Modena Attractions: 7 Highlights & Tips

Modena – The attic of City Hall smells like vinegar, and that’s no accident—it’s part of the plan. The city in Emilia-Romagna has been doing this since 1997 UNESCO World Heritage Site Right in the heart of the city, Ferrari, Maserati, and Pagani are being built just outside the city gates, and their balsamic vinegar is aged in barrels for at least twelve years before it’s bottled.

The most important Modena sights are so close together that you can see them all on foot in a single day: the cathedral, Ghirlandina Tower and Piazza Grande are both listed on the World Heritage List; the Museo Enzo Ferrari is located on the western edge of the old town.

This guide shows you the Seven Highlights, which ones are really worth it, how much admission will cost in 2026, how to get there — and why you might want to go somewhere else on Monday.

How much do the attractions in Modena cost?

Between 0 and 12 euros—and the city's most important landmark is free. There is no admission fee for the cathedral, and the historic halls of City Hall are open to the public Monday through Saturday. You only have to pay for attractions that require climbing or a guided tour: the tower, the Essigboden, and the museums.

Admission is free to the cathedral, the historic halls of City Hall from Monday through Saturday, and a stroll through the Albinelli Market the aforementioned market hall, as well as the Galleria Estense and the Museo della Figurina, every first Sunday of the month. If you’re on a tight budget, plan your visit for that specific Sunday—that way, you’ll have money left over for the tasting.

What are the 7 must-see attractions in Modena?

It’s easier to choose here than in Bologna or Parma, because Modena’s highlights are concentrated in a small area. Six of the seven destinations listed below are located within the old town; the seventh is just a few streets away.

1. Modena Cathedral — Romanesque Architecture You Can Touch

The Modena Cathedral is the reason why the city is on the World Heritage List. Architect Lanfranco began in 1099; the sculptor Wiligelmo created the reliefs on the facade—the story of creation carved in stone, at eye level, with no barrier. The crypt houses the tomb of the San Geminiano, the patron saint of the city.

Admission is free. The church is open continuously from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and on Mondays from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors who wish to see the chancel and the sacristy—the elevated area overlooking the nave—pay €3.00.

Good to know: Tours are not allowed during the mass—and the mass schedule isn’t posted anywhere clearly visible. So don’t plan to visit the cathedral first thing on Sunday morning; instead, save it for late afternoon. That’s when the sun is in the right position for the reliefs to cast shadows, making them visible for the first time.

2. The Ghirlandina Tower — 89 meters, but not all the way to the top

The cathedral's bell tower is called Ghirlandina, based on the stone garlands beneath the spire, and according to official figures, it measures 89.32 meters. It is the symbol of Modena and can be seen from almost every street in the Old Town.

Admission costs €6.00, €4.00 with a discount, and is free for children under twelve. It is open from April through September from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and from October through March until 6:00 p.m. Admission is in 45-minute time slots starting at 9:45 a.m., with a maximum of 25 people per slot — You won't be able to get in without an online reservation.

Good to know: For safety reasons, the trail ends at the Sala dei Torresani, the old guardroom. The top is not accessible. Anyone expecting a classic observation deck will be disappointed. What you get is better than a panoramic view: a glimpse into the interior of a Romanesque tower, where the tower keepers’ living quarters still stand.

3. Piazza Grande and the historic town hall chambers

The Piazza Grande is the third part of the World Heritage Site and the place where Modena comes together. On the corner by City Hall stands the Bonissima, a small stone figure measuring 137 centimeters, the origin of which no one has been able to prove with certainty to this day.

Behind the arcade, a staircase leads up to the historical sales, the historic halls of City Hall. Six rooms are open to the public, including the Hall of Firewhich Hall of the Tapestries and the old council chamber. The Secchia Rapita, that wooden bucket which the people of Modena brought back from Bologna in 1325 after the Battle of Zappolino and about which Alessandro Tassoni wrote an entire epic.

From Monday through Friday, the galleries are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; and on Sundays and holidays only during scheduled admission times from 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Admission is free on weekdays and costs €5.00 on Sundays. Reservations are required, and you have a maximum of 30 minutes.

Good to know: That half-hour sounds short—and it is. But the visit is free on weekdays—go in the morning when hardly anyone is there, and work your way through the galleries in the order in which the staff opens them.

4. The Enzo Ferrari Museum — Birthplace and Yellow Roof

On the western edge of the Old Town, in the 85 Via Paolo Ferrari, stands the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. Next to it stands a hall with a yellow, arched roof—yellow is Modena’s city color and the primary color of the Ferrari crest. Inside, the exhibitions change regularly; in the founder’s birthplace, his biography is presented through a display of films, photographs, and artifacts.

