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If you are serious about Italian food, going on cooking vacations in Tuscany will help you delve deeper into this world-renowned region.
Beyond being home to Florence and where the Renaissance began, Tuscany is also a gastronomic powerhouse.
When visiting Tuscany, we had our fair share of aperitivos, delighting in pate crostini, cured meat, fresh local cheeses, washed down with Chianti.
As we savored the local specialties, we yearned to learn more about the local cuisine.
In this article, we’ve selected the best Tuscany cooking vacations led by local chefs.
From the rolling vineyards of Chianti, artisanal visits and cultural excursions, a cooking vacation in Tuscany can be an experience of a lifetime.
Imagine cooking under the Tuscan sun or in the heart of Chianti with these 9 best Tuscany cooking vacations.
Best Tuscany Cooking Vacations Comparison Table
| Tuscany Cooking Vacation | Location | Price $ (USD) | # Days | # Cooking Experiences | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscany Cooking & Wine Vacations | Lucca | $2,065 | 8 | 4 | Overall |
| Tuscany Cooking Vacations & Wine Tasting | Arezzo | $1,359 | 6 | 4 | Variety Experiences |
| Flavors of Tuscany Cooking | Arezzo | $978 | 4 | 2 | Singles |
| Cooking and Wine Tours | Barga | $1,803 | 8 | 4 | Sightseeing |
| Authentic Cooking Class in Tuscany | Florence | $2,696 | 7 | 5 | Restaurant Cooking |
| Fresh-Pasta Making Cooking Holidays | Maremma | $1,163 | 4 | 4 | Hands-On |
| Cooking & Market Tours in Tuscany | Pomarance | $754 | 6 | 3 | Value |
| Chianti Wine & Cooking Vacations | Radda | $4,995 | 8 | 4 | Wine Lovers |
| Flavors of Forest Cooking | Arezzo | $1,087 | 4 | 3 | Truffle Lovers |
The price of these Tuscany cooking vacations are shown in Euros (EUR). We provide USD conversion at the time of writing. Please note that prices might vary slightly when you book your cooking holiday. Availability of some cooking vacations in Tuscany may differ based on season and time of year.
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1. Tuscany Cooking & Wine Vacations – Best Overall Tuscany Cooking Vacation
This 8 day cooking vacation in Tuscany dives into the heart of Tuscan cooking. You’ll learn how to make over 45 recipes with chef Paolo Monti in hands-on cooking classes.
You’ll shop for ingredients at the local fish and vegetable markets while learning how to make delicious Tuscan specialties.
Culinary excursions to olive farms, Parmigiano Reggiano for cheese, Modena for traditional balsamic vinegar are included..
Wine visits to two Chianti wineries are included where you’ll learn all about the local grapes and the iconic Sangiovese grape variety. And, your meals will include pairings with local Tuscan wines.
This food and wine cooking school in Tuscany easily accommodates solo travelers with no restrictions on the minimum number of participants.
The remodeled Tuscan Sun Apartment spread out amongst vineyards will be your accommodations.
With this countryside location, this is one of the best Tuscany cooking vacations for an immersive experience.
2. Tuscany Cooking Vacation & Wine Tasting – Best For Variety of Experiences
Enjoy a wide variety of cooking experiences over 5 days and 6 nights in Arezzo, Tuscany.
This Tuscan cooking vacation and wine tasting is like no other. You’ll discover the amazing Tuscany Valley as you experience diverse activities like pasta making, hunting for black truffles, foraging wild herbs and mushrooms.
This Tuscany cooking vacations also includes visiting a local market in Florence, sausage making, working with chicken and lamb and much more.
While you’ll enjoy Tuscan wines throughout your stay, a visit to a bio-dynamic winery will help you understand sustainable wine practices as you savor delicious wines.
Your stay will be in a renovated hotel steeped in history. You’ll be high on the hills of the Gello Valley in nature and with comfort and luxury.
An outdoor swimming pool offers a place to relax and unwind during your stay.
This all inclusive cooking vacation in Tuscany, Italy offers an immersive experience into the local culture, food and wines.
3. Flavors of Tuscany Cooking – Best Cooking Vacation For Singles
Arezzo, in Southeastern Tuscany, is an often-overlooked culinary gem. The local cuisine made with fresh produce from the verdant valleys of Valdichiana and Casentino is celebrated and sought out.
In this 4 Day Flavors of Tuscany Cooking, you’ll discover the culinary treasures of Arezzo with an executive chef.
This cooking vacation in Tuscany includes 3 hands-on cooking classes with local recipes and seasonal organic produce.
You’ll learn the techniques and ingredients that bring the flavors of Tuscany to life and a recipe book to take home with you.
