The 14 Shopping Tours in Italy Still Worth Queueing For

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 or another Walkabout Florence Tours guide in central Florence for a market visit, tastings, and a 20-minute minibus ride to a Tuscan farmhouse. With chefs such as Erika, prepare pasta, bruschetta, roast pork, potatoes, and tiramisu, then eat your meal with local wine before returning to Florence.

“Without a doubt, book the tour! We did the Tuscan lunch + market tour with pasta making class. You begin by visiting the Centro Mercado which is a large market selling all fresh ingredients, meats, cheeses, etc. The guide; Lucca, is such an incredibly unique and fun persona! He thoroughly explained ingredients, showcased food options, and we were even able to taste multiple food products in the market. There is a bus that takes you on a 15 minute ride to the Tuscan farmhouse which is gorgeous!! The cooking class is interactive; everyone participates in something! There are so many photos opportunities. You get to prepare: bruschetta, drink endless wine,…”

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2.Serravalle Designer Outlet Roundtrip Bus Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,374 reviews · from $28Best value

Spend about six hours shopping at Serravalle Designer Outlet after a 90-minute bus ride from Milan. The $28 roundtrip transfer includes free time at more than 170 stores, from Prada and Gucci to Nike and Adidas. You can board at Foro Buonaparte or the Milan sightseeing bus station, with an English-speaking driver.

“it was okay, should have stick with the time, and all the late gooers should be left instead of sacrificing the time of all the participants who were on time”

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

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

Spend 1.5 hours with an English-speaking guide outside Rome’s ancient landmarks. Learn how Roman engineers built the Colosseum, follow the story of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and examine Trajan’s Column and Markets. Guides such as Tania, Sarah, and Alessandra are praised for lively storytelling, humor, and helpful local tips. Entry tickets are not included.

“The tour guide was very knowledgable, the colosseum itself is amazing! A must see when visiting Rome!!”

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

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

Meet your English-speaking chef in central Florence, visit Mercato Centrale for tastings and ingredients, then make bruschetta, pasta, sauces, and tiramisu. Chefs such as Federico, Tommaso, Alice, and John guide the class. You finish with lunch, Chianti, a digital recipe booklet, and a diploma.

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

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

Walk Bologna’s Quadrilatero with a guide such as Claire, Federica, Caterina, or Mattia, tasting handmade pasta, aged Parmigiano, Modena balsamic, cold cuts, wine, gelato, and a secret dish. The tour begins near Palazzo della Mercanzia, includes a pasta demonstration, and ends in Piazza Santo Stefano.

“Just the right pace. Claire was excellent. Great food and made some friends along the way. Very accommodating to a food allergy as well. Lots of history of the city and the role that food plays into the culture.”

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6.Street Food and Local Market Tasting Tour

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Teatro Massimo for a three-hour walk through Palermo’s Capo and Vucciria markets. Taste arancina, panelle, cazzilli, sfincione, pani ca’ meusa, local drinks, and a seasonal dessert. Guides such as Angelo, Simona, Vinz, and Salvo bring food, history, and local characters into the story.

“Vinz Was the most informed vibrant tour guy that have ever had in any country. Always smiling making fun, telling you tips, stories. Was impressed how he presented the story of end of mafia , he was living this ! He is just amazing the only reason to do another tour is he !”

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

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

Spend about four hours making fresh tagliatelle, ricotta ravioli, sauces, and tiramisu in a central Florence trattoria. Morning groups also visit Sant’Ambrogio Market for tastings and ingredients. Chefs such as Giulia, Gui, David, Alain, and Andrea keep the class hands-on and relaxed. Lunch or dinner, wine, tools, ingredients, and a certificate are included.

“I had a great time learning to make pasta and tiramisu with Chef Gui. It ended up being just me as the other people didn't show up!”

