View of Cefalu during your culinary tour of Sicily

Vegetables for sale at the market during your cooking vacation in Sicily

Visiting the market in Sicily during a culinary vacation with The International Kitchen.

Fish for sale at the market during your cooking vacation in Siciliy

The vibrant baroque town of Modica, Sicliy, visited on your culinary tour of Italy

Olives for sale at the market during your cooking vacation in Sicily

Hotel Kaos pool during a cooking vacation in Sicily

Kaos hotel double room during a culinary tour of Sicily

Room detail at hotel Kaos during a cooking vacation in Sicily

A dish of Sicilian cod on a cooking vacation in Sicily

Fish at the market on a cooking vacation in Sicily

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Overview

Sicily Cooking Vacations

The island of Sicily is an absolute treasure, and the site of our amazing gastronomic Sicily tour. Picture yourself experiencing authentic Italian life on our Sicilian cooking vacations while you explore the history, beauty, culture, food, and wine of Sicily!

Your 7-night luxury gastronomic Sicily food and wine tour will take you from the bustling city of Palermo, to charming medieval towns, to the slopes of Mount Etna. Our Sicilian culinary vacations include hands-on cooking classes and foodie excursions to complete your dream vacation in Sicily.

All of our private and luxury small group tours Sicily include some of the best food and wine Italy has to offer. Join us on this fantastic culinary trip and discover why Sicily is one of our best vacation destinations!

Latest Review

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Debra & Lawrence

Trip taken November 2022

We booked a culinary tour of Sicily which was excellent. Booking the trip was easy and Adrian was extremely helpful in making recommendations and arrangements for the tour as well as pre and post tour extensions. We loved the cooking classes and historic cultural experiences that were part of the tour. Our driver was excellent and very knowledgeable. We will definitely use The International Kitchen for future vacation travel.

Highlights of our Sicily Cooking Vacations

Our Sicily cooking vacations will show you the authentic side of the mysterious island. From Palermo to Taormina, you will experience the best of Sicily’s food, wine, and culture, including:

Sicily cooking classes with three different chefs
market visit in Palermo
visits of Cefalù, Erice, the Valley of the Temples, Piazza Amerina, and more
Marsala winery visit and tasting
guided visit of Siracusa
meals as indicated
and more!

Sicily Cooking Vacation Tour Itinerary

7 Day Tour of Sicily

Day One

Sample itinerary: order of activities subject to change depending on season, weather, and specific dates booked.

Arrival at Palermo airport.
Transfer at pre-arranged time to Palermo city and check in to a charming four-star hotel.
For those arriving early in the day, we can start your Sicily cooking vacation with an optional excursion. (Cost not included in program; please inquire for details).
Dinner on your own and overnight.

Day Two

Breakfast at the hotel.
Begin your food tour Palermo Sicily with your first hands-on cooking class. The Sicilian cooking class will start with a trip to one of Palermo’s historic and bustling markets. Once back in the restaurant with your fresh ingredients, the chef will teach you about creating typical Sicilian dishes, such as zucca all’agro or veal scaloppine with Marsala wine. Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
In the afternoon your Sicily cooking vacation will lead you to Cefalù, a charming town that became prosperous when the Normans captured it in 1063. It was Roger II, King of Sicily, that began the construction of the present Cathedral with its remarkably fine mosaics of Byzantine art. The image of Christ Pantocrator in the apse and the rest of the mosaics in the first spaces between the arches of the choir are among the most beautiful in the world. (Please note that the Cathedral is currently closed for renovation.)
Return to the hotel, dinner on your own, and overnight.

Day Three

After breakfast, continue your Sicily gastronomic tour with a transfer to Erice. Erice is medieval town located at the top of a mountain. It is set 751 meters above sea level and overlooks the whole Western region, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Egadi Islands. Enjoy a walking tour of its characteristic historical centre.
Lunch on your own in Erice.
In the afternoon, depart for Marsala for Sicilian wine tasting tours in a local vineyard, where you will taste top-rated wines.
Continue on to Agrigento, check in at the hotel.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight.

Day Four

After breakfast in the hotel, your cooking vacation in Sicily continues with a visit of Agrigento.
Experience a guided tour of the beautiful Valley of the Temples, one of the most representative sites of Greek civilization in the Mediterranean area. Visit the Temple of Hercules, Juno, Castor and Pollux as well as the wonderful Temple of Concord.
Transfer to Piazza Armerina to visit an ancient Roman villa famous for its mosaics.
Lunch on your own in Piazza Armerina.
Continue on your Sicilian culinary trip by heading to beautiful Siracusa. Check in and time for dinner on your own.
Overnight.

