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Modena

Motors, Music and Balsamic Magic

Modena, Italy presents a clear picture of Italian culture through its food and history. The city is known worldwide for traditional balsamic vinegar production alongside world-class car manufacturing. Visitors find medieval architecture in the old town center with landmarks like the Cathedral showcasing intricate marble facades. Local markets sell fresh produce from nearby farms while cafes serve regional specialties such as tortellini and Lambrusco wine. The city maintains a balance between preserving heritage sites and supporting modern industries without losing its authentic character.

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City in Italy

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 9.6

General Safety:	10
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	10

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions, especially in the city center. Most staff can help with directions and recommendations, though a few Italian phrases are always appreciated.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Modena Summary

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World-class for food heritage. Taste traditional balsamic vinegar, enjoy famous Italian cuisine, visit historic piazzas and explore car and food museums.

Place score

8.3

Best at:

Local cuisine

Fine dining

Walkable

Cosy towns

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

👩 9

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Italy – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Italy, particularly in cities. While larger establishments and chains are fully cashless, smaller shops may still prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Italy, especially in restaurants where 10-15% is typical. Tipping for taxi drivers is usually rounded up or 5-10%. Small tips for hotel staff are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Italy, especially in public squares and during festivals. In some regions, it is illegal to drink alcohol in certain areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces and on public transport. Designated smoking areas are available outside.

Ferragosto (August)	Many businesses close, and Italians take holidays. It’s very busy in tourist areas.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets and festivities are popular, expect higher prices and crowded attractions.
La Befana (January)	Celebrated on January 6, the Epiphany is a public holiday with festive events, and some businesses close.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, ItTaxi
Other:	Italy's tourist infrastructure is well-developed, but some rural or historical areas may require extra planning for accessibility.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Modena, Italy

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	April - June, Sep. - Oct.
Shoulder season:	March, July, Dec.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

August: many restaurants, shops and acetaie (balsamic vinegar producers) close for two to three weeks as locals leave

Fog is common November to February and can obscure views and slow road travel

Don't miss

⛪ Visit the UNESCO-listed Modena Cathedral and Ghirlandina Tower
🏎️ Explore Museo Enzo Ferrari and classic car displays
🍶 Taste traditional balsamic vinegar at Acetaia Giusti
🏛️ Stroll through Piazza Grande and historical city center
🛒 Shop and savor delights at Mercato Albinelli market
🏰 Visit Ducal Palace, admire Este family baroque architecture

You've been here?

Why travel to Modena?

Modena is for anyone who loves the good life – think world-class cuisine, fast cars and rich history. You can marvel at the Duomo and Ghirlandina Tower, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, stroll through the grand Piazza Grande or lose yourself in the Ducal Palace’s baroque splendor. Car enthusiasts will be in heaven at the Ferrari Museums and Maserati factory, while foodies can tour traditional balsamic vinegar cellars or sample Parmigiano Reggiano at local dairies. Don’t miss a meal in a local trattoria-Modena’s tortellini, Lambrusco wine and charcuterie are legendary. Just know that the city can get muggy in summer and winter sometimes brings air pollution and fog. The historic center is mostly pedestrian, but traffic and parking can be tricky, so plan to walk or use public transport.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Palazzo dei Musei
2 Museo Enzo Ferrari
3 Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti
4 Duomo di Modena
5 Piazza Grande

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Secchia
2 Panaro
3 Parco Enzo Ferrari

🛍️Shopping

1 Bigliardi e Garuti
2 Fabbri Boutiques

🎈Events

Modena Street Festival
La Bonissima Food Festival
Antiques Market in Piazza Grande
Modena Terra di Motori (Motor Festival)
Opera Season at Teatro Comunale
Christmas Markets
Modena Street Food Festival
Modena Belcanto Opera Events
Festa di San Geminiano (January)
Modena Jazz Festival

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Climb Ghirlandina Tower for panoramic city views.
Visit Modena Cathedral's crypt to see Saint Geminiano relics and Romanesque art.
Taste aged balsamic vinegar at traditional acetaia producers in the hills.
Book Ferrari Museum tickets ahead; birthplace of Enzo Ferrari draws huge crowds.

How to travel to Modena

Modena is well connected by train – just 20 minutes from Bologna and about 2 hours from Milan or Florence. The nearest major airport is Bologna (BLQ), with frequent trains and shuttle buses to Modena. Driving is possible, but be mindful of ZTL (limited traffic zones) in the old town.

Access summary

From Bologna (BLQ): Shuttle or taxi to Bologna Centrale, train ~20–30 min.
From Bologna city: Frequent regional trains to Modena, about 20–30 minutes.
From Milan: Direct/high-speed trains to Modena, usually around 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Modena

Modena offers a range of accommodation: boutique hotels and B&Bs in the historic center, modern hotels near the station and country inns in the surrounding hills. Book ahead for festivals and weekends. Many places are within walking distance of the main sights.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

UNA Hotels Bologna Centro

8.6

Mercure Bologna Centro Hotel

NH Bologna De La Gare

8.6

Astoria Hotel Italia

8.0

Art Hotel Commercianti

9.0

Hotel Internazionale

8.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Modena

The historic center is compact and best explored on foot – most major sights are within easy walking distance. Local buses connect outlying neighborhoods and attractions like the Ferrari Museum. Parking is limited in the center and traffic can be heavy, so use public transport or walk whenever possible.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+2 %

Daily expenses in Modena are around 2% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£60	£132	£331
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£21	£45	£90
🍝 Food per day	£31	£77	£211
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£9	£29

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£34
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£18
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£1.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£8.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£75
🤧 Cold medication	£8.50
💇 Basic haircut	£12.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Modena is very safe, with low violent crime. Usual precautions apply — watch for pickpockets in busy markets and tourist areas. Traffic in the center can be hectic, so use crosswalks and pay attention when walking.

Health & Medical

Excellent medical care is available, with clinics and pharmacies in the center. Bring any prescription meds. Tap water is safe. In winter, air pollution can be an issue — those with respiratory conditions should check forecasts.

Accessibility

Most main sights, shops and streets are accessible, but some old town areas have cobblestones or uneven pavement. Public transport and many hotels are accessible — check ahead for specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and widely available. Public fountains are found in parks and squares — carry a bottle to refill, especially in summer.