11 Top Italian Cooking Vacations for Tasting Italy in 2024

Amalfi Coast Cooking Vacations

1. Amalfi Coast Cooking Vacation 8-Days – Best For Overall Cooking Vacation

These are 8-Day mountain and sea cooking holidays in Agerola town, perched above the Amalfi Coast.

This cooking vacation in Italy consists of five culinary classes where Mamma Gabriela will teach you how to prepare a host of Italian dishes.  

Using fresh produce from the in-house garden and the easily accessible markets, you’ll learn how to make a different dish each day.

You’ll also visit a local winery and mozzarella cheese maker as you explore the rich culinary traditions of the Amalfi Coast.

One of the highlights of this cooking vacation is a cultural tour of Pompeii. You’ll visit the ancient village and archaeological ruins of Pompeii, a UNESCO heritage site.  

You will be hosted at a country house in Agerola, surrounded by an attractive garden with breathtaking views of the sea. Single rooms are available for singles or those traveling solo.

In addition to having free time to explore the region, you’ll also visit a local potter with beautiful hand-painted ceramics.

In this family-run cooking vacation, you’ll be immersed in the Italian spirit and leave with new friends on the Amalfi Coast.

RELATED: 5 Best Amalfi Coast Vacations Cooking in Paradise

Cinque Terra Cooking Vacations

2. Traditional Cooking Vacation in Liguria 4-Days – Best For Sightseeing

Liguria is one of Itay’s most beautiful regions and the location for this Italian cooking vacation.

Located in Chiavari, on the Italian Riviera, is where you’ll spend four days learning about and cooking regional dishes.

One of the most popular dishes from the region is Pesto alla Genovese, which you will learn to master like a pro.

Alongside Anna, your host and cooking instructor, you’ll dive into the cuisine in one cooking class that will last 3 to 4 hours.

This cooking vacation includes a number of culinary activities for a well-rounded experience of the local food and culinary culture.

You will learn about the regional street foods on a guided street food tour. 

Wine tasting at a local winery will introduce you to Liguria wines, including those from nearby Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna.

If you want an Italian cooking vacation with sightseeing, this Liguria cooking vacation has built-in excursions.

You explore the coastline between Portofino and Cinque Terre and seaside villages like Zoagli and Santa Margherita. And in your free time, you can go to the beaches or hiking inland.

Your accommodations are in a private apartment surrounded by olive groves.

This is one of the best Italian cooking vacations that combines food, sightseeing, and spectacular views.

Tuscany Cooking Vacations

3. Cooking and Wine Vacations – Best Cooking Vacation in Tuscany

This immersive cooking vacation in Tuscany dives into the origins of Cucina Italiana, and the essential ingredients that make Italian food so famous.

Over an 8-day period, you’ll learn how to make over 45 recipes with the renowned Chef Paolo Monti.

In addition to hands-on cooking classes, you’ll hit the fish and vegetable markets to shop for ingredients and fresh fish that go with Italian cuisine.

Culinary tours that take you to the heart of some of Italy’s most famous products are part of the experience. 

You’ll enjoy engaging and fun visits to olive farms, Parmigiano Reggiano for cheese, Modena for traditional balsamic vinegar, and more.

Italian wine is included with recipes and meals paired with local Tuscan wines. Additionally, visits to two wineries in Chianti are included, where you’ll sample and learn about wines made from the Sangiovese grape variety.

This food and wine cooking school in Tuscany easily accommodates solo travelers as there are no restrictions on the minimum number of participants.

Your accommodations will be at the Tuscan Sun Apartment in Lucca, luxuriously spread out amongst vineyards.

The sheer number of recipes makes this one of the most immersive cooking vacations in Tuscany. 

And, if you are a solo traveler, you’ll be right at home with chef Paolo Monti as you learn to cook and savor Tuscany specialties.

4. Cooking & Wine Tours in Lucca 8-Days – Best Hand On Italian Cooking Vacation

This 8-day all-inclusive food and wine tours in the province of Lucca in Tuscany delivers a combination of flavors and beauty. 

You get four traditional cooking classes with an assortment of recipes, including pizza, fish dinners, fresh stuffed pasta and cheese, and spinach-filled ravioli.

The cooking courses also include making soups and sauces like salsiccia e porcini  or sausage and mushrooms sauce, zuppa di farro (spelt soup), and more.

Italian dessert also takes center stage as you learn to make mouthwatering cakes, tiramisu and other local delicacies.

A visit to a local market is included to help you make these delicious Italian dishes. 

You will be accommodated for seven nights at the Residence La Mezzaluna in Barga, with easy access to all of Lucca.

The famous wines of Tuscany feature prominently in this Italian cooking vacation experience. You’ll visit two local wineries and learn about the wines with food pairings. 

