Taste of Italy, Emilia Romagna Culinary Cycling - 8 days
Bike - Self-Guided Tour
Overview
A traveler favorite among our Classic tours line-up, you'll ride through Italy's premier pasta (and foodie) region, where you can delight on extraordinary local dishes made according to tradition. Every day of pedaling takes you on unique experiences and behind-the-scenes visits, like a family-run parmesan cheese producer or a historical balsamic vinegar mill and cellar. Cycle through picturesque medieval towns, elegant cities and world heritage UNESCO sites, and countryside scenery that reminds of nearby Tuscany (but without the crowds!). Not just about the food, Emilia-Romagna offers its rich history, art, culture and traditions, all conspiring to make this an unforgettable tour!
Highlights
- Bologna's cold cuts and colorful arches
- Modena, balsamic vinegar cellar visit
- Gelato Museum and tasting!
- Sleep in an agriturismo farm estate
- Parmegiano-Reggiano dairy farm visit
- Castle of Torrechiara
- Parma's famous cured ham
Daily itinerary
Day 1 Day 1 - Bologna welcome
Highlights: The Red City and its marvelous porticoes and alleways
Check in to the centrally located hotel in Bologna, enjoy the views of the old town from the charming rooftop terrace, and get yourself situated. Bologna today is Emilia-Romagna's administrative capital and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, the city boasts its rich history and long tradition in the arts and gastronomy. Bologna gave birth to the mortadella, vulgarly distorted abroad as "bologna", although the fresh, artisanal mortadella has nothing to do with processed ham! Make sure you put this culinary delight on your 'must try' list!
After meeting our staff at the starting hotel for a tour briefing and bike fitting (normally in the early afternoon), you are ready to go! We recommend getting out to explore this afternoon and check out our suggested dinner locations!
Accommodation: Hotel Touring, or similar
Day 2 Day 2 - Bologna to Modena
Highlights: Rails-to-trails bike paths, Bazzano, World Heritage Site of historic Modena
Leave Bologna on its city bike paths to get to the foot hills of the Apennine Mountains, where great views reward you as you approach Bazzano. A rails-to-trails bike path in the countryside will then take you all the way to Modena. Don't forget to visit the historic town center of this city with the marble covered cathedral and its Ghirlandina bell tower.
Daily distance: 64 km (40 miles)
Elevation gain: +253 m (830 ft)
Terrain type: Mostly Flat
Accommodation: Hotel Canalgrande, or similar.
Day 3 Day 3 - Modena to Castelvetro loop ride
Highlights: Explore Modena; optional loop ride on the hills
Take time to explore Modena today by climbing up the bell tower or visiting the Palace of the Duchy. Alternatively, enjoy a ride to the foothills of the Apennines along quiet roads and bicycle lanes. Visit the picturesque town of Castelvetro with its fortified historical center and balsamic vinegar production. If you are a car fan, Modena is the home of Ferrari and other historical brands so there are museums and exhibitions you can indulge in!
Daily distance: 60 km (37 miles)
Elevation gain: +393 m (1289 ft)
Terrain type: Rolling Hills
Accomodation: Hotel Canalgrande or similar.
Day 4 Day 4 - Cycle the Reggio Emilia countryside
Highlights: Modena's covered street market, Balsamic vinegar, stay in an agriturismo
Before heading out of Modena on your bike, we suggest a visit of the local covered market that has been selling local products since the Middle Ages: fruits and vegetables, but also gourmet selections of Lambrusco wine, Amaretti cookies, truffles, cheese and Prosciutto, and of course traditional balsamic vinegar. With your senses alight by the sounds, sights and smells, you will visit the lovely Acetaia Cavalli estate, where the family has been producing the highest quality balsamic for over a hundred years. An easy ride today will lead you along back roads to tonight’s very special stay - an "agriturismo" country house estate with a working farm, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar production, vineyards and winery, and more, within a wonderful natural setting.
Daily distance: 48 km (30 miles)
Elevation gain: +214 m (702 ft)
Terrain type: Mostly Flat
Accommodation: Agriturismo La Razza, or similar.
Day 5 Day 5 - Reggio Emilia loop ride on the hills
Highlights: Canossa Castle ruins or city of Reggio Emilia
Head for the hills today on a ride to Canossa Castle ruins, where the Holy Roman Empire Emperor Henry 4th had to show penance to the Pope, waiting in the snow barefoot at the gate of Matilda's castle for three days before Matilda, countess of Canossa, convinced the Pope to open. Alternatively, for a shorter loop ride follow the bike path to Reggio Emilia for a visit of this bustling, pretty town.
