The laid-back city of Parma, Italy may be most famous for its cheese and ham (hello, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma!), but that only scratches the surface of the fun things to do in Parma that make this city so special.

Set along extremely convenient train routes in Emilia-Romagna, you’ll find Parma about 60 miles/100 kilometers west of its more-famous cousin, Bologna. With its colorful architecture, impressive (and uncrowded) monuments, a lively student population, low prices, and some of the best food in Italy, Parma is an extremely easy place to fall in love with.