Your stay — I Due Foscari
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The Property — I Due Foscari
I Due Foscari is a straightforward 3-star set on a quiet side street just east of the city centre, owned by a local family who keep the breakfast room bright and the front desk genuinely helpful. The lobby is small, tiled and unpretentious, with a jar of biscotti on the counter and a stack of city maps. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want clean, air-conditioned rooms and a five-minute walk to Piazza Duomo, with no faff about wellness suites or rooftop bars.
Chronicles of Parma
Parma began as a Roman colony in 183 BC but really took shape in the 9th century when it became a bishopric. For 300 years it was ruled by the Farnese family, who built the colossal Palazzo della Pilotta and filled the city with Baroque churches. After unification it became an industrial and culinary heavyweight – home to Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and arguably Italy’s best opera house, the Teatro Regio. Today it’s a confident mid-sized city that balances Renaissance layers with a relaxed, food-first identity.
Best Time to Visit
Full Parma guide →Best months
May and September: warm but not oppressive, fewer tourists than June–August, and the opera season is still active. Early October is also good for the autumnal harvest festivals.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak for Italian domestic tourism and the Verdi Festival (usually late June to early July) which fills hotels. Expect 3-star rates around €120–€150 per night, well above shoulder-season prices.
Budget shoulder season
April and late October: temperatures around 15–20°C, cheapest rates (€60–€80 for a double at I Due Foscari), and fewer crowds at the museum and food tours.
Weather & packing
Parma’s summer is muggy with occasional thunderstorms, even when it’s 33°C. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket or an umbrella, and always bring a shawl or cardigan for air-conditioned restaurants and churches.
Live City Briefing — Parma
- Parma’s new ‘ZTL’ (limited traffic zone) camera system is now fully active – if you drive in, register your car at the hotel desk to avoid fines.
- The Piazza Duomo is still under partial scaffolding restoration until early 2027 for the cathedral’s fresco cleaning, but the baptistery is fully open.
- The Verdi Festival runs 25 June – 5 July 2026 in the Teatro Regio – book tickets months ahead if you want to catch a production.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to I Due Foscari, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors sit above street-level bustle and the courtyard orientation cuts traffic noise from the surrounding Parma streets.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and those facing the front street. Ground floor picks up lobby and street noise; front-facing rooms get traffic rumble from Parma’s narrow city-centre roads, especially in the morning.
Best views
The best view is from top-floor front-facing rooms—overlooking the historic street scene with terracotta rooftops and possibly a glimpse of Parma’s towers. But these come with noise trade-off.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–4 are the quietest at this hotel, being highest above street level and away from the ground-floor bar and reception areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Parma’s central streets are active from early morning with scooters, deliveries, and cafe terraces. A 3-star hotel on a main road means soundproofing is basic—expect street hum until late evening. Lift motor noise might be audible on adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. If arriving by car, ask reception about discounted parking at the nearby public garage—street parking fills fast and is metered. 2. Request a room key for the side entrance after hours; it cuts straight to the stairs and avoids the bar noise at night.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — I Due Foscari
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas; speed around 20 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; no login required, just select network and accept terms once per device.
One small lift (max 3 persons) serves all four floors; no steps to reach lift from entrance.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; lobby TV shows Rai News 24. Building is a 19th-century palazzo with original frescoed ceilings in the breakfast room.
Check-in from 14:00 to 23:00; early bag drop available from 09:00 without charge. Check-out by 11:00; late check-out until 13:00 costs €30 (subject to availability).
Free luggage storage in a locked room behind reception; access during 08:00-23:00 only.
Step-free access via a portable ramp placed at the entrance; lift to all floors but lift interior is tight (75cm door width); no adapted bathrooms or grab rails in rooms. Ground-floor room available on request.
No on-site parking. Nearest public garage is 'Parcheggio Toschi' (Via Toschi 6, 5-min walk), €18 per 24h, no reservation needed. No EV charging on-site; nearest public charge point at Piazza Garibaldi (Type 2, 7kW).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night, up to 5 nights, paid at check-out (children under 14 exempt)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit for standard bookings; €150 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs (Bancomat) for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport or train station, which give poor rates and charge high fees.
Visa/Mastercard contactless widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and shops; cash still needed for small purchases, markets, and some cafés (especially for under €5).
Not expected; round up the bill or leave small change for good service (€1–2). Taxis: round up to nearest euro. Hotels: €1–2 per bag for porters, €1–2 per night for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso (caffè) at a bar counter: about €1.10–1.30.
Panino or tramezzino plus a drink at a bar: about €6–8.
Pizza or a simple pasta dish (primo) in a trattoria: around €10–12 for a main.