Short option: Daily distance: 35 km (21 miles) - Elevation gain: +236 m (774 ft) - Terrain type: mostly flat
Long option: Daily distance: 56 km (35 miles) - Elevation gain: +906 m (2972 ft) - Terrain type: hilly
Accommodation: Agriturismo La Razza, or similar.
Day 6 Day 7 - Torrechiara Castle loop ride
Highlights: Lovely ride in the hills near Parma and the castle of Torrechiara and lunch with a view; explore Parma
Get ready for your last day of bicycling amidst ancient castles and local traditions! Today's ride will loop to the breathtaking Torrechiara Castle. Dominating the Val Parma, the castle was constructed between 1448 and 1460, devised as an instrument of defense as well as a distinguished home for the count and his lover. This area is famous for its cured prosciutto and local salame—taste them in this historic setting!
Daily distance: 49 km (30 miles)
Elevation gain: +355m (1165 ft)
Terrain type: Rolling Hills
Accommodation: Hotel Button, or similar.
Day 7 Day 8 - Tour ends in Parma - arrivederci!
Highlights: World Heritage Site of Parma
Your cycling tour ends in Parma. Enjoy this lovely city in the morning - with your newly refined palate, hit the shop or market and take some recipes home to try in your own kitchen!
PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability.
Difficulty description
Perfect for cyclists who prefer shorter distances and mostly flat riding. Bike paths along rivers or rails-to-trails, and quiet country roads. Some of the bike paths are on hard packed dirt roads or levees. Loop days will bring you into the lower hills, with some short climbs.
Visit our Tour difficulty level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.
Map
What's included
- 7 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
- All breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Guided visit of artisanal parmesan factory
- Guided visit and tasting at family-run balsamic vinegar mill
- All Classic self-guided tour inclusions
Optional activities
- Cooking classes available in various tour locations! Organized by Le Cesarine, experts in Italian culinary experiences. You will be hosted by a local at their home - your "Cesarina" - in a class that lasts about three hours, during which you will help the Cesarina prepare three courses. In the fourth and final hour, you will enjoy the meal (lunch or dinner) which you prepared during the class. Water and one bottle of house wine for every 3 people are included.
Dates and availability
This tour is available between March 1 and October 31
Starts every Sunday. Other start days available by request (extra fee applies). Please note that starting on certain days of the week will make some visits impossible (such as museums or tastings).
2025 confirmed departures
April 2, 11,
May 15, 21,30
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Don't have 8 days? Our shorter version of this tour still offers great cycling and all the highlights: Taste of Italy 5-day self-guided tour.
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Tour Code: itbs4006
Prices
Low season: €1370
2025 dates: Mar 1 - Apr 31; Jun 16 - Aug 31; Oct 15-31
High season: €1470
2025 dates: May 1 – Jun 15; Sep 1 - Oct 15
Prices per person, based on double occupancy; minimum 2 participants per departure.
Single supplement: €355 (in double room for single use).
Solo traveler departures: €685 (only one person on the departure). Includes the single/double room supplement and a GPS unit with the pre-loaded routes.
Lodging upgrades & extra nights are available: please inquire.
City hotel tax not included in tour package (2 to 5 euro per night per person, to be paid locally by traveler).
* due to the 2025 Rome Jubilee, some cities may charge a higher per night tax
GPS device rental, as well as a printed roadbook, are available at an optional extra fee:
- GPS device rental: €50
- Printed roadbook: €45 (second copy of printed roadbook €15)
See the What's Included section for details on included navigation tools
Group Discounts are available for participants booking together on the same departure! Please inquire!
For more ways to save, see our discounts and promotions page.
Bike rental
We offer quality bikes in different styles, all great options for this bike tour. Our bikes are maintained and delivered in optimal working condition. The prices below are per bike for the duration of the tour, including delivery to starting point in Bologna and collection from ending point in Parma.
Bike rental rates
Aluminum hybrid: €160
Premium Titanium road or hybrid: €200
Touring E-bike (hybrid with straight handlebar): €280
Tandem: €295 (priced per bike, for 2 cyclists)
Tag-along or kid trailer: €80
Bike rental insurance is available for purchase with all our rental bikes – see details in the Bike Rental Insurance section of our Terms and Conditions page.