Day Five

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, start your second half-day Sicily cooking lesson in a local restaurant, where you will learn how to prepare some of the most popular and essential local recipes. Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
In the afternoon, your Sicily gastronomic tour continues with a visit of a 16th century Baglio (farmhouse) for food tastings of wine, olive oil, and cheese.
End the day with a chocolate tasting on the way back to the hotel.
Dinner on your own and overnight in Siracusa.

Day Six

Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning enjoy a tour of Siracusa, which during the Greek Age was one of the most powerful cities on the island. Your cooking holidays in Sicily continue with a visit of the archaeological zone of the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dionysus, and the Latomie. Walk through the historical center on the Ortigia Island to admire the Cathedral, the Arethusa fountain and the ancient streets.
Lunch at a local trattoria.
In the afternoon, transfer to Taormina. Check in at the hotel.
Dinner on your own and overnight in Taormina.

Day Seven

Following breakfast, your Sicilian culinary trip will lead to you your last hands-on cooking lesson with a chef in Taormina at the Villa Britannia. All participants will help prepare the dishes for the meal. At the end of the cooking lesson, enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, time to explore Taormina on your own.
Dinner on own and overnight in Taormina.

Day Eight

Breakfast, and departure transfer to Catania airport.

Sicily Cooking Vacation Trip Details

7 Night Details

Included in our 7-Night Sicily Cooking Holidays

Accommodations

7 nights accommodations in 4* superior hotels (2 in Palermo, 1 in Agrigento, 2 in Siracusa, and 2 in Taormina)

Food & Beverages

Daily breakfast.
5 lunches (drinks not included)
Food visits and tastings as per itinerary

Classes & Instructors

Your Sicilian cooking tour will include foodie visits to explore the local olive oil, chocolates, and wines of Sicily. And you will experience traditional Sicilian food first hand by making it in 3 hands-on cooking classes.

Your first cooking lesson on our Sicilian cooking vacation takes place in Palermo, where you’ll visit the local bustling food market and then return to Chef Vincenzo’s kitchen to learn how to create traditional Sicilian dishes.
The second class of your gastronomic Sicily tour is in a local restaurant, where you’ll learn to prepare popular recipes in the region.
The third hands-on cooking class in Sicily is in the beautiful town of Taormina.

Our cooking holidays in Sicily will show you the wonders of real Sicilian cuisine, which you can take home from your Sicilian culinary trip and replicate in your own kitchen!

Excursions

Market visit in Palermo
Excursion to Cefalù
Visit of Erice
Marsala winery visit and tasting
Guided visit of the Valley of the Temples and Piazza Amerina (entrance fees paid locally)
Visit of Siracusa

Transfer Details

Arrival transfer from Palermo airport
Return transfer to Catania airport

Miscellaneous

Transportation by private car or minibus for the whole tour

Not Included

Drinks during meals
Entrance fees to archeological sites and museums

Accommodation Information

Your accommodations in Palermo will be at the 4* Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, located in the city center. The bedrooms have en suite private baths, safe, minibar, LCD TV, phone, and of course air conditioning. The hotel features a restaurant, bar, spa, and interior courtyard. (If unavailable a comparable 4* will be proposed.)

Exterior of Piazza Borsa hotel in Palermo on a Sicily cooking vacation

Interior at Piazza Borsa hotel in Palermo on a Sicily cooking vacation

Interior courtyard at Piazza Borsa hotel in Palermo on a Sicily cooking vacation

Double room at Piazza Borsa hotel in Palermo on a Sicily cooking vacation

Bedroom at Piazza Borsa hotel in Palermo on a Sicily cooking vacation

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In the area near Agrigento your stay will be at the charming, 7-room Relais Briuccia. Originally an aristocratic palace and converted into a B&B, the building also features a wonderful restaurant, a stone terrace, and a frescoed salon. The rooms are large and feature wrought iron bedsteads and four poster beds, marble tiled floors, beamed ceilings, and other interesting design features. The en suite bathrooms are separated from the bedrooms by curtained glass partitions. (If unavailable a comparable hotel will be proposed.)

Elegant bedroom at Relais Briuccia on a Sicily cooking vacation

Bedroom at Relais Briuccia on a Sicily cooking vacation

Restaurant of Relais Briuccia on a Sicily cooking vacation

Lobby of Relais Briuccia on a Sicily cooking vacation

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In Siracusa, on Ortigia, we propose the 4* Henry’s House. (If unavailable an alternate 4* hotel will be proposed.)

