Food & Culinary Tours & Trips in South Italy
4.6 stars on(8,613 reviews)- Choose from 32 South Italy tours
- 450+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
- 24/7 customer support
10 best food & culinary South Italy tours
Compiled by
MelissaSouth Italy travel expert at TourRadar
- Luxury 5 Stars Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
- Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour
- Splendours of Sicily
- Private Experience: The Best of Sicily Through History, Flavors and Relaxation
- Campania: Private Experiences in a Land of Beauty, Flavor, and History
- A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia
- Campania Wine, Food & Heritage Experience
- A Culinary Escape from Rome to Puglia
- Puglia Private Experience (including Matera): Great landscapes and rural heritage
- Cilento tour - 7 days
Luxury 5 Stars Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
84 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Both Etna food and wine and Taormina food tour were excellent. The tours at great mixture of fun and knowledge.”
DeborahShipton, traveled in September
The finest of South Italy awaits at Vucciria Market's street food stalls and Syracuse's castle wineries. Taormina's family trattorias share pasta-making secrets, Mount Etna estates pour volcanic wines, and Marzamemi's fishing village serves fresh seafood. Local guides reveal food traditions at every stop.
Duration 8 days Destinations Catania, Taormina, Mount Etna, Noto, Marzamemi, Island of Ortigia, Syracuse, Palermo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Sicily Activities From
- NZ$9,995
Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour
23 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The freshly cooked food Emilio prepared daily was very tasty and beautifully presented and the accommodation was comfortable.”
Trish, traveled in May
South Italy's specialties unfold through cooking classes at Chef Emilio's Masseria and seafood feasts in Porto Badisco. Maglie's historic pasta makers showcase their craft alongside wine tastings, while Matera's cave restaurants serve traditional dishes. Includes 6 gourmet dinners with local wines.
Duration 10 days Destinations Brindisi, Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Matera Age Range Ages 20+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Soleto Travel From $5,565
15% Off- NZ$4,730You save $835
Splendours of Sicily
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Loved everything about this tour from the places we visited, the accommodation, meals and the transportation.”
Janet, traveled in September
Sicily's culinary artisans share their craft: fill fresh cannoli in Catania's historic pâtisserie, watch provola ragusana cheese-making with Ragusa shepherds, and taste wines at Mount Etna's vineyards. Visit Catania's vibrant fish market and taste local almonds in Noto.
Duration 10 days Destinations Palermo, Monreale, Selinunte, Mazara del Vallo, Sciacca, Favara, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Ragusa, ModicaSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Back-Roads Touring From
15% Off- NZ$6,769
Sicily's culinary treasures range from Marsala's sweet wines to Modica's famous chocolate. Master chefs lead cooking classes, while ancient cellars in Cerasuolo di Vittoria welcome visitors. Ortigia's bustling markets and wine estates across southern Italy offer farm-to-table dining experiences.
Duration 10 days Destinations Palermo, Trapani, Marsala, Sciacca, Agrigento, Vittoria, Ragusa, Modica, Noto, SyracuseSee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Angel Wine Experiences and Enotropea Wine Experiences SL From
15% Off- NZ$54,555
Campanian cuisine comes alive through immersive experiences, from pizza-making classes to buffalo mozzarella farm visits in Sele Valley. Vesuvio National Park vineyards showcase DOC wines, while traditional Roman lunches and fresh-caught seafood await at hidden Mediterranean beach coves.
Duration 9 days Destinations Naples, Ischia, Pompeii, Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi, Salerno, PaestumSee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Angel Wine Experiences and Enotropea Wine Experiences SL From
15% Off- NZ$54,555
A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia
20 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Thanks to the Explore allowing me to have the first taste and sip of Puglia. Now I want to learn Puglia even more!!!”
Lenka, traveled in January
South Italy's culinary heritage thrives at Altamura's DOP bakeries and Tre Archi's cooking classes. Traditional orecchiette pasta making, fresh mozzarella at award-winning farms, and Alberobello's wine culture at Cantina Albea lead to authentic Puglian feasts.
Duration 8 days Destinations Bari, Altamura, Alta Murgia National Park, Matera, Cisternino, Alberobello Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Explore! From $3,620
7% Off- NZ$3,350You save $270
Private wine tastings await at Mount Vesuvius's Lacryma Christi vineyards and Sant'Agata de' Goti's historic cellars. Master traditional pizza-making in Naples, visit family farms in Massa Lubrense for cheese production, and savor regional specialties at seaside restaurants from Positano to Amalfi.
Duration 10 days Destinations Naples, Sant agata De Goti, Caserta, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish Operator Campania Overland From
7% Off- NZ$3,702
Southern Italian flavors range from Rome's street food to Bari's famous focaccia barese in Bari Vecchia. Local women craft orecchiette pasta outside traditional homes, while Lecce's signature pasticciotto tempts near Porta San Biagio. Authentic bakeries surround Piazza Sant'Oronzo.
Duration 7 days Destinations Rome, Bari, Lecce Age Range Ages 8+ Operator Omega Tours From
7% Off- NZ$2,390
Culinary delights await through cooking classes in traditional Lecce farms, olive oil tastings near Alberobello, and wine experiences in Gallipoli's estates. Private sailing along Otranto's coastline includes fresh seafood.