For detailed specs and photos of our bikes, see our website - Bike Rentals Italy.
Trip planning
Starting point
Starting point: Hotel Touring- Via De' Mattuiani, 1/2 Bologna
We recommend flying into Bologna Airport G.Marconi (BLQ).
Options for getting to the starting hotel:
- The Marconi Express monorail connects the Bologna airport to the central train station. The trip is 7 minutes long, and it runs every 7 minutes approximately.
- Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the Bologna Airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfer: If you prefer a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, please inquire for costs and availability, and we can add this service to your tour package.
Long-Term Parking: If you are driving to Bologna, a private and secure parking lot is available at the airport. You can leave your car there and take a direct return train from Parma at the end of the tour.
Meeting Time for self-guided tours: Typically, the meeting time is between 2 PM and 4 PM. We recommend you plan arriving with plenty of time to avoid any late fees that may apply for late arrivals. More details can be found on our terms page.
Final Arrival and Departure Instructions: Detailed pre-travel documents, including your actual hotel details (which may vary from those listed), as well as exact meeting time, will be sent via email before your departure.
Ending point
Ending point: Hotel Button – Borgo della Salina, 7 Parma
You can fly out from Bologna Airport G.Marconi (BLQ), which is connected to Parma by train.
Options for getting away from the ending hotel:
- The hotel is located about 1 km from the train station. Take a 5-minute taxi ride to the train station or take a bus (ask at the hotel front desk for help). There are several direct trains connecting Parma to Bologna and the train ride takes about an hour. The cost varies depending on the type of train
- From Bologna Centrale train station to the Bologna airport, you can catch the Marconi Express monorail or a taxi (see “Arrival information” section above for details)
Private Airport Transfers: If you prefer a private transfer from the ending hotel, please inquire for costs, and we can add this service to your tour package.
Final Arrival and Departure Instructions: Detailed pre-travel documents, including your actual hotel details (which may vary from those listed), will be sent via email before your departure.
Photo gallery
Customer reviews
Click to read past traveler reviews
Great way to see the Emilia-Romagna region. Provides a more purposeful experience and allows you to slow down and take in the sights. Good balance of adventure, effort, and enjoyment. My favourite part: The countryside bike ride to the castles from the agriturismo stay near Reggio Emilia. Loved getting off the busy roads and out in the country. The views were beautiful and it was so peaceful.
- Katheleen B. (Spain, 2023)
It was a really fun trip. The suggestions and history on the towns was very good. Nice hotels with good breakfasts. Great bikes, would use Cycle Europe again.
- Ruth B. (USA, 2023)
Overall, I thought it was an excellent tour.
- Christine P. (USA, 2023)
The countryside riding was a joyful experience. There were some not so easy loops for those who are not experienced riders. (Heads up!) There were always good places to stop along the way for lunch/drinks. We did sometimes find the traffic tricky getting out of bigger cities. A must-do to escape the touristy places of Italy.
- Anon. (2023)
Really appreciated the excellent hotels and the excellent quality of the bikes. Thank you for a wonderful trip!
- Phil H. (USA, 2023)
Great bike ride with some great friends (group of 15). We cycled through small towns, farmland, and vineyards. We were always surrounded with friendly Italian people, even the drivers passing by drove carefully. The bicycles (mostly E-bikes) were very nice. The tour was easy riding with mostly flat roads. The food and vine were delicious. All the hotels were nice. I highly recommend this tour for a first-time bike tour. Everything was first rate from the pre-trip planning and communication with Sara to the bike fitting, bikes, route, and sights to see along the way. Loved every minute. I think I'm going to start learning Italian:-)
- Brynja J. (Iceland, 2023)
My favorite – the cycling. And, we very much enjoyed the balsamic vinegar tour and the parmigiano Reggiano tour. Also, Sara was extremely helpful and knowledgeable in the trip preparation in a most timely fashion and quickly responded to any questions. Also very flexible. She's great!
- Grace F. (USA, 2022)
So much fun and easy on my e-bike. Thank you for your fabulously efficient service. We send an email asking a question about a dinner and immediately received an phone call in our hotel room to explain the details. Over and above and such a nice touch. We definitely would like to do another tour.
- Chery T. (Australia, 2019)
Extremely well organized with quality, friendly accommodations and top notch equipment. The bikes were phenomenal. The luggage transfers and logistics were flawless.
