For a small city, Modena has a lot to be proud of. Pavarotti was born here, as was Enzo Ferrari; it’s home to some of the world’s most lauded restaurants, including the Osteria Francescana which was twice voted the best restaurant in the world; it boasts one of the most impressive Romanesque cathedrals in the country and it’s also the home of balsamic vinegar.
Modena offers an impressive range of affordable hotels, from friendly hostels to charming farmhouses (Photo: Country Rooms Modena)
Modena’s hotels are diverse enough to offer something for every taste, budget and style, whether you’re looking for sleek and cheap or romance and rustic charm. Below, we’ve rounded up our top five picks for the best hostels and affordable hotels in Modena.
Ostello San Filippo Neri
The Breakfast Bar at Ostello San Filippo Neri (Photo: Ostello San Filippo Neri)
Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Piazza Grande, Modena’s main square, Ostello San Filippo Neri is the city’s only hostel. Guests can choose from 2,3 and 4-bed dormitories, each with a private bathroom outside the room. There’s an all-day cafe on-site, where guests can grab breakfast and lunch, as well as a fully kitted out kitchen for those who prefer to cook. For sunny days, there’s a pretty terrace with hammocks and table seating. Bikes can be rented for free and those travelling by car are offered free parking too. Rooms from €46 per night.
Country Rooms Modena
This quiet countryside retreat is five-kilometres from the historic heart of Modena, set in a large and leafy garden. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, with hardwood floors and bright white linen, some with countryside views. All rooms are air-conditioned, with a flat-screen TV and a small desk, perfect for writing postcards home. But best of all is the hotel restaurant, serving a generous breakfast – Emilia Romagna style – by morning and traditional Modenese feasts in the evening. The pizzas come highly recommended. Parking is free too. Rooms from €47 per night
B&B Hotel Modena
A standard double room with panelled walls at B&B Hotel Modena (Photo: B&B Hotel Modena)
Offering free parking with easy access to the Modena Sud motorway, B&B Hotel Modena is an excellent option for visitors arriving by car. Bright white and wood-panelled rooms are fitted with a 40-inch TV with chrome cast, memory foam mattresses and an ensuite with a rainfall shower. A buffet breakfast of pastries, local meats and cheese and cereals is included in the rate too. There’s no on-site restaurant or kitchen, but the city centre — and the delights of Mercato Albinelli — is less than a ten-minute stroll away. Rooms from €47 per night
B&B Acetaia il Mulino di Navicello
Modena is famed for its traditional balsamic vinegar and at B&B Acetaia il Mulino di Navicello guests can sleep where it’s made. The 17th-century farmhouse offers double and twin rooms, each with a spacious en-suite, a desk and a TV. Host Antonio will happily provide a tour of the Acetaia and explain the ancient process of making vinegar, along with a tasting too. The B&B is six-kilometres from Modena, so you’ll need a car to get there, but the tiny town of Sant’Anna Torrazzi is only a 25-minute walk away. There are a handful of highly-reputed local restaurants, such as Agriturismo Cantoni too. Rooms from €47 per night
B&B Il Fonticolo
The living area in one of Il Fonticolo’s four suites (Photo: Il Fonticolo Room & Breakfast)
Set amongst the pretty palazzi of Piazza Pomoposa, Il Fonticolo is named after the small fountain donated by Telesforo Fini, the early 19th-century restaurateur who put Modenese gastronomy on the map. The B&B offers four self-contained suites, each with a fully-equipped kitchen, a private bathroom and a living area with plush sofas and armchairs. Rooms are brimming with period features, from the parquet floors to the low-beam ceilings. It’s a small enough city to cover on foot, but the hotel helpfully offers free bicycle for venturing further afield. Rooms from €78 per night