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Overview

Foodie Tours of Northern Italy

Beautiful hills and vineyards surrounding Barbaresco village in the Langhe region of Piedmont, Italy.Spend a week in the north of Italy on this authentic culinary tour of Northern Italy, and discover the amazing foods and wines of Piedmont and Liguria.

Adjacent yet distinct, Piedmont and Liguria showcase the diverse culinary and scenic wonders of Northern Italy. Piedmont boasts rich pastas, succulent meats, creamy risottos, and signature ingredients like truffles, hazelnuts, and sumptuous cheeses. Its world-renowned wines, such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, make it a prime destination for Northern Italy wine tours. The region’s landscape transitions from majestic mountains to undulating vineyards and plains near the Po and Tanaro Rivers.

Traditional Piedmontese salami.Visiting the many hilltop villages of the Langhe area of Piedmont is like stepping back in time, and you will explore the narrow alleyways, cobblestoned streets, and beautiful vistas onto the hazy vineyards that spread out as far as the eye can see. 

Visiting the Cinque Terre on a northern Italy cooking vacation.To the south of Piedmont, separated from it by the Apennines, is the second stop on your northern Italy food tour, the region of Liguria. Visually, it could not be more different, with its vibrantly colored houses and miles of sunny Mediterranean coastline.

Fried seafood in cones on the street of Riomaggiore, ItalyLiguria is a narrow region that hugs the coast, and its gastronomy bears these influences. Seafood, olives, olive oil, Mediterranean fruits and vegetables, and wines bearing the salty aromas of the sea are all hallmarks of Liguria, as are the nuts – pine nuts, walnuts, and almonds – used in its pesto and many other dishes. Liguria, besides being the home to the famed Cinque Terre villages, is a land of stunning cliffs and seaside towns seemingly carved into the rock. 

Our northern Italy culinary vacation combines the best of these two diverse regions into one incredible week. You will learn their secrets in the company of our expert local guides, and will leave feeling like a local!


Latest Review

I gave this trip 5 stars
Stephen
NC
Well I can say that the trip that The International Kitchen planned for us was absolutely fantastic! We were in private cooking classes, not expected, and all the chef's, guides and drivers were great! I can also say that TIK was in constant contact as circumstances changed like the train schedules, they adjusted on the fly and took the worry out of everything! We will do this again and we highly recommend this way of travel - you not only get to meet incredible people and see fantastic sites, but you participate in all the activities which makes the whole experience so much better and memorable. Thank you International Kitchen!

Food Tours Northern Italy Highlights

During your northern Italy culinary vacation, immerse yourself in the contrasting landscapes and flavors. Experience regions characterized by majestic mountains, valleys, and sprawling vineyards on one side, and breathtaking cliffs with picturesque seaside villages on the other. These differences give rise to unique cuisines and diverse wine selections, all awaiting exploration during your cooking journey in northern Italy.

Northern Italy Food and Wine Tour Itinerary

The beautiful village of La Morra and its vineyards in the Langhe region of Piedmont, Italy.Please note that depending on the specific dates booked, the order of activities for our northern Italy culinary tour is subject to change.

Day One

  • Arrival in Milan Malpensa and private transfer to the Langhe area of Piedmont.
  • Check-in and time to relax before your tasting dinner that will immerse you in the flavors of Piedmont (beverages paid locally).
  • Overnight.

Day Two

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Meet your driver at the hotel, then depart for the Alta Langhe. Visit an artisanal cheese producer and enjoy a tasting of local products for lunch.
  • Next, have  a panoramic tour in the Barolo wine area, along the Unesco World Heritage vineyard landscapes. During the tour, you will visit a well-known wine cellar in the Barolo area with tasting.
  • In the afternoon, transfer to a local cooking school for a hands-on cooking class. You will prepare traditional Piedmontese dishes to discover the roots of the region’s food and wine. After the class, dinner based on your efforts.
  • Transfer back to you hotel, and overnight. 

