Booking choice: The Parmigiano and Parma ham tour, from $154 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Parmigiano Reggiano is made in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna west of the Reno and Mantua south of the Po, and the dairies near Parma are used to visitors. You can see one on a two-hour visit for $50, as part of a cheese and ham morning, or on a full day that adds balsamic vinegar or culatello.
This guide explains why the timing matters, what you will see, how the tours compare and the rules you need to know before you book.
The quick answer
Go in the morning: the cheese is made early and the vats are finished by the end of the morning. The cheapest visit is the $50 organic farm dairy just outside Parma (you get there yourself). The most booked is the $154 Parmigiano and Parma ham tour with transport, rated 4.9 from 954 reviews. Wear closed shoes, leave the stroller behind, and arrive on time: on the ParmaLook tours a late arrival is a no-show.
Can you visit a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy from Parma?
Yes: several dairies near Parma take visitors, on tours from $50 for two hours to $245 for a full day.
The dairies are working businesses, so visits are guided and follow the production rhythm. You see the making room, then the salting and the aging rooms, and finish with a tasting of different ages. Most tours also add a Prosciutto di Parma producer, since the ham country is close by in the hills.
Why should you go in the morning?
Because Parmigiano is made once a day, in the morning: the rules say the curd work must be done by the end of the morning.
The evening milk rests overnight so the cream rises, then it is mixed with the fresh morning milk in the copper vats, and the vats are used only once a day. Arrive late and you will see the aging rooms but not the cheesemakers at work. Guests on the most booked tour report seeing the whole process on morning visits. The private Food Valley tour starts at 8:30 AM.
What do you see on a Parmigiano dairy tour?
The copper vats, the curd lifted out in cloth, the moulds, the brine baths and the aging rooms with thousands of wheels.
- The vats: bell-shaped copper, each holding about 1,100 litres of milk, enough for two wheels.
- Rennet and curd: calf rennet sets the milk; the curd is broken into tiny grains and cooked.
- Lifting: the curd settles into a mass at the bottom of the vat, is lifted out in a cloth and divided into two wheels.
- Moulding: each wheel goes into a band that prints PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO in pin-dot letters round the side, with the dairy number and the month and year.
- Brine: after a few days the wheels float in salt brine.
- Aging: at least 12 months on wooden shelves, then an expert taps each wheel with a hammer before it gets its oval brand.
See the vats in the morning, then a family ham maker: transport from Parma included.
Check dates for the Parmigiano and Parma ham tourWhich Parmigiano dairy tour should you book?
The $50 organic dairy on a budget, the $154 cheese and ham tour for the classic morning with transport, or a longer day if you also want balsamic or culatello.
From-prices per person; ratings and review counts are each platform's own.
| Tour | Sold on | Also includes | Transport | Length | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Milk to Wheels | GetYourGuide | Organic farm, 3 ages tasted | Own way (taxi) | 2 hours | 4.9 (262) | $50 |
| Parmigiano and Parma ham | GetYourGuide | Family ham producer | Van from Parma | 4 hours | 4.9 (954) | $154 |
| Food Valley private | Viator | Ham producer, Torrechiara view | Driver option | 4 hours | 4.9 (131) | $220 |
| Cheese, ham and balsamic | GetYourGuide | Ham, Modena balsamic maker | Included | 6.5 hours | 4.9 (317) | $208 |
| Parmigiano, culatello and Verdi | GetYourGuide | Culatello maker, museum, Verdi | From Parma | 6 to 9 hours | 5.0 (1) | $245 |
Is the $50 organic dairy tour worth it?
Yes, if you can get there: it is a 90-minute guided visit and a 30-minute tasting of three ages at a farm dairy with its own cows, rated 4.9 from 262 reviews.
The From Milk to Wheels tour is at Borgo del Gazzano, Strada Gazzano 69, on the edge of Parma. It is organic and farm-to-table: the milk comes from the farm's own herd. The catch is getting there: it is a 15-minute taxi ride, and buses run only three times a day, so plan the ride back too. Guests like that it is a working farm, where you see everything from the cows eating to the final tasting.
A working organic dairy farm just outside Parma, with a tasting of three ages, for about the price of lunch.
Explore the organic dairy tourWhat is the Parmigiano and Parma ham tour like?
A four-hour morning: a van from Parma to a working dairy, a tasting of the cheese with water or wine, then a small family ham producer nearby.
The ParmaLook tour is Parma's most booked food tour, rated 4.9 from 954 reviews. One guest describes a 20-minute van ride, a morning at the dairy that showed the entire process, and a short walk to the ham producer, a small family business. Pickup is at set points in Parma, and there is a shop at the dairy if you want to buy cheese. The six-and-a-half-hour version by the same operator adds a traditional balsamic maker in Modena.
The classic Parma food morning: a working dairy, a family ham maker and tastings, with transport.
Explore the Parmigiano and Parma ham tourWhat are the rules on dairy tours?
Closed shoes, no strollers, no large bags, and be on time: on the ParmaLook tours a late arrival is a non-refundable no-show.
- Shoes: no sandals, flip-flops, slippers or open-toed shoes on the ParmaLook tours.
- No strollers or baby carriages, no pets, and no luggage or large bags in the van.
- Late arrival: if you miss the start because of a train or traffic delay, it counts as a no-show, with no refund or rebooking.
- Access: the ParmaLook, Food Valley and country tours are not suitable for wheelchair users.
- Work in progress: the Food Valley operator warns that artisan producers do not work to a fixed timetable, so you may not see every step.
- Cancellation: every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Arriving by train? Leave slack, then enjoy the dairy and ham morning with transport.
Check dates for the Parmigiano and Parma ham tourHow old should Parmigiano be when you taste it?
At least 12 months, the legal minimum; on tours you usually taste three to five ages side by side, often up to 36 months.
The organic dairy tour serves three ages, the two-hour city tasting five, and Artemilia's full-day Parmigiano and culatello tour on Viator lists 12, 24, 30 and 36 months plus fresh ricotta. Younger cheese is milder and softer; older cheese is drier, crumblier and more savoury, with crunchy crystals. For a day that pairs the dairy with culatello, see culatello tours.
Parmigiano, Parma ham and Modena balsamic in one guided day.
Check dates for the cheese, ham and balsamic tourFrequently asked questions
What time do Parmigiano dairy tours start?
Usually in the morning, when the cheese is made. The private Food Valley tour starts at 8:30 AM; check your start time and pickup point when you book the others.
Do Parmigiano dairy tours include transport?
Some do. The Parmigiano and Parma ham tour and the three-product day include transport from Parma, and the private Food Valley tour has a driver option. For the $50 organic dairy you make your own way, usually a 15-minute taxi ride.
Are Parmigiano dairy tours suitable for children?
Yes, for older children. Strollers and baby carriages are not allowed on the ParmaLook tours, and everyone needs closed shoes.
Is Parmigiano Reggiano suitable for vegetarians?
It is made with calf rennet, so strict vegetarians usually avoid it. The dairy tours are still the best option for vegetarians who eat it, as they involve no meat.
Ready to book
Choose your tasting
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting
- Transport from pickup points in Parma and back
- Guided Parmigiano Reggiano dairy and aging-room visit
- Visit to a Prosciutto di Parma producer
From Milk to Wheels: Organic Parmigiano Dairy
A working farm dairy on a budget
Food Valley Gourmet Private Tour
A private dairy and ham morning with a driver
