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Italian culinary tours take you to the regions at the heart of one of the world’s most famous cuisines.
From Bologna, Moderna, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Sicily, and everything in between, you’ll discover the best Italian food and wine.
On our authentic food quest trips to Italy, taking wine and food tours gave us a deeper understanding of the local food culture.
If visiting Italy is on your travel plans, consider immersing yourself in Italy’s food, culture, wine, and cooking experiences with local guides.
These 8 culinary tours are all varied but they have one thing in common. You go directly to the people and places that celebrate Itay’s culinary heritage.
From food and wine tours, producer visits, or cooking classes in single or multiple destinations, you’ll find the perfect experience for you.
Choose from any of these 8 amazing Italian culinary tours and create life-lasting memories.
Italian Culinary Tours Comparison Table
| Italian Culinary Tours | Price ($ USD) | Days | Destination | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscany culinary tour and adventure | $2,300 | 8 | Arezzo | Immersive Experience |
| Cultural, food, and cooking holiday | $3,441 | 11 | Southern Italy | All-inclusive |
| Italy real food adventure | $2,610 | 8 | Venice to Roma | Adventurous travelers |
| Cooking, Wine and Food Tasting Holiday | $1,433 | 5 | Umbria | Truffle Hunting |
| Amalfi culinary tour | $1,313 | 4 | Amalfi Coast | Scenery |
| Sicily Food and Wine tours | $2,490 | 8 | Sicily | Exclusivity |
| Abruzzo culinary and cultural tour | $5,401 | 10 | Abruzzo | Authentic |
| Best culinary and walking holiday | $1,999 | 8 | Southern Tuscany | Active Experience |
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Make your culinary travels worry-free! With the right travel insurance, you’ll enjoy a delicious experience. From medical emergencies, flight cancelations, car rental protection, or tour cancelations, a good travel insurance has got you covered. Check out our travel insurance review for food lovers to get started.
Our Top Italian Culinary Tours
1. Culinary Tour in Tuscany – Best For Tuscan Immersive Experience
Your base for this 8-day Tuscan culinary tour is a traditional Tuscan farmhouse in the hilltop town of Cortona in the Arrezo Province.
Nestled in the Tuscan mountains, its beautiful views and serene environment is ideal to unwind after days of exploration.
During your stay, you’ll visit a host of vineyards, explore enchanting and medieval villages and pick up new skills in four cooking classes.
You’ll visit San Gimignano and Siena, and learn about their fascinating history. In Tuscany, vineyards and wine visits cannot be missed.
Accordingly, visits to Chianti for Tuscan wines, Montepulciano for amazing red wines, and San Gimignano for white wines are included.
In the cooking classes, you’ll be making traditional Tuscan dishes from main meals to desserts.
Sumptuous tastes of Tuscan flavors will also be appreciated at local restaurants.
This Tuscany culinary tour is ideal for those seeking to explore only one region of Italy.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: For Tuscany cooking vacations focused, check our article dedicated to The Best Cooking Vacations in Tuscany You Should Consider
2. Culinary, Cultural and Art Holidays – Best All-Inclusive Italian Culinary Tour
This is a 11-day food, wine and cultural experience in three stunning Italian regions of Abruzzo, Puglia, and Matera.
You’ll be welcomed with a traditional Abruzzo dinner and breakfast at the Hotel Ovidius in Sulmona.
While in Sulmona, one of Italy’s prettiest towns, you’ll explore the historic center and learn about Abruzzo wines at a tasting.
In Vasto, along the Adriatic coast in southern Abruzzo, you’ll take hands-on cooking classes where you’ll be introduced to Abruzzo sauces.
You’ll also learn to make fresh local pasta, vegetable and desserts like Abruzzian biscuits.
In Puglia, you’ll start by exploring the UNESCO sites and the many restaurants of Trani.
In Bari, Puglia’s capital, you’ll savor food and wine tasting at a family-run winery. Sampling of the famous mozzarella cheese of Gioia del Colle is also included.
You’ll enjoy touring Matera, Italy’s magical city of stone and savoring vibrant foccacia flavors in an old bakery famous for its DOP bread.
This allinclusive food cultural and culinary vacation packs a lot in 10 days. The experiences are varied and immersive.
The one thing you can count on is a human connection, great food and amazing regional Italian wines.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: For experiences focused on cooking, check out 11 of The Best Italian Cooking Vacations for Tasting Italy in 2023
3. Italian Culinary Food Adventure – Best For Exploring Street Foods
Starting from Venice to Rome via San Gimignano and Bologna, this 8-day food adventure takes you to the source of Italian delicacies.
