Booking choice: The Labirinto entry ticket, from $25 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The Labirinto della Masone is a real maze: about 3 km of paths between walls of bamboo, with no signs. How long it takes depends on your sense of direction, on whether you head straight for the exit or wander, and on how long you give Franco Maria Ricci's collection afterwards.
Below: the official times and what visitors report, getting lost, the size of the maze, visiting with children, strollers and dogs, heat and rain, what to bring, and an honest view on whether it is worth it.
The quick answer
Plan about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours: the official site reckons on about 45 minutes to get out of the maze and about 45 minutes for the museum. Visitors report anything from 20 to 60 minutes in the maze, and one guest took a little over an hour. Add time for the bistro or restaurant, and remember last entry is 17:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter.
How long does it take to walk the Labirinto della Masone?
About 45 minutes to find the way out, according to the official site, and about 45 minutes more for the collection. Visitors report 20 to 60 minutes in the maze alone.
How the time adds up, from the official estimate, visitor reports and guides we checked:
| Plan | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The maze only | About 45 minutes | Official FAQ |
| The maze, as visitors report it | 20 to 60 minutes; one guest a little over an hour | Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide reviews |
| The collection and the exhibition | About 45 minutes | Official FAQ |
| A full visit | 2 to 3 hours | Tripadvisor summary |
| A visit with a meal | At least 3 hours | Le Cosmopolite guide |
| Labirinto and Rocca Sanvitale | A half day to a full day | The private day allows 3 hours plus 2 hours |
Can you get lost in the Labirinto della Masone?
Yes, for a while: it is a real labyrinth with no signs on the paths. If you cannot find the way out, call the phone number printed on your ticket and staff will guide you.
Opinions differ on how hard it is. Some reviewers doubt anyone could really get lost; others title their reviews after the struggle to get out, and a GetYourGuide guest wrote that it 'didn't look that big at first, but then it took a little over an hour to get out again.' The centre of the star, with its brick pyramid, is the natural goal of the walk. Keep your ticket with you, and your phone charged.
How big is the Labirinto della Masone?
About 3 km of paths over 7 to 8 hectares, planted with 200,000 to 300,000 bamboo plants of about 20 species; the official site says about 300,000.
The bamboo stands 3 to 15 metres tall, on a square plan with a star-shaped perimeter inspired by the ideal cities of the Renaissance. When it opened in 2015 it was the largest maze in the world; it lost that record in 2018 to a maze in China, but it is still described as the largest bamboo labyrinth. Sources differ on the area and the number of plants, which is why we give ranges.
In and out all day on one ticket, so a long wander in the maze costs nothing extra.
Check dates for the Labirinto entry ticketIs the Labirinto della Masone good for children and strollers?
Yes: the paths are flat concrete, strollers and wheelchairs can go round, children up to 5 enter free, and family tickets start at EUR 50.
The official site says there are no architectural barriers except the belvedere tower. Visitors report it is a blast for younger children; one parent suggested thinking twice with teenagers, who may find it short. The walls of bamboo are high and there are no signs, so agree a plan if anyone gets separated, and keep the ticket with the phone number on it. Prices for every family ticket are in tickets and hours.
Can you bring a dog, or a picnic?
Dogs on a leash are welcome in the maze; in the collection only small pets carried in your arms or in a carrier are allowed. Picnics are not allowed.
For food, there is a bistro and food shop open daily from 9:00 except Tuesday, with free access, and the restaurant Il Labirinto by 12 Monaci serves lunch Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 to 14:30, and dinner on Friday and Saturday. Visitors report that service at the bistro and restaurant can be slow, so leave time. With re-entry all day, lunch in Fontanellato is another option.
Is it too hot in summer, or too wet in the rain?
The bamboo shades the paths, and visitors report they stay cool inside; the open courtyards are the hot part. Paths are concrete, so rain does not close the maze, but visitors report it spoils the fun.
There is no official advice on the best time. Visitors suggest avoiding the hottest midday hours in summer and coming later in the afternoon, when the light is softer; in winter, visitors report it can feel very cold in December. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. Avoid Tuesdays, the January break and early July, when the LOST festival pauses normal visits.
What should you bring?
Your ticket (it carries the phone number for help), a charged phone, water and a hat for the courtyards, and any comfortable shoes.
- The ticket: keep it on you in the maze.
- Water: picnics are not allowed, but the bistro is at the entrance.
- A hat in summer: the courtyards are open to the sun.
- Shoes: any will do; the official site says the paths are concrete.
- A layer in winter: the site opens from 9:30 to 18:00 from November.
- Time: arrive well before last entry, 17:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter.
Pick your time slot for a cooler late afternoon, with free cancellation if the weather turns.
Check dates for the Labirinto entry ticketIs the Labirinto della Masone worth it?
For the bamboo, the architecture and the art, most visitors think so; it is rated 3.7 out of 5 from 1,173 Tripadvisor reviews, and visitors report the price feels high and the maze shorter than they expected.
Plan it as a two-hour visit, not a full day out, and it is easier to enjoy. Tripadvisor reviewers call it 'pricey but excellent fun' and 'quite small'; GetYourGuide guests say it is 'worth it for a little experience', or that 'something is missing to make the experience unique'. Visitors also report little explanation in the museum. Visitors also report that the bamboo now grows so tall it hides much of the view from the belvedere tower, the only part with steps. Pair it with Fontanellato's castle or a tasting nearby: see a day around Fontanellato.
The maze, the collection and the exhibition on one ticket, rated 4.3 from 63 reviews, with free cancellation.
Explore the Labirinto entry ticketFrequently asked questions
How long does it take to get out of the Labirinto della Masone?
About 45 minutes, according to the official site. Visitors report anything from 20 to 60 minutes.
How long should I plan for the whole visit?
About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours for the maze and the collection, and 3 hours or more with a meal.
Are there signs in the maze?
No. If you cannot find the way out, call the number printed on your ticket.
Can you climb the belvedere tower?
Yes; it is the only part of the site that is not step-free. Visitors report the tall bamboo now hides much of the view.
Ready to book
Choose your visit
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Labirinto della Masone Full-Day Entry Ticket
- Entry to the labyrinth, the art collection and the temporary exhibition
- In and out all day from the time slot you book
- 5% off Franco Maria Ricci Editore books and a discount at Rocca Sanvitale
Prosciutto, Culatello and Culatta Tasting
- Guided visit of a curing room at La Fattoria di Parma, Sanguinaro (Fontanellato)
- Tasting of Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello and culatta side by side
- About one hour; make your own way there
