From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch
Bologna, Italy

From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch

Outty Ranking 62 4.6 · 11 traveler reviews5 hoursFrom $223
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Outty Ranking

62/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.6/5

Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch worth booking?

From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch is a 5-hour experience in Bologna, Italy, from $223 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
62 / 100
Rating
4.6/5 (11)
Duration
5 hours
From
$223 per person

Join our exclusive day tour for a delightful journey into the heart of Emilian culinary excellence! Experience the making of two iconic treasures – aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and the revered Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Begin with a guided tour at a cheese factory, witnessing the art of crafting this renowned cheese. Tasting of different ages of Organic Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta and Caciotta cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, a glass of local wine and water at the end of visit. Then, dive into the secrets of 'black gold' during a visit to a historic 'Acetaia,' culminating in a tasting of the exquisite traditional balsamic vinegar, followed by a light lunch, a food tasting, where you could explore the best gastronomic pairing of balsamic vinegar and various typical products. Indulge in genuine Emilian gastronomy – it's not just a tour; it's an immersive feast for your senses!

What you get

    About this experience

    Join our exclusive day tour for a delightful journey into the heart of Emilian culinary excellence! Experience the making of two iconic treasures – aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and the revered Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Begin with a guided tour at a cheese factory, witnessing the art of crafting this renowned cheese. Tasting of different ages of Organic Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta and Caciotta cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, a glass of local wine and water at the end of visit. Then, dive into the secrets of 'black gold' during a visit to a historic 'Acetaia,' culminating in a tasting of the exquisite traditional balsamic vinegar, followed by a light lunch, a food tasting, where you could explore the best gastronomic pairing of balsamic vinegar and various typical products. Indulge in genuine Emilian gastronomy – it's not just a tour; it's an immersive feast for your senses!

    What's included

    Included

    • Light lunch, food tasting, to explore gastronomic pairing of balsamic vinegar & local products
    • In-vehicle air conditioning
    • Guided visit & tasting at a production of Parmesan Cheese
    • Guided visit & tasting at a production of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar PDO
    • Pickup and drop off from Bologna and transportation for the duration of the tour (could be shared)

    What you'll see and do

    1. Bologna

      Pickup from your place in Bologna, after a 1-hour drive, we will start our first visit, a dairy farm

      60 minutes here

    2. Province of Modena

      DAIRY FARM / We will start our tour with a guided visit at a cheese factory and learn how aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is produced.

      90 minutes here

    3. Province of Modena

      ACETAIA - BALSAMIC VINEGAR OF MODENA / Then we will continue with a visit to an “Acetaia” and discover the production of the famous “black gold”, the precious traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, which you will be able to taste at the end of your guided tour. You will be able to ask questions about the production process directly to the family.

      45 minutes here

    4. Province of Modena

      LIGHT LUNCH / We will have a light lunch in a picturesque estate situated among the gentle hills of the Modena area, at the premises of the balsamic vinegar producer.

      45 minutes here

    5. Bologna

      After the tour, our driver will drop you off in Bologna.

      50 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Bologna

    Pickup from the main entrance of NH Bologna De La Gare Hotel, located in Piazza XX Settembre, just a 5-minute walk from Bologna Centrale train station. No pickup from hotel is included in the option. You'll need to reach the meeting point on your own.

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.

    Ends at

    Pickup from the main entrance of NH Bologna De La Gare Hotel, located in Piazza XX Settembre, just a 5-minute walk from Bologna Centrale train station. No pickup from hotel is included in the option. You'll need to reach the meeting point on your own.

    Options you can book

    • Pickup from Meeting Point

      No Pickup from hotel: Please reach the meeting point in Bologna on your own, no pickup from your hotel is included in this option. Pickup from a Meeting point : Pickup from the main entrance of NH Bologna De La Gare Hotel, Piazza XX Settembre. Please reach the meeting point on your own

    • Pickup from Bologna Hotels

      Pickup from Hotels in Bologna: Pickup from your location in Bologna city center, or the nearest accessible point if unreachable by vehicle. Pickup included

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 8 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Aurea Travel

    Know before you go

    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • The remaining time will need for the transportation
    • The order of the visits and inclusions for light lunch could change
    • Light lunch is served at the premises of the balsamic vinegar producer
    • Please communicate any food allergy or intolerance in advance

    Photos

    From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch, photo 2From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch, photo 3From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch, photo 4From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch, photo 5From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch, photo 6

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Food and drink

    9 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    The guide

    6 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Good for families

    4 mentions

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    2 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Organization

    2 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Traveler reviews

    11 verified traveler reviews for From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    9
    4 star
    1
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    1
    1 star
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    Sort
    BHudd2020 · September 2026

    GREAT Parmesan and Balsamic Tour

    The Parmesan tour was very educational. Learned a lot about how it is made and aged. Tasting 3 ages of cheese and the Blanca cheese was great! The guide was very knowledgeable, friendly, and answered all of our questions thoroughly. Similarly, the balsamic tour was unique. Learned about the aging process with “batteries” and tasted 12 and 25 YO balsamics. Also had some light snacks. Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and willing to answer all questions. Great tour overall.

    Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a lovely review! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour, and we'll be sure to pass your kind words on to the guide, who will be thrilled to hear them. We hope to welcome you back to Emilia-Romagna soon!

    via Tripadvisor

    Robert_W · August 2026

    Wonderful

    Both the Parmesan and Balsamic visits were fabulous. The drive from Bologna was easy and comfortable. The farm and Parmesan production tour was thorough, we got to see the cows both regular herd and white cows, see the milk turned to Parmesan and their 20,000 wheel storage unit before sampling 24, 36 and 50 month Parmesan and then the white cows Parmesan which was a highlight. Then onto the Balsamic palazzo which was in the family for 200+ years. Very engaging tour guide and tour of the black gold and then tasting 12 and 25 year aged product unique to Bologna which was a super experience for the taste buds

    Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re very happy to hear that you had such a great experience and enjoyed your day with us. Thank you for choosing Aurea Travel and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back to Emilia-Romagna someday!

    via Viator

    erikaoH6093ES · April 2026

    A very good tour

    A very good tour if you love food. The cheese tasting was amazing and the balsamic vinegar was incredible. Small groups and nice atmosphere. We enjoy a lot.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tastings and the atmosphere of the tour. It’s great to hear the small group experience made it even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you again soon!

    via Tripadvisor

    snoringBommel · March 2026

    Recommend cheese and balsamico vinegar tour by Aurea Travel

    We participated in a tour organized by Aurea Travel to visit a cheese factory and afterwards a balsamico vinegar factory, close to Modena. We chose Aurea because they offer tours in small groups, ours was indicated max 8, during the tour we were 6 persons. Contacts before the tour with Aurea went super quick and smooth. The day of the tour the driver picked us up in time at our hotel in Bologna, the van was new and clean, the driver pleasant and a safe driver, but he did not explain anything during the trip, he was clearly not a tour guide. The cheese factory was a small factory, the guide spoke fluent English, explained a lot, was interesting and nice. During our visit, we could observe the staff during their daily tasks, which was really interesting. We had enough time to take pictures and afterwards was a cheese tasting. There was the possibility to buy their cheese and other local products, but we did not feel forced to buy (but we did, the cheese is too good to leave). Next stop was a balsamico vinegar factory. It was a small family-run factory (as far as we understood) where we were invited in the family home for tasting and a light lunch, It was a very personal experience, which was really great. We enjoyed both factories very much. Definitively recommend this tour.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your kind and detailed feedback. We’re very glad you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the authentic visits and smooth organization. Thank you again for recommending the tour, and we hope to welcome you again soon!

    via Tripadvisor

    lerickson99 · December 2025

    Great experience

    My family of 3 adults and 2 teens really enjoyed this experience. We were picked up at our hotel by Maria who shared some info about the region on the 1 hour drive to the Parmigiana-Reggianno dairy farm. At the farm we learned all about how the cheese was made and sampled several. We then were driven 10 minutes to a beautiful family farm where balsamic vinegar is made the traditional way. After learning about this we enjoyed a delicious multi course meal, sampling authentic aged balsamic vinegar on each food. I will never look at balsamic the same again! Everyone enjoyed.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your lovely review! We're so happy your family enjoyed the experience, from the Parmigiano dairy to the traditional balsamic and delicious lunch. It was a pleasure having you, and I'm glad to hear you'll never look at balsamic the same way again!

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    5 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $223 to $250
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    4
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Aurea Travel, who run 12 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.1.

    See everything Aurea Travel runs

    Why this scores 62

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)75
    Review evidence (18% weight)36
    Booking momentum (14% weight)28
    Value for money (12% weight)74
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)46
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Bologna.

    How much does From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch cost?

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    Prices start at $223 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Bologna usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch take?

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    Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Bologna is not rushed.

    Is From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch worth it?

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    It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Bologna, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch?

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    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch suitable for kids and families?

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    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch?

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    Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Bologna can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

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    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Bologna and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Bologna within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Bologna?

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    On Outty we rank every Bologna experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Bologna Local Pasta Cooking Class, Ragu, Spritz, Wine & Gelato, Bologna Food Experience: Factory tours & Lunch By Italian Days, Small Group Bologna Food Tour – Local Food & Market Experience. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Bologna?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Bologna?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch?

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    Included: Light lunch, food tasting, to explore gastronomic pairing of balsamic vinegar & local prod; In-vehicle air conditioning; Guided visit & tasting at a production of Parmesan Cheese; Guided visit & tasting at a production of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar PDO; and Pickup and drop off from Bologna and transportation for the duration of the tour (could be. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch include hotel pickup?

    +

    Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 94 listed pickup locations in and around Bologna. Be ready about 10 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch offered in?

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    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch?

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    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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    The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch if the weather is bad?

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    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Bologna. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch?

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    Across 11 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide, good for families. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    What booking options are available for From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch?

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    There are 2 options to choose from, including Pickup from Meeting Point, Pickup from Bologna Hotels. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

    Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for From Bologna: Parmesan Cheese & Balsamic Vinegar Tour+Lunch.

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