You’ll explore the food in Rome, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Veneto, all famous food regions in Italy.
Your nights will be spent in rustic Italian farm houses and local hotels and transportation will be mostly by train.
A welcome aperitivo whets your appetite for Venetian flavors on the first day, setting the pace of the tour.
You get to execute a cicchetti crawl through Venice’s numerous wine bars, washing down the bites with spritz.
In a hands-on cooking class, you’ll learn how to make pasta and sample Bologna’s famous meat sauce pasta, the ragu alla Bolognese. Tiramisu dessert is also on the radar.
In Emilia-Romagna, you’ll sample Parmigiano Reggiano cheese straight from the factory. About one hour away in Moderna, you’ll dive into Moderna balsamic vinegar at a family producer.
In San Gimignano, you’ll walk a part of the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route, to whet your appetite for rustic cuisine wine, and olive oil tastings.
On day 7 in Rome, you’ll get to know the city through food on a walking food tour. From the historic city center to the Jewish quarter and the other side of the Tiber River, you’ll discover unique Roman delicacies.
Roman street food like Trapizzino or stuffed pizza pockets will be sampled. Pizza by the slice or pizza al taglio from the most famous bakery will be tasted.
Drinks, gelato, and much more will round out this culinary food adventure.
For food lovers, this is one of the best Italian culinary tours that takes you to the source of some of the world’s best products.
4. Cooking, Food and Wine Tour Holiday in Umbria – Best For Truffle Hunting
This unforgettable 5-day Italian culinary tour takes you to the medieval off-the-beaten-path town of Spoleto in the Umbria region.
In the heart of Italy, you’ll relish the picturesque landscapes and lip-smacking local Italian cuisine.
This Italy culinary tour includes a number of activities from Umbrian cooking, wine tastings and an extraordinary truffle hunting experience.
During your stay, you’ll enjoy a guided tour to the town of Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also visit the famous medieval towns of Montefalco and Spoleto.
You will sample original ricotta and pecorino cheese from Sardinian sheep, freshly forged truffle, and the famous regional cured meats.
In the included cooking classes, you’ll relish local specialties made with farm fresh ingredients.
Your accommodation is in a beautifully restored old country house in the heart of the medieval village of Spoleto. And, every morning you’ll wake up to breathtaking views of the mountains.
This culinary tour in Umbria is the perfect escape for those looking to soak up a true Italian experience in Italy’s green heart.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Looking for an extended vacation in Spoleto? If 5 days is too short, consider the same culinary tour in Spoleto for 7 days for additional visits and cooking class.
5. Italian Culinary Tour on The Amalfi Coast – Best For Scenery
With panoramic views of the Amalfi coast from the terrace of your cozy B&B in Agerola in Amalfi is the tranquil location for your culinary tour.
The B&B, a restored Italian country house is close to walking trails with views of the entire Amalfi coast from Ravello to Calabria.
Right away, on this 4-day wine and cheese culinary vacation, you’ll be immersed in the local culinary culture.
You’ll never look at mozzarella the same way again after a trip to a mozzarella farm.
Regional wines from slopes of Mount Vesuvius. will no longer be a mystery after visiting a family-owned winery.
Two cooking classes will introduce you to some of the most traditional local dishes. You’ll learn to make paccheri pasta dishes, gnocchi, pork and chicken dishes and others.
The secrets of desserts like Tiramisu, ricotta and pear tarts will be easily mastered.
The coastal area is breathtaking and there is free time built into the schedule to allow you to explore on your own.
You can take a trip to the Island of Capri or drive through the Sorrentine Peninsula and view Mount Vesuvius
This culinary tour of Italy is an incredible and unforgettable experience.
An abundance of specialties from the Amalfi coast will please your palate and the sights will enthrall you.
6. Food And Wine Tour of Sicily – Best Exclusive Culinary Tours in Italy
This small group Sicily tour over 8 days take you to the world-famous and little known corners of Italy’s largest island.
You’ll get a full immersion into the island’s history and tradition with local guides who know the area best.
Upon arrival in Catania, you’ll head to Taormina, a stunning hilltop town for an introduction to the vibrant culture and food.
While in Taormina, you’ll take a hands on cooking class and learn the Italian culinary secrets for bread, pasta and more.
A visit to Mount Etna and hike around the base is included in this culinary tour. As well as an exclusive Etna wine tasting and lunch at a boutique winery.
This culinary tour of Italy also takes you to the UNESCO heritage town of Noto for the world-famous Modica chocolate.
