How to get to Parma
Parma is located in Northern Italy, midway between Milan and Bologna, and is easily accessible by air, train, and road.
If you need more information or assistance, feel free to contact us at general.icocims@unipr.it. Please include “[LOGISTICS]” at the start of your email subject for faster assistance.
Arriving by Air
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- Giuseppe Verdi Airport (PMF): Parma’s local airport is served by Ryanair (to Cagliari, Malta, and Palermo) and FlyOne (to Chişinău). Bus line 6 connects the airport to the city center every 30 minutes for €1.60, payable by card on the bus.
- Bologna Airport (BLQ): Well-connected internationally. From the airport, take the Marconi Express to Bologna Centrale station, then a direct train to Parma.
- Bergamo – Orio al Serio Airport (BGY): A major Ryanair hub. From BGY, reach Parma by bus or by train via Milano Centrale station. Check Google Maps for bus connections and buy tickets in advance.
- Milan – Malpensa Airport (MXP): Italy’s second-busiest airport. You can reach Parma by taking the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale and then a train to Parma.
- Milan – Linate Airport (LIN): Located near Milan’s city center. Take a bus or metro (M4 line) to a Milan railway station, then a regional train to Parma.
- Other Airports: Florence (FLR), Pisa (PSA), Verona (VRN), and Genoa (GOA) are also options but are waaaaay less convenient for reaching Parma.
Arriving by Rail
Parma’s railway station is well-connected to major Italian cities and is within walking distance of the city center.
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- Parma can be reached in under 1.5 hours from Milan or Bologna. Regional trains (“R”) are cheap and frequent, while Inter City (“IC”) and high-speed trains (“FR”) are slightly faster, although less frequent.
- Tickets for regional trains can be bought just before departure, while advance booking for high-speed trains may offer discounts.
- You can search for timetables and buy tickets on Trenitalia’s website (Regional, Inter City, and Frecciarossa-branded high-speed trains) or Italo’s website (Italo-branded high-speed trains).
Arriving by Bus or Car
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- Bus: Parma is accessible by bus from many European and Italian cities. Check FlixBus or Itabus for tickets. Long-distance buses typically stop near the Parma rail station, close to the city center.
- Car: Exit the A1 highway at the “Parma” exit. Parking in the city center is usually paid. When visiting the “Sede Centrale” venue, located in strada dell’Università 12, consider parking at the APCOA “Toschi” underground garage at via Paolo Toschi, 2.