Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Parma's train and bus stations are close together on Piazzale dalla Chiesa at the northern edge of the city's historic centre.

Frequent trains (www.trenitalia.com) connect Parma with Milan (1.25hr), Bologna (1hr), Brescia (2hr), Modena (30min) and Piacenza (30min).

TEP (www.tep.pr.it in Italian) operate buses throughout the region, including into the Apennines. There are up to six daily buses connecting with Busseto (1.25hr) via Soragna (1hr).

Parma is on the A1, linking Bologna and Milan, and just east of the A15, which runs to La Spezia. Via Emilia (S9) passes right through the town.

The closest large airports are at Bologna and Milan (Linate).

Getting around

Over 20 TEP bus lines (www.tep.pr.it, in Italian) crisscross the city and outlying suburbs of Parma, departing from the bus station on Piazzale dalla Chiesa.

Plentiful parking surrounds the car-free centre of the old town - try the underground car park on Viale Toschi or the many meters near the station.

In the squares and cobbled lanes of the historic centre, bicycles rule. The municipality rents out bicycles - conventional and electric - from Parma Punto Bici (www.parmapuntobici.pr.it, in Italian; Viale Toschi 2; 9:30-13:00 & 15:00-18:30).

For the local taxi service, call 0521 25 25 62.