Experience Gourmet Florence Food and Wine Tours in Tuscany
Florence hardly needs an introduction, and we have what we believe is the very best food tour in Florence to be found!
Our Florence private tours for foodies will show you the authentic side, local food and unique culture of this famous city. Florence is one of the most well-known destinations in Italy, and indeed in the world, and is one of our most popular destinations for an Italy food tour or Tuscany cooking vacation! Florence is the capital of Tuscany, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and home to wondrous architecture and masterpieces of art: Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s bell tower, Botticelli’s “Venus,” Raphael’s “Madonna della Seggiola,” and Michelangelo’s “David,” just to name a few. Its museums, including the Galleria degli Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia, are among the most beloved by art lovers.
The River Arno flows through the center, traversed by the famed Ponte Vecchio, which has housed shops for many centuries, and on both sides the avid culinary traveler can find shops, art galleries, restaurants, and more.
But Florence, as you will discover on our authentic food trip, is also a town of locals for whom its famed streets, markets, and churches are a part of every day life. Florentines embrace their town’s cultural and artistic heritage, but are also proud of it as a modern-day destination for Florence wine tours and culinary vacations, with famed restaurants, bustling markets, food artisans, wine shops, and more. From cooking classes to the best wine tours, our culinary travelers can discover what has made this town a top spot for Tuscany cooking tour for decades.
Your food and wine tour in Florence, Italy will include hands-on cooking classes, during which you will learn about traiditional Florentine food culture and prepare local specialties and iconic dishes. It will also take you beyond its borders and into the beautiful countryside of Tuscany for winery and foodie visits. You will see some of the most interesting and historic hillside towns during your food trip, sample wine from family vineyards on our wine tours, taste local cheeses and meats with artisanal producers, and experience the magical draw of Tuscany.
While we have designed what we think is the best culinary vacation in Florence, we can also customize the tour to your interests, including more Florence winery visits, more hands-on cooking classes, more art and architectural visits, and more!
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Florence Foodie Tour Details
If you’re a food connoisseur, drink enthusiast, or a passionate cook, check the details of our gourmet culinary tours in Florence. Your culinary vacation will focus plenty on real local foods, wine tastings, markets, Florence cooking classes, but also on the culture and daily life of the Florentines. Your food trip will include:
- a Florence cooking class as well as a unique Tuscan cooking class in the Chianti countryside
- Private walking tour of Florence
- Full-day visit of the Chianti area and Siena
- Food producer visits with the chefs
- Private guided bike tour from Fiesole to Florence
- Beautiful accommodations at a centrally located hotel
Itinerary
If you love food, then a Florence cooking vacation is a must-do activity. This culinary journey will introduce you to some of the cornerstones of Italian food culture and artisanal flavors of Tuscan cuisine. From marbled meats to golden olive oil, you’ll get to taste all the local hidden gems! Plus, you’ll learn about the history and culture behind each dish from your guide.
Day One
Order of activities subject to change based on specific dates booked.
- Arrival on your own and check in to your centrally-located hotel in Florence, home for your Florence food tour.
- Time to settle in and relax.
- Dinner on your own tonight (we can make suggestions).
- Overnight.
Day Two
Day Two- Breakfast at the hotel.
- This morning, meet your licensed Florence guide for a 3-hour guided tour combining the art highlights of this amazing city with visits of local food specialty shops and markets where Florentines purchase their fresh seasonal ingredients. You will find out why Florence is a top spot for Tuscany food tours as you taste local cured meats and cheeses and learn about the Italian way of life.
- At the end of the tour your guide will drop you at the Mercato Centrale for lunch on your own. The Mercato Centrale is a place where food is “lived,” it is prepared by artisans who know it deeply and who have been preparing it generation after generation. Each store has its own workspace and makes its own specialities, making it a perfect place to discover authentic Florentine dishes at a fair price.
- Afternoon visit of the Accademia Gallery to see the famous David of Michelangelo. (The visit is not guided but includes a “skip the line” reservation. If you would like to hire an official guide these arrangements can be made in advance.)
- Dinner tonight at Il Guscio restaurant to taste Florentine dishes, and overnight.
Day Three
Day Three- Breakfast at the hotel.
- This morning, head to a cooking atelier for your first Tuscan cooking class. (The cooking atelier is about a 15 minute walk or 5 minute taxi ride from your hotel.) You will start with a unique walking visit of local “botteghe,” or shops, to select ingredients, always a highlight of our Florence food tours. You might visit the local butcher, vegetable vendor, and cheese shop. Your Tuscany cooking class will focus on signature Tuscan recipes and will include a four-course menu.
- Lunch to follow paired with local wines.
- Afternoon free for shopping and individual explorations. You may want to visit the nearby Boboli Gardens or Palazzo Pitti Museum, or to walk through the famous Rose Garden of Florence to the Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset and enjoy one of the most famous panoramic views in the world.
- Dinner on your own tonight.
- Overnight.
Day Four
Day Four- Breakfast at the hotel.
- At 9:30 am, meet your driver-guide for a full-day excursion into Chianti including a unique and authentic cooking class with a local chef. You will drive about an hour and a quarter to a local butcher shop where you will meet the wonderful Chef Andrea. Visit the shop and select your ingredients, then head to Andrea’s country house to enjoy a hands-on cooking class. This is authentic Tuscany, a place where you can take a break from the high-tech and fast-paced life at home and rediscover the slow rhythms and medieval rituals of the Tuscan countryside. Chef Andrea knows every corner of the Chianti region and will help you explore authentic Tuscan flavors.
