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Major city · Italy

Modena

Give Modena one full day and one night: cathedral, Ghirlandina and Piazza Grande in the morning, food and an acetaia in the afternoon. Two nights if you add Maranello.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Dec
Airports
BLQ · MXP
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Italy and Malta ↗The region's headline sights run on timed tickets that sell out: book the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, the Last Supper and Malta's Hypogeum before you fix train and hotel dates.
  • Italy and Malta ↗Budget for per-night city taxes in Italy (up to about €10 a person in Rome), Malta's per-night environmental contribution, and Venice's day-visitor fee on peak days; none are included in most online room prices.
  • Italy ↗Italy is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • Italy ↗Historic centres are ZTL limited-traffic zones: cameras fine any unauthorised car that enters, often months later through the hire company. Park outside and walk in.
  • Italy ↗Regional train tickets bought on paper must be validated in the machine on the platform before boarding; digital tickets carry a time and need no stamping.
  • Italy ↗Venice charges day-visitors an access fee on selected peak days; check the city's official site if you are not sleeping there.

Modena is a compact Emilia-Romagna city of about 185,000 people, 40 km from Bologna and on the Milan–Bologna fast line. Its UNESCO core — the 12th-century cathedral, Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina tower — fits in a morning on foot. The rest of the draw is food and cars: tortellini, balsamic vinegar, Lambrusco, and the Ferrari museums at Maranello. Most travellers see it as a day trip from Bologna or a single night between Florence and Milan.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Modena, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeEspresso at the bar€1.20–1.50 (≈ US$2)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
  • Museum or sight ticketGhirlandina tower entry€3 (≈ US$4)
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedCentral hotel double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedCentral hotel double room, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

UNESCO cathedral, Piazza Grande and Ghirlandina towerBalsamic vinegar acetaieTortellini, Lambrusco and Parmigiano ReggianoEnzo Ferrari and the Maranello car museums
Airports
BLQ Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (40 km away; direct SACA bus to Modena about every two hours, 50 min, €15 single or €25 return, buy on the bus) · MXP Milan Malpensa (Further but often cheaper; train via Milan to Modena, about 2.5–3 h total)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Modena: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

0°C

7 rd

Feb

10°C

1°C

6 rd

Mar

15°C

5°C

7 rd

Apr

19°C

9°C

9 rd

May

24°C

13°C

9 rd

Jun

28°C

17°C

8 rd

Jul

31°C

20°C

6 rd

Aug

31°C

20°C

6 rd

Sep

26°C

16°C

7 rd

Oct

20°C

11°C

8 rd

Nov

13°C

6°C

9 rd

Dec

8°C

1°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is flat and walkable; the cathedral, Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina are within a few minutes of each other. SETA runs trolleybus and bus lines, roughly 06:00–21:00, with a night line 7N in the evening. Tickets are sold on board, at the station or at the bus station. Bikes are a local habit — free yellow bikes are lent from the IAT office in Piazza Grande against a €20 deposit. Taxis run 24/7.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Maranello (Ferrari Museum)

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Bus from Modena bus station, about 40–50 min; or car

Book museum tickets ahead; the factory area is not open to casual visitors.

Bologna

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Regional or fast train from Modena station, 25–35 min

Easy half-day or evening; trains run frequently.

Carpi

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus or train north, about 30 min

Pleasant small centre and the Philosophy Festival shares it with Modena; not a full day on its own.

Parma

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Train west, about 30–40 min

Good pairing for food and the frescoed cathedral; do it as a half-day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Historic centre (Piazza Grande, Via Emilia)

Walk to everything; ZTL camera zone, so only drive in with a hotel permit.

Around the railway station

500 m north of the centre; best for one night with bags and early trains.

Via Taglio, Via Gallucci and Piazza della Pomposa

Cafés, wine bars and evening food; still walkable to the cathedral.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
Mid
€90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
High
€160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Central hotel double room1 × 1 night × €130€130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110€220
SACA bus BLQ airport ↔ Modena, return2 × €25€50
Urban bus single ticket2 × €2 · check€3
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€43
Trip total≈ €238 per person per day, bed included€476≈ US$600

2026 estimate in euro; trains and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Espresso at the bar€1.20–1.50 (≈ US$2)
Plate of tortellini in a trattoria€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
Glass of Lambrusco€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
Ghirlandina tower entry€3 (≈ US$4)
Cathedral museums combined ticket€6 (≈ US$7)
Balsamic vinegar acetaia tourFree via the tourist office, book ahead
5 km taxi€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Modena is a calm, low-risk city; the real issues are ZTL camera fines, bicycles on shared paths and pickpockets around the station and market at busy times. Emergency number is 112.
  • The historic centre is a ZTL camera zone: driving in without a hotel permit means a fine by post.
  • Modena railway station has no left-luggage office — plan bags around that.
  • Osteria Francescana needs a booking months ahead and starts around €325 (≈ US$400) before wine.
  • Summer afternoons in Jul–Aug are hot and sticky; do the tower and cathedral early.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies (EU-wide)
112
Police
113
Fire
115
Ambulance
118

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ModenaModena

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A questo indirizzo, per favoreTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies112
  • Police113
  • Fire115
  • Ambulance118

Embassy

No embassies in Modena; most are in Rome, with consulates in Milan and Florence. Check your own country's list.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • BLQ airport → Modena, SACA bus: €15 (≈ US$18) single, €25 (≈ US$30) return, about 50 min, buy on the bus
  • Modena → Bologna, train: €5–10 (≈ US$6–12) regional, 25–35 min (check)
  • Urban bus single ticket: about €1.50 (≈ US$2) (check)

Say or show

  • Buongiorno — Hello / Good day (bwon-JOR-no)
  • Grazie — Thank you (GRAH-tsee-eh)
  • Il conto, per favore — The bill, please (eel KON-toh per fa-VOH-reh)
  • Un bicchiere di Lambrusco, per favore — A glass of Lambrusco, please (oon beek-KYEH-reh dee lam-BROOS-koh)
  • Posso pagare con la carta? — Can I pay by card? (POS-soh pa-GAH-reh kon la KAR-tah)
  • Dov'è il bagno? — Where is the toilet? (doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh)

Coperto (cover charge) is normal on restaurant bills; tipping is not expected.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Modena. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Dec · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BLQ: SACA bus times field-checked, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Piazza Grande and cathedral, Via Emilia, Palazzo dei Musei, Giardini Pubblici.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Ghirlandina, cathedral museums, Enzo Ferrari Museum, Maranello) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Acetaia and food-producer booking fixtures so gate A can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Italy

Sources