It is open daily: from June through August starting at 9:00 a.m., and at other times starting at 9:30 a.m., until 7:00 p.m.; from November through March, it closes at 6:00 p.m. The Ferrari Museums Pass covers this house and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and costs €38.00 from September through May and €42.00 from June through August. You must visit both museums within 48 hours.

Good to know: The individual prices aren't listed as text on any official website, but only in the booking system—so don't rely on figures from travel portals. If you want to see both houses anyway, the pass is clearly the better deal. You can find out more about the Modena House in our profile of the Museo Enzo Ferrari.

5. The Acetaia Comunale in the attic of City Hall

Above the historic halls lies the municipal vinegar cellar, the Municipal Vinegar Cellar. Three barrel taps are aging here under the roof: two smaller ones are named after rivers Secchia and Panaro, the big one next to the Ghirlandina.

The tour lasts one hour and costs €5.00; children under twelve are free. Tours are offered on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.; on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. in English. Maximum of 20 people, Registration is required at 059 2032660 or [email protected]. At the end, you'll taste both quality levels: the one aged for at least twelve years affinato and the extravecchio Ages 25 and up.

Good to know: The attic isn't wheelchair-accessible, and the stairs are steep. But if you make it up there, you'll get the most honest introduction to balsamic vinegar in the city—led by trained tasters and without any pressure to buy, because the city has nothing to sell here.

6. The Mercato Albinelli — Market Hall since 1931

The covered market hall in the 13 Via Albinelli It opened in 1931 and remains to this day not a museum, but a shopping destination. Beneath the Art Nouveau roof are fruit and vegetable stands, butchers, fishmongers, and cheese counters, interspersed with small eateries featuring their own tables.

The stalls are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturdays from mid-September through the end of May, they stay open until 7 p.m. The The restaurant in the market is open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. — This makes the market a great place to eat in the evening, too.

Good to know: The stalls are closed on Sundays, and if you don't get there until 2 p.m., you'll find the counters already half-taken down. Go around 10 a.m. and buy yourself gnocco fritto — deep-fried dough pockets served warm with ham — and take a seat at one of the empty tables. It's the best lunch in town for a reasonable price.

7. Palazzo Ducale and Via Emilia

The Palazzo Ducale, the Ducal Palace of the Este family, is the city's largest Baroque building. The Duke Francesco I. He began construction in 1634 and commissioned the most renowned architects of his time to work on it. Today, it houses the Italian Military Academy, which is why you can only see the interior on a guided tour—the square in front of it is a pedestrian zone and open to the public.

From the palace, the Via Farini Back to Via Emilia, that Roman consular road that has crossed Modena from east to west for over two thousand years. It is the Old Town’s main shopping street: arcades, artisan shops, bars. Between the Piazza Sant’Agostino with the Palazzo dei Musei and the Largo Porta Bologna You'll walk the entire length of the historic district.

Good to know: As of press time, no official website had confirmed whether or when guided tours of the Palazzo Ducale would take place. Check with the tourist office on Piazza Grande—and if there aren’t any tours, the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Musei is a good alternative; it’s open anyway.

Which museums are worth visiting in Modena?

Four Houses Beyond the Highlights — one for art, one for soccer photos, one for opera, and one for supercars.

The Galleria Estense At the Palazzo dei Musei, the collection of the Dukes of Este is on display, including works by Guercino, Annibale Carracci and Dosso Dossi. Admission: €8.00; €2.00 for ages 18 to 25; free for those under 18. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Closed on Mondays. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month.

The Museum of Figurines works Giuseppe Panini back, the founder of the trading card publishing company. It is located in the Palazzo Santa Margherita at Corso Canalgrande 103 and features soccer photos as well as old prints, calendars, and printed matchboxes. Admission: €10.00; reduced rate: €7.00 or €5.00. In July and August, it is open only in the afternoons from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday; otherwise, it is open Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. without a break.

The Luciano Pavarotti House Museum The tenor's home at Stradello Nava 6 has been preserved in its original state. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5 p.m., and admission costs €12.00 (reduced rate: €10.00). The audio guide, available in eight languages, is included in the price.

If you like engines, keep driving to the Horacio Pagani Museum in San Cesario sul Panaro — €18.00 for the museum alone, €65.00 including a one-hour factory tour, for which a reservation is required. The MUDETEC, the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, costs €18.00; reduced price €14.00.

How do you get to Modena?

By train from Bologna, by direct bus from the airport. Modena is located on the historic Milan–Bologna railway line; the train station is situated on the Dante Alighieri Square. It takes about a quarter of an hour to walk from the train station to downtown, or about seven to nine minutes by bus lines 7 and 11.