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8.Cooking Class with Local Food Market Tour

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

Start at Florence’s Central Market with an English-speaking chef, tasting olive oils, cheeses, cured meats, and truffle products. Then make fresh pasta, Nonna’s lasagna, sauces, and tiramisù in a fully hands-on class. Guides such as Alice, Roberta, Victoria, and Federico are known for clear instruction and good humor. Expect 3 to 5 hours, depending on the option booked.

“If you want a cooking class activity in Florence, this is the one to do! I was in a small group of 4 as it happened. The teacher (Alice) was brilliant, knowledgeable and fun and had us all make and eat a delicious lunch (with wine). The bonus of this activity is that it starts with a look round the fantastic food market a few steps away down the street, where a deli store holder, Emily, let us taste truffles, olive oils, balsamic vinegars and more and told us the differences to look for. The meeting place is an easy walk from the city centre. A thoroughly enjoyable morning, full…”

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

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

Spend about three hours walking central Catania with a local Streaty guide such as Gisella, Allegra, Davide, Barbara, or Luca. Visit A’ Piscaria fish market, taste arancini and other Sicilian staples, enjoy fruit, dessert, and three drinks, and finish near Via Etnea.

“We had a top notch tour guide, who knew a lot of history, but also about the food of Sicily and was engaging and this was well worth it!”

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10.Pasta Cooking Class with Market Visit and Wine

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

Join Chef Marco for a six-hour Rome food experience that starts at Nomentano Market and continues at the Kitchen of Mamma. Shop for fresh ingredients, make several kinds of pasta, eat lunch with Italian wine, and finish with coffee and limoncello. No cooking experience is needed. English and Italian instruction is available.

“Great way to spend an afternoon, Marco is a good and entertaining host. We didn't get to cook all of the ingredients ourselves, but that didn't spoil the experience. Met some interesting new people. Highly recommended this activity”

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11.Florence Central Market Food Tour with Eating Europe

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

Spend about three hours eating your way through Florence’s San Lorenzo district. Your English-speaking guide leads you from cantucci and Vin Santo to pecorino, truffle products, lampredotto, Tuscan wine, coffee, and gelato. The group is limited to 10, with guides such as Tina, Alice, Kiara, Anto, Francesco, Ely, and Gaia.

“Anto showed us around the market in Florence and it was great. She was so knowledgeable about the food and history. We ate some delicious foods. Trying the different olive oils and balsamic vinegars was our favorite. I highly recommend this your.”

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12.Sicilian Cooking Class & Market Tour

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

Meet Paolo, Mary, Luca, or Francesca at Porta Messina for a market visit and hands-on Sicilian cooking class. You’ll choose fresh ingredients, make pasta, prepare dishes such as eggplant parmigiana and swordfish rolls, then share a generous lunch with wine, cannoli, and limoncello. An apron and certificate are included.

“So much fun with a great group of people brought together by Chef Paolo. Good food, great ambiance, good wine.”

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13.Food Tour with Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 200 reviews

Spend four hours eating through Rome with an English-speaking guide such as Stefania, Celeste, Irene, or Giordano. Visit Mercato Trionfale, taste Bonci pizza, sample truffles and aged balsamic, then sit down to Roman pasta and wine at Il Segreto. Expect more than 25 tastings, generous portions, and a very full finish.

“One of the highlights of our visit. Small group and our guide Lou was welcoming and friendly. A really good range of food to sample and learn about. Thoroughly recommend this tour. Although it's a little way outside the centre of the city, accessing the location by bus was easy.”

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14.Siena & San Gimignano with Dinner in a Boutique Winery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 199 reviews · 9 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $126

Travel from Florence by Mercedes minivan to Siena, San Gimignano, and a Chianti winery. You’ll take a guided Siena walk, explore San Gimignano independently, and eat a three-course Tuscan dinner with wine. Guides including Sabrina, Rubina, Francesca, and Brando have led recent departures. An upgrade adds Pisa.

“Disappointing for price Winery was just dinner. Never saw wine cellar. Not a lot of food Siena tour was too long and San Gimignano too short Really no winery experience. At all”

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