The 12 Best Food Experiences in Italy

1.Bologna Food & Market Tour with 6 Tastings, Pasta, Wines & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,328 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $118Our pick

Spend 3.5 hours exploring Bologna with a guide such as Claire, Federica, or Caterina. Visit the Quadrilatero market, watch pasta made by hand, taste Parmigiano, aged balsamic, meats, wines, gelato, and a secret dish, with up to 12 people.

“Don't eat beforehand. You have the option to try a lot of food and beverages. Federica was a lovely, warm, and knowledgable guide.”

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2.Food Tour with Pasta Tasting & Local Specialties

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 312 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $86

Follow a local guide through Bologna for pasta, mortadella, tigelle, a traditional main course, dessert, coffee, and one drink. Guides such as Luca, Angelica, Eugenio, and Giada add food stories, city history, and useful tips. Expect a small group, plenty to eat, and several sit-down stops.

“Eugie was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable and there was so much food and drinks! We felt bad we couldn’t finish it all! I highly recommend this tour to get a taste of all the classic foods Bologna has to offer! We were even able to get a table at a place that didn’t take reservations and enjoy all their wonderful pasta!”

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3.Florence Food Tour with Truffle Pasta, Steak & Free Flowing Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $156

Join an English-speaking guide such as Kat, Jamie, or Katarina for a four-hour evening walk through Florence’s Oltrarno and historic center. Taste aged balsamic, truffle cheeses, prosciutto, pasta, Florentine steak, several wines, and artisan gelato with a group capped at 15.

“Our guide, Sylvia, was fun, friendly, and informative. Our small group (off season in November) sampled a wide selection of typical Tuscan foods at a variety of restaurants. I selected this tour specifically for the Fiorentino steak… I am a solo traveler, but the steak is huge and served only to two people. This tour enabled me to experience the steak dinner with a nice group of people. The tour was in the Oltrarno section, which is lovely… just across the bridges. My favorite restaurant was Babae, we had wine-window drinks and then went inside for a crostini appetitive course. Babae is cool and trendy, operated by young owners. Second…”

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4.Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Area Food Tour: Pasta Wine Gelato and More!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 274 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $143

Spend four hours walking through Venice’s Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio, stopping for pasta, wine, spritzes, bakery treats, seafood, and gelato. Guides such as Vanessa and Denys add context about Venetian and Jewish culture. Expect a generous meal, but not a kosher tour or synagogue visit.

“Had a wonderful guide, who added lots of information about the Jewish Ghetto and traditional foods popular to the area.”

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5.Napolitan Secrets: Pasta & Tiramisù Class for Food Lovers

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 189 reviews · 3 hours · from $29Best value

Join Chef Gino and Claudio in a central Naples restaurant for a hands-on class in fresh pasta and tiramisu. You will mix, shape, and prepare the dishes, then sit down to eat with a glass of local wine. Explanations are offered in Italian, English, Spanish, and French.

“Awesome value experience. The chef teaching us was very skilled and has even got experience working in Michelin restaurants. The waiter helping, was basically a comedian - with many laugh out loud moments. Delicious food and lots of it! We basically had to be rolled out of the restauraunt. 5/5 for sure.”

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6.Florence Food Tour: Home-Made Pasta, Truffle, Cantucci, Olive Oil, Gelato

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 187 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

Walk from Piazza dell’Unità to Santa Croce while tasting home-made pasta, truffle, olive oil, cantucci, Florentine dishes, and gelato. Guides such as Francesco, Anna, Lorenzo, and Marilisa mix food with city stories. The morning market visit makes the timing worth checking.

“Anna was wonderful and knowledgeable. We’ve learned a few things that was very interesting. Although, the lunch menu can be improved.”

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7.Rome Food Tour: Trastevere Aperitivo, Wine & Pasta Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 113 reviews · 3 - 3.5 hours · from $89

Follow an English-speaking guide through Trastevere for 10+ tastings and six drinks at five local stops. Expect prosecco, cured meats, supplì, spritz, bruschetta, regional wines, Roman pasta, and gelato. Guides such as Giulia, Eileen, and John Paul are praised for making the evening warm and informative.

“Giulia, our tourguide was great. Interessting people from all over the world met each other to had a wonderful experience in an outstanding Roman area.”

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8.Naples Pizza Class: Learn, Bake & Eat the Authentic Pizza Taste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

In central Naples, an English-speaking guide such as Noemi, AnnaRita, or Rebecca introduces you to pizza history before a chef helps you mix dough, shape a pizza, and cook it. Choose Margherita or Marinara, enjoy a drink and secret dish, and finish back at the meeting point.

“Excellent balance of food, culture, and local history. Noemi was a fantastic guide and clearly enjoys her job.”

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9.Rome Pantheon: Award Winning Gelato Tiramisu & Espresso Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $78

Meet your foodie guide by Bernini’s elephant in Piazza della Minerva for a 2-hour-15-minute walk through Rome’s dessert and coffee culture. Taste espresso at Tazza d’Oro and Sant’Eustachio, try coffee granita, watch a moka demonstration, sample artisan gelato, and finish with tiramisu.

“Ilaria was a fantastic tour guide! She was fun, informative and very personable. We had such a nice time enjoying the delicious tastings and all the fun little neighborhoods. And the Grinsta!! Mama Mia!!”

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10.Art of Pasta Cooking Workshop with Food and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

Meet your chef at Pasta Class Florence for a three-hour, English-language workshop in central Florence. You’ll shape tortelli, tagliatelle, and fettuccine, prepare traditional sauces, and eat three pasta dishes with unlimited Tuscan wine. Small groups, recipes, and a gift apron are included.

“My wife and I signed up for the class during our honeymoon in Florence. The class was great fun and very informative. Chef Davide was very engaging, friendly and accommodating. We cooked and ate some delicious pasta while drinking wine. Couldn't rate this high enough!”

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11.Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour: Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94

Spend about 2.5 hours walking San Diego’s Little Italy with a small group of up to 15. Guides such as Bleu, Anna, Ben, Amy, Kirk, and Bianca have led the tour, pairing neighborhood stories with pasta, pizza, a slider, drinks, and gelato.

“We had an amazing time and met an awesome couple that came along with us as well. It was a nice birthday treat and we found more places to explore in San Diego.”

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12.Small group PURO Vegan pasta and bruschette Class in Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $186

At Chef Vary’s Florence kitchen on Via Romana, you’ll make bruschetta and three pasta dishes from scratch, then eat them with wine or soft drinks. Expect hands-on help from chefs such as Giulio, Roberto, Irene, or Vary, a group of up to 12, and recipes to take home.

“What a wonderful class! We made several pasta dishes and it was a very relaxed and hands on class. Best pasta we have ever had!!”

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