There is no stop for high-speed trains in Modena. The official tourism website refers instead to the Italobus, which leads to the AV station Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana runs back and forth. Anyone traveling by train from Germany usually changes trains in Bologna.

From the airport Bologna Guglielmo Marconi There is a direct bus to Modena, operated by ATCM and known as Aerbus on the way. It takes 50 minutes. Alternatively, the Marconi Express, the airport monorail, takes seven minutes to reach Bologna Centrale Station, and from there you can continue your journey by regional train.

By car, Modena is located directly on the A1 between Milan and Bologna. Within the city, SETA bus service under the fare brand aMo.

Parking belongs on the outskirts of the Old Town. The Downtown Parking Lot under the Parco Novi Sad has 1,720 spaces, is open 24 hours a day, and costs €1.50 per hour during the day and €0.50 at night. The underground parking garage Creativity Park offers 248 parking spaces for €1.50 during the day and €0.40 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. The cheapest space is Former MOI at Via Borelli 90, at a rate of €0.75 per hour. The blue street parking spaces in the city center cost between €0.75 and €2.20 per hour, depending on the zone, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Payment can be made at a payment machine or via the Mycicero, Bmove, and Telepass apps.

Good to know: The parking lot at the Sant’Agostino Square will be closed from June 9 to September 30, 2026, due to summer events. If you're arriving during this time, head straight to Parco Novi Sad—it's big enough that you'll be able to find a spot there even in August.

What should you definitely try in Modena?

Tortellini in broth, gnocco fritto, and authentic balsamic vinegar — in that order. The Tortellini in Broth are the hallmark of Modenese cuisine: tiny rings of pasta filled with meat, which are eaten not in sauce but in clear broth. Larger and usually filled with ricotta and spinach are the tortelloni, plus handmade tagliatelle and passatelli, a coarse pasta made from breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, and nutmeg.

Perfect as a side dish or snack gnocco fritto, the deep-fried dough balls, and crescentine — the flatbreads that are usually found outside the region tigelle is called, even though that term actually refers to the baking pan. In winter, zampone on the table, a stuffed pork shank, which serves as Zampone Modena PGI is protected.

People drink Lambrusco, and not the sweet supermarket wine. The consortium oversees four designations of origin related to the province: Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce and Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, all three of which have been DOC-designated since 1970, as well as Lambrusco di Modena, a DOP since 2009. The grape varieties from the plains produce crisp, dry wines, while those from the hills around Castelvetro yield fuller-bodied wines with a violet hue.

The spherical 100-milliliter vial for DOP balsamic vinegar was designed in 1987 Giorgetto Giugiaro, the same designer who designed cars for Maserati and Lotus. Anyone holding such a bottle in their hand is holding at least twelve years of work—and a price that no consortium will publicly disclose.

Where's the best place to eat in Modena?

Modena boasts a concentration of top-notch restaurants that is unusual for a city of its size—along with trattorias where local artisans gather for lunch. The following restaurants are listed on their own websites or on the city’s official tourism site.

As of August 2026 · Closing days and hours vary by season; please make a reservation in advance. We have deliberately chosen not to list prices—none of the establishments list them on their own websites.

Good to know: In August, two of the most interesting spots—L’Erba del Re and Hosteria Giusti—are closing. If you’re visiting in the height of summer, you’re better off planning a visit to Mercato Albinelli and Da Enzo—both are open, and both are a fraction of the price.

Where's the best place to stay in Modena?

The Old Town is small enough that every house in the center is within walking distance of all seven highlights. The deciding factor is whether you have a car: If you do, you’ll need either your own parking spot or a house outside the ZTL.

As of August 2026 · All accommodations are booked through their own websites. We do not list room rates—they vary too much between trade show weeks and the off-season.

When is the best time to visit Modena?

April through June and September. Modena is located in the heart of the Po Valley, which is humid in midsummer and foggy in winter. In the spring and early fall, you can sit outside in the evening without breaking a sweat, and the old town isn't overcrowded.

September is the busiest month because it includes two events: the festivalfilosofia and the Open Vinegar Cellars. In July and August, it gets hot, so life moves outdoors, and the city fills the squares with summer events—though this comes at the cost of closed parking areas.

In winter, Modena has a charm all its own: fewer visitors, hearty meals, zampone and bollito misto on the maps. You can see how the weather is currently developing in our overview of the Weather in Modena.

What holidays and celebrations should you plan for?

Two dates have been officially confirmed for 2026, and two more are on a regular schedule.

The festivalfilosofia takes place on September 18–20, 2026 will take place under the theme „Caos,“ spread across Modena, Carpi and Sassuolo. About 200 events, including more than 50 major lectures, and the Admission is free for everything. The city will be crowded this weekend—book early.

