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3 Michelin stars + Green Star

Osteria Francescana, Modena — Is It Worth Traveling For?

A square in Modena's historic centre, in the rain

Best months: Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov

Photo: Mert Erbil on Unsplash

Photo: Alessandro Crespina on Unsplash

Photo: Grigorii Shcheglov on Unsplash

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Overview

Osteria Francescana at a Glance: What the Meal Is Really Like

Osteria Francescana, in Modena, holds three Michelin stars and a Green Star. Chef Massimo Bottura serves the tasting menu to just 12 tables, with ‘Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano’ among the dishes. It is run as a 12-table art sanctuary as much as a restaurant.

Tables open at 10:00 CET on the 1st of the month, six months ahead. The tasting menu is $392 (€350; ≈ £309) per person (editor-supplied; the editor's own figure was about $380 (≈ €340 / £300)). The nearest airport is Bologna (BLQ), and the Marconi Express links it to the city.

Three things that make it worth the flight

Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano

A signature dish built around one of Emilia-Romagna's best-known foods (editor-supplied).

Twelve tables

A very small dining room, so every table counts.

Three stars and a Green Star

Michelin's Green Star marks a focus on sustainability.

Best time

Best Time to Visit Modena for Osteria Francescana: A 12-Month View

Best months for most visitors: Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov. Good weather, thinner crowds and fairer prices.

  1. JanOff (Off-peak)
  2. FebOff (Off-peak)
  3. MarOff (Off-peak)
  4. AprSweet (Sweet spot)
  5. MaySweet (Sweet spot)
  6. JunSweet (Sweet spot)
  7. JulOff (Off-peak)
  8. AugOff (Off-peak)
  9. SepSweet (Sweet spot)
  10. OctSweet (Sweet spot)
  11. NovSweet (Sweet spot)
  12. DecOff (Off-peak)
  • Sweet = best balance of weather, crowds and price
  • Peak = busiest and dearest (or hottest)
  • Off = quiet; check weather and closures
Shoulder / sweet spot

Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov are our sweet-spot months, with temperatures about 21°C / 70°F.

Peak season

We have not marked a peak month for this restaurant.

Off-peak

The other months are off-peak in our month bar.

Table booking window: 6 months ahead, 10:00 CET on the 1st of the month. Tables open on the 1st of each month for six months ahead (editor-supplied). Book the table first, then flights and a stay for the best months above.

Booking window: reserve flights and stays 2–3 months ahead for Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov.

Partner links. We earn a commission at no extra cost to you; sponsors never change a ranking or safety note. How we earn money →

Weather

Weather and Seasonal Conditions in Modena

Right now in Modena

Current temperature loads here when your browser can reach Open-Meteo.

Weather data: Open-Meteo Historical & Live API. A single reading for the main town or area, not the whole destination.

Regional breakdown

Emilia-Romagna in spring and autumn

April to June and September to November suit the trip, with highs about 21°C / 70°F (editor-supplied).

Other months

Our month bar marks the remaining months as off-peak. We have no Modena-specific weather data, so check the forecast.

What each season feels like

Peak season

The booking window (6 months ahead, 10:00 CET on the 1st of the month) matters more than the month.

Shoulder season

Editor-supplied.

Off-peak

The meal is indoors, so weather matters mainly for the days around it.

Weather data: Open-Meteo Historical & Live API (live reading). Typical highs and season notes are our own summaries. How we verify →

Safety

Is Modena Safe? The Five-Government Check

Last updated: government levels come from our editor-verified table (October 2026). When the live UK FCDO check succeeds, its exact UTC time appears in the panel below. The banner takes the most cautious of the five agencies, so a live UK warning always outranks a green entry in our table and any part-country warning shows as red. We never show a level we haven’t checked. How we verify →

Summary of what the agencies publish

Tier 4/5 · Standard caution. Normal precautions: pickpockets in tourist areas, summer heat and occasional transport strikes.

The UK FCDO, US State Department and Australian DFAT generally describe Italy as a low-risk destination where normal precautions apply. Their advice usually mentions petty crime in tourist areas, occasional strikes and demonstrations, and natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic activity around Etna and Naples. Advice changes, so check each agency's current Italy page before you book.

Our plain-English summary of what the UK FCDO, US State Department, Australian Smartraveller, Japan MOFA and South Korea MOFA publish. We quote no live ratings from memory; each button above opens the agency's own page.

Editorial Opinions & Street-Smart Reality

Our opinion, not an official warning

Regional nuance: Advice for Italy is national and routine: petty crime in tourist areas, heat in summer, and seismic and volcanic notes for the south. Strikes can disrupt trains, metros and flights for a day, so check dates before you travel. The UK FCDO (29 October 2026) also flags violent riots and looting during recent demonstrations in northern cities, and a national strike on 29–30 October.

  • Pickpockets on the Rome metro, on buses and around Termini, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain
  • Overpriced tourist restaurants and street hustles such as 'friendship bracelets' near major monuments
  • Strike days (scioperi) that cancel trains, flights or ferries at short notice

The concerns that are real: Pickpocketing is the main issue: on the Rome metro and buses, at Termini and Santa Maria Novella stations, and in crowds around the Duomo and St Mark's. Keep phones in front pockets and bags closed. Unlicensed taxis, overpriced tourist restaurants and street sellers tying bracelets on wrists are other nuisances.

