Discover Emilia-Romagna, the Gastronomic Heart of Italy
Casual self-guided - Bologna to Parma - 5 days
A short-holiday option of our just-updated cycling adventure through Italy's renowned foodie region! Wonderful riding through pretty countryside and farms, picturesque towns and great cities. This region offers amazing scenery and a number of UNESCO world heritage sites, renowned food and drink, art and history, and the legendary friendliness of its locals.
New for 2024: in an effort to offer more sustainable options, we now offer this great tour package without luggage transfers between hotels. Self-supported cyclists can enjoy this bike itinerary carrying their belongings in bike panniers, thus reducing fuel and vehicle emissions!
Request space on this Bicycle Tour »
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Day 1
Arrive in Bologna
Highlights: Bologna! UNESCO World Heritage porticoes and culinary traditions
Arrive in Bologna, Emilia Romagna's administrative capital and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, Bologna has a long tradition of studies, arts, and gastronomy. Speaking of gastronomy, Bologna gave birth to 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! Lots to see and explore in this beautiful city. Come early and book a genuine cooking class at a renowned cooking school or enjoy dinner at a local trattoria!
Accommodation: Il Guercino Boutique Hotel, or similar. -
Day 2
Ride 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 first hills where great views reward you after a short climb. A rails-to-trails bike path leads you out to the fortress town of Bazzano, before heading 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: 63 km (39 miles)
Elevation gain: +212 m (695 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Estense, or similar. -
Day 3
Cycle to Reggio Emilia
Highlights: Modena's covered street market, Balsamic vinegar, charming Reggio, optional farm stay
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 Acetaia Cavalli estate, where the family has been producing the highest quality balsamic for over a hundred years. Continue on an easy ride along lovely back roads to the evening's destination, the charming city of Reggio Emilia. Optionally, you may choose to stay in an "agriturismo" outside the city - this country house hotel shows off its working farm, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar production, vineyards and winery, and more, within a wonderful natural setting (please note, on certain nights the farm restaurant is closed; Reggio Emilia is the closest option for a restaurant dinner, a 20min taxi drive away).
Daily distance: 56 km (34 miles)
Elevation gain: +233 m (765ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Reggio, or similar.
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Day 4
Bike to Parma
Highlights: Parma cured ham and parmesan cheese
We suggest you start your day with an optional visit of a parmesan cheese factory. This wonderful experience, in which you'll learn why Parmigiano-Reggiano is known as "the king of cheeses”, is one of the tour highlights.
Your destination today is a city where your taste buds will not be disappointed, Parma! Famous for its culinary traditions, the arts also flourished outside of the kitchen in this lovely city: Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of its most famous citizens, and their influence are present to this day. The city is still an important cultural and artistic center. Explore and enjoy the historic center, and delight your palate with Parma's signature cured ham (prosciutto crudo) and Parmesan cheese, eaten as an aperitivo or sprinkled on homemade pasta dishes.
Daily distance: 63 km (39 miles)
Elevation gain: +291 m (955 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Button, or similar. -
Day 5
Tour ends in Parma
Highlights: World Heritage Site of Parma
Your cycling tour ends in Parma. Now with a refined palate, shop well 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. City hotel taxes are not included.