On Sunday, September 27, 2026 open at the Open Vinegar Cellars The province's private vinegar cellars offer guided tours and tastings. Each acetaia manages its own schedule and registration process.

The Motor Valley Festival takes place annually in late May in Modena; the 2026 event drew over 70,000 visitors over four days. As of press time, a date for 2027 had not yet been set. Also held annually, on a weekend in late September, is the classic car show Modena Motor Gallery at the convention center ModenaFiere took place.

On January 31 Modena celebrates its patron saint San Geminiano: A procession from City Hall to the cathedral in the morning, Mass at the cathedral, plus a fair with over 500 booths throughout the city center and a road race San Geminiano Bull Run over 13.35 kilometers. City offices will remain closed, but museums and the cathedral will be open. We've compiled a list of other events in the region in our overview of the Events in Emilia-Romagna.

Good to know: The information about the patron saint’s festival comes from the most recent documented edition. Times and the number of exhibitors may vary—but the program itself has remained the same for decades, and anyone who is there that day will experience Modena as it sees itself.

What You Should Know About Modena

Five Things You Won't See in the Glossy Photos — and How to Get Around Them.

1. Monday is the slowest day. The Galleria Estense is closed, as is the Museo della Figurina, but the cathedral opens for a short time at noon. If you only have one day, choose another day. If you stick with Monday: the Ghirlandina, the City Hall halls, and the Museo Enzo Ferrari are open—that’s enough for a full day.

2. You need a reservation for almost everything worth seeing. You wouldn't normally think to include Ghirlandina, the City Hall halls, the Acetaia Comunale, and the Pagani factory tour on a whim. Book these three city attractions all at once through the tourist office, and you'll have your day planned in half an hour.

3. The ZTL is unforgiving. The cameras run around the clock, and you’ll receive the traffic ticket even in Germany—often months later. Park your car at Parco Novi Sad and leave it there; you can walk through the old town from east to west in twenty minutes.

4. The Po Valley gets really hot in August. There's shade under the arcades of the Via Emilia, and cool temperatures in the museums and the market hall. Schedule your outdoor activities for early morning and late afternoon, and save the rest for indoors.

5. Genuine balsamic vinegar is expensive, and it will stay that way. If you see a bottle for a few euros at the supermarket, it’s IGP, not DOP. That’s not a scam—it’s just a different product. If you want the real thing, buy it in town from one of the producers—and get the small vial, not the large bottle.

Who should visit Modena?

For Travelers Seeking Culinary Delights Modena is one of Italy's most concentrated culinary destinations: three Michelin-starred restaurants, a market hall dating from 1931, a municipal vinegar cellar, and four Lambrusco appellations all within a small area.

For motorsports fans This is where Motor Valley begins. The Enzo Ferrari Museum is in the town of Maranello, with Pagani and Lamborghini nearby, plus a racetrack where you can drive yourself.

For those interested in architecture and art The cathedral is a must-see—Romanesque architectural sculpture of this quality and accessibility is rare in Italy.

For Families The city's main attractions are the Museo della Figurina and the Ferrari museums, rather than the churches. Children around eight years old and older can climb the tower.

Combine Modena with Maranello, Bologna, and Parma

Modena is so centrally located that day trips are practically a given. Maranello with the Ferrari Museum is about 20 kilometers away, a little over half an hour by car. After Bologna The regional train runs several times an hour, to Parma With the ham and Parmesan, things are heading in the opposite direction. You can find all the region's destinations listed together in the Emilia-Romagna Travel Guide.

Our conclusion: Modena is the most compact city of culinary delights in northern Italy

You don’t need three days or a plan to see Modena. The cathedral, the tower, the town hall halls, the vinegar cellar, and the market hall are all within a quarter of a kilometer of each other, and if you arrive in the morning, you’ll have seen everything that matters by evening. The city doesn’t try to impose itself—it’s simply great, without making a big fuss about it.

When it comes to money, the order matters. The most important building is free, as are the City Hall halls on weekdays, and if you visit on the first Sunday of the month, you get the Galleria Estense and the Museo della Figurina thrown in for good measure. It only gets expensive if you opt for the automotive world: the Ferrari Pass, Pagani, and Autodromo quickly add up to over a hundred euros per person.

The best next step is to make a reservation—for Ghirlandina, the City Hall Halls, and the Acetaia Comunale all at once. After that, it’s worth taking a look at the Emilia-Romagna Travel Guide, to fill the days in between.

Prices, hours of operation, and schedules are subject to change—check the official websites for the latest information before you travel.