- Lunch to follow, wine included.
- Travel on to Siena, where you will meet your guide for a 2-hour tour. Walk around the Piazza del Campo, where the raucous Palio horse race is held twice a year, and view the Gothic Duomo.
- Return to Florence in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own and overnight.
Day Five
Day Five- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Free morning for leisure activities. Perhaps a museum visit or some shopping. Lunch on your own.
- This afternoon you will enjoy a wonderful and unique experience! Meet your driver around 3:00 pm for the quick drive to nearby Fiesole. This charming small town has long been a favorite of Florentines. You will enjoy a leisurely, private guided biking tour from Fiesole back to Florence, including a stop along the way at the Fattoria di Poggiopiano for a guided visit of the vineyards and olive oil groves. Have a tasting of wine and olive oil with local products before continuing your ride back to Florence. Arrival at your hotel around 7:00 pm. (If you are not a fan of bicycling an alternate activity can be arranged.)
- This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at Torcicoda to end your fabulous Florence vacation with the best Florentine steak!
- Overnight.
Day Six
- Breakfast and depart on your own.
Optional Additional Days and Tours
You can add on additional nights in Florence and additional tours, or we can completely customize the tour according to your tastes. Some additional activities we can include are:
- additional cooking class in Florence
- excursion to Pisa and Lucca
- full day tour in Chianti including San Gimignano
- truffle hunt experience
- additional museum visits and tours
Please inquire!
Florence Italy Food Tour Details
Included in the 5-Night Florence Culinary Vacation
Accommodations
5 nights accommodation in 3* hotel (upgrades to 4* and 5* hotels also available)
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 2 lunches
- 3 dinners
- Local product tastings as per itinerary
- Local wine included with all included meals
Classes & Instructors
Your cooking courses in Florence, Italy will include:
- one of the best cooking classes in Tuscany at a local Florence cooking school, in which you will prepare a four-course menu
- a unique and authentic Tuscan cooking class with Chef Andrea in the Chianti countryside
On request, we can include additional cooking courses in Florence for those who want a more intensive cooking experience. You will also have the chance to taste the iconic flavors and explore the wonderful gastronomy of Florence during your private foodie tours and market visit.
Excursions
- 3-hour private walking tour of Florence with local products tastings
- Full-day excursion to Chianti and Siena
- “Botteghe” walk with the chef
- Butcher shop visit with Chef Andrea
- Transfer to Fiesole and private guided bike tour from Fiesole to Florence
Transfer Details
- Transfers are not included but can be arranged for an additional cost. (But a taxi from the Florence airport to the center runs only around 25 Euros, plus baggage).
Miscellaneous
- Bike rental with helmet and insurance
- Skip the line reservation and ticket at the Galleria dell’Accademia (home to Michelangelo’s David)
Not Included
- Transportation to cooking class on day 3 (about a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride)
- Overnight tourist tax (a few Euros per person per night, which must be paid locally)
Country:
Italy
Region:
Tuscany
Tour Dates:
Available any dates you choose for a minimum of one person. Please review our complete pricing details.
5 Nights
Starting at
$3,175
Accommodation Information
About the accommodations: Your home in Florence will be a beautiful and centrally-located hotel just steps from the major sites. We can offer everything from 3* to 5* accommodations to suit your budget. (Please note if the hotels proposed below are not available we will propose a suitable alternative.)
For a 3* experience we recommend the lovely and intimate Hotel Silla (or similar), in one of our favorite neighborhoods (San Niccolò). The rooms feature classic Florentine decor and come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, air conditioning and minibars. There is also a large terrace facing the Arno River to further enhance your stay.
Upgrade to the 4* Santa Maria Novella, a beautiful and elegant hotel located next to the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, or to another of the many wonderful 4* hotels in Florence. (Pricing for 4* upgrade available on request.)
Best Florence Cooking Tour Pricing & Dates
Find pricing and dates for our Florence gastronomy tours below, or contact us for availability or to customize your trip.
Florence Food Tour Sample* Pricing:
5-Night Florence Tour Pricing
US$3175 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$550 per person to upgrade to 4* hotel
*Pricing varies by season and days of the week–please inquire with specific dates for accurate pricing for your trip.
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Single supplement or cost of upgrade to 5* hote: please inquire.
Florence Foodie Tour in Tuscany Dates
Our Florence culinary vacations are available year round for a minimum of 2 people. Please inquire if you are a group, or if you are traveling solo.
Sample Florence for the Food Lover private tour dates follow. Please inquire for availability.
2023
February 7-12
February 14-19
February 21-26
February 28-March 5
March 7-12
March 14-19
March 21-27
March 28-April 2
April 4-9
April 11-16
April 18-23
April 25-30
May 2-7
May 9-14
May 16-21
May 23-28
May 30-June 4
June 6-11
June 13-18
June 20-25
June 27-July 2
July 4-9
July 11-16
July 18-23
July 25-30
September 5-10
September 12-17
September 19-24
September 26-October 1
October 3-8
October 10-15
October 17-22
October 24-29
October 31-November 5
November 7-12
November 14-19
November 21-26
November 28-December 3
December 5-10
December 12-17
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We Can Help Plan The Best Florence Culinary Vacations
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Want more flexibility? We can customize all of your trip details for you, including:
- Trip length and Itineraries
- Hotels and Tours
- Transfers and Airfare
Let us show you how we can create a complete package just for you. Contact Us