Top 7 Sicily Food Tours: Must-Try Experiences in 2024

Best Sicily Food Tours To Take

1. Taormina Food and Wine Tour

The picturesque beauty of Taormina draws visitors from all over the world. Taking a gastronomic tour to explore regional food specialties in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities is an unforgettable experience.

This 2.5-hour Taormina food and wine tour takes you on a fascinating discovery of delicious food, wine, and Italian culture.

There are three main stops on this Sicily food tour in Taormina. 

The tour begins with a wine tasting paired with fresh seafood and mouth-watering appetizers.

At a local wine bar, you’ll dive further into Sicilian wines and snack on more great food.

Finally, you’ll enjoy a sampling of traditional pastries and sweets along with dessert wine and limoncello.

All along the way, you’ll learn about local cultural sites and enjoy stunning views of notable edifices and ancient city ruins.

This tour is perfect for the food and wine lover who appreciates a mix of history, culture, and stunning views while discovering traditional Sicilian foods.

What You’ll Love About Taormina Food and Wine Tour

• The combination of history, food, and wine in a picturesque Taormina setting.  
• Sampling three courses of traditional Sicilian foods and local wines.
• Exploring Taormina’s key attractions and landmarks.

2. Etna Countryside Food and Wine Lovers Tour

Travel through Sicilian villages to the beautiful Mount Etna countryside and learn about the culture, food, and lifestyle of the people in this region.

Your 6-hour Etna countryside food and wine tour begins with a scenic drive from Taormina (private transfers from Catania and Messina are available at an additional cost). Pass through picturesque towns and listen to stories about Sicilian cuisine and culture.

Upon arriving at one of the most beautiful vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna,  you’ll enjoy an introductory glass of Prosecco and a vineyard tour. You will also savor red and white Etna wines with a delicious appetizer platter.

Next, you’ll visit a nearby traditional Sicilian farmhouse for a hearty, 3-course, rustic lunch. More tastings of local Sicilian wines add to the experience.

The tour ends with sampling authentic Etna liquors before heading back to Taormina.

What You’ll Love About This Etna Countryside Food & Wine Tour

• Enjoy a gastronomic tour on the stunning slopes of Mount Etna.
• Indulge in 6 hours of traditional Sicilian dishes and wines and leave the driving to someone else.
• Learn about local culture and have great fun with an extremely knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If you are looking to visit the wineries around Mount Etna, check out our guide about The Best Etna Wineries To Visit in Sicily

3. Food Tour and Wine Tasting in Syracuse

The seaside town of Syracuse, or Siracusa in Italian, is one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean.

Its historic center of Ortigia, or Ortygia, was once described as the “biggest and most beautiful Greek city” by the famous Roman orator Cicero.

Ortigia’s history and flavors are best expressed on this 2 to 2.5-hour street food adventure in Syracuse.

Your tour begins with a visit to Ortigia Market to savor local specialties and learn about local food traditions from street vendors.

Stops at three different family eateries are included, where you’ll sample Sicilian appetizers and homemade Sicilian pastries.

Along the way, you’ll stop at landmark sites and learn about the captivating history of Ortigia from your local guide.

What You’ll Love About Food & Wine Tasting in Syracuse

• Visiting Syracuse’s historical center of Ortigia and learning its history.
• Savoring Sicilian street foods and wines at three local Sicilian restaurants.
• Enjoy an authentic experience with a local guide.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: One of our favorite activities in Siracusa was visiting the archaeological park of the Neapolis, rich in ancient Greek history and culture. We highly recommend visiting and immersing yourself in the fascinating past of Magna Graecia in Syracuse. This private tour of Syracuse explores the archaeological park, the Greek Theater, the amphitheater, and other Greek and Roman ruins. You also have the option of including a food and wine tasting. That way you can visit the park and savor the cuisine. Find out more.

4. Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour

This 3-hour Palermo food and walking tour is offered by Streaty, the original and first food tour company in Palermo.

Created in 2013, it was born from the love of a passionate local to save Italian street food traditions.

We took this food tour and enjoyed navigating the bustling streets at two of Palermo’s most famous open-air markets – Vucciria Market and Mercato di Capo.

As you tour the markets, you’ll meet local vendors, try seasonal produce right off the stalls, and sample the best Palermo street food.

Some of the delicious Palermo street food you’ll try include panelle or chickpea fritters to arancini or fried rice balls.

Traditional Sicilian sweets also feature on this tour with full portion tastings of granita, a type of slushy to the famous cannoli pastry.

In addition to the food tasting, you’ll explore the culture, traditions, and hidden areas of Palermo that you may not discover on your own.

This original food tour in Palermo is one of the best tours for authentic street food and culture.  