You’ll then head to Syracuse, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour of Ortigia, Syracuse’s old town.
On your way to Palermo for an incredible street food experience, you’ll visit the Valley of Temples in Agrigento.
No matter what you choose, culture, food or Sicily wine experiences, this Sicily culinary tours has it all.
READ MORE: 7 of The Best Food Tours in Sicily You Want To Try
7. Abruzzo and Marche Culinary and Cultura Tour – Best Authentic Culinary Tour
Central Italy has much to offer. This 10-day culinary tour takes you to Abruzzo and Marche to discover the best kept secrets.
This tour explores all four provinces of Abruzzo with more than 12 destinations. You’ll soak in the culture, the striking scenery, a ceramic chapel, beaches, and more.
Your days will be filled with activities like private truffle hunting in Abruzzo, a ceramic workshop and museum visits, snorkeling and sunbathing.
Learning to make cheese from scratch and an Abruzzo traditional cooking class will elevate your Italian cooking skills.
Your gastronomic fantasies will come to life courtesy of 8-course lunches, seafood dinners and exclusive food and wine tastings.
You’ll sample a range of local delicacies like cheese, porchetta, extra virgin olive oil, pan-fried olives, Sulmonese confetti and more.
The 10 days in Abruzzo and Marche combine sightseeing with local culinary experiences. It’s an intimate and authentic experience with breathtaking views and amazing local food specialties.
Curious travelers looking to get more out of their vacations in Italy, this is the perfect trip for you.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: For a shorter version of the same tour check out this Taste of Abruzzo in 4-Days
8. Chianti Culinary, Walking & Wine Vacation – Best Active Culinary Tour in Italy
A fun 8-day culinary tour dedicated to wine and hiking in Chianti awaits. Your base is Villa Casalta, a converted farmhouse in the picturesque landscape of Monti del Chianti or the Chianti Mountain.
Daily guided hiking tours will take you through the cities of Siena, San Gimignano and Greve In Chianti, and three others.
You will taste Chianti Classico wine at a local winery and have a history walk from Villa Casalta to Radda.
You’ll learn the intriguing history of Chianti wines and their eight denominations and dive into Chianti Classico, produced between Florence and Siena.
In Southern Tuscany and around Siena, walking tours around the beautiful museums, the Duomo di Siena, and Piazza del Campo are included.
At the Siena Wine School, you’ll learn about Italian wines with a local expert. Tastings of four to five iconic Tuscan wines are included and you will leave knowing how to pick the best wines and food pairing tips.
You’ll also explore Florence, the hometown of the Italian Renaissance, and the picturesque San Gimignano medieval city.
This Italian culinary tour is a wonderful combination of hiking and wine in one of Italy’s most renowned wine region.
You’ll be staying in farmhouses along the way and savoring Tuscan dishes at local eateries and restaurants.
The pace is active but not strenuous allowing you to relish the beautiful scenery, historic places and informative wine-tasting sessions.
For active travelers looking to explore the Chianti wine region, this Italy culinary tour is for you.
RELATED: 12 Best Chianti Wine Tours From Florence For Wine Tastings and Sightseeing
How To Choose Your Best Culinary Vacation in Italy
Here are a few criteria to consider when coosking your Italian culinary vacations.
The Culinary Vacation Experience
The whole of Italy is ideal for culinary tours. You get to choose between spending time in one region or exploring multiple sides of the country.
Some Italian culinary tours are focused on wine, while others are more active. You’ll not go wrong with any of these culinary vacations in Italy. Your choice is largely a matter of personal preference.
One thing to keep in mind is the seasonality. Some ingredients are seasonal, and certain culinary activities and events happen at specific times of the year.
What Is Your Budget and How Much Time Do You Have
These culinary tours to Italy offer different accommodation packages which impact the costs. The length of stay between 6 to 10 days also affects the pricing.
These Italian culinary tours range in price from about $2,000 to $5,800.
Depending on the type of accommodation you choose and length of stay select the best Italian culinary tour for you.
Number of Participants
Depending on the experience you are looking for you can keep it intimate for just you and your party. Or take the opportunity to meet other Italian food and wine lovers.
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.
Which of one of these Italian culinary tours are you most excited about? Please let us know in the comments below.
Savor The Adventure!
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Claire is co-founder of Authentic Food Quest and a lover of simple and exquisite cuisine. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, she has been traveling the world as a digital nomad, creating content about local food experiences.
Her advice from visiting 45 countries and more than 240 food cities has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post. She has also co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube.
When Claire is not eating, she can be found running or cycling. Find out more about Authentic Food Quest