Seafood pasta dish during your cooking vacation in Italy

Tasting table during your culinary tour of Sicily

Winery visited on a culinary tour of Sicily

Visiting Catania during your culinary tour of Sicily

View of the sea from the hotel Villa Diodoro in Taormina

A wine tasting during a culinary tour of Italy

Winery in Sicily as visited during your Italy culinary tour

Balconies of the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Beach at the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Bedroom at the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Breakfast of the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Terrace of the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Pool of the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

View from the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Bedroom of the Diodoro, your home for your cooking vacation in Sicily

Hotel Diodoro in Taormina Siciy

A view of Mt. Etna during a culinary tour of Sicily

The main square in Taormina during a culinary tour of Sicily

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Overview

Sicily Culinary Tours with TIK

Situated high above the Ionian Sea on Sicily’s eastern coast, the ancient city of Taormina is a picturesque place that has inspired artists, writers, and tourists for centuries. And it is your home for one of our best Sicily culinary tours!

The breathtaking view of the sea isn’t the only thing to love about this magical city. The town has been called the greatest work of art and nature, according to Goethe, and with its Greek colonial ruins, mild climate, and snow-capped Mount Etna, it’s not hard to see why.

Stroll along the quaint streets, stop for an apertitif in the main square, and use it as a home base for an exploration of the island of Sicily on our Sicily cooking vacations. Whether you are exploring the local markets, enjoying wine tasting tours of Sicilian wines, or cooking such specialties as “pasta alla norma,” “arancini,” and “cannoli” during your hands-on Sicily cooking classes, Taormina and Sicily’s eastern cost will enchant you and your tastebuds!

Discover this paradise on our Sicily culinary tours with TIK!

Latest Review

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Evann & Linda

Florida

Trip taken April 2018

We absolutely loved our cooking tour experience. It was a perfect balance of cooking and touring mixed with just enough free time. Paolo was truly amazing and allowed as much customization as we would like. This allowed us to truly enjoy the visit and vacation. The cooking lessons themselves were so diverse in location, (although not as much in the actual food we cooked, but I know the Sicilians cook what is in season). The time each day spent was absolutely perfect and we can’t wait to go back!

Taormina Sicily Culinary Tour Highlights

Our week-long Sicily culinary tours in Taormina and the eastern coast include an exploration of Sicilian cuisine and culture with your local guide, a native of Sicily. Highlights of the Sicily cooking vacation include:

hands on cooking classes featuring Sicilian recipes such as pasta alla norma, cannoli, arancini, and more
accommodations in a centrally located 4* hotel in Taormina
half-day tour to Savoca, where the Godfather movie was filmed
visit of Catania, including the fish market and city center
excursion to Siracusa
visit of Mount Etna including winery visit and tasting
meals as indicated

Day One

Meet your driver at Catania airport and transfer to Taormina.
Check-in to the 4-star Hotel Villa Diodoro.
Time on your own to explore the historical center of Taormina.
Dinner at a local restaurant (drinks not included) and overnight.

Day Two

Following breakfast, head to Catania for a visit of the fish market and your first cooking lesson with Loredana.
Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day Godfather tour, which includes a visit to the small village of Savoca, the main location for the Godfather movie. You will also see Bar Vitelli, where Michael (Al Pacino) lived in Sicily, as well as the amazing 17th-century Villa “deli Schivai,” otherwise known as the Corleone house.
Return to Taormina for dinner on your own and overnight.

Day Three

Breakfast
Experience a full day excursion to Siracusa, where you will see the historical city center Ortigia and the beautiful city’s most known sites.
Return to Taormina for dinner on your own and overnight.

Day Four

Breakfast.
Experience a full-day visit to the highest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna.
Transfer to a special wine estate “Barone di Villagrande” near Milo. This picture-perfect family-owned estate dates back to 1727 and produces first-rate wines. Explore the winery and cellar as well, and of course enjoy a tasting of wines accompanied by a light lunch.
Return to the hotel in the afternoon for some free time in Taormina.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight.