The town of Santa Margherita Ligure, home for your northern Italy cooking vacation with The International Kitchen.Day Three

  • Morning free to enjoy you last hours in Piedmont enjoying the beautiful landscape.
  • Late morning check out and transfer to Liguria.
  • Check in to your accommodations in the beautiful village of Santa Margherita. Time in the afternoon to get settled and perhaps explore the beautiful Portofino Gulf.
  • This evening, you will have a delicious dinner that will introduce you to Ligurian cuisine, which is very different than what you had in Piedmont (beverages paid locally).
  • Overnight. 

The town of Vernazza, one of the famed Cinque Terre.Day Four 

  • Meet your guide at the hotel and take the train to the famed Cinque Terre (about an hour trip). The Cinque Terre are five picturesque linked fishing villages which are now a National Park and Unesco World Heritage site. You will explore the authentic side of the Cinque Terre with an expert insider! Visit the tiny squares and alleys and enjoy the stunning panoramas and have time on your own for lunch. Travel to the terraced vineyards that overlook the sea and form the backdrop of this remarkable area. Visit a local producer and learn the story behind his wine, then visit the cellar and enjoy a tasting of traditional Cinque Terre wines, including the rare Sciacchetrà, paired with appetizers.
  • Return by train to Santa Margherita. Rest of day at leisure and dinner on your own.
  • Overnight. 

A picturesque view of Genoa, Italy.Day Five

  • After breakfast, take the short train ride (tickets included) to Genoa, where you will meet your guide. Explore this vibrant port city from market to market. Start at the large and picturesque Mercato Orientale, a real food lover’s paradise and a favorite of the locals. Then explore the historical center of Genoa and its ancient food shops.
  • Genoa has the largest medieval old town center in Europe, and you will explore its authentic medieval alleys, squares, and Renaissance streets during your tour. You will also discover the traditional food shops, such as the “friggitorie,” which serve “friscieu,” or fried fish croquettes with herbs, as well as “farinata,” a chickpea pancake, and fried fresh seafood. Head to the old pastry café where the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi used to spend his time, and then to the Pietro Romanengofu Stefano confectionary shop, which dates back some three hundred years.
  • At the end of the tour, you will head to the gorgeous salons of a private Renaissance palace where you will have a class on the most traditional pasta of Liguria, Pansotti,” a hand-made pasta stuffed with wild herbs and served with a walnut sauce traditionally prepared with mortar and pestle. Lunch to follow based on your efforts along with other Ligurian specialties.
  • In the afternoon, time to wander around Genoa on your own before taking the return train to Santa Margherita (tickets included).
  • Dinner on your own and overnight. 

The town of Portofino visited during your culinary vacation in ItalyDay Six 

  • After breakfast, head for the public ferry to take the boat to Portofino (tickets included). You will be welcomed there and transferred to an old mill surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean vegetation. Meet a local culinary expert who will show you the traditional method of preparing Liguria’s most famous produce – pesto – with a mortar and pestle. Afterwards, enjoy your pesto with typical Trofie pasta and other local specialties.
  • Head back to Portofino, where you will have free time in what is considered one of the most beautiful villages of Italy.
  • Return ferry to Santa Margherita (tickets included).
  • Dinner on your own and overnight. 

Famed church of San Pietro on the beautiful Ligurian Coast.Day Seven 

  • Breakfast and check out. (Your departure transfer is not included, but will be arranged based on your travels following the tour.)

Trip Details of Cooking Vacations in Northern Italy

Included in the 6-Night Northern Italy Cooking Classes

Accommodations

6 nights in boutique 4* hotels

Food & Beverages

  • Daily breakfast
  • 3 lunches, wine included
  • 3 dinners
  • Food & Wine tastings as per the itinerary

Classes & Instructors

During your Northern Italy food tour, three immersive cooking classes will guide you through the region’s diverse culinary tapestry. Dive into recipes featuring rich pastas, risottos, meats, and desserts from one area. In contrast, another region will acquaint you with unique pasta varieties, fresh seafood, and the renowned mortar-and-pestle sauces for which it’s celebrated.