Being in Tuscany wine tours are part of the package. You’ll visit one of the most prestigious wineries and learn more about Chianti and other local grape varieties.
While in Arezzo, one of Italy’s oldest cities, you’ll take a cultural immersion tour to historic sites within the city.
Art and architecture lovers will relish ancient frescos, the Roman amphitheater, medieval churches, fortresses, and more.
And your tour of the ancient city also includes lunch at a traditional trattoria for more Arezzo specialties.
This culinary vacation in Tuscany is suitable for solo travelers or singles. It is designed for small groups making it a truly unique experience.
4. Cooking and Wine Tours in Tuscany – Best Tuscany Culinary Vacation For Sightseeing
Explore Tuscan cooking in this 8-day all-inclusive food and wine tours.
With four traditional cooking classes, each 3 to 4 hours long, you’ll make local sauces, soups, fresh pasta, desserts and more.
You’ll also visit a local market, with Rita, your host and shop the seasonal products for your Tuscan recipes.
In addition to cooking, visits to local wineries to learn about Tuscan wines and food pairings are included.
This Tuscany Italy cooking vacation takes you all around the region. You’ll travel to beautiful medieval villages around Barga. In nearby Pisa, you’ll visit the Piazza Miracoli and the local markets.
And, in Lucca, one of the most charming cities in Tuscany, you’ll sample local specialties as you tour the historic city.
The accommodations will be at the B&B Residence La Mezzaluna in Barga, with various room options available. Single room options are also available for solo travelers.
This all inclusive cooking and wine tours in Tuscany take you off the beaten path and immerses you into the local culture.
With the depth of cooking offered, wine tours and cultural excursions, this is one of the best Tuscany cooking vacations.
5. Authentic Cooking Class in Tuscany – Best For Cooking in a Restaurant Kitchen
Held in the kitchen of one of the best restaurants in Florence, this cooking class takes your skills to a new level.
Taught by professional chefs, you’ll learn to make a variety of dishes from seafood, meat dishes, appetizers, desserts and more.
This 7-day authentic Tuscany cooking class is ideal for both beginners and more experienced home cooks. The chefs will easily adapt their style to match your culinary level.
Every day for five days, you’ll have hands-on cooking classes where you’ll prepare a range of regional specialty foods.
When you are not cooking, you’ll have free time to visit museums, the city of Florence and explore the local markets.
You have a choice of accommodations from apartments to hotels all located nearby to the restaurant kitchen.
For this reason, this Tuscany culinary vacation is flexible for solo travelers and small groups alike.
For cooking in a professional kitchen with working chefs, this is one of the best Tuscany cooking vacations to take.
6. 4-Day Fresh-Pasta Making – Best Hands-On Cooking Holidays in Tuscany
Offered by the same chef, this 4-day pasta making and cooking holiday is a compressed version of the 7-day experience above.
This shorter Tuscany cooking vacation is ideal for travelers with not a lot of time. The focus is on fresh pasta and risotto and not pizza making.
You will also participate in culinary tours like the visits to the buffalo mozzarella and rice farms. And, you’ll pair wine with food as you savor a 4-course dinner at an organic family vineyard.
Your accommodations will also be at the Residence il Ciliegio, albeit for three nights.
This 4-day pasta making holiday guarantees you an exceptional Tuscany cooking vacation.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Taste Italy in one delicious gift basket. From Tuscany, find an exciting mix of Tuscany food, culture and books. This gift basket comes with organic pasta, award-winning olive oil, balsamic vinegar, limoncello, almonds, and more. Also included are hand-painted mugs, glasses, and a book about Firenze. This Taste Italy food and books makes a great gift for you or a loved one.
7. Cooking & Market Tours in Tuscany – Best Value Cooking Experience
During this 6 Day Cooking and Market Tours in Tuscany, learn how to cook everyday food in a Tuscan kitchen.
The family-run farmhouse is located in Maremma in southern Tuscany. On your cooking holidays, you’ll make real Tuscan dishes like gnocchi, fettuccine, ravioli, and others, using local flour.
Apart from the cooking classes, you will also learn how to select the best in-season ingredients and spend your days enjoying wonderful Tuscan cuisine.
As part of the experience, you’ll meet local residents for guided tastings of local and artisanal specialties.
Wine tasting is a part of the magical experience with a dedicated focus on Sangiovese, the most renowned Tuscan red grape variety.
You’ll learn about its history, how it is produced and how to drink it like an Italian.
This Tuscany cooking vacation in Italy offers an intimate experience on a real working farm.
8. Chianti Wine & Culinary Vacations in Siena – Best Cooking Vacations For Wine Lovers
Enjoy a week of culinary discoveries as you get immersed into Tuscany local life and culture.
