Modena day trip: 5 best things to do and eat

A day in Modena is not much time so wear your comfy ones, I'll make you walk.

The good news is that Modena city centre is quite small but the things to do in a day are plenty.

Check out this itinerary to get the best from your day trip to Modena.

A day trip to Modena: what to visit and where to eat

Planning a day trip to Modena and don't know where to start?

Modena is absolutely worth a visit. This refined city boasts a rich heritage, inviting locals, and a slower pace of life compared to bustling nearby destinations like Florence or Bologna.

Its relative obscurity among foreign travelers means you can explore its historic streets, savor its world-class culinary traditions, and immerse yourself in its culture without the tourist crowds.

Is one day in Modena enough?

One day in Modena is enough to explore its main attractions. However, if you’re interested in taking a day trip around the area or combining a food tour with a visit to the Ferrari museums, we recommend spending at least two days in Modena.

To fully experience Modena, plan for three days of unforgettable discoveries.
A long weekend (Friday to Sunday) lets you immerse yourself in the city’s rich art, culture, and culinary traditions.

Modena’s historic center is compact and full of delightful sights, making it easy to explore on foot. Its charming streets, vibrant piazzas, and abundance of cultural attractions lie within a comfortable walking distance of each other.

How to spend a day in Modena?

1. Visit Mercato Albinelli: the food market you'll always dream of

If you love food your main reason for a day trip to Modena has to be Mercato Albinelli. It's one of the best food markets in Italy and not only.

A liberty-style structure with authentic family-owned food stalls where you can buy aged Parmigiano Reggiano, real Balsamic Vinegar, take-away tortellini and a lot more.

Beware the market is only open in the morning, and closed on Sundays and holidays.

I was there with Phil Rosenthal on Somebody feed Phil episode in Modena, take a look at what happened behind the scenes to get the feeling of the market.

2. Have lunch in Modena: tigelle and tagliatelle

Osteria Francescana is probably the most famous Italian restaurant in the world.

Bad news: you need to fight for a reservation and your wallet should be full.
Good news: I give you alternatives

Trattoria Aldina for example.
Just in front of the entrance of Albinelli market. Rise a few steps and: boom. Lasagne on the way or tortelloni vecchia Modena. With Lambrusco, please.

For a more casual lunch, Bar Schiavoni makes the best sandwiches in Modena. The wait could be long, but where else can you get panino with cotechino?

My favorite restaurant is actually a few steps from it.
It's called Ristretto Vicolo Coccapani. Fantastic traditional cuisine, great wines and in summer you can eat outside with a with on Ghirlandina tower.

Their friends of Cucina di Quartiere are more traditional, but not less delicious offering tigelle and gnocco fritto for lunch and dinner.

3. Visit Modena Cathedral and get a coffee

Time to walk off your intense food morning.

A one-day itinerary in Modena can't be complete without admiring its UNESCO heritage Cathedral.

Words won't tell its beauty, so shut up Andrea, and go get a coffee.

Go to Caffè Dell'Orologio, a few steps from it.

Or if you want a really good one, walk to Mon Cafè, the house of specialty coffee in Modena.

4. Other gems of Modena: Ferrari museum, Biblioteca Delfini and Aldo Rossi cemetery

Time's running and there's still a lot to do.

Are you a family with kids?

Biblioteca Delfini is Modena's best public library. Go there to chill with books and sit next to the University students.

Or relax at Parco Amendola, designed by local architect Cesare Leonardi. An oasis of peace.

Passione about fast cars?

Museo Ferrari is your place, close to Modena's train station.

Young couple in love with design and art?

I'd visit an underrated and incomplete masterpiece of Italian design: Aldo Rossi's Cemetery. You need a taxi or a 20-minute walk, but on the way, you can also check a street artwork by BLU.
Your Instagram profile will thank me.

5. Balsamic and gelato for a bittersweet goodbye

The sunset over the Ghirlandina and Google Calendar are telling you it's time to jump on a train.
Too bad because I could give you so many more things to do.

A Balsamic tasting to learn all about Modena's most precious food.

A visit to Vacchetta Grassa, an old leather craftsman shop for a special gift.

A lambrusco spritz aperitivo in Piazza della Pomposa.

But at least do one thing for me.
Get gelato at Bloom to say goodbye to Modena with sweetness.

Do you want to save time and effort?

So, I've shared my ideal itinerary for a food day in Modena.
But when time is running, it's better to get shortcuts.

Join our food tour in Modena that includes a deep visit to Mercato Albinelli, Balsamic tasting, Parmigiano and local cheese, tigelle, desserts and most of all: A LOT OF FUN.