What headlines overstate: Headlines about strikes (scioperi) usually mean a day of disrupted trains, metros or flights, not danger. Check the strike calendar before travelling and keep a walking plan as backup.

Written by our editors from general travel knowledge and kept apart from the agencies above. How we verify →

Costs

Daily Costs in Modena: Three Ways to Travel

Choose a travel style

Backpacker

$160 (≈ €145 / £125) per person per day

$1,120 (≈ €1,000 / £880)7 days, solo
$1,988 (≈ €1,770 / £1,570)7 days, couple (total for two, shared room)

What it covers: Our scaled estimate (0.45x the mid-range figure). It would not cover the tasting menu ($392 (€350; ≈ £309) per person); read it as the cost of the trip around the meal.

Where a day's money goes (solo)

  • Accommodation$72 (≈ €65 / £55)
  • Food$48 (≈ €45 / £40)
  • Transit$24 (≈ €20 / £19)
  • Activities$16 (≈ €14 / £13)

Mid-Range (default)

$360 (≈ €320 / £280) per person per day

$2,520 (≈ €2,250 / £1,980)7 days, solo
$4,473 (≈ €4,000 / £3,500)7 days, couple (total for two, shared room)

What it covers: Our figure for a trip that includes the booked meal plus mid-range stays and food. The scaling is an estimate, not an audited price.

Where a day's money goes (solo)

  • Accommodation$162 (≈ €145 / £130)
  • Food$108 (≈ €95 / £85)
  • Transit$54 (≈ €50 / £45)
  • Activities$36 (≈ €30 / £30)

Boutique

$790 (≈ €710 / £620) per person per day

$5,530 (≈ €4,950 / £4,350)7 days, solo
$9,816 (≈ €8,750 / £7,750)7 days, couple (total for two, shared room)

What it covers: Our scaled estimate (2.2x) for boutique hotels and extras such as a drinks pairing.

Where a day's money goes (solo)

  • Accommodation$356 (≈ €320 / £280)
  • Food$237 (≈ €210 / £185)
  • Transit$119 (≈ €105 / £95)
  • Activities$79 (≈ €70 / £60)

Cost source: Audited Local Lodging Taxes, Rail Tariffs & Dining Averages (our own estimates, flights excluded). How we verify →

Source: Should I Go's own estimates, October 2026, in USD per person excluding international flights; euro figures are rough conversions. A couple shares a room, so accommodation drops 25% per person. Prices move, so treat these as a planning range, not a quote.

Trip Budget Calculator

Estimated total: $0 (≈ €0 / £0)

  • Stay 45%
  • Food 30%
  • Transit 15%
  • Sights 10%

Estimate in USD per trip, excluding international flights. Two or more travellers share rooms, so accommodation drops 25% per person. Budget and luxury tiers are scaled from the mid-range figure.

Cost source: Audited Local Lodging Taxes, Rail Tariffs & Dining Averages (our own estimates, flights excluded). How we verify →

Where to base yourself

Where to Base Yourself for Osteria Francescana

Min. 1 night

Modena Centro Storico

The old town, where the restaurant sits (Via Stella).

Min. 1 night

Casa Maria Luigia estate

The estate our notes names as an alternative place to stay.

Min. 3 nights

Florence and Tuscany

Renaissance art and rolling hills. Use trains for day trips.

Min. 2 nights

Venice and the north

Canals, lagoon islands and gateway to the Dolomites.

Itineraries

Three Itineraries for Modena

3 days

Modena around the booked table

  1. Day 1: Arrive, settle in and confirm the booking details.
  2. Day 2: The meal at Osteria Francescana. Keep the rest of the day light.
  3. Day 3: Explore Modena with our Modena guide.

Getting between stops: About 20 minutes onward to Modena (editor-supplied); confirm the timetable.

7 days

Classic triangle

  1. Days 1–3: Rome.
  2. Days 4–5: Florence.
  3. Days 6–7: Venice.

Getting between stops: High-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains, about 1.5 hours Rome–Florence and 2 hours Florence–Venice.

10 days

Cities and coast

  1. Days 1–3: Rome.
  2. Days 4–5: Naples and Pompeii.
  3. Days 6–8: Amalfi Coast.
  4. Days 9–10: Florence.

Getting between stops: Train from Rome to Naples in about 1 hour 10 minutes; ferries or buses to the coast.

Routes and timetables change. Confirm transit times with the operator before you book.

Do and stay

Things to Do Around Osteria Francescana and Where to Stay in Modena

Top things to do

  • Three Michelin stars and a Green Star
  • Just 12 tables
  • ‘Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano’
  • Modena, with Bologna's airport nearby

Insider tips

  • Tables open at 10:00 CET on the 1st of the month, six months ahead (editor-supplied): be online on the day.
  • Fly into Bologna (BLQ): the Marconi Express links the airport and the city.
  • Travel April to June or September to November, when Emilia-Romagna is about 21°C / 70°F.
  • We have notes on two places to stay: the Modena old town and the Casa Maria Luigia estate.
  • Check the deposit and cancellation rules on the booking page; we have not verified them.

