Food & Wine Tours & Trips in Puglia
Picture eating your way through Puglia's distinctive cuisine. Take cooking classes making orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) by hand, visit olive groves and oil mills, and tour burrata and mozzarella producers. Try wine tasting in Salento (Primitivo, Negroamaro), seafood in coastal towns, and street food in Bari. Puglia's cuisine differs from northern Italy, with more vegetables, seafood, and simple preparations.
10 best food & wine Puglia tours
Compiled by
MelissaPuglia travel expert at TourRadar
- A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia
- Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour
- Secrets of Puglia
- Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
- Discovering Lecce
- Apulia & Basilicata: A Slow Taste of the South
- Puglia and Basilicata: Private Journey Through Apulia’s History, Flavors, and Relaxation.
- Puglia Tour
- Gourmet Puglia
- Luxury Gay Salento Food & Wine Vacation with Italy Gay Travels
A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia
18 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Highlights were the pasta making and walking around the grounds meeting all the animals. Also tasting mozzarella that was literally made in front of us.”
Ian, traveled in June
The famous DOP-protected bread of Altamura awaits at local bakeries, while orecchiette-making at Tre Archi restaurant showcases pasta traditions. Fresh mozzarella at award-winning cheese farms, Cisternino's famous butcher-restaurants serving bombette, and organic oils at traditional olive mills complete the Puglian experience.
Duration 8 days Destinations Bari, Altamura, Alta Murgia National Park, Matera, Cisternino, Alberobello Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Explore! From $2,400
8% Off- US$2,200You save $200
Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour
23 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We loved their company and the fascinating places we saw there. There were many gastronomic highlights as well.”
Robert, traveled in April
The flavors of Puglia come alive at Chef Emilio's Masseria through cooking classes featuring organic produce and estate olive oil. Local wine tastings, visits to traditional pasta makers in Maglie, and fresh seafood in Porto Badisco round out the experience. Includes 6 gourmet dinners with regional wines.
Duration 10 days Destinations Brindisi, Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Matera Age Range Ages 20+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Soleto Travel From $3,289
18% Off- US$2,697You save $592
Traditional Pugliese cuisine unfolds through hands-on activities: mozzarella making in Andria, cooking demonstrations in Ostuni, and wine tasting in Manduria's renowned vineyards. Local bakeries in Altamura offer traditional bread tasting experiences.
Duration 9 days Destinations Naples, Bari, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Castellana, Lecce, Manduria, Ostuni, Matera, Altamura Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Blue-Roads Touring From
18% Off- US$3,749
Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Guides were very knowledgeable, drivers always on time, accommodations excellent & meals excellent.”
Beryl, traveled in May
Rich culinary heritage comes alive through street food in Bari's historic center, featuring sgagliozze and panzerotti. Lunch in Alberobello's trulli houses, traditional Matera bread at wood-fired ovens, and wine tasting at a family-run cellar from 1795 near Castellana Caves create lasting memories.
Duration 5 days Destinations Matera, Alberobello, Castellana, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Bari Age Range Ages 22+ Operator Soleto Travel From $3,056
18% Off- US$2,506You save $550
Discovering Lecce
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Excellent combination of activities and the guides for each were all exceptional.”
Sandra, traveled in May
Duration 4 days Destinations Lecce Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Italian Operator TUI Italia From $832
15% Off- US$707You save $125
Apulia & Basilicata: A Slow Taste of the South
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Wonderful tour, great tour guides, terrific weather, comfortable hotels, fine food, excellent tour service.”
Gene, traveled in October
Duration 8 days Destinations Bari, Matera, Castel del Monte, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce, Trani, Monte Sant'Angelo, Polignano a Mare Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, French, Spanish Operator My Art Collection Travel From
15% Off- US$6,214
Culinary treasures shine at Trattoria Trullo d'Oro in Alberobello and historic osterias in Lecce. Premium estates including Semeraro Winery and Trullo di Pezza offer distinguished wine tastings, paired with regional specialties like orecchiette pasta. Sommelier-guided tours through Manduria's wine country provide expert insights.
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
15% Off- US$14,821
Puglia Tour
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything about it was top notch and Puglia is amazing. Can't fault it!”
Arna, traveled in May
Duration 8 days Destinations Bari, Matera, Alberobello, Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Galatina, Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, Alta Murgia National ParkSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Go in Italy Ltd From
15% Off- US$4,789
Puglia's culinary heritage shines through orecchiette making in Bari Vecchia and capocollo tastings in Martina Franca. Local recipes come to life in Lecce's cooking class, while olive oil sampling at traditional farms and farm-to-table dinners at authentic masserias highlight the Apulian countryside.
