Halfway between Bologna and Reggio Emilia, Modena is easy to pass by—especially in a Ferrari or Maserati, two cars which call this Italian city home. Modena is good for more than gearheads, too: fantastic restaurants, rich music and theatrical history, and a pedestrian-focused medieval center warrant more than a day trip to Modena. Here’s where to stay in Modena, no matter your budget.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Francesco Riccardo Iacomino. Image Location: Modena, Italy
Where to stay in Modena
What is Modena known for?
Modena is the home of Maserati and Ferrari, but you needn’t be a luxury car aficionado to appreciate Modena’s medieval architecture, chef Massimo Bottura’s 3-star Michelin restaurant, the Pavarotti Museum and the traditional balsamic vinegar produced just beyond your salad bowl.
Does Modena have a train station?
Yes, Modena train station is located in the center of the city. Trains from Bologna, Milan, Rome, and more roll into this train station, allowing you to get fast, affordable transport to Modena from an international airport or another Italian city.
Are hotels in Modena, Italy, cheap?
When it comes to budget hotels in Modena, Italy, the family-owned Hotel San Geminiano’s residential address gives that home-away-from-home feel. It’s within a half-mile of the Duomo, and more than half the price of fancier hotels farther from the city center. Hotel Donatello is one of the other Modena hotels that doesn’t ask for much of your budget to stay in a large room near the Michelangelo Theater.
What are the best hotels in Modena?
Hotel Castello is certainly one of the best hotels in Modena on looks alone. This former house of nobles is a country villa that looks more like a castle. Phi Hotel Canalgrande was built to stun, too, with its marble staircase and original 16th-century structure.
Image Credit: Getty Images, FooTToo. Image Location: Modena, Italy
The Best Hotels in Modena, Italy
Please, please, let there be a racecar bed…
Salotto delle Arti
Being a boutique hotel, Salotto delle Arti offers 19th-century frescos and individually designed rooms. It’s a stone’s throw from the city center, but let’s be honest, you probably won’t make it there. Osteria Francescana, the 3-star Michelin restaurant led by Massimo Bottura, is right across the street, ready with a foie gras filetto alla a Rossini to stop your sightseeing in its tracks.
Best Western Milano Palace
For those who crave the familiarity of a big brand from home, this Best Western will give you a different experience from those BW I-95 motels you’re used to. A private spa with a Turkish bath and sauna, as well as the Lounge Bar, help you unwind after a day of wandering. Too spent to savor it? Your suite’s got a minibar and chromotherapy tub to compensate.
San Filippo Neri Hostel
Ferraris and Maseratis may be parked around Modena hotels, but that doesn’t mean you need to drop your black card to stay at one. San Filippo Neri has private and dorm rooms that cost less than a few gallons of gas. Free luggage storage is clutch, letting you drop your bags and explore the city before heading back to the train station.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Francesco Riccardo Iacomino. Image Location: Modena, Italy
Rechigi Park Hotel
A little outside of the city center, Rechigi Park Hotel is more of a tranquil affair for those visiting Modena for the culture, not the cars. King-sized beds, a chill rear garden, and a humble bar offer the right amount of relaxation far from the city’s Ferrari frenzy.
Hotel Rua Frati 48 in San Francesco
An American bar with an impressive selection of rums and whiskeys. A Finnish spa with a Turkish bath. A restaurant with handmade Modenese cuisine. Hotel Rua Frati 48 is half-Italian, half-international, and 100% worth the stay.
Maranello Palace
Three words: Ferrari. Test. Drives. You need no other reason to stay at Maranello Palace. This Modena hotel parked near the Ferrari factory will facilitate a test drive experience on the track or the open road. It’s a perk so salivating, you’ll speed right by the 50 foods on the breakfast buffet and let the adrenaline rush fuel your day.
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Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Julian Elliott Photography. Image Location: Modena, Italy