Looking for a cycling destination with history, options for flat and hilly rides, and lots of amazing food? Keep reading to find out where to go cycling near Parma!
History and culture? Check.
Hilltop castles and villages? Check.
Twisty mountain roads, AND flat-as-a-pancake cycle paths? Check.
So much delicious food, to make it a UNESCO City of Gastronomy? Check.
Are you curious yet? I’m talking about Parma, a town in the northern part of Emilia-Romagna, well known by all food lovers for being the birthplace of Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma ham and many more.
The region of Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy’s most popular cycling destinations – you just need to cycle a short distance from the larger cities to find yourself surrounded by hills and villages, riding along well-maintained roads with very little traffic, with the guarantee that you’ll find good food anywhere you stop.
If you’ve watched the Tour de France 2024 Grand Depart, which took place in Emilia-Romagna, you’ll know what I’m talking about!
Parma didn’t feature in the Grand Depart, but having visited several times before I was aware of the great cycling potential of the area surrounding the city. North of Parma you’ll find the Bassa, the flatlands surrounding the Po River – a great destination if you love flat cycling routes. Moving south, you’ll quickly reach the foothills of the Apennines, and the further south you go, the higher those hills get.
We recently spent 3 days cycling near Parma, as part of EMCC 2025 – a yearly gathering of cycling media and creators from all over Europe. Here is a selection of cycling itineraries around Parma, with options for everyone!
Best Places to Go Cycling in Parma
1) Food Valley Bike
Cycling and eating go hand in hand, right? Given Parma’s gastronomic heritage, I could only start this list of the best itineraries for cycling near Parma with Food Valley Bike, a 90-km cycleway along the Po Valley, passing through some gastronomic hotspots like Zibello, home of the famous culatello.
The route is entirely flat and along a mix of towpaths along the Po and other canals, plus cycle paths and secondary roads with little traffic. It can be done with all sorts of bikes, but if you are riding a road bike be aware that some sections are unpaved/gravel.
I’ve written a detailed guide about the Food Valley Bike, with info on all the gastronomic spots as well as Ingorda, a food and cycling event in May/June along the cycleway with even MORE food and wine stops. Sign me up for next year!
2) Ciclovia Boschi di Carrega
One of the main draws of cycling near Parma is the diversity of landscapes and attractions you’ll encounter. Together with the neighbouring provinces of Piacenza and Reggio Emilia, there are over 100 cycling itineraries to choose from – some focusing on nature, some on art and history, or all of the above.
A place we really enjoyed were the Boschi di Carrega, a forested nature reserve that was once the hunting reserve of the local dukes. There’s a mix of deciduous and exotic trees, mainly conifers planted for ornamental purposes, as well as a beech forest planted by Marie Louise, Napoleon’s wife who lived in nearby Colorno.
The shady forest and gentle gradients make this itinerary perfect in all seasons, even in the heat of summer. The Ciclovia Boschi di Carrega starts in Collecchio, about 15 km south of Parma, and loops through the forest with a gentle climb before heading back to the city. You can learn more about the route and download the GPX map here.
3) Castelli Parmensi
Some of the rides in the Parma province are part of a network of itineraries called PedalArt, focused on the discovery of artistic, historic and cultural attractions. There are 18 PedalArt routes in the Parma province alone, each with a different theme – you can see them all on a map here.
A very interesting itinerary is the one marked on the map as Castelli Parmensi – PR7, dedicated to the discovery of castles in the hills around Parma. The route is 50 km long, heading south from the city to Panocchia Castle, dating back to the 18th century, and then to Torrechiara, probably the best-known castle near Parma.
Torrechiara was built in the 15th century by a local nobleman and given as a gift to his lover. The castle sits on a hilltop (it’s a steep climb – male sure you’re in the right gears), in a strategic position overlooking the hills and flatlands to the north. The castle has a pretty cobbled courtyard with a restaurant, and the interiors are decorated with frescos honouring the love between the nobleman and his beloved Bianca.
If it looks familiar, it may be because it was a filming location for the legendary movie Ladyhawke!
After Torrechiara, the itinerary continues to the castles of Felino and Sala Braganza, which you can admire from outside. You can find the GPX map of this route here – it’s also possible to combine this itinerary with the Ciclovia Boschi di Carrega, and in this case you’ll be riding approx 70 km.
4) L’Etape du Tour de France
Do you like racing more than travelling around leisurely with your bike? To honour the 2024 Grand Depart, Parma now also hosts L’Etape du Tour de France, a Gran Fondo race open to everyone.
What makes L’Etape unique is that the routes are designed by Tour de France experts, aiming to recreate an atmosphere similar to that of the Grand Boucle – think polka dots on summit tops, green banners before the sprint segments, and the like. All roads are close to the traffic, and the rest stations include some regional specialties, like a giant wheel of Parmigiano!
The 2025 edition of L’Etape took place on May 4th, along two different routes – a shorter one, measuring 81 km with 1500 meters altitude gain, and a longer one extending further into the hills for 133 km with 2600 meters altitude gain.
I opted to race the shorter route, and found it really scenic and just the right length – however, if you are a beginner cyclist please be aware that the climbs are fairly steep. On L’Etape website you can find the GPX files for the two routes, both great itineraries to go cycling near Parma!
5) Via Francigena
From racing to slow, mindful exploration, Parma really has it all! Those into bikepacking might be happy to know that Parma is only a short distance away from the Via Francigena, the long-distance hiking/cycling route connecting Canterbury and Rome.
Starting in Parma, you can cycle 28 km to Fornovo along the banks of the Taro River, following the Ciclovia del Taro (Taro Cycleway). From Fornovo onwards you can start following the official Via Francigena, marked by a brown sign with a pilgrim.
The route continues a further 40 km to Cassio, Berceto and finally to the Cisa Pass, marking the border with Tuscany. In total, from Parma to the Cisa Pass you’ll be riding approximately 68 km with 1400 altitude gain along the “official” route – naturally you can also opt to take detours, ride through the woods or visit nearby locations. Take a look at our Via Francigena guide for some ideas.
From the Cisa, the total distance to Rome along the Via Francigena is about a further 500 km – you can take as long or as little as you wish. One thing is certain – reaching the Eternal City on your bike after riding halfway across Italy will be truly unforgettable!
This article was written following our participation in EMCC 2025, the European Media Cycling Championship in Parma. Thanks everyone 🙂