Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, renowned for its rich history, stunning coastlines, ancient Greek temples, and vibrant culinary traditions. A crossroads of civilizations for millennia, it bears the cultural imprints of Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish conquerors. Today Sicily enchants visitors with its baroque cities, volcanic landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and some of Italy's finest cuisine.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Sicily through its food.
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Tour formats
Different ways to experience Sicily's food scene.
Street food tours
Street food crawls through Palermo's markets are the most popular food tour in Sicily — visit Ballarò, Capo, and Vucciria with a knowledgeable guide
Market tours
Guided tours of the Catania Pescheria (fish market) and Ortigia market give context to Sicilian ingredient culture and food traditions
Restaurant tours
Multi-course meals at hidden local trattatorie and chef-table experiences at Etna wineries for wine-paired tasting menus
Specialty tours
Wine tours on Etna estates; Modica chocolate workshops; Marsala wine cave tours; Erice marzipan and almond confection demonstrations
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Sicily home with you.
Sicilian Classics Cooking Class, Palermo
Learn to make the iconic dishes of Palermo — arancini, pasta con le sarde, caponata, and cannoli — with a local Sicilian home cook in a family kitchen. Market shopping included.
Handmade Sicilian Pasta Class, Catania
A hands-on pasta class making busiate (Trapanese spiral pasta) with traditional almond-tomato pesto, pasta alla Norma, and maccarruna 'a carrittera (pasta with garlic, olive oil, and pecorino). Finish with a full meal.
Sicilian Pastry and Dessert Class
Make Sicily's most famous sweets — cannoli (including fresh ricotta filling), cassata siciliana (sponge cake with ricotta and marzipan), and granita — with an experienced Sicilian pastry chef.
Etna Winery Harvest Cooking Experience
In September–October, join a working Etna wine estate for the grape harvest morning, then cook a traditional harvest lunch using estate produce alongside the winemaking team. Wine and lunch included.
DIY self-guided food tour
Create your own Palermo food tour with this route through the three great markets and best street food stops
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Stop 1: Ballarò Market (7–9 AM) — fresh produce, exotic spices, street food atmosphere
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Stop 2: Panificio Graziano or local bakery — sfincione (Sicilian thick pizza) for breakfast
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Stop 3: Mercato del Capo (9–10 AM) — mozzarella, ricotta, local cheeses and olives
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Stop 4: Friggitoria Chiluzzo — panelle (chickpea fritters) and crocché (potato croquettes) in a sesame roll
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Stop 5: Piazza Ballarò stigghiola vendor — grilled intestines for the adventurous
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Stop 6: Pani ca meusa at Nino u Ballerino (Piazza Marina) — Palermo's famous spleen sandwich
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Stop 7: Antico Caffè Spinnato — cannolo and granita finale on Via Principe di Belmonte
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
The best arancini debate: Catanians make them cone-shaped (arancino, masculine) and Palermitans make them round (arancina, feminine) — try both and form your own opinion
Granita should be eaten with a brioche col tuppo (small topknot bread) — the contrast of flavours is quintessentially Sicilian
In Sicily, the freshest fish is served in port towns on the day of the catch — aim for Tuesday–Friday at coastal restaurants
Order water at a café without specifying (acqua del rubinetto) to get free tap water — asking for 'acqua naturale' without qualification may get you bottled water at a charge
The best Modica chocolate shops are: Bonajuto (oldest, since 1880), Rizza, Quetzalcoatl, and Donna Elvira — all have distinctive recipes and quality
Sicilian olive oil (DOP Monti Iblei and Valdemone) is some of the finest in Italy — buy direct from producers or at the Ortigia market