8 Day Charming Sicily Food & Wine Small Group Tour Package

Highlights

• Private transfer from Catania Airport to Taormina and a gourmet walking tour with three food stops — family trattoria, bottega cheese and wine tasting, and traditional pastry bar
• Taormina Cooking Class – visit the local food market, select fresh ingredients and learn to cook traditional Sicilian bread, pasta, fish and vegetables with a local chef
• Etna Food & Wine Lovers Tour – drive through Etna villages, visit a family volcanic winery at 1,000m for cellar tour and wine tasting, and enjoy a farmhouse lunch with homemade pasta
• Guided walking tour of UNESCO Baroque Noto with Modica chocolate and Sicilian ice-cream tasting, followed by lunch in the fishing village of Marzamemi
• Ortigia Food & Wine Walking Tour in Syracuse's historic old town – fresh fish, Sicilian appetizers, homemade pastries and local wines at three different food venues
• Syracuse Winery Tour at an ancient castle-structured winery – cellar tour, old millstone visit and a light organic lunch with local wine tasting
• Palermo Street Food Walking Tour – 3-hour tour visiting Vucciria and Mercato del Capo markets with tastings of panelle, arancine and more Sicilian treats
• 7 nights in centrally located 4-star hotels with 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner included – maximum 8 guests

8-Day Sicily Food & Wine Tour Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Airport Transfer to Hotel, Walking Tour of Taormina Lifestyle

   Upon your arrival at Catania Airport, you'll be greeted by your driver, who will bring you to your Taormina hotel. Meet your local guide in the lobby, and once it starts to cool down take a nice walk in Taormina City Centre. Discover all the best places for traditional pastries, ice cream, coffee, food and anything else that may be of interest. You'll discover the main attractions and the soul and lifestyle of this beautiful town.

   While listening to the stories from your guide, observe the important monuments and highlights of Taormina. Three stops for food await you: the first in a family trattoria for a selection of white wines and fish; the second in a bottega for cheeses, salami, bread, olives and red wine tasting; and the third in a small pastry bar for a tasting of traditional pastries, liquors and coffees. After your tour, enjoy a free evening in sparkling Taormina.

2. 2

   Day 2

   Taormina Cooking Class & Lunch and Tasting Wines

   After breakfast, start the real foodie experience in the city centre with the local guide and chef. Visit the lovely Taormina Food Market, where local farmers, fishermen and butchers sell their fresh and delicious goods. Select the products for your class in the market and, with the help of your chef, learn all the culinary secrets from cooking fresh bread, pasta, fish and vegetables in the traditional Sicilian style. While eating the meal you created yourself, enjoy the taste of local wines. After this tour, you will have the rest of the day and evening free in Taormina to relax on picturesque beaches or hang out on your own. Overnight in Taormina.

3. 3

   Day 3

   The Etna Countryside and a Food & Wine Lovers Tour

   After breakfast, you'll be picked up by your guide from the hotel for an "out of the beaten path" trip to Mount Etna. Drive through the gorgeous Etna villages and admire the authentic lava stone houses and various tree plantations of almond, olive, orange and lemon, while listening to stories rich in Sicilian culture from your guide.

   Proceed up 1,000 metres above sea level and discover breathtaking views of volcanic land. The first stop will be at an antique, family-run winery, where after a guided tour of the cellars, you will taste volcanic wines with organic Etna appetizers in an astonishing lava stone open-air amphitheatre. Continue the gastronomic experience at an authentic picturesque farmhouse and enjoy a lunch with seasonal antipasti, homemade pasta and typical pastries. You will then be dropped off back in Taormina for a free evening. Overnight in Taormina.

4. 4

   Day 4

   Noto Walking Tour with Lunch in Marzamemi

   After breakfast, meet your private driver in front of your hotel at 10:00 AM and take a drive to magnificent Noto. Enjoy a lovely walk with a local guide through this UNESCO heritage jewel of Baroque. While enjoying your walk, taste famous Modica chocolate and Sicilian ice-cream — they really are extraordinary! After the tour, move towards Marzamemi, an outstanding and typical Sicilian fisherman's village on the seaside, for lunch in a family trattoria. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Syracuse, with a free evening to enjoy in this romantic town. Overnight in Syracuse.

5. 5

   Day 5

   Ortigia Food & Wine Walking Tour

   Meet your foodie guide when it starts to cool down later in the day. Enjoy a beautiful walking tour around Ortigia, Syracuse's old town. Taste fresh fish, typical Sicilian appetizers, homemade Sicilian pastries and fragrant wines and liqueurs, all in three different food venues — eating and drinking as the locals do.

   During your tour, your guide will share facts about the history, lifestyle, culture and gastronomy of the area as you pass monuments and hidden gems alike. Your tour will be finished in the heart of Ortigia, so you can enjoy the town at night. Overnight in Syracuse.

6. 6

   Day 6

   Syracuse Winery Tour and Transfer to Palermo

   After breakfast, you'll be picked up by your driver to visit an ancient winery in Syracuse's countryside, wonderfully structured as a castle. You will be welcomed by the owner and begin a tour of the cellars and old millstone. Enjoy a light lunch full of local organic products and taste wine in the courtyard. You'll appreciate the distinctive character of the wines produced in the Syracuse area compared to the Etna wines. After lunch, continue driving around two and a half hours to reach colourful Palermo, with time to relax and a free evening. Overnight in Palermo.

7. 7

   Day 7

   Palermo Street Food and Walking Tour

   Sample the best Sicilian street food during this 3-hour walking tour of Palermo, led by a local food expert exploring the fascinating culinary world of Sicily's capital. The tour includes a visit to the famous and bustling Vucciria and Mercato del Capo markets, and a tasting of five different Sicilian treats along the way — including panelle (chickpea fritters) and arancine (deep-fried rice balls). You will also pass through Palermo's old town and see all the important highlights as you listen to the stories from your guide. After your tour, enjoy another free evening in Palermo. Overnight in Palermo.

8. 8

   Day 8

   Departure

   Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Palermo Airport.

What's Included

Not Included

• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Optional experiences
• Pre & post tour accommodation
• City tax (payable locally)
• Meals not included in the programme
• Beverages
• Tipping for guide, driver and hotel staff
• Personal expenses
• Any item, product or service not specifically listed under Included

Additional Information

• You will receive an e-ticket for this tour.
• This tour operates year-round, subject to availability.
• Local licensed guide provided for all activities.
• This is a small group tour with a maximum of 8 participants.
• Tour reference code: 217433

Dates & Availability

Frequently Asked Questions