In this 8-day Chianti Wine and cooking holiday in Siena, you have four cooking classes with one dedicated to desserts.
All the food you make will be local Tuscan specialties all made from scratch. Dishes like Tuscan lasagna, Pici pasta, Eggplant Millefoglie, Cantucci and much more.
The nearby local markets will be the source for the ingredients for the cooking classes.
This cooking vacation in Tuscany has a robust wine tasting experience. There are winery visits to six different Chianti wine producers, each with their own unique specialties.
Culinary tours take you to local producers in Tuscany, Chianti, and Siena. You’ll learn about cheese making as you sample pecorino cheese of different maturations.
Also included are visits to breads, cheeses, salami and prosciutto artisans.
You will spend your nights at the Palazzo Leopoldo, a restored private villa which today is a beautiful boutique hotel.
Several room options are available including a wellness center and outdoor swimming pool.
Lovers of Tuscan wines and hands-on cooking classes, will enjoy this cooking vacation in Tuscany.
9. Flavors of Forest Cooking in Tuscany – Best For Truffle Lovers
Enjoy forest cooking with ingredients from nature in this 4 Day Truffle Hunting Italian Culinary Vacation.
With an experienced chef, you’ll make delectable Tuscan dishes with forest products like mushrooms, truffles, chestnuts, honey, and roast game.
While the cooking classes are hands on, you can get as involved as you want. You’ll gain insights into important Tuscan culinary traditions as you make the local dishes.
One important point about this cooking vacation in Tuscany is a unique truffle hunting experience.
There is no other vacation on this list that offers a dedicated truffle hunting experience with guides and dogs.
As expected in Tuscany, wine tours and visits to historical villages are also included as part of the package.
Your accommodations are at Villa Le 3 Rose Farmhouse, nestled around the ancient city of Arezzo.
A peaceful location with panoramic views of the rolling hills, you’ll unwind and experience Italy at its best.
If you’re traveling solo, this is another one of the best Tuscany cooking vacations for singles.
Accommodations for one are available and the experience is designed for small groups for maximum participation and enjoyment.
So, which of these cooking vacations in Tuscany are you most excited about? Please let us know in the comments below.
Savor The Adventure!
How to Best Choose Your Cooking Vacations in Tuscany
The Tuscany Cooking Experience
These Tuscany cooking vacations all feature authentic Italian and Tuscan recipes. The range of cooking classes varies, from pasta to sausage making, and working with poultry.
Some cooking classes are designed to be more hands-on than others. As you plan your Tuscany cooking vacation consider the variety of cooking experiences and how much you want to be involved in the kitchen.
What Is Your Budget and How Much Time Do You HaveÂ
These Tuscany culinary vacations last from four to eight days. As such, the prices vary based on experiences and duration.
The all-inclusive cooking vacations in Tuscany range from about $750 to $4,995 per person.
While they all include cooking classes, some also offer wine tours and cultural excursions.
Depending on your budget and how much time you have choose the cooking vacation in Tuscany that best meets your needs.
Number of Participants
These Tuscany cooking vacations in Italy are all small group experiences. This way, you’ll get more out of your cooking classes and get to know Tuscany more intimately.
If you are a solo travelers, some are ideal Tuscany cooking vacations for singles, while others require a minimum of two participants. Private rooms and shared rooms are also available depending on the cooking vacation you select.
Safety Measures
Due to the lingering impact of COVID-19, flexible booking conditions are available on all these cooking vacations in Tuscany.
Cancel up to 7 days prior to the arrival date and you can reschedule your booking free of charge, or receive store credit for your non-refundable deposit to use at another time.
All the accommodations featured follow and prescribe to COVID-19 hygiene protocols.
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.Â
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
This looks like such a fun vacation idea and DELICIOUS
Thank you, Tisha. Any favorites? Cheers
A Tuscany cooking experience sounds so dreamy. Take me there now!
So true, Monica is there any one of the experiences that tempts you the most? Cheers
Oh my goodness this just made it to my bucket list. I would love to do the 7 days in Tuscany cooking class. What a great way to learn about a culture…and eat really great food!
Yay, Megan, indeed the perfect combination of food and culture. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers
You must be a mind-reader ! I was just thinking about scheduling a trip to Italy and wanted to make sure we took a trip to Tuscany! This is perfect.
Perfect timing, Marta. You will certainly enjoy eating all of Italy and Tuscany in particular. Cheers
I’d be happy with any of these. Tuscany has the best food. I’d just be happy to eat!
Lol…so true. The best part of cooking vacations in Tuscany is the eating. Cheers