| Includes | Included: 4 nights in 2-,3- and 4-star hotels and B&Bs of similar quality All breakfasts Access to smartphone app with preloaded tracks and digital roadbook Not Included: Travel to and from the tour start and end Bike fitting and welcome meeting Bicycle rental (see Prices tab) Luggage transfers (see optional pricing) Entrance to museums or other activities City hotel tax (€2 to 5 per night per person, to be paid locally by traveler) Any meals or beverages not indicated as included Any type of insurance (medical, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage, bike rental) Half-board option available: €145 per person (4 total dinners, 3-course pre-set menus - drinks not included) Solo Traveler and Private Group departures available - please inquire. If you are looking for a longer version of this tour, see our 8-day option. Extra nights: available before/after tour, please inquire for prices. Extra meals & activities: (please inquire for price and availability) ________________________________________ Navigation and roadbook: On our self-guided tours, detailed tour information and route navigation tracks are provided through the free smartphone app Ride With GPS - our "digital roadbook" - which includes daily routes, maps, elevation profiles, and ride descriptions; schedules and hotel itinerary; cultural and sightseeing information, visit suggestions; emergency numbers and more, all stored in one organized, easy to use app. Downloading the app content also allows for offline mode navigation. Participants can also upload the routes to their own GPS device, and even print the detailed route notes before leaving home. On our self-guided tours, GPS device rental, as well as a printed roadbook, are available at an optional extra fee: For more information on our navigation options, as well as the smartphone app, please read our blog: What's it like to navigate on our self-guided tours?. ________________________________________ PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included. Tour code: itbs3981 |
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| Countries | Italy |
| Begin/End | Bologna / Parma |
| Arrive/Depart | In and out of Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) How to get there and away: Starting point: Hotel Il Guercino - Via L. Serra 7, Bologna We recommend flying into Bologna Aeroporto G.Marconi. - Take the MarconiExpress Monorail connecting Aeroporto Marconi Bologna Main Train Station or take a 10-minute taxi ride from Bologna Airport to your hotel. Ending point: Hotel Button – Borgo della Salina, 7, Parma You can fly out from Bologna, which is connected to Parma by train. - Reach Bologna train station by train and to get to the airport, you can catch the MarconiExpress or a taxi (see “Starting point” for more info). Private airport transfers are available: please inquire for prices - Bologna airport to Bologna Hotel Guercino - Parma hotel to Bologna airport Long-term Parking: - If you choose to drive to Bologna and leave your car parked there (taking a direct return train Parma at tour end) a private, secure parking lot is avalable at the airport. Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.) |
| Total Distance | 168 km (104 miles) |
| Daily Distance | 52-62 km (32-39 miles) |
| Rating | 101 |
| Notes | Difficulty description: Perfect for cyclists who prefer shorter distances and mostly flat riding. Some loop days into the lower hills, with some short climbs. 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. |
| Terms | Terms & Conditions |
| Dates | Prices | Single Supplement | |||
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| Dates | This tour is available March 1 to 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 (such as museums or tastings) impossible. *2024 price, per person, based on double occupancy; minimum 2 participants per departure. Solo traveler departures are also available (only one person on the departure), with a supplemental fee of €250. This fee includes the cost of the single/double room supplement, as well as a GPS unit with the pre-loaded routes. Group Discounts are available for participants booking together on the same departure! Please inquire for details through our contact form below. For more ways to save, see our Discounts and Promotions page ________________________________________ High-Season surcharge (May-June, September and early October): a €100 per person surcharge is applied on high-season departures. If joining an existing, confirmed departure date, the fee may be waived - please inquire. 2024 Confirmed departure dates: June 23 August 4 ________________________________________ Bike Rental options: 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: €80 Premium Titanium road or hybrid: €105 E-bike (hybrid with straight handlebar): €160 Tandem: €185 (priced per bike, for 2 cyclists) Tag-along or kid trailer: €50 Pannier rental: €40 per set (2 side bags per set) 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. ________________________________________ Luggage transfer option: €310 for 1-4 travelers Your luggage will be transported from one hotel to the next. The luggage is normally collected from 09.30 at the reception of the hotel and is delivered at the following hotel by 15.00 hrs. Please use the luggage tags provided by Cycle Europe on all your luggage being transferred. Please have your luggage ready before the driver comes to collect it, otherwise you may have to pay a local taxi for the service. Please consider that the luggage is not insured during the transport. You need to have your own insurance. Do not leave valuables or fragile items in your luggage. Normally, the luggage transport service cannot be used by participants to skip the cycling stage. In case you need help to skip the cycling stage, please contact our emergency number and we will arrange it for you. ________________________________________ Want a deeper dive into this wonderful region? Our longer version of this tour includes two-night stays and rides into picturesque medieval towns: Discover Emilia-Romagna 8-day tour. ________________________________________ Additional useful information: • Do you have any questions about how our bike tours work? Check out our FAQs page! • Curious about the difference between our Casual and Classic self-guided tours? Check out our introduction blog on Casual Self-Guided Tours. • We offer various tools for navigation - this page details what it's like to navigate on our self-guided tours. • If the self-guided formula isn't right for you, check out this blog introducing the differences between Guided and Self-Guided Tours. |
Prices | €495 per person * |
Single Supplement | €130 |
| Next Step | Request space on this Bicycle Tour » |
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10 out of 10: The perfect short cycling trip to experience this beautiful region and at the same time to have relatively intensive cycling exercise. Keep up the good work :)
Emilia K., Bulgaria, 2022