Day Five

Following breakfast, depart for a seasonal excursion, which will depend on the time of year you travel.
Return to Taormina for dinner on your own and overnight.

Day Six

After breakfast, your next hands-on cooking class, this time at the Villa Britannia with their chef.
Lunch to follow.
Private transfer service back to the hotel for some time on your own to use the hotel’s panoramic pool or the private beach.
Farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight.

Day Seven

After breakfast, transfer to Catania airport.

Day One

Meet your driver at Catania airport and transfer to Taormina.
Check-in to the 4-star Hotel Villa Diodoro.
Time on your own to explore the historical center of Taormina.
Dinner at a local restaurant (drinks not included) and overnight.

Day Two

Following breakfast, head to Catania for a visit of the fish market and your first cooking lesson with Loredana.
Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day Godfather tour, which includes a visit to the small village of Savoca, the main location for the Godfather movie. You will also see Bar Vitelli, where Michael (Al Pacino) lived in Sicily, as well as the amazing 17th-century Villa “deli Schivai,” otherwise known as the Corleone house.
Return to Taormina for dinner on your own and overnight.

Day Three

Breakfast
Experience a full day excursion to Siracusa, where you will see the historical city center Ortigia and the beautiful city’s most known sites.
Return to Taormina for dinner on your own and overnight.

Day Four

Breakfast.
Experience a full-day visit to the highest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna.
Transfer to a special wine estate “Barone di Villagrande” near Milo. This picture-perfect family-owned estate dates back to 1727 and produces first-rate wines. Explore the winery and cellar as well, and of course enjoy a tasting of wines accompanied by a light lunch.
Return to the hotel in the afternoon for some free time in Taormina.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight.

Day Five

After breakfast, transfer to Catania airport.

Trip Details

6 Night Details
4 Night Details

Included in our 6-Night Sicily Culinary Tours

Accommodations

6 nights accommodation in classic room at 4* Hotel Villa Diodoro (or similar)

Food & Beverages

Daily breakfast
3 lunches (wine included)
2 dinners (wine not included)

Classes & Instructors

Explore Sicilian cooking in 2 unique Italian cooking classes.

The first class will be in Catania, including a visit to the amazing fish market.
The second will be in Taormina at the Villa Britannia.

In both of your cooking classes, you’ll discover the wonderful flavors and traditions of Italian and Sicilian cooking.

Excursions

Half-day ‘Godfather Tour’ to see the village of Savoca, where the Godfather movie was filmed.
Visit of Catania, including the fish market
Excursion to Siracusa
Visit of Mount Etna including winery visit and tasting

Transfer Details

Group arrival and departure transfers from/to Catania airport. (Late arrivals, early departures, or transfers separate from the group may incur an additional fee.)

Not Included

Beverages with dinners

Included in our 4-Night Sicily Culinary Tours

Accommodations

4 nights accommodation n classic room at 4* Hotel Villa Diodoro (or similar)

Food & Beverages

Daily breakfast
2 lunches (wine included)
1 dinner (wine not included)

Classes & Instructors

Explore Sicilian cooking in a unique Italian cooking class in Catania, including a visit to the amazing fish market. You’ll discover the wonderful flavors and traditions of Italian and Sicilian cooking.

Excursions

Half-day ‘Godfather Tour’ to see the village of Savoca, where the Godfather movie was filmed.
Visit of Catania, including the fish market and city center
Excursion to Siracusa
Visit of Mount Etna including winery visit and tasting

Transfer Details

Group arrival and departure transfers from/to Catania airport. (Late arrivals, early departures, or transfers separate from the group may incur an additional fee.)

Not Included

Beverages with dinners

Accommodation Information

The elegant Hotel Villa Diodoro is named after the Greek historian Diodoro Siculo, who attracted travelers to the city of Taormina by describing it as a place of beauty, sun, art and culture. Today the hotel features 102 spacious rooms that offer amazing views of the surrounding area — both the bay of Naxos and Mount Etna — as well as modern amenities. Guests can use both the pool on the terrace or enjoy free access to a private beach.