Food & Wine in Bologna & Milan - 5 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Milan, Transfer to Bologna

Welcome to Italy! Arrive in one of Milan's two international airports, then take a 1.5 hour train ride to Bologna, the bustling historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. First, check in to your hotel, then celebrate the start of your trip with a cup of Italian espresso or a gelato.

Take it easy today and familiarize yourself with Italian culture by exploring some of the local sights. Our suggestions include: 

• Visiting MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna, a museum of modern art.
• Strolling the peaceful sanctuary of the Giardini Margherita park, located just south of the city center. It is Bologna's largest park and the design was inspired by romantic English gardens.
• Seeing the Museo di Palazzo Poggi and Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, art museums which house notable medieval and world-famous works from Giotto and Raphael.
• Discovering the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, a museum of musical instruments, and the Museum of History of Bologna.
• Exploring the Basilica of Santo Stefano complex, which houses several churches, and the hilltop Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca.

Stay in the downtown neighborhood for an aperitivo of full-bodied red or an Aperol Spritz while you snack on a charcuterie board, then sit down to traditional tortellini or mortadella for dinner at a local osteria or trattoria. Piazza Santo Stefano is a lovely place to spend your first evening.

Day 2: Highlights and Tastes of Bologna

Enjoy a good breakfast this morning as you will be heading out for the full day on a walking tour of Bologna. You'll be lead through the city center by a guide with expert knowledge of local history, architecture, and food. Experience the sights, smells, and tastes of the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region.

Walk through the downtown area to see many of the city's notable landmarks. The Piazza Maggiore is a sprawling central plaza surrounded by the city's oldest buildings. You can visit the City Hall, the 14th-century Basilica di San Petronio, and the medieval Asinelli and Garisenda Towers, which flank the Piazza. 

Head to the 11th-century University of Bologna to view the Anatomical Theater, formerly used by students dissecting cadavers, and stroll the medieval university grounds. On the way, stop to see the former Jewish Ghetto, then continue to the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, the National Art Gallery. This building also houses the Academy of Fine Arts.

Next, explore the city via the medieval porticos, a network of covered walkways that connect city landmarks, museums, and neighborhoods while protecting pedestrians from snow, rain, and the hot summer sun. Visitors with an eye for fashion will enjoy browsing the designer boutiques and the medieval Quadrilatero market district for the perfect Italian leather shoes or for gifts to bring home. 

Bologna is famed for its bustling markets and food scene. The Mercato di Mezzo is worth a visit in the Quadrilatero area. Explore the local markets and shop for regional delicacies, such as artisanal tortellini, mortadella, and a variety of cheeses. Visit traditional food shops like a bakery and pasta maker to see the handcrafting process and to sample the final products. Tip: here you can buy tasty foods for a picnic and find a piazza or park to eat and people watch.

Alternatively, after your tour finishes, pause for a late lunch or early dinner and enjoy some of the city's delicious specialties from a restaurant—tortellini and ragu alla bolognese, a rich tomato and meat sauce.  Ask your guide for a recommendation for lunch or dinner as they know the city the best. At aperitivo time, around 6 pm, walk to the trendy indoor market Mercato delle Erbe and enjoy a drink with the locals. It was beautifully restored in 2013 and is full of bustling bakeries, restaurants and wine shops. After, head out to dinner and enjoy your evening in Bologna.

Day 3: Parma Ham and Cheese Tour

Head out for a day trip to the capital of Parma ham and Parmesan cheese—the city of Parma, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The city is famous for its ornate medieval architecture, the beautiful countryside and, of course, the food. The easiest way to travel from Bologna to Parma is by train from Bologna Centrale Station. Take in the countryside views for around 1.5 hours. You will meet your guide in the center of Parma to begin the tour.

If you are a real foodie, then you will love this experience! You'll visit the local production sites of Parma prosciutto and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. You will learn about and see the processes from the beginning and have a chance to taste the final products. Observe the traditional way of producing these foods and the hard work which goes into ensuring they meet high regional standards. The tour will be around 5 hours and, at each stop, you can also shop for your favorite selections to bring home, as a gift to yourself or for your family.

After the tour, get a feeling for the local pace of life with lunch at a small family-run trattoria, then spend the afternoon enjoying the city and check out the following places:

• The 16th century Palazzo della Pilotta is a spectacular space. The building has many corridors and courtyards to be explored. Today, the palace and grounds host the National Gallery, the Palatine Library, and the Archeological Museum, plus monuments in honor of WWII and Giuseppe Verdi.
• Visit the city's main square, Piazza Duomo, where you'll find the Romanesque cathedral and baptistry, both from the 12th century
• Parma's Botanical Garden, founded in 1600, is a calming space within the city. Here you'll find exotic plant species, including the 'Ginkgo biloba' tree which has unique heart-shaped leaves
• The Teatro Regio is a world-renowned opera performance space, commissioned by the Dutchess Maria Luigia. Today, ballets, operas, and classical concerts are still held often. 
• Stroll through Parco Ducale, a large green park close to Parma's train station. There are two palaces belonging to the Ducal family, sculptures and impressive water features.

When you work up an appetite for dinner, check out Parma's rustic restaurant scene, accompanied by a glass of locally produced Emilia-Romagna wine.

Day 4: Bologna to Milan, Evening Cooking Class & Aperitivo Tasting

Transfer from the food capital to Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, after breakfast. The journey by train is 1 hour 15 minutes. Upon arrival, make your way to check in to your hotel from Milano Centrale Station. The city is a center for business, shopping, and culture, as well as medieval art and beautiful architecture. Many of Milan's old monuments and buildings were destroyed by World War II bombings, so the reconstructions and modern architecture live side by side here, representing old and new Italy. 

Milan's famous historical sights are clustered together in the heart of the city with easy access from the train station, so it's easy to explore on your own today and get acquainted with the city. Top sights include the striking Gothic Duomo, one of the world's largest; the La Scala Opera House; the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele, a glamorous early 20th-century indoor shopping mall; the Pirelli Tower; and the medieval Castello Sforzesco. Milan is also home to one of the world's most famous paintings—da Vinci's 'The Last Supper', housed at the Santa Maria della Grazie monastery. Tip: Buy your tickets online for the Duomo and the Last Supper ahead of time to avoid disappointment, and plan your day around your time slots.

A trip to Italy wouldn't be complete without learning to make and tasting at least one homemade pasta dish. Today, be prepared to immerse yourself in Italian cuisine. You'll be in expert hands, with a professional chef teaching you the secrets of how to cook traditional and authentic pasta. 

But first, cocktails! You'll have a lesson in cocktail making and shake or stir an aperitivo. This drink is savored before dinner, to whet your appetite. Choose from a martini or a spritz and settle into the class with a friendly welcome from your host. Familiarize yourself with the venue, set in a unique location, as you enjoy your cocktail.

Next, get ready to learn step-by-step how to make different shapes and fillings for pasta. The chef will tailor your pasta dish based on your requests. Vegetarian, as well as halal and kosher meat, options are available. You'll also prepare the homemade sauces to accompany your pasta such as pesto, fresh tomato with basil, ragù, or butter and sage.

The class is around 2.5 hours in duration, and the best is saved for last. Once everyone has finished cooking, you'll enjoy the fruits of your labor and taste what you've created. To accompany the food, you will be served a variety of drinks, including local wine and craft beers. The Italians really know how to cook, so you're sure to be satisfied with your dish and armed with several new skills for your next dinner party.

Day 5: Goodbye Italy

Your journey in Italy will end after breakfast, with a transfer to the airport to catch your flight home or to your next destination. Arrivederci!