- Jane K, (USA, 2019)
Excellent routes and GPS mapping information. All of the hotels were good to very good. I like the towns we visited. Stephania and Giovani were a pleasure to work with. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. I hope to see them on my next trip.
- Anonymous traveller (2019)
So much fun and easy on my e-bike. Thank you for your fabulously efficient service. We send an email asking a question about a dinner and immediately received an phone call in our hotel room to explain the details. Over and above and such a nice touch. We definitely would like to do another tour.
- Chery T. (Australia, 2019)
We have gone on the amazing Taste of Italy tour this spring and the experience was awesome. The staff was friendly and very helpful all time. The quality of the bikes are excellent, perfect for the long rides from Bologna to Parma. The restaurants, the cooking class, the visits to the gelato factory, the acetaia and the cheese makes allow us to dive in the italian culture and gastronomy. Great company!! Thanks Cycle Europe for the great vacation!!
- Sandra P. (Brazil, 2019)
Great service Started with a very helpful briefing We really appreciated the tour which you specifically tailored for our requirements.
- David R. (Australia, 2018)
This was our first cycle tour. We chose to bring our own bikes and he offered gear that we could use on the tour. We found having the combination of the gps and written detailed instructions were perfect together for getting around. My husband and I really enjoyed the tours (cooking class, balsamic vinegar & cheese making fun and fascinating). The hotels were great. Our first hotel was different then what is on the list due to the original was booked full. The tour company sent us the website of the optional hotel for us to approve of. The new B&B people were very helpful and the room was a nice size studio. The Cycle Europe had booked different types of lodgings, B&B, Hotels and a farm hotel, which we enjoyed the variety. We would of loved to had an extra night at the farm hotel. The locations of the other hotels were in the old town of the cities. I would recommend this tour to anyone who asked us for a recommendation.
- Carla M. (2018)
We found the trip to be amazingly well organized with the tours, hotels, and the bike set-up at the first hotel, allowing us to relax and enjoy the sights and experiences. I appreciated the detailed instructions and the maps that were included. The hotels were excellent, it was so nice to always be in the historic part of the cities. The tours were amazing, fascinating, and informative and added depth to our exploration of this region of Italy.
- Ellen K. (USA, 2018)
Hotel Touring was terrific. Great staff. Great rooftop bar. "Based on this experience with Cycle Europe on a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the company?" 10
- Marilyn S. (USA, 2018)
All the hotels were excellent. "What was your favorite experience on this trip?" Tough to decide between the cooking class (Davide was great, and we had him to ourselves); the acetaia and the caseificio.
- Laurence S. (USA, 2018)
We did a self-guided tour, biking from Ravenna to Bologna. Everything worked out exceedingly well and we were extremely pleased.
- Jennifer G. (USA, 2017)
All hotels were above expectation, your recommendation on restaurants was excellent. All so helpful with the storage of the bikes which gave us peace of mind. Cooking Class was excellent. We enjoyed the experience and hope that we are still able to participate in another trip in a couple of years.
- Peter M. (Australia, 2016)
The route notes provided as much detail as possible. Your bikes were good quality and the mechanic that explained them was very helpful. We loved the hotel and location in Bologna. Nice. The cooking Demonstration was a lot of fun too. The food at the restaurant you picked was very good and traditional. We enjoyed it. CanalGrande in Modena was pretty good too. We liked the location very much.The tour of the gelato place was very interesting. We didn''t expect much but they did a good job. The Acetaia we visited was one of favorite stops. The lady hosting us was very nice. They gave us an amazing lunch that we didn''t expect. Really enjoyed that stop. Thanks for a very nice trip.
- Phillip A. (USA, 2016)
I experienced the tour and was absolutely amazing. I really want to thank you for such great organization and experience. I had an amazing time!
- Daniel F. (USA, 2016)
My favorite experience on this trip? Finding great restaurants. Touring the country side....away from cities. Visiting Parmesan, Balsamico, and Gelato processing facilities. Least favorite experience on this trip? Too much food at the include dinners.