This cooking vacation in Tuscany takes you around the region. You’ll visit beautiful medieval villages like the hill town of Sommocolonia, Barga. In nearby Pisa, you’ll visit the Piazza Miracoli and local markets. 

And, in Lucca, one of the most charming cities in Tuscany, you’ll sample local specialties as you tour the historic city.

All these Tuscany food and wine tours come at a reasonable price in comparison to similar culinary vacations.

RELATED: 9 Best Cooking Vacations in Tuscany You Should Consider

5. Chianti Wine and Cooking Vacations 8-Days- Best For Wine Lovers

You will spend your nights at the Palazzo Leopoldo in the heart of Radda in Chianti for this 8-day Italian cooking vacation. 

You are close to the markets where you will get all your ingredients for the cooking classes. This culinary vacation has the most comprehensive winetasting experience. 

It involves several wine tastings as well as six different winery visits throughout Chianti, each with its own unique specialties.

This Tuscany cooking vacation has four cooking classes, one of which is a baking class. While the cooking classes are hands-on, you can get as involved as you want.

Culinary tours to sample local cheese and extra virgin olive oil take you to local producers in Tuscany, Chianti, and Siena.

For lovers of Tuscan wines and hands-on cooking classes, this is one of the best cooking vacations in Tuscany.

RELATED: Best Chianti Wine Tours From Florence For Wine Tastings and Sightseeing

6. Gourmet Cookery Vacation 5-Day – Best For Singles

Located in the northern part of Tuscany, the area of La Garfagnana will be home for your cooking vacation in Italy

This 5-day all-inclusive cooking vacations in Italy teaches you the basics of Italian cooking plus the techniques to make exceptional food every time.

You will have two hands-on cooking classes and learn step-by-step how to make local dishes like homemade pasta, sauces, fish and seafood, pizza, Italian desserts, and more.

Your home for this entire experience will be the beautiful Residence La Mezzaluna, with a small winery nearby. You’ll be able to admire the Tuscan landscapes while sipping on delicious wine.

Included in your Italian cooking vacation are visits to the beautiful Italian villages of Barga and Lucca, where you’ll visit the local markets and stop for tasting at local artisans.

This all-inclusive Italy cooking vacation in northern Tuscany offers a wonderful blend of personalized cooking experiences and free time. 

You have two days of cooking for about 3 to 4 hours and have enough time to venture off and discover Tuscany at your own pace.

The warmth and care you‘ll receive from Rita, your host and cooking instructor, will make you feel like family, even as a solo or single traveler.

RELATED: Tuscany Day Tour: Visit Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti in One Day

Sicily Cooking Vacations

7. Authentic Etna Gastronomic Tour 8-Day – Best For Michelin Star Cooking

This week-long gastronomic adventure takes you to Southern Italy, Ragusa, Etna, and Caltagirone.

Your base and accommodations are in an 18^th-century Sicilian villa with all the comfortable modern conveniences you’d expect.

This experience includes cooking classes, culinary tours as well as wine tours at the foot of the famous Mount Etna. 

Your cooking classes will be led by a Michelin-starred Italian chef focused on authentic Sicilian dishes.

Over the week-long culinary vacation,  you’ll sample Sicilian wine at 3 different wineries. And, you’ll also explore the UNESCO heritage cities of Modica, Ragusa, and Caltagirone. 

You’ll pop into a gelateria and sample the exceptional Sicilian ice cream. In Modica, the capital of chocolate, you’ll visit an artisan producer and sample the finest treats.

Included in your culinary vacation is lunch at Sicily’s finest Michelin restaurant, Il Duomo by Ciccio Sultano.

For those who love shopping, a full day is dedicated to shopping at the Sicily Outlet Village. 

You’ll save on Italian fashion designer clothing, household items, accessories, sports goods, and more.

This Sicily cooking vacation experience gives you a wide range of culinary and cultural experiences on the eastern side of the island.

READ MORE: 6 Best Cooking Vacations in Sicily For A Culinary Escape

Other Cooking Vacations Throughout Italy

8. Luxury Culinary Vacation in Roman Countryside 7-Day – Best Exclusive Vacation

Discover the exquisite tastes of Italy on this luxury cooking vacation in the Roman countryside of Palombara Sabina, about 30 minutes away from Rome.

This 7-day/6-night Italy cooking vacation includes 4-hands Italian cooking classes where you’ll learn the secrets of fresh pasta, risotto, and seafood dishes. 

With the help of your talented Italian chef, you’ll learn to make antipasti, homemade pizza, Italian sauces, and a variety of desserts. 

Besides cooking, you’ll also enjoy cultural excursions for an experience of a lifetime.

You will visit the town of Tivoli with its Renaissance gardens of Villa d’Este, a Unesco World Heritage Site. 

