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
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I really enjoyed the tour!”
Genevieve, traveled in October
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, Island of Ortigia, 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“The trip was so much fun and educational!”
Rebecca, traveled in September
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
20% Off- US$2,880You save $718
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 $3,579
4% Off- US$3,429You save $150
Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Amazing Experience. Highly recommended!”
Ririn, traveled in September
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 $2,890
20% Off- US$2,312You save $578
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 $3,477
15% Off- US$2,955You save $522
Gourmet Rome, Sorrento & Capri
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Oriana was spectacular!!”
Sherri, traveled in September
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 $2,769
9% Off- US$2,519You save $250
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
9% Off- US$4,952
Luxury Private Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour
91 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This is a MUST for any foodie. Our guides were amazing and it was nice to have a true foodie tour.”
Jessica, 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
9% Off- US$2,791
South Italy's gastronomy unfolds with traditional pasta-making in Bari's old town and cheese tastings in Martina Franca. Lecce's cooking class shares authentic recipes, while local producers showcase olive oil and Primitivo wines paired with regional specialties like pasticciotto.
Duration 8 days Destinations Bari, Martina Franca, Alberobello, Lecce Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Cosmos From $2,259
11% Off- US$2,009You save $250
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
11% Off- US$2,913
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
Sicily was great, the transportation was very good, fellow passengers were a great bunch who mixed well. Food and wine experiences were good, but for me the highlight of the trip was ancient and modern Sicily. The tour guide was lovely and tried very hard but with limited English understanding, was not able to provide any significant on board commentary or quell the frustrations that accrued as we drove from place to place. Accommodation throughout the tour was average to good and the weather was just perfect.
- Matera & Apulia Private 5 Day Tour
We had a great time. The company was very accommodating and easy to work with. Amazing places to visit!
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."