Food & Culinary Tours & Trips in South Italy
4.6 stars on(9,263 reviews)- Choose from 31 South Italy tours
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10 best food & culinary South Italy tours
Compiled by
MelissaSouth Italy travel expert at TourRadar
- Sicily Food & Wine
- Secrets of Puglia
- Splendours of Sicily
- Sicily Art, Food & Wine Tour
- Sicily Art of Wine & Gourmet Experience
- Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
- Luxury Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
- Campania Wine, Food & Heritage Experience
- Puglia and Basilicata: Private Journey Through Apulia’s History, Flavors, and Relaxation.
- Gourmet Rome, Sorrento & Capri
Sicily Food & Wine
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I felt very safe and I didn't have to worry about the details. I would definitely like to explore other tour options.”
NORMA, traveled in October
Sicilian cuisine comes to life through hands-on experiences across South Italy. Local chefs in Erice lead traditional cooking classes, Palermo's bustling markets offer street food tastings, and Marsala's vintners pour award-winning wines. Organic farms showcase olive oil while cheese-making demonstrations near Ragusa complete the experience.
Duration 8 days Destinations Palermo, Trapani, Marsala, Agrigento, Ragusa, Noto, Syracuse, Mount Etna, Taormina, Catania Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From
- NZ$5,365
South Italy's culinary heritage unfolds with mozzarella making in Andria and bread tasting in Altamura's historic bakeries. Manduria's vineyards offer wine tastings while Ostuni hosts cooking demonstrations of traditional Pugliese dishes.
Duration 9 days Destinations Naples, Andria, Bari, Ostuni, Lecce, Gallipoli, Manduria, Martina Franca, Alberobello, CastellanaSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Blue-Roads Touring From
- NZ$6,225
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 $6,609
4% Off- NZ$6,334You save $275
Sicily's culinary heritage shines through wine tastings at Erice's hillside vineyards and street food pairings. An organic farm near Agrigento hosts traditional lunch, while Taormina's pasticceria reveals cannoli-making secrets, and Mount Etna's local wine producers share their craft. Regional flavors highlight each meal.
Duration 8 days Destinations Catania, Tindari, Cefalu, Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Selinunte, Agrigento, Caltagirone, NotoSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operator TUI Italia From $6,003
10% Off- NZ$5,403You save $600
Sicily's finest wines take center stage over 5 days. Taste volcanic Etna Rosso near Catania, historic Marsala in Agrigento, and noble wines in Palermo. The tour includes 4 exclusive cantina tastings, local wine experts, and authentic guesthouse stays.
Duration 5 days Destinations Catania, Taormina, Mount Etna, Ragusa, Noto Age Range Ages 21+ Operated in English, German, French, Spanish Operator My Art Collection Travel From
10% Off- NZ$8,551
Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“A perfect blend of culture and local experiences. Clean and comfortable vehicle for the whole tour.”
Michelle, traveled in February
South Italy's gastronomy features traditional bread tasting in Matera's historic bakeries, street food sampling in Bari's medieval quarter, and wine tasting at centuries-old cellars. Authentic trulli houses in Alberobello host dinners, while Polignano a Mare boat tours serve refreshing aperitifs.
Duration 5 days Destinations Bari, Matera, Alberobello, Castellana, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli Age Range Ages 22+ Operator Soleto Travel From
10% Off- NZ$4,990
Luxury Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
91 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The hotel was wonderful and Fabrizio was a great guide for the food tour. Lunches in both Noto and Piazza Amerina were delicious.”
Rosemary, traveled in May
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
10% Off- NZ$4,895
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, Benevento, Caserta, Procida, Ischia, Sorrento, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Massa Lubrense, CapriSee all destinations Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish Operator Campania Overland From
10% Off- NZ$3,823
South Italy's flavors emerge through wine tastings at prestigious estates like Amastuola and Vinilia Wine Resort. Lecce's oldest osterias serve traditional cuisine, while Taranto's old port offers fresh seafood. Manduria's historic trattorias showcase Primitivo wines.
Duration 10 days Destinations Bari, Polignano a Mare, Matera, Monopoli, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Taranto, Manduria, LecceSee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Angel Wine Experiences and Enotropea Wine Experiences SL From
10% Off- NZ$28,165
Gourmet Rome, Sorrento & Capri
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had a great time. We would definitely book with Cosmos again.”
Emily, traveled in July
Italian cuisine reaches new heights through Rome's cooking classes and Sorrento's gelato-making workshops. Mount Vesuvius vineyards pour select wines, Capri reveals Torta Caprese secrets, and Naples serves legendary pizza. Regional specialties shine in every meal, from vineyard lunches to traditional Neapolitan dishes.
Duration 8 days Destinations Rome, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, Naples Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Cosmos From $4,599
4% Off- NZ$4,399You save $200
What people love about Food & Culinary Tours in South Italy
- Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
We were looked after so well, only two of us on the tour. Guides were very knowledgeable, drivers always on time, accommodations excellent & meals excellent. Saw all we wanted & more
- Luxury Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
Both Etna food and wine and Taormina food tour were excellent. Booking was easy Massimo organised to perfection Rosario was amazing guide who clearly has a passion for his job. The tours at great mixture of fun and knowledge. They were also great value for money the food on both tours was wonderful and plentiful. Cannot recommend highly enough
Fabrizio went above and beyond in our custom private tour of Abruzzo over 4 days in winter 2023. This was my third time to the region but first time with a guide and it was well worth it. Fabrizio is well known in his community. As you stroll the streets of his hometown of Vaso together locals will stop to greet you. He has great passion for the region which is paired with extensive knowledge and connections all through the region. We are still talking about the food and experience over 6 months later. Fabrizio has the same appetite for adventure as we do. On our last day rather spontaneously, he helped us track down an owner of a bar in a small town who we met briefly on another trip 3 years prior. On another day he had organized a medieval castle to be opened in a rural town for us. This would have not been possible to see in the off season without him. Grazie mille Fabrizio!
Cultural, Culinary & Christmas Dishes Experience in Abruzzo
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."