The 13 Best Market Tours in Italy

1.Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,831 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $145Our pick

Meet Luca and the Walkabout Florence Tours team in central Florence for a market visit, ingredient tastings, and a short minibus ride into the Tuscan hills. At a rustic farmhouse, Erika and the chefs guide you through pasta, bruschetta, roast pork, potatoes, and tiramisu, with wine, recipes, and a cooking diploma included.

“The guide was Luc, he was very knowledgeable about the market, and the vendors in the market. He was a chef for the cooking class as well! Him and Erica were amazing chefs and it was a lot of fun making pasta, bruschetta, and the pork we bought from the market. Worth the money and all day experience. Even gave little certificates for completely the course!”

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2.Colosseum, Roman Forum & Trajan’s Market Exterior Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,038 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29Best value

Spend 90 minutes with an English-speaking guide outside Rome’s Colosseum, Roman Forum, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Palatine Hill, and Trajan’s Column and Markets. Guides such as Tania, Sarah, Alessandra, and Roger have used humor, photos, and clear storytelling to make ancient Rome easier to understand.

“tour was really good our guide was also very nice and proactive...this tour is highly recommended”

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3.Small Group Cooking Class & Market Food Tour in Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,574 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $62

Meet a local chef in central Florence, shop and taste your way through Mercato Centrale, then prepare bruschetta, fresh pasta, two sauces, and tiramisu. Chefs such as Federico, Tommaso, Alice, and Jon lead hands-on classes for groups of up to 20. Lunch, wine, recipes, and a diploma are included.

“Great cooking class with anicoló. The only downside was the guy who greeted us (Jon) who was impolite, we came in early as specified by the instructions, he could've been nice in saying they're not ready to host us yet but he chose the rude way, his colleagues were extremely nice and kind and dealt with the matter professionally. Otherwise everything was great.”

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

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

Spend 3.5 hours eating your way through central Bologna with a guide such as Claire, Federica, Caterina, or Mattia. Visit the Quadrilatero, watch pasta made by hand, taste aged Parmigiano and balsamic vinegar, sample regional meats, wines, gelato, espresso, and a secret dish.

“Frederica was very knowledgeable. All the stops had great food. We were also told some history during the tour.”

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5.Street Food and Local Market Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 540 reviews · 3 hours · from $81

Join an English-speaking guide for three hours of Palermo street food, market walks, history, and local life. Taste arancina, panelle, sfincione, pani ca’meusa, seasonal sweets, and three drinks in a group of up to 12.

“Loved this tour! Alexandros was very informative and just an all round great guide. The food was amazing and well worth the money! Thoroughly enjoyed this tour, thanks Alexandros.”

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6.Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with optional Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 515 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $83

In central Florence, join a small group of up to 12 and cook tagliatelle, ricotta ravioli, sauces, and tiramisu with chefs such as Giulia, David, Guy, or Alain. Morning sessions add Sant’Ambrogio Market and tastings. Finish by eating your meal with wine at the trattoria.

“Giulia was fantastic! We had so much fun and would highly recommend the pasta and tiramisu class. The food and wine was amazing too!”

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7.Cooking Class with Local Food Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 407 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $63

Explore Florence’s Central Market with a chef, sample olive oils, truffles, cheeses, and cured meats, then make pasta, lasagna, sauces, and tiramisù. Guides such as Alice, Roberta, Victoria, and Federico lead small, hands-on groups to a shared Tuscan meal with wine.

“Roberta was a phenomenal guide and teacher! We learned so much about the culture and food during the market tour from her. Then for the cooking portion she guided everyone through the steps, explaining the history and culinary importance, and it all tasted amazing! I can’t wait to bring these recipes and all the information I learned back to my family from this wonderful experience.”

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8.The Original Catania Street Food and Market Tour by Streaty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 345 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Spend three hours walking from Piazza del Duomo through Catania’s fish market and old streets with guides such as Gisella, Allegra, Barbara, or Davide. Expect generous tastings of arancini, market fruit, Sicilian street food, dessert, beer or wine, and lively stories about the city.

“Gisella is beyond personable and knowledgeable. Such a pleasure learning from her and a fun tour! Snacks foods were delightful and filling and the added cultural background really made it worthwhile.”

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9.Pasta Cooking Class with Market Visit and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 274 reviews · from $141

Spend a food-focused day with Chef Marco, beginning at Nomentano Market before returning to the Kitchen of Mamma. Make several pasta styles, including ravioli, tortellini, and linguine, then eat your work with wine, coffee, and limoncello. Recipes and a certificate are included.

“Marco was fantastic! So chilled out and absolutely hilarious! Very insightful to how to make some delicious food from scratch with a lovely buzz! Would 100% recommend to do this!”

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10.Florence Central Market Food Tour with Eating Europe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 224 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $113

Spend about three hours in Florence’s San Lorenzo district with an English-speaking guide such as Tina, Kiara, Alice, or Francesco. Sample cantucci, Vin Santo, pecorino, truffle products, lampredotto, wine, coffee, and gelato while learning about the Medici and local food traditions.

“This tour included lots of tastings as well as detailed history about how the various culinary trends came to be. Ely was an amazing guide with tons of knowledge and a great sense of humor.”

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11.Sicilian Cooking Class & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 212 reviews · from $107

Meet Paolo, Mary, Francesca, or Luca at Porta Messina for a guided market visit, then cook Sicilian dishes such as handmade pasta, fish, and eggplant parmigiana. You will eat the meal with wine, keep an apron, and receive a certificate. The 3.5-hour class is taught in English or Italian.

“Paulo and Mary were AMAZING hosts!!! We had such a fantastic experience. Making the pasta was a highlight. The food was excellent and local.❤️”

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12.Food Tour with Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 200 reviews

Meet your English-speaking guide at La Nicchia Cafe for coffee, then eat your way through Mercato Trionfale, Bonci Pizzarium, a gourmet shop, and Il Segreto near the Vatican. Expect 25-plus tastings, generous portions, wine, and helpful advice on choosing authentic Italian food.

“There were 5 stops total but we tried so much food at each stop. We had wine, pizza, pasta, desserts and so much more”

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13.Wanna be Sicilian: Palermo Cooking Class and Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 197 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $60

Meet near Palermo’s Mercato del Capo for a market walk with a local chef, then prepare arancini, maccheroni alla Norma, and cannoli in a professional kitchen. Chefs such as Salvo, Lidia, Nadia, and Marcello lead the class. Lunch, wine, recipes, and a certificate are included.

“Great class and very informative/entertaining. All three were very personable and provided a great learning environment!”

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