo, Freccia Rossa and Freccia Argento.
By taking a regional train you can comfortably reach Modena from neighboring cities such as Bologna, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Forlì, Mantova, Florence or Ravenna. If you plan to make a stop in Modena from a more distant city, we recommend inquiring about high-speed trains on the official Italo or Trenitalia website. Although tickets can be conveniently made online, we recommend booking them a little in advance. The best direct connections via high-speed trains are: Bologna - Modena, Milan - Modena, Rome - Modena and Naples - Modena.
If you are interested in spending a weekend discovering the city and its historic center, it is a very convenient choice not to arrive by car but to arrive by train and eventually travel there by public transport. As the historic center of Modena is absolutely on a human scale, you can also move around the center on foot.
Moreover, in Italy's historic city centers, there are rather strict rules regarding private vehicle traffic, especially for non-residents. Tourists entering the city center by car are therefore advised to pay particular attention to the restricted traffic zones (ZTL) marked by the typical white background sign with a red circle in the center. Otherwise, it is advisable to park the car in a side street and reach the historic center on foot.
Reaching Modena by plane
For those planning to reach Modena from further afield and thus arrive by plane, the closest airport to Modena is Bologna's Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ), which operates both domestic and international flights. Guglielmo Marconi Airport can be easily reached from Modena
- by car (in about 40 minutes)
- by train and Marconi Express train from Bologna central station to the airport (in 45 minutes with a regional train and 35 with a high-speed train)
- by shuttle service from Bologna airport to Modena central station (in 50 minutes)
Reaching Modena by bicycle
For those who intend to reach Modena by bicycle, we have good news: the province of Modena is one of the provinces with the most cycle paths in Italy.
Among the best known cycle paths for discovering the area around the city of Modena or for reaching Modena from nearby cities, we recommend:
- Ciclabile Modena - Vignola (Modena - Vignola cycle path) is a 28 km route surrounded by nature, which will lead you to the beautifuly city of Vignola. The city is well known for its delicious cherries.
- Ciclovia del Sole (in English "Sun Cycle Path") from Mirandola to Bologna
- Ciclovia del Secchia is the cycle path beside the river Secchia, which you can ride from Campogalliano to Mantua.
For the more adventurous and nature lovers you can find the best cycling routes around Modena on komoot.