Patio at Henry's House in Siracusa, Sicily

Lobby at Henry's House in Siracusa, Sicily

Bedroom at Henry's House in Siracusa, Sicily

Bedroomat Henry's House in Siracusa, Sicily

Bedroom at Henry's House in Siracusa, Sicily

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The Hotel Villa Diodoro is just steps from the beautiful town of Taormina, and it’s pool overlooks the stunning Mount Etna. Renovated in 2008, all 102 spacious rooms are inspired by the natural habitat surrounding the hotel, and many offer incredible views of the area. (If unavailable an alternate 4* hotel will be proposed.)

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Pricing and Tour Dates for our Sicily Cooking Vacations

Find pricing and dates for our Sicily culinary vacations below, and contact us for availability or to book your trip.

7 Night Pricing

Looking for tour date information?

Sicily Tour High Season Sample* Pricing:
April through October

7-Night Sicily Cooking Vacation Pricing

US$7800 per person based on double occupancy

*Please inquire with dates for detailed pricing and availability.

30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Single occupancy rates: please inquire.

Sicily Tour Low Season Sample* Pricing:
November through March

7-Night Sicily Cooking Vacation Pricing

US$7500 per person based on double occupancy

*Please inquire with dates for pricing and availability.

30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Sicily Cooking Vacations - Tour Dates

Our week-long Sicily cooking vacations are available year round for a minimum of 2 people. Please note that some closures during winter months may make slight itinerary adjustments necessary. Sample dates follow, but other start dates are also possible, please inquire.

2023
Please inquire for pricing and availability.

Reviews

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Debra & Lawrence

Trip taken November 2022

We gave this trip 4 stars

★★★★★

Lynn Hauser & William Lawrence

Trip taken May 2020

This was a first of its kind travel experience for two couples: 8 days in Sicily primarily focused on food and wine. IK planned the itinerary and provided the van and driver and made all reservations for hotels, cooking classes, winery, and olive oil producer stops.Our first driver met us at the Palermo airport and delivered us to our hotel which was nicely located in an active part of the old city where we could enjoy the street scene and find interesting restaurants on our own.Next morning we met a restauranteur/chef and walked through the produce/fish street market with him selecting ingredients for the meal we then made under his direction in the restaurant kitchen. Educative and entertaining.Our one "touristy" stop was at the Valley of the Temples where we met our personal guide who walked the four of us through the archeological site and shared his extensive knowledge.We had another cooking class in a private apartment in Modica again just the four of us and enjoyed the meal we had prepared on a lovely terrace overlooking the historic part of the city.Our one winery stop was at a producer of notable Marsala, an acquired taste that one couple much enjoyed, the other not so much.Rain restricted our visit to the olive producer to indoors only but we've walked olive groves before so little was missed. The tasting was very informative. Both couples ordered specialty oils for delivery in the States.Two different days of rather long drives to reach our destination were broken up by excellent luncheons with wines at restaurants chosen by the driver/guide. We were surprised, pleasantly, to find the cost of these included in our prepaid tour.Our final stop was Taormina where our hotel had a fantastic sea view and lovely terrace. The rooms, however, were somewhat spartan.Cannot finish without mentioning our final cooking class/luncheon at Villa Britannia, a spectacular experience that we could not have found without IK.Highly recommend IK and the personal service provided by Adrian.

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Scott & Jennifer

Virginia

Trip taken June 2018

We had an excellent experience. Our guide, Paulo, did an A+ job. We enjoyed each of the locations for their merits and each of the teachers we encountered. We also learned much about Sicily beyond its cuisine.

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Marguerite & Erika

New Jersey

I thought Sicily was a fabulously unique country with much to offer - culturally, gastronomically. The people were warm and inviting and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I felt the small size of our group helped make the experience more personal. The three cooking classes were wonderful - each unique in its own way. Our guide Paolo was great, and although he fell ill half way through the trip, he managed to find replacements to finish the trip. I understand we had to travel from town to town, although sometimes the long car rides were tiresome. I especially liked Modica and Siracusa. The one glitch in my trip was the fact that Alitalia lost my suitcase both on the trip over as well as on the trip home.

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Marjorie & Sanford

Illinois

Trip taken September 2014

Sicily was more that we could have expected. It is an intriguing, beautiful island, great food and wine, wonderful sights and we were lucky enough to have Paolo as our guide during our time. I cannot imagine doing such a trip without him! Margie and Sandy

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Melvyn & Judy

Illinois

Trip taken September 2014

Our trip to Sicily was fantastic! And not the least because of Paolo, our great guide. He is knowledgeable, charming and fun and takes care of everything. He is the best!

