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Italian cooking is one of the most recognized and celebrated cuisines. It has a reputation for being simple, ingredient-based, and fiercely regional.
What you eat in one part of the country is nothing like the food of another.
Taking Italian cooking vacations helps you dive into the country’s distinctive regional foods.
You’ll learn to make not just the popular dishes but also the home-cooked meals that are part of the culinary culture.
On our culinary travels in Italy exploring the local food specialties, we are constantly in awe of the local dishes and variety in the authentic recipes.
If you are looking to explore the cuisine in the Bel Paese, this list of 9 Italian cooking vacations is your guide.
Dive into the “heart and soul” of Italy on a take a cooking vacation.
Best Italian Cooking Vacations Comparison Table
| Italy Cooking Vacation | Location | Price$ (USD) | # Days | # Cooking Experiences | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amalfi Coast Cooking Vacation | Almafi Coast | $2,181 | 8 | 5 | Overall |
| Cooking Vacation in Sorrento | Naples | $6,542 | 7 | 3 | Sightseeing |
| Tuscany Cooking and Wine Vacations | Tuscany | $2,072 | 8 | 4 | Tuscan Experience |
| All Inclusive Cooking and Wine Tours | Tuscany | $1,809 | 8 | 4 | Value |
| Fresh-Pasta Making Cooking Holidays | Tuscany | $1,174 | 4 | 4 | Hands-On |
| Chianti Wine and Cooking Vacations | Tuscany | $4,995 | 8 | 4 | Wine Lovers |
| Gourmet Cookery Vacation | Tuscany | $1,067 | 5 | 2 | Singles |
| Luxury Culinary Vacation | Rome | $4,500 | 7 | 4 | Exclusive |
| Molise and Puglia Culinary Vacation | Puglia | $8,701 | 11 | 2 | Immersive |
| Cooking and Wine Holiday | Umbria | $2,399 | 5 | 3 | Hidden Gem |
| Authentic Etna Gastronomic Tour | Sicily | $3,271 | 8 | 1 | Michelin Star Cooking |
The price of these Italian 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 tour. Availability of some cooking vacations in Italy may differ based on season and time of year.
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Amalfi Coast Cooking Vacations
1. Amalfi Coast Cooking Vacation – 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 on this cooking vacation is a cultural tour to 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.
2. Cooking Vacation in Sorrento, Naples – Best For Sightseeing
This exclusive cooking vacation takes place in the Amalfi Coast, more precisely in the Sorrento Coast.
Included in the Unesco World Heritage Sites, Amalfi is also home to the most famous Roman ruins, Herculaneum and Pompeii.
Aside from historical places and wondrous landscapes, Sorrento is renowned for its seafood and seafood dishes.
Also, the delicious cannelloni were invented here, originally known as “strascinati”.
For 7-days/6 nights, you will cook with Chef Carmen at La Cucina del Gusto, one of the original Italian cooking schools.
You will learn how to make famous Neapolitan pasta, antipasto, meat and fish dishes, as well as authentic desserts.
Also included in this Italian cooking vacation will be the breakfasts, two lunches, dinners and cheese tastings accompanied by local wines.
Enhancing the experience further is an included dinner at a 2 Star Michelin Restaurant, the famous Don Alfonso 1890, located on Capri Island.
Aside from the tasty Neapolitan dishes, you’ll learn to make your stay at Don Antonio Relais- Sorrento offers a vacation of tranquility.
Outside of cooking, you’ll also enjoy excursions to the Amalfi Coast, the stunning Capri Island, as well as a local winery where you will enjoy wine tastings.
Go deeper on your visit to the Amalfi Coast and discover the local cuisine in an Italian paradise.
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 and Wine Tours in Lucca Tuscany – Best Value 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 of The Best Cooking Vacations in Tuscany You Should Consider in 2023
5. Fresh-Pasta Making Cooking Holidays in Tuscany – Best Hands-On Vacation
If you are short on time or on a budget, you can still enjoy an exceptional cooking vacation in Tuscany.
This 4-day pasta making and cooking holiday is a compressed version of the 7-day gastronomy and cooking vacation above.
You are still accommodated at the Residence il Ciliegio, albeit for three nights. Even though you’ll miss the pizza cooking class, you’ll learn to make fresh pasta and risotto.
You will also still tour the buffalo mozzarella and rice farms and match wine with a 4-course dinner at an organic family vineyard.
With this 4-day culinary holiday, you are guaranteed to enjoy a worthwhile cooking vacation in Tuscany.
6. Chianti Wine and Cooking Vacations- 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.
7. Gourmet Cookery Vacation – 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, where you will learn, step-by-step 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.
Other Cooking Vacations Throughout Italy
8. Luxury Culinary Vacation in Roman Countryside – 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 on Italian cooking classes where you’ll learn the secrets of fresh pasta, risotto and seafood dishes.
With the 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.
9. Molise and Puglia Culinary Vacation – 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.
Don’t leave before sampling renowned pasta dishes; fusilli with lamb ragu and cavatelli with broccoli and chili.
Your gastronomic experience begins in San Martino in Pensilis with dinner at Hotel Santoanni. This is where you will have your cooking classes and spend four nights as you explore Molise.
At the nearby Monteroduni town, you’ll take a wine tour culminating at the Valerio winery for a fabulous food and wine lunch.
Cultural tours will take you to visits to local artisans, restaurants as well as participate in exclusive cheese tastings.
The authenticity is enhanced with a private dinner at a local’s home featuring authentic Bari recipes.
Exploration of historical sites include 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 spare time to rejuvenate and enjoy the sun in the middle of the food and wine magical experience.
Along with your fabulous memories, your keepsakes are an apron and a recipe book from the cooking vacation.
10. Cooking and Wine Holiday in Umbria – 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.
And, at the end of your journey, you will receive a certificate of participation.
In Italy, cooking goes hand in hand with Italian wines. As such, when you visit medieval cities like Bevagna and 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.
Sicily Cooking Vacations
11. Authentic Etna Gastronomic Tour – 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 18th-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.
And, included in your culinary vacations is lunch at Sicily’s finest Michelin restaurant, Il Duomo by Ciccio Sultano.
For those that love shopping, a full day is dedicated to shopping at the Sicily Outlet Village. Here, you’ll be able to 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: The Best Sicilian Food: 25 Authentic Dishes in Sicily You Must Eat
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!
How to Best Choose Your Cooking Vacations in Italy
The Italian Cooking Experience
These cooking classes offered all feature Italian authentic recipes. Regional Italian wines also feature prominently in these Italy cooking vacations.
Some are hands-on cooking classes, while others are less involved.
Italian food connoisseurs and home chefs will appreciate the cooking vacations with daily classes. Other travelers who want a mix of cooking and culinary tours will find options for them as well.
Whatever your preference, you’ll find the best cooking vacations in Italy for you.
What Is Your Budget and How Much Time Do You Have
These Italian cooking vacations offer different packages and they range from five to eight days in length.
The number of cooking experiences offered varies, with some squeezing in several classes and others leaving full days for exploration or unwinding.
The prices for these Italian cooking vacations range from about $1,000 to $6,500.
Depending on how much time, your budget, and level of activity you want, select the best Italy cooking vacation for you.
Number of Participants
All these Italian cooking vacations focus on small groups to provide immersive Italian cooking experiences.
Some of these Italian cooking vacations are available for single or solo travelers while others require a minimum of two participants.
Private rooms and shared rooms are also available depending on the culinary 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. In the case of any unexpected events, it’s a good idea to get travel insurance.
Cancel up to 7 days prior to the arrival date and you can reschedule your booking free of charge, or receive trip 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.
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest