Food & Culinary Tours & Trips in South Italy
Southern Italy's food? Delicious! Naples' Margherita pizza, Amalfi lemons, Puglia's burrata and orecchiette, Sicily's arancini, cannoli, and street food markets. You can visit it all. Regional cuisines shift from Sorrento through Matera's Sassi caves, Lecce's baroque, Palermo's Ballarò market. Greek, Arab, Norman influences throughout regions where sun-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, olive oil create distinctive dishes you won't find anywhere else.
10 best food & culinary South Italy tours
Compiled by
MelissaSouth Italy travel expert at TourRadar
- Charming Sicily Food & Wine Small Group Tour - 8 days
- Sicily Food & Wine
- Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
- Secrets of Puglia
- Sicily Art of Wine & Gourmet Experience
- Cultural, Patron Saint Celebrations & Grape Harvest Experience in Abruzzo
- Luxury Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
- Cilento tour - 7 days
- Sicily Tour 8 days
- Campania Wine, Food & Heritage Experience
Charming Sicily Food & Wine Small Group Tour - 8 days
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Amazing trip and beyond my expectations! The cooking class, food tours and vineyard visits were all highlights.”
Nancy, traveled in May
South Italy's flavors come alive through Taormina's market tours, Mount Etna's farmhouse tastings, and Palermo's street food scenes. Local families welcome guests for cooking classes in trattorias, while countryside castles host wine tastings, and Marzamemi's fishing village serves fresh seafood.
Duration 8 days Destinations Catania, Taormina, Mount Etna, Noto, Marzamemi, Syracuse, Palermo Age Range Ages 11+ Operator Click Tours From $4,680
36% Off- US$2,995You save $1,685
Sicily Food & Wine
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great way to travel and experience Sicily.”
beth, traveled in June
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 $3,598
11% Off- US$3,195You save $403
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 Matera, Alberobello, Castellana, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Bari Age Range Ages 22+ Operator Soleto Travel From $3,122
18% Off- US$2,560You save $562
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
18% Off- US$3,579
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
18% Off- US$4,950
Local families welcome you into their kitchens in South Italy for authentic cooking classes and trabocchi platform dining. Master traditional pasta-making, sample olive oils at Giovanni's grove, and join farm-to-table meals with regional hosts.
Duration 7 days Destinations Rome, Vasto, Roccascalegna Age Range Ages 14+ Operator Italia Sweet Italia From
18% Off- US$2,557
Luxury Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
94 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 Taormina, Noto, Marzamemi, Syracuse, Palermo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Sicily Activities From
18% Off- US$2,790
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
18% Off- US$2,912
Duration 8 days Destinations Catania, Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Marsala, Monreale, PalermoSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operated in English, Italian, Spanish Operator MarcHuzzo Viaggi Piceno 2.0 Srls From
18% Off- US$2,144
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
18% Off- US$1,747
What people love about Food & Culinary Tours in South Italy
- Charming Sicily Food & Wine Small Group Tour - 8 days
Please inform us about what to do next instead of my action of requesting information all the time by WhatsApp
- Sicily Food & Wine
Valentina was the best guide and made the trip so much fun and educational!
- Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
My daughter and I recently spent a wonderful week with an absolutely amazing family on their Olive Farm. Emilio, his wife Clara and their 4 children as well as Emilio’s brother Miguel were the perfect hosts. Chef Emilio prepared our breakfast and evening meal each day and either Emilio, Clara or Miguel took us on outings to visit the area to such wonderful places such as Otranto, Castro, Gallipoli (one of my favourite) as well as Zinzulusa Cave which was very interesting. One evening we visited the city of Lecce with Antonio, Emilio and Miguel’s father, which is so beautifully lit up at night and then we stopped at a local famous pizza restaurant and the pizza was absolutely delicious. Great experience and I’d do it again! We then went to the city of Matera for 3 wonderful days and had fantastic tours with Alessio and Cosimo. I had to go home and watch the James Bond movie No Time to Die again to see the wonderful views of Matera within the film. We would also like to thank Omar from Solento Tours. He was most helpful with our requests for further changes to our itinerary once we completed the city of Matera portion where we decided to go to the Amalfi Coast and Naples. Thanks Omar!!
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."