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Robert & Diane

Nevada

Trip taken May 2013

We liked it all. Paolo our guide shared his knowledge of Sicily. He shared the history of important landmarks as we toured. He felt like family to us. Our cooking experiences were fun and we learned how to cook very interesting meals. We even went to the market in Palermo and bought the food for our cooking class. We were treated to local restaurants, wineries, and olive oil producers. They all spent time with us and we felt like we experienced a family meal with them. The hotels were beautiful and the people who worked within them were accommodating. We did not want to come home.

No rating given with this review

Planning. Having no idea what I was looking for, it was great to speak to Karen who came up with a great idea for us. I think she prepared me for what to expect and it was a great choice for us. My daughter and I will always remember this trip. The itinerary: I thought the itinerary was very well planned, it was diverse and mixed culture with culinary experiences. Paolo- was fantastic, he was a pleasure to be around, informative, accommodating. We couldn't have been happier with him Cooking: We were only able to have two cooking experiences- both were fantastic. I wouldn't have changed anything. Both said we could email them for recipes. I haven't had a chance to do that. I think it would be great for that to be already part of the experience (even with other Sicilian recipes might be a nice idea) Was disappointed that our last chef was ill so we missed that option (perhaps there should be back ups to each chef available?) All the other visits were great. Accommodations: I felt this was the weakest part of the experience. As I told Paolo, I thought that he and the chefs/tours were first class but I thought the accommodations were very moderate. I really think the guests should be given an option to upgrade to 5 stars for a set amount of $$. I think I would have done that in retrospect. I know these are all 4 star properties but most don't feel that way. I went property by property with Paolo and each had an explanation. Palermo property, Ok rooms, I guess ok location, horrible front desk/ breakfast lobby area, felt very moderate tour operator hotel. Argiento- I know we weren't in his typical hotel- the one we stayed in felt stuck in 1969, again felt very British tour operator locale. Modica- clearly dated hotel but we had a lovely room so I liked that one, probably the best Taormina- better than expected but still not stylish. I loved the lunch at the olive press, I didn't love the fancy lunch we had near Agrigento (but I am not a super foodie). I would have loved to see the Roman Villa but there was a torrential downpour. liked the valley of the temples. Glad Paolo took us to see the cathedral in Palermo. Siracusa prettiest city. [Regarding The International Kitchen staff:] as mentioned above Karen was very helpful planning. All others we spoke to were helpful as well. I was surprised that this email didn't have the week I got back (think it should be closer to the trip) Lisa O., NY
_Response from The International Kitchen:_ Thank you for your feedback! We will definitely look into adding an option for a 5-star hotel upgrade!

No rating given with this review

Our guide, Paolo Gallo, made this trip very special for us. He has a great knowledge of all things Sicilian and a great love of the island that he was keen to share with us. We were sorry to part at the end of the trip. The choice of places to visit was very good. We particularly enjoyed the visit to the Valley of the Temples and the Roman Villa at Casale. All three cooking classes were excellent and a lot of fun. Each showcased a different aspect of Sicilian cooking. The chefs were generous with their responses to our questions. We were a little anxious about the class with Pietro until we met him a found him to be the most humble and genuine of people who was keen to share his insights with a couple of amateurs. We will go home inspired to recreate some of the recipes. Our one minor gripe was the hotel Kaos. We don't enjoy isolated hotels where the only food options are in the hotel. It was also the only place that charged for WiFii. On the other hand the hotel in Modica was a great place to stay. [Regarding the information packet:] Info was fine. [Regarding The International Kitchen staff:] We dealt through a travel agent so don't have direct experience, but everything worked smoothly. Denis & Helen C., Australia
_Response from The International Kitchen:_ We're glad you had such a fabulous time in Sicily with Paolo! Thank you for your feedback about the hotel. We will let Paolo know.

No rating given with this review

My daughter found this trip....we were so excited! We were led by the hand through the entire process and everyone seemed to help us. We felt taken care of for sure! Every place we went there was someone there to meet us and happy to take us where we needed to be. The guides were all so very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about telling us everything they could. The TIK staff was perfect! In fact, they seemed like friends. They almost seemed as excited as we were to take our trip. They were always available and VERY willing to answer our questions and provide any information or materials we needed. My only guilt at this point is never having taken a picture with our darling aprons!! That will yet happen Karolyn, CA

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We can help plan the best Sicily cooking vacations!

Whether you need help with additional nights or tours in Sicily, transportation, or more, we are always here to help you plan the ultimate culinary vacation in Sicily.

We might not be able to pack for you, but there are many things we can help with to make your cooking vacation in Sicily that much better. Contact us for more information, or you can indicate your interest during check out and we will follow up with you directly! Contact Us

Authentic Sicilian Experience for the Food Lover

Sicily Cooking Vacations

Latest Review

Highlights of our Sicily Cooking Vacations