- Robert R. (USA, 2015)
We are all back home after a wonderful trip in Italy thanks to you and Bike Rentals Plus. The trip was great. I would like to take the opportunity to point out the highlights and lowlights of the trip: 1.Hotel Touring was very nice. The staff were accommodating and the location was great! Our room was clean and comfortable. Good breakfast, too. - 2.Your staff, Sara and Danilo were friendly and through in setting up our bikes and giving us all of the information that we needed for our bike trip. They were great. - 3.Dinner that night was not well-planned. Every dish was very rich and most of us were not able to finish our secondo as it was too rich following a very rich primo. The appetizer was boring.- 4. The first day of biking was much too difficult for the first day. - 5. The cooking class was great! It was a great way for all of us to bond. The instructor was engaging and informative. And the food was very good. Great choice! - 6. The next day's ride to Modena was much more our speed. The distance was very long but the riding was relatively flat. We really enjoyed the ride. - 7. The Gelato Museum was great! We had a very good tour guide and we learned all about the history of gelato. The tasting at the end of the tour was delicious. The hotel in Modena was very nice and we wish we had another day in Modena because it is such a beautiful city. But the ride must go on. - 8. The next day, we rode to the Agriturismo with a stop at the Acetaia. This was fascinating. The owners were very hospitable and provided a very nice lunch along with a wonderful explanation of the makings of balsamic vinegar. This was another great stop! - 9. The agriturismo, La Razza was perfect. The staff were very friendly. Our accommodations were wonderful. Our dinner that night was very good and the service was good, too. - 11. The next morning the Parmigiano Reggiano demonstration was by far the most fascinating demonstration that we saw on the trip. The owner's son had stepped in to do the tour and although his english was extremely limited, he was friendly and informative. Another great stop! - 12. The ride that day was also a good one. It was long but relatively easy. We really enjoyed the beautiful countryside. - 13. The hotel in Parma was very nice indeed and Parma was a great city in which to finish our trip. Our dinner was fabulous. The service was great and the wine was affordable. Having dinner on the last night was truly a great way to finish our trip and celebrate together.
- John C. (USA, 2015)
I was very happy with every hotel. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful, especially at Hotel Touring. I would stay at each hotel again if traveling in the area. Each of the visits was a highlight. Perhaps the most enjoyable were the cooking class and the visit to the balsamic vinegar producer.A good tour, well designed and with great hotels and meals. Excellent value.
- Jim H. (USA, 2015)
The route notes provided were by far and away the best I've ever seen. Hard to see how to make them better. Getting in and out of the larger towns is tricky but hard to see how to avoid. I think sometimes the road was preferable to the cycle lanes but the latter are safer and to be appreciated. The countryside was wonderful, people delightful, the cities interesting. I loved it all. I'd have liked a second day in Modena though the agro-tourisme stay was fascinating. Sara's bike set up was as good as it gets and the bikes very comfortable and better equipped than I expected. A wonderful tour by a wonderful company (in a wonderful country). Delightful people to work with.
- Andrew G. (USA, 2015)
Greatly enjoyed the balsamic factory tour and the gelato tasting. We really enjoyed our trip and if we ever come back to Italy for a bike tour, it will be with BikeRentalsPlus!
- Anna F. (Poland, 2015)
Thanks to Stefania and BikeRentalsPlus! for putting together such a great trip for us on short notice. While we traveled on a self-guided basis, we always felt that you and your team were there supporting us, even though we never needed to call in to the office (despite a very full week including intensive logistics). The routes were very well thought out to minimize traffic, the scheduled non-riding events were very enlightening and fun, and the included meals were delicious. This was our first self-guided trip. At other times, we have planned our own trips, creating routes from maps, which is very time-intensive. And, you can't judge the road quality or traffic from the map, and that can make those trips a scary or uncomfortable experience. We never had those problems on this trip. We have also done fully guided trips, but those are much more expensive. This was a great compromise. Finally, the rides were just the right length for my wife and me, and every time we pulled up to a hotel, our bags were in our room waiting for us, which was wonderful. Thanks again!
- Tom C. (USA, 2014)
We want to emphasize again here that we loved our time in Emilia Romagna and are grateful to you for your care in outfitting us with excellent bikes and in choosing such a wonderful itinerary. The hotels were uniformly good and we were more than happy with your choices. The rooms and bathrooms were clean and comfortable. Hotel Touring in Bologna was recently renovated and the staff was so friendly and helpful. This was particularly welcome after our fatigue from the plane travel. The real standout was The Razza, the agriturismo. Paolo was particularly congenial as he showed us around the cheese-making operation. We did have a bit of trouble with the directions, sometimes they were too detailed. Overall the trip was a great success and we were so impressed with the food, people and landscape of Emilia Romagna that we are already talking about our next visit.
- Ron and Cynthia C. (USA, 2014)