In Umbria, you’ll visit a family-owned winery for lunch and a private tasting. You’ll also explore the medieval town of Orvieto dating back to Etruscan times.

A day to discover the secrets of ancient Rome is included in this cooking vacations experiences.  On a guided tour, you’ll spend a full day exploring art, food, and culture in Italy’s capital.

Your stay for this culinary vacation is at the luxurious La Cucina Sabina villa. The deluxe rooms have mountain views overlooking the magnificent landscapes.  

An outdoor swimming pool, gorgeous gardens surrounded by cherry and olive orchards, and spa treatments are at your disposal.

This Italian cooking vacation outside of Rome offers a luxurious experience that combines cooking with sightseeing of famous cities and the gorgeous countryside.

RELATED: The 9 Best Wine Tours From Rome For Wine Tastings and Sightseeing

9. Cooking and Wine Holiday in Umbria 5-Day – Best Hidden Gem

Enjoy discovering Umbria, the green heart of Italy. This Italian cooking takes place in the food-loving region with dedicated truffles and prosciutto festivals.

This 5-day cooking vacation offers 3-hands on cooking classes in traditional Umbrian cuisine. 

The classes take place in a spacious kitchen in the La Volpe e l’uva farm, an old farmstead in  Perugia, the capital city of the Umbria region.

It is also here where you’ll spend four nights in an oasis surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and olive groves. 

Your host and chef, Raffaella, will teach you how to prepare rustic and authentic Umbrian sauces, soups, and desserts.

Some of the recipes you’ll learn to make are ragu sauce, salsa di pomodoro, ravioli, risotto, pasta, meat dishes, and amazing Italian sweets. 

In Italy, cooking goes hand in hand with Italian wines. As such, when you visit medieval cities like Bevagna, Montefalco, and Montepulciano, you’ll also stop at wineries for exclusive tastings.

Another cultural aspect of this Italian cooking vacation includes a visit to a  renowned ceramic laboratory in Deruta. 

These high-quality Italian Deruta ceramics are known all over the world since the Renaissance times. 

On each day of your 5-day cooking vacation, you’ll discover delicious new tastes of Umbria and the nearby Tuscany.

10. Cooking Vacation in Bologna 8-Days – Best Value Cooking Vacation in Italy

Bologna, considered Italy’s capital is one of our favorite cities in Italy. The traditional dishes and local food culture are unsurpassed.

To experience a sweet taste of Italian life, this 8-day taste Italy in Bologna cooking vacation will exceed all expectations.

Nestled in the Apennines mountains in the province of Bologna is where your expert chef, Stefania, will guide you.

You will learn how to make iconic Bolognese dishes like ragù, bruschetta, pasta dough from scratch, tiramisu, and much more.

There are three dedicated cooking classes, including one focused on Italian classics, like pizza and more.

This Italian cooking vacation includes excursions to a Parmigiano Reggiano factory, wine tastings, and local restaurants.

Outside of cooking, you have free time to enjoy excursions to Bologna City, Modena, Florence, and other nearby cities.

You will stay in a farmhouse with independent apartments. Expect all modern amenities. and there is also a swimming pool on the grounds.

Go deeper into Italian culture and cuisine on this cooking vacation in Bologna.

RELATED: 12 Reasons Why Is Bologna Worth Visiting (Food & Travel Guide)

11. Molise and Puglia Culinary Vacation 11-Day – Best Immersive Cooking Vacation

This is an 11-day, all-inclusive Molise and Puglia culinary vacation, excellent for acquiring culinary skills from the local chefs. 

This immersive Italian food experience includes cooking classes, wine tours, street food tastings as well as cultural visits.

You’ll enjoy two hands-on cooking classes with local chefs and visits to local producers and artisans.

One of your first gastronomic experiences will be visits to cheesemakers renowned for their aged Caciocavallo di Agnone, cow milk cheese.

Wine tastings are also part of the experience. You’ll enjoy a private tasting and tour with a sommelier and lunch prepared by the winery chef.

Other experiences you’ll enjoy on this 11-day culinary vacation include a private dinner at a local’s home featuring authentic Bari recipes.

Cultural tours are also part of the experience, including the sea caves of Polignano a Mare, the Trullo buildings of Alberobello, the ancient Marinelli bell foundry, and more. 

This Italy cooking vacation also includes a boat trip to relax on the Tremiti Islands. You’ll have free time to rejuvenate in the middle of the food and wine magical experiences.

Along with your fabulous memories, your keepsakes are an apron and a recipe book from the cooking vacation.

Which of these Italian cooking vacations are you most excited about? Please let us know in the comments below which cooking vacations in Italy you’d like to go on.

Savor The Adventure!

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