Duration 7 days Destinations Rome, Benevento, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Nardo, Matera Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Europeando Europa From
7% Off- NZ$8,164
South Italy's flavors shine through visits to Cilento's traditional cheese farms, Santomiele Figs Factory, and family vineyards. An olive grove agriturismo in Ceraso provides authentic food production insights.
Duration 7 days Destinations Naples, Paestum, Ceraso, Velia, Ascea, San Marco, Camerota Age Range Ages 18+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Go in Italy Ltd From
7% Off- NZ$4,871
What people love about Food & Culinary Tours in South Italy
- Small Group Sicily Food & Wine Tour (Maximum 8 Guests)
Just completed our Sicilian Food and Wine Tour. Extremely satisfied with the tour guides, who were very knowledgeable, the group size of 8 people was just perfect. The accommodations were very good, especially in Palermo, The WagnerHotel, exceeded our expectations. If you want to see the beauty of Sicily, and sample the great food and wine, this is the tour to take.
Massimo of Sicily Activities was wonderful to work with. He always answered right away, and took care of EVERYTHING throughout the trip--even things that weren't strictly part of the tour. We were a private group of 15. PALERMO: The hotel was wonderful and Fabrizio was a great guide for the food tour. Luca was a great driver to Monreale and Cefalu'. Larisa was a good guide for the Monreale cathedral and Lisabeta in Cefalu' was fantastic--and the restaurant was, too. Claudio, our driver to Agrigento and Siracusa was excellent. The guide at Valley of the Temples was good. An amazing place. SIRACUSA: The hotel was lovely and in a great location. Both guides in Ortigia were great--Valerio for the walking tour and Paolo for the foodie dinner--what a fun man. Paolo, the driver to Noto, Villa Romana del Casale and Taormina was fantastic. Saro was an excellent guide in Noto and Mt Etna. Lunches in both Noto and Piazza Amerina were delicious. Patrizia, the guide for Villa Romana, was wonderful, especially when we needed an ambulance for one of the women to go to the hospital. And dear Massimo even arranged a taxi for me from the hospital back to Siracusa (about an hour and half away). The driver was the nicest man! TAORMINA: Another very nice hotel. Our guide for the walking tour was really good. She was patient as we were a little late getting ready to start the tour, but she still took us to the Greek Theatre in the rain and wind. The tour to Mt Etna was fabulous--both the tasting and the lunch. Massimo even arranged a pizza-making class when weather prevented us from going on our scheduled boat ride. In summary, there was nothing Massimo could have done better. And this is at a time when all the tour directors were overwhelmed with bookings. He was a standout!
Luxury 5 Stars Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
- Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour
The tour was great. Our host, Emilio did a fabulous job between showing us Puglia and cooking outstanding food. He is a chef first! The only source of disappointment was that I expect the tour to be of more people. I understood it to be about 10 people and it turned out to be only 2.
What our customers ask about Food & Culinary Tours & Trips in South Italy
When is the best time to go on a Food & Culinary tour in South Italy?
South Italian food tours are at their best during September and October especially in Puglia and Sicily. The temperature stays around 20-25°C making it comfortable for outdoor meals and vineyard visits. These months bring the excitement of harvest season in both vineyards and olive groves. A TourRadar traveler shared about Tenuta Linazza in Puglia: "We visited in October and had a marvellous time with Emilio Clara Michele and Antonio - staying in guest accommodation on an olive farm with daily tours to see all the major tourist sites and enjoying authentic Pugliesi cuisine."
What are the best food regions to visit in South Italy for a culinary tour?
Sicily Puglia and Abruzzo stand out as South Italy's food destinations each with its own culinary identity. Sicily offers seafood experiences and tastings at Mount Etna vineyards with stays at places like Hotel dei 7. In Puglia visitors can join cooking classes in Ostuni and taste wines in Manduria. Abruzzo specializes in farm-to-table meals and pasta making with local families. A TourRadar traveler noted "The food was wonderful everywhere we went and every town we visited was completely different."
What kind of wine experiences are included in South Italian food tours?
Wine experiences range from visits to established wineries in Manduria Puglia to tastings on Mount Etna Sicily. Visitors can try regional varieties including Primitivo Nero d'Avola and Marsala. Many tours take guests to family vineyards for cellar visits and food pairings. One TourRadar traveler shared: "The wine tastings were wonderful particularly the volcanic wines of Etna paired with local cheeses."
What type of accommodations are provided on South Italian food tours?
Guests stay in a mix of boutique hotels and historic buildings like Hotel dei 7 in Vasto and Palazzo Rollo in Lecce. Rural stays include converted masserias (farmhouses) and wine estates. Each property is selected for its local character and proximity to food experiences. A TourRadar traveler commented: "The accommodation at the Masseria was incredible and it was nice to come home to our base each afternoon."
What's included in the price of South Italian food tours?
Tours cover lodging daily breakfast multiple meals (usually 3-4 daily) cooking classes wine tastings market visits and local transport. A typical 7-day Abruzzo tour at 2158 USD includes 6 nights' stays 8 meals with wine cooking sessions and transportation. Travelers need to budget extra for flights some meals and personal costs. According to a TourRadar review "The value was excellent considering all the food experiences and tastings included."
How many people are typically in a Food & Culinary tour group in South Italy?
Groups stay small with usually 2-8 people allowing for personal attention and genuine local experiences. As one TourRadar traveler explained: "Because this experience is capped at four people Emilio drives you in the family car to all the cool places (many that would be inaccessible by a tour bus). You walk around while he explains the history of the place or his experiences there."