The area around Piazza Garibaldi and Via Farini has several takeaway stalls and small bakeries selling piadina or torta fritta (stuffed fried dough) for €4–6.
Conad, Coop, and Eurospin are the common budget supermarkets in Parma.
Via Repubblica and the city centre have mid-range chain stores like Zara, Oviesse, and H&M; for cheaper clothes, head to the Auchan or Ipercoop hypermarkets outside the centre.
A single bus ticket (€1.30, valid 75 minutes) or a day pass (€3.50) from tabacchi. From Bologna airport (BLQ), the cheapest option is the FlixBus or TPER regional train (about €12–15, 1–1.5 hours).
Eat at a bar counter for coffee and lunch instead of sitting down (surcharge). Buy water, snacks, and other basics at a Conad or Coop supermarket rather than touristy corner shops. Avoid dining at restaurants with photos or multilingual menus on the main piazza—they are overpriced.
Good to know — Parma
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
ParmaWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Parma, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at I Due Foscari
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Parma Railway Station → Via Brescianelli (near Ostello Della Gioventù)
💡 Get a single ticket at any tabacchi or TEP kiosk for €1.50. Valid for 70 minutes, so you can change buses if needed. The hostel is a 2-minute walk from the 'Via Brescianelli' stop.
Bologna Airport to Parma → Parma city centre (including Ostello Della Gioventù area)
💡 Best for groups of 3–4 to split the cost. Confirm price before starting the ride. Use the app 'Parma Taxi' or call +39 0521 964 964. The hostel is on Via Brescianelli – drivers know it.
Bologna Airport (BLQ) → Parma Railway Station (Piazza Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa)
💡 Buy tickets at the TEP booth in arrivals or the ticket machine outside the station. Validate before boarding. The bus drops you right at the station, then it's a 15-minute walk or a short bus hop to Ostello Della Gioventù.
Bologna Centrale → Parma Station
💡 Train is faster if you're already in Bologna city centre. Get off at Parma Station, then take bus Line 9 (towards Via Zarotto) or walk 15 minutes northeast to the hostel.
About Parma
Wikipedia ↗
Parma (Italian: [ˈparma] ; Parmigiano: Pärma [ˈpɛːʁmɐ]) is a city in the region of Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy, known for its architecture, music, art, prosciutto (ham), cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 202,111 inhabitants as of 2025, Parma is the second most populous ci...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at I Due Foscari?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors sit above street-level bustle and the courtyard orientation cuts traffic noise from the surrounding Parma streets.
Which rooms should I avoid at I Due Foscari?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and those facing the front street. Ground floor picks up lobby and street noise; front-facing rooms get traffic rumble from Parma’s narrow city-centre roads, especially in the morning.
Is I Due Foscari noisy?
Parma’s central streets are active from early morning with scooters, deliveries, and cafe terraces. A 3-star hotel on a main road means soundproofing is basic—expect street hum until late evening. Lift motor noise might be audible on adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at I Due Foscari?
The best view is from top-floor front-facing rooms—overlooking the historic street scene with terracotta rooftops and possibly a glimpse of Parma’s towers. But these come with noise trade-off.
What are insider tips for staying at I Due Foscari?
1. If arriving by car, ask reception about discounted parking at the nearby public garage—street parking fills fast and is metered. 2. Request a room key for the side entrance after hours; it cuts straight to the stairs and avoids the bar noise at night.
What time is check-in at I Due Foscari?
Check-in at I Due Foscari is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does I Due Foscari have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas; speed around 20 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; no login required, just select network and accept terms once per device.
Is there a city or tourist tax at I Due Foscari?
€1.50 per person per night, up to 5 nights, paid at check-out (children under 14 exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near I Due Foscari?
Panino or tramezzino plus a drink at a bar: about €6–8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from I Due Foscari?
A single bus ticket (€1.30, valid 75 minutes) or a day pass (€3.50) from tabacchi. From Bologna airport (BLQ), the cheapest option is the FlixBus or TPER regional train (about €12–15, 1–1.5 hours).
When is the best time to visit Parma?
May and September: warm but not oppressive, fewer tourists than June–August, and the opera season is still active. Early October is also good for the autumnal harvest festivals.
Top Attractions in Parma
💡 Walk around the entire building to see the reliefs of the months and seasons — each panel tells a story.
💡 Book ahead online for free Sunday visits — slots fill fast. The vaulted ceiling fresco glows best in late morning light.
💡 Get there by 9am to beat the crowds. Try a slice of freshly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano from the dairy stall.
💡 The benches near the lake have the best views of the palazzo. Bring bread for the ducks.
💡 Arrive just before the hour to hear the campanile bells ring — they echo across the piazza.