Neighbourhoods to choose from

  • Modena Centro Storico

    Best for: Dinner guests

    Pros: The old town, where the restaurant sits.

    Watch for: We hold no further detail; check hotel distances on the map below.

  • Casa Maria Luigia estate

    Best for: A quieter stay

    Pros: Named by our editor as an alternative place to stay.

    Watch for: We hold no detail on rooms, prices or distance.

Live Accommodation Map

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Trade-offs

Advantages and Honest Disadvantages of Osteria Francescana

Advantages

  • Three Michelin stars plus a Green Star
  • Only 12 tables, so the room is intimate
  • A menu rooted in Emilia-Romagna, including Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Fits an Italian trip easily, with Bologna's airport nearby

Honest disadvantages

  • Booking opens six months ahead at 10:00 CET on the 1st of the month
  • $392 (€350; ≈ £309) per person
  • Twelve tables leave little room to reschedule
  • The onward time from Bologna (about 20 minutes, editor-supplied) is unchecked; confirm the timetable before you book

Final verdict

Final Verdict: Is Osteria Francescana Worth Traveling For?

Who Will Love Osteria Francescana

  • Italian-food devoteesYou want the food of Emilia-Romagna at its most ambitious.
  • PlannersYou can book six months out.
  • Italy repeat visitorsYou already know Rome and Florence and want something different.

Who Should Consider Somewhere Else

  • Travellers on a tight budget$392 (≈ €350 / £310) is more than a mid-range day in Italy ($200 (≈ €180 / £155)). Albania is much cheaper. Try Albania instead →
  • Spontaneous travellersThe table must be booked six months ahead. Lisbon needs far less advance planning for a good meal. Try Lisbon instead →
  • Those who want big sightsModena is a small city. Rome has the Colosseum and the Vatican. Try Rome instead →

Editorial opinion from Should I Go, written from general travel knowledge and reviewed periodically. Verify prices, entry rules and advisories before you book.

Know Before You Go

  • Airport to city centreFrom Bologna airport (BLQ), the Marconi Express runs to Bologna; our notes gives about 20 minutes onward to Modena (editor-supplied), so confirm the regional train time before you book.
  • Visa & entry rulesVisa-free for many nationalities up to 90 days in any 180 (Schengen). The EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 (passports are no longer stamped; expect a fingerprint and photo at the border), and ETIAS pre-authorisation is expected in 2027 and is not yet required, so check the official EU pages before you fly.
  • Cash, cards & ATMsContactless cards work almost everywhere. Keep some cash for small bars and market stalls, and skip standalone Euronet-style ATMs.
  • Tap water & healthTap water is safe almost everywhere; public fountains in Rome are free to drink from.
  • Tipping customService (coperto) is often added to the bill; round up or leave a few euros for good service.
  • #1 local scam to watch forPetition and 'friendship bracelet' hustles and costumed photo-posers asking for fees near the Colosseum, Duomo and St Mark's.

Typical costs and rules change; confirm with official sources before you travel.

Getting From the Airport Into Town

  • Route: Bologna airport (BLQ) by the Marconi Express to Bologna, then on to Modena.
  • Time: About 20 minutes onward to Modena (editor-supplied); confirm the timetable.
  • Fare: Not in our notes; check the Marconi Express and regional train fares.

Modena: Your Questions Answered

Is Osteria Francescana worth traveling for?

If Italian food is the reason you are travelling, yes: three Michelin stars, a Green Star and only 12 tables make it a rare booking. If you cannot plan six months ahead, or want big sights as well, treat it as one stop on a longer Italy trip.

How do I book Osteria Francescana?

Tables open at 10:00 CET on the 1st of the month, six months ahead (editor-supplied). Be ready on the day and read the deposit and cancellation terms. We have not verified them.

How much does Osteria Francescana cost?

$392 (€350; ≈ £309) per person. Tasting menu; 12 tables. Editor-supplied (the editor's own figure was about $380 (≈ €340 / £300)). Prices and what is included can change, so confirm them when you book. Our trip estimate of about $360 (≈ €320 / £280) a day is a scaled figure that includes the meal.

When is the best time to go?

Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov, with temperatures about 21°C / 70°F (editor-supplied). Our month bar marks the rest of the year as off-peak.

What are the safety levels for Modena?

Our editor-supplied snapshot (6 Nov 2026, not independently checked) shows the five agencies at US L2, UK Green, AU L1, JP L0, KR L0. Violent crime is very low across Emilia-Romagna in our Italy guide. Check each agency's own page before you travel.

How do I get from the airport?

From Bologna airport (BLQ), the Marconi Express runs to Bologna; our notes gives about 20 minutes onward to Modena (editor-supplied), so confirm the regional train time before you book.

Plan the days around the meal: live weather, activities and travel advisories for Modena

Plan Modena Now →

Worth the hype?

Have you visited Osteria Francescana, Modena? Was it worth it? Readers can vote: Worth Every Penny, Great in Shoulder Season Only, or Overrated / Skip It.