Parma day trip from Bologna or Milan
A day trip to Parma from Bologna or Milan: San Giovanni Evangelista, the Cathedral and the Baptistery, Piazza Garibaldi, the Teatro Regio and the Palazzo della Pilotta with the Galleria Nazionale and Teatro Farnese, then the Camera di San Paolo and the Parco Ducale. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Parma in 1 day
Day 1
San Giovanni Evangelista
Renaissance Benedictine church behind the Cathedral, with Correggio's dome fresco of the Vision of St John and an old monastery pharmacy.
Parma Cathedral
Romanesque cathedral whose dome holds Correggio's swirling Assumption of the Virgin, with Antelami's carved Deposition relief inside.
Baptistery of Parma
Octagonal baptistery in pink Verona marble by Benedetto Antelami, with carved portals and painted medieval walls inside.
Piazza Garibaldi and Palazzo del Governatore
The city's main square on the old Roman crossroads, faced by the Governor's Palace with its clock tower and sundial.
Palazzo della Pilotta (Galleria Nazionale and Teatro Farnese)
Vast Farnese palace housing the Galleria Nazionale, with works by Correggio, Parmigianino and Leonardo, and the wooden Teatro Farnese of 1618.
Teatro Regio
Parma's nineteenth-century opera house, home of the Verdi Festival, shown on guided tours when there is no rehearsal.
Camera di San Paolo
The abbess's private room in a former convent, its vault painted by Correggio with playful cherubs in an arbour.
Parco Ducale
The Farnese dukes' formal garden across the river, with tree-lined avenues, a pond and the Ducal Palace, popular with locals.
Watch: Parma
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Bologna, regional and high-speed trains reach Parma in about 45 minutes to an hour; from Milan the train takes about an hour to an hour and a half. The old town and all the sights are a walk of 10-15 minutes from the station.
Staying in Bologna or Milan? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Parma
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild for walking and good for food. Summer is hot and humid in the Po valley and winter is cold and often foggy. The Festival Verdi fills the Teatro Regio each autumn, around October, and ham and cheese producers hold open days at various times of year.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Parma on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Parma on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Parma on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Parma
- The Palazzo della Pilotta, with the Galleria Nazionale and the wooden Teatro Farnese, is closed on Mondays; one ticket covers its museums.
- Look up in the Cathedral and San Giovanni Evangelista: Correggio's dome frescoes are the highlight, so allow time for your eyes to adjust.
- Parma is a food city: try prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, torta fritta and anolini in brodo, and book a dairy or ham producer visit ahead.
- Churches close for a long lunch break, so see San Giovanni Evangelista in the morning.
- Strada Farini and the streets near Piazza Garibaldi fill up for aperitivo in the early evening before the train back.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Baptistery of Parma: Philip Schäfer, Public domain
- Camera di San Paolo: Antonio da Correggio, Public domain
- Palazzo della Pilotta (Galleria Nazionale and Teatro Farnese): Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Parco Ducale: Virginiasicuri, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parma Cathedral: Carlo Ferrari., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Piazza Garibaldi and Palazzo del Governatore: Luca Fornasari, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Giovanni Evangelista: Negri.stefano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Teatro Regio: Stefano Sansavini, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
