A Modena balsamic vinegar tour shows you how the real thing is made: traditional balsamic vinegar ages for years in rows of wooden barrels in an attic loft, called an acetaia. Two options lead Viator. The tasting at Cavedoni, a family acetaia, is rated 5.0 across 274 reviews, from about $87. The food tour in town, with an acetaia visit, is rated 4.9 across 136 reviews, from about $127.
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The verdict
The Cavedoni tasting is our pick for balsamic itself. For two hours, a local guide takes you through a family acetaia in the hills outside Modena and ends with a tasting with snacks and drinks. Almost every review is five stars. You need your own way there, though; the listing gives directions from Bologna by train.
The food tour suits you if you want Modena’s food in general. Over three and a half hours you visit four to six shops and market stalls, taste gnocco fritto and Parmigiano Reggiano, and finish at an acetaia with 12- and 25-year-old balsamic. It starts in Piazza Grande, so there is no transport to plan.
Both are listed as wheelchair accessible on Viator.
The aged, protected product is sold as Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena; the everyday bottle in supermarkets is a different product. A tour is the best way to taste the difference. For Bologna, a short train ride away, see our guide to things to do in Bologna.
Which one is for you?
Take the Cavedoni tasting if
- You want the highest rating: 5.0 from 274 travelers.
- Balsamic is the main reason you are going.
- You have a car, or don’t mind a taxi.
- You prefer the lower price, from about $87.
Take the food tour if
- You want to taste more than balsamic.
- You want to start in central Modena.
- You want aged balsamic of 12 and 25 years.
- You like walking a city with a guide.
What each price covers
The Cavedoni tasting, from about $87
Included: a local guide, a food tasting, snacks and alcoholic drinks.
Not included: transport to the acetaia.
The food tour, from about $127
Included: visits to four to six local shops and market stalls, five or more tastings including gnocco fritto, balsamic and Parmigiano Reggiano, and an acetaia visit with 12- and 25-year-old balsamic.
Not included: hotel pickup and drop-off.
Where each one starts
- Cavedoni tasting: at the acetaia, Via Guerro di Qua 2, in Ca’ Montanari, outside Modena.
- Food tour: at the Pietra Ringadora stone in Piazza Grande, in central Modena.
Side by side
| Cavedoni tasting | Food tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 from 274 | 4.9 from 136 |
| Five-star reviews | 267 (97%) | 129 (95%) |
| Price | from about $87 | from about $127 |
| Length | 2 hours | 3 h 30 min |
| Focus | Balsamic only | Food tour plus acetaia |
| Transport | Your own | Starts in town |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair accessible | Wheelchair accessible |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the Cavedoni tasting
Tour was authentic and very well presented.
Stephanie_C, September 2026, via Viator
A wonderful experience!
Michael_R, September 2026, via Viator
On the food tour
A very informative stroll around Modena.
Robert_K, September 2026, via Viator
Modena is a fabulous city to walk around and enjoy.
Jami_B, July 2026, via Viator
Both are reviewed mostly with five stars: 97% of the Cavedoni tasting ratings and 95% of the food tour ratings. Three stars or lower make up fewer than 1% of the reviews on the first and about 2% on the second.
How balsamic fits a trip to Emilia-Romagna
Nearby, the Parma food tour covers Parmigiano and prosciutto, and the Ferrari tour in Maranello is a short drive from Modena. In Bologna, compare the Bologna food tour and the Bologna cooking class.
For the region, read our guide to things to do in Bologna and our northern Italy itinerary.
Questions travelers ask
Which Modena balsamic vinegar tour should I book?
For balsamic alone, the Cavedoni tasting, rated 5.0 from 274 reviews on Viator, from about $87 (checked September 2026). For a wider food tour in town, the option with an acetaia visit, from about $127.
What is an acetaia?
The loft or attic where balsamic vinegar ages in wooden barrels. Both tours include a visit to one.
Can I do a Modena balsamic vinegar tour from Bologna?
Yes. Modena is a short train ride from Bologna. The Cavedoni listing gives directions from Bologna; the food tour starts in Piazza Grande.
How long is a Modena balsamic vinegar tour?
About two hours for the Cavedoni tasting, and about three and a half hours for the food tour.
Can I cancel a Modena balsamic vinegar tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the Cavedoni tasting for balsamic itself; book the food tour for a taste of all of Modena.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 27966P1 and 86113P2), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.