What You’ll Love About the Palermo Street Food Tour

• Discovering Palermo street food with the original and most highly rated food tour company. 
• Savoring 7+ authentic Sicilian foods and 2 local beverages with a foodie guide.
• Learning how Sicily’s unique culinary history influences the street food scene. 
• Insights about the culture and history that only a local can provide.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Read our detailed review of our fun and insightful experience on this Palermo Food Tour with Streaty – Eat Street Food Like a Local in Sicily

5. Palermo Street Food At Night

At night, the streets of Palermo come to life in a unique way. With a local guide, you’ll explore the sounds and smells of street food grilling at the best vendors in the city.

This 3-hour night street food tour of Palermo is an original in the city, also offered by Streaty.

Your tour guide will kick things off with a tasting of Sicilian sparkling wine and delectable bruschetta at a wine bar.

Continue through the backstreets and local markets to experience the real and unfiltered version of night life in Sicily’s capital.

Be prepared to be blown away by authentic tastes. Some foods may be familiar, but most will be new. One favorite stop is for a large brioche with gelato or ice cream-filled buns.

Get ready to eat generous portions and have fun as you explore Palermo’s vibrant local night scene. 

What You’ll Love About Palermo Evening Food Tour

• Immersing yourself in Palermo’s vibrant night scene
• Discovering hidden spots in the city that only locals know about.
• The diversity of food and drink stops that reflect the typical authentic tastes.

RELATED: 10 Must-Try Cooking Classes in Sicily To Master Sicilian Cooking

6. Catania Street Food Walking Tour

Catania, in eastern Sicily, has a vibrant culinary culture. It’s flavors come alive on an unforgettable food tour.

We took this 3-hour Catania street food walking tour with Agata, who was a wealth of knowledge about Catania, Sicilian history, and food.

Your adventure into Sicily food in Catania begins at the main plaza, the Piazza del Duomo, surrounded by cultural treasures.

At the nearby La Pescheria, one of the largest fish markets in Italy, you’ll learn about seafood in Sicily as you navigate the stalls.

You’ll go underground to a lava tunnel and to the Castelo Ursino, a 13th-century royal castle of the Kingdom of Sicily.

Along the way, you’ll stop for several regional specialties, traditional Sicilian dishes, and sweet treats. Some of our most memorable foods were baked cipollina and horse meatballs.

This Catania food tour provides an understanding of the regional cuisine and rich cultural influences.

What You’ll Love About This Catania Street Food Walking Tour

• Learning from a passionate and insightful local Catania guide.
• Sample delicious Catanese local delicacies.
• Exploring several Catania cultural sites.

7. Catania Food Tour at Night

A historic and important Baroque city, Catania also has a rich food and cultural history.

This 3-hour food tour of Catania by night allows you to avoid the midday heat and takes you through the back streets to sample traditional Sicilian cuisine like a local. 

Staying off the tourist path, you’ll visit historic landmarks of Catania’s old town and sample a variety of street foods. 

Adventurous eaters will enjoy local delicacies like horse meatballs while also understanding the culinary context and significance.

This Catania night tour combines unique flavors with history and culture, making it the perfect starting point for understanding food in eastern Sicily.

What You’ll Love About the Food Tour of Catania by Night

• Getting a glimpse of everyday life in Catania with culinary and local history woven throughout the tour.
• Great for adventurous eaters who want to try unique foods loved by the locals.
• Night tour avoids daytime heat and showcases Catania’s nightlife.

RELATED: 20 Best Restaurants in Catania Sicily for Pasta, Pizza and More

What to Consider When Choosing a Food Tour in Sicily

While most Sicily food tours share common elements like discovering local Sicilian food and wine, the experiences vary. The time of day, areas visited, private tour versus group, and length of tours all differ.

Before booking your food tour in Sicily, here are a couple of things to consider. 

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 cancellations, car rental protection, or tour cancellations, a good travel insurance has got you covered. Check out our travel insurance review for food lovers to get started.

What Kind of Sicily Food Tour Experience Do You Want?

We personally took some of these food and wine tours and enjoyed the rich cultural and culinary scene in this famous Italy region. 

You can be assured of authentic and memorable experiences you’ll remember for a long time.

On your Southern Italy visit, what kind of food tour in Sicily would you like to experience?

Do you prefer market food tours or tours with wine tastings?

Are you more inclined to avoid the heat and hot temperatures and go on a night tour instead?

Is a small group tour your style, or do you prefer a private experience with friends and family?

Whatever your preference, choose the experience that aligns with your tastes and book your Sicily food tour.

What Is Your Budget for Your Sicily Food Tours?

The gastronomic tour you choose will depend on your travel plan and budget.

The best food tours in Sicily range in price from about $65.36 to $165.06 per person.

However, depending on the size of your group and dates, you may be able to negotiate discounted rates.

On a positive note, all these Sicily food tours allow free booking cancellation up to 24 to 72 hours before the tour.

Have you ever taken any food tours in Sicily? Please let us know in the comments below which tours you’ve taken or would like to take.

Savor the Adventure!

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