Excursions

  • Barbaresco winery tour
  • Cheese producer visit
  • Private guided tour of the Cinque Terre, including winery visit
  • Private guided tour of Genoa
  • Olive mill visit in near Portofino

Transfer Details

Arrival transfer included from the Milan Malpensa airport. (Departure transfer not included, but can be arranged based on your travels following the tour.)

Miscellaneous

  • Round trip train tickets to the Cinque Terre (you will be accompanied for this train ride)
  • Round trip train tickets to Genoa (you will take this train on your own)
  • Round trip ferry tickets to Portofino (you will take the ferry on your own)

 

Not Included

  • Nightly city tax, paid locally
  • Entrance fees, paid locally
  • Beverages with the dinners (these are paid locally based on the wines you choose)
  • Gratuities

Accommodation Information

Your Northern Italy culinary tour will start with 2 nights in Piedmont in the area of the Langhe, at Corte Gondina, a small boutique hotel of just 14 rooms. The hotel also has a pool, garden, and spa. (If unavailable a comparable property will be proposed.)

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Your Northern Italy culinary tour will continue with 4 nights in Santa Margherita Ligure at the 4* Mediterraneo Emotional Spa. This new boutique hotel is located in an elegant palazzo that dates to the end of the Eighteenth Century. Each room has its own characteristic decor, and the hotel is surrounded by a garden and park. The hotel has a spa with headed swimming pool. (If unavailable a comparable property will be proposed.)

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Northern Italy Culinary Tour Pricing & Tour Dates 2024

Find pricing and dates for our northern Italy cooking vacations below, and contact us for availability or to customize your trip.



High Season Pricing:
March 29-31; June 1-September 21

6-Night Italy Culinary Tour

US$5875 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$780 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Departure transfer to Malpensa airport: 500-600 Euros per car (depending on size of vehicle required).
Transfer to Santa Margherita or Genoa airport: Please inquire.

Mid Season Pricing:
April 27-May 31; September 22-October 19

6-Night Italy Culinary Tour

US$5680 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$660 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Departure transfer to Malpensa airport: 500-600 Euros per car (depending on size of vehicle required).
Transfer to Santa Margherita or Genoa airport: Please inquire.

Low Season Sample* Pricing:
March 8-27; April 2-26; October 20-November 3

(excluding Easter)

6-Night Italy Culinary Tour

US$5580 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$540 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Departure transfer to Malpensa airport: 500-600 Euros per car (depending on size of vehicle required).
Transfer to Santa Margherita or Genoa airport: Please inquire.


Dates of Cooking Vacations in Northern Italy

Our week-long northern Italy culinary tours are available most weeks early March to early November. Sample weeks follow, but please inquire for availability.

Sunday start dates are posted, but other start dates are possible. Please note it is not advised to have the Genoa visit on Sunday, and the Portofino class is not available on Mondays.

2024
August 25-31
September 1-7
September 8-14
September 15-21
September 22-28
September 29-October 5
October 6-12
October 13-19
October 20-26
October 27-November 2
November 3-9
November 10-16
November 17-23
November 24-30

2025
Please inquire for 2025 dates and pricing!

Reviews

I gave this trip 5 stars
Stephen
NC
Well I can say that the trip that The International Kitchen planned for us was absolutely fantastic! We were in private cooking classes, not expected, and all the chef's, guides and drivers were great! I can also say that TIK was in constant contact as circumstances changed like the train schedules, they adjusted on the fly and took the worry out of everything! We will do this again and we highly recommend this way of travel - you not only get to meet incredible people and see fantastic sites, but you participate in all the activities which makes the whole experience so much better and memorable. Thank you International Kitchen!

We Can Assist in Crafting the Perfect Northern Italy Wine Tour for you!

Visiting a Camogli on a northern Italy cooking vacation.

If you require help with flights, extended stays, wine-tasting experiences, or anything else, we're on hand to ensure your northern Italy culinary journey is flawless.

Interested in a tailor-made tour aligned with your preferences? Reach out to us and we'll craft it for you!

Drop us a line for further details. Alternatively, express your interest at checkout and we'll promptly touch base with you! Contact Us
 

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