Duration 8 days Destinations Bari, Martina Franca, Alberobello, Lecce Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Cosmos From $2,379
6% Off- US$2,229You save $150
Duration 7 days Destinations Brindisi, Otranto, Nardo, Santa Caterina, Porto Selvaggio da vedere, Lecce, Gallipoli Age Range Ages 18+ Operated in English, Italian, Spanish Operator Italy Gay Travels From
6% Off- US$3,409
What people love about Food & Wine Tours in Puglia
- A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia
The TourRadar trip to Puglia was wonderful. It was well planned, with a logical learning process along with wonderful adventures on each day.
- Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour
We so enjoyed the warmth and passion of our wonderful hosts at the olive farm - nothing was too much trouble for Emilio, Clara, Antonio and Michael to make our experience one to be remembered. The freshly cooked food Emilio prepared daily was very tasty and beautifully presented and the accommodation was comfortable. They chauffeured us, and were our guides, taking us to some very pretty and interesting places in Salento and we had the flexibility to have ‘free time’ for as long as we wanted in most places - thank you all (not forgetting the children and Pongo the dog). We then headed to Matera to meet Cosimo our very professional and informative guide for the next couple of days. He explained the history of the whole Sassi and National Park areas, showing us the unique cave like homes, Rupestrian Church with frescoes, and many other sites as well as the pretty flora. He also arranged a delicious food and wine tasting lunch and a cab to our FlixBus depot the next day - thank you Cosimo! We would highly recommend both parts of this tour but the farm stay was a unique and special experience which we will remember fondly.
- Secrets of Puglia
The only drawback was the changing of hotels in Naples Bari and Matera, Two were not small boutique nor were they centrally located. The Hotel in Matera was not as advertised. I was also disappointed in the fact that no communication was made to me regarding the wearing of masks. I did not know they would not be required by all.I recall reading that they were. The tour itself was excellent ! Both the guide and driver were professional and flexible to our needs.
What our customers ask about Food & Wine Tours & Trips in Puglia
What is the best time of year for a culinary tour in Puglia?
April May and September October present the most favorable conditions for food tours in Puglia. The mild Mediterranean climate during these months creates ideal conditions for outdoor dining and food-related activities. Visitors can join seasonal traditions like olive harvesting in Ostuni or help with the grape harvest in Manduria's wine country. The temperature stays pleasant in seaside towns like Polignano a Mare making it comfortable to eat outdoors. Inland areas such as Alberobello offer good weather for market visits and cooking workshops. These months also coincide with numerous food festivals in cities like Lecce and Bari where street food and local specialties take center stage. TourRadar travelers often mention that "the spring weather was perfect for combining outdoor wine tastings with visits to local producers."
What's the typical group size for culinary tours in Puglia?
Food tours in Puglia maintain small groups typically ranging from 4-12 participants to ensure quality instruction and genuine connections with food producers. Some locations like Tenuta Linazza farmhouse limit groups to just 4 people. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "Because this experience is capped at four people we really got to experience authentic local culture and cuisine."
What unique culinary experiences can I expect on a food tour in Puglia?
Puglia's food tours center on the region's "cucina povera" heritage. Visitors learn to make orecchiette pasta in Bari's old quarter and explore wine regions featuring local Primitivo and Negroamaro grapes. The town of Manduria known for Primitivo wine offers tastings at historic estates paired with local foods. In Alberobello meals are served in family-run trattorias among the trulli houses. Along the coast Polignano a Mare specializes in fresh seafood served with views of the Adriatic. As one TourRadar traveler noted "The combination of wine tastings and traditional cooking experiences in authentic settings made this tour truly special."
How much wine tasting is typically included?
Tours generally feature wine with every meal plus dedicated tasting sessions. Expect 2-3 visits to local wineries along with olive oil tastings at producers like Masseria Salamina cheese demonstrations and market tours. Most packages include daily breakfast and dinner with select lunches during day trips. A TourRadar traveler noted: "The food was bountiful. The meals were wholesome and delicious with wine pairings every night."
How much walking or physical activity is involved?
These food-focused tours require moderate walking through towns markets and agricultural areas. Daily walks last 1-3 hours mostly on level ground with some inclines in places like Matera and Ostuni. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The tour offered a perfect balance of cultural visits cooking experiences and easy walks through beautiful landscapes."