Look in your pantry and you’ll realize that you’re already familiar with Parma.
This city is where your Barilla box of pasta originated, so why not stay a night at a Parma hotel near the famous shop?
Plus, Parma’s got way more than pasta. Museums, stunning palazzos, and even more delicious food are at your fingertips when you stay at the best hotels in Parma.
What area of Parma to stay in?
If you’re visiting Parma for the first time, you’ll want to stay near Parma’s historic center. That’s not to discredit the outer rim of the city; Cittadella Park’s 16th-century fortress is a wonderful place for a stroll and Divertilandia is a great place to while away a rainy day if you have kids.
But the center of Parma is a perfect place to orient yourself as you explore the more modern streets beyond its ancient borders.
Where is the center of Parma?
Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is the historic center of Parma, providing a buffer between the Governor’s Palace and the city’s main artery, Via Mazzini. The Gov’s Palace is also a great landmark when making your way from Parma railway station to the center of Parma: just walk south on Strada Giuseppe Garibaldi until you reach the Palace.
Image Credit: © Edmondo Angelelli. Image Location: Mercure Parma Centro Stendhal, Parma, Italy
The best hotels in Parma, Italy
Spend a night in these Parma, Italy, hotels and discover the difference between Parmesan cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
NH Parma
Best hotel in Parma near the train station
In our opinion, NH Parma stands for “no hassle” since it’s within feet of Parma’s train platforms. This Parma hotel was designed by the same architect who modernized Barcelona’s architectural landscape. Learn more about Parma’s famous faces when you spy paintings of local composer Verdi adorning the suites. The “Lazy Sundays” perk also lets you sleep in, check out late, and munch on breakfast until noon.
Albergo Ristorante Leon d'Oro
Best hotel in Parma for a delicious stay
Albergo Ristorante Leon d’Oro isn’t a hotel with a restaurant; it’s a restaurant that just so happens to have overnight quarters for the visitors who gorge on the Ghinelli family’s recipes until they have no other option than to fall asleep with a smile as wide as their stomachs. Each of the 14 rooms have TVs, Wifi, and a set of sheets to curl up in until breakfast calls.
Grand Hotel de la Ville Parma
Best luxury hotel in Parma
Spoil yourself with a stay at Grand Hotel de la Ville in Parma’s historic center. Treat yourself to a junior suite, as light and airy as you’ll feel after a few drinks at the Bar del Camino. Ristorante Parmigianino is best followed by a trip to the gelateria across the street. And did we mention that La Bottega Barilla, as in the original Barilla pasta shop, is just across the roundabout?
Image Credit: © Luciano Galloni. Image Location: ibis Styles Parma Toscanini, Parma, Italy
ibis Styles Parma Toscanini
Best hotel in Parma chilling by the creek
Who said anything about the riverside being the only waterside worthy of a retreat? Not ibis Styles Parma Toscanini. This relaxed hotel has a breakfast buffet to get your morning off to a good start before a morning walk along the stream (also called Parma) that cuts through the city center. You’ll need it, too; ibis is in a restricted vehicle zone which means you can walk without worry to nearby landmarks like Museo Storico e Fonoteca del Conservatorio Arrigo Boito, Palazzo Tarasconi, and Palazzo Governatore.
Mercure Parma Centro Stendhal
Best hotel in Parma for museum hopping
Somehow, the area around Mercure Parma Centro Stendhal has more museums than the hotel does amenities. Stay comfortably at Mercure Parma Centro Stendhal and make the most of the fabulous location where you can walk to a dozen piazzas, museums, galleries, and more, in 10 minutes or less.
Image Credit: © Edmondo Angelelli. Image Location: Mercure Parma Centro Stendhal, Parma, Italy
Best Western Plus Hotel Farnese
Best hotel on the outskirts of Parma near the airport
Remember all that mumbling we did above about staying outside of the city center? We meant staying at places like Best Western Plus Hotel Farnese. Close to the airport and Divertilandia, this four-star hotel in Parma shines with its garden pool, free rental bicycles, and luggage storage. Sleep in a comfy superior suite with a private balcony, grab a cup of coffee at the Restaurant 51/A, then head out on a bike ride around Parma before you catch your flight.
Trains to Parma
Coming to Parma means you’re already receptive to exploring Italy’s smaller cities. Why not download the Trainline app and scoop up cheap tickets to other great northern Italy destinations? See the filming locations for Letters to Juliet in Verona, spend a night on the shores of Lake Garda, or ignore us completely and head straight to Milan with an empty stomach.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Federica Gentile. Image Location: Piazza della Pace, Parma, Italy