Top Sicily Classes & Workshops

Nowhere in Italy is the cuisine more distinctive than Sicily, but you need the help of a local to discover the island’s unique culinary traditions. With this cooking and limoncello-making class in Palermo, enjoy the insights of a local chef while you visit the historic Capo market to select ingredients and then enjoy a home cooking class in the Vucciria neighborhood. Prepare and sample three classic dishes and limoncello made with your host’s own lemons.

Dig into delicious Sicilian cuisine by taking this fun half-day cooking class at a restaurant in central Taormina. With a professional Sicilian chef by your side, learn about the history of the regional cuisine and prepare a lush 3-course meal. Visit the outdoor market to purchase ingredients and then head back to the restaurant to begin cooking and, eventually, eating.

Make pizza like a pro during a cooking class in Taormina. Under the expert tuition of a local ‘pizzaiolo,’ you’ll make a versatile dough from scratch and top it with a fresh sauce. Hear tips, learn about the ingredients, then sit down to savor your hard-earned Sicilian feast. Bruschetta, wine, and soft drinks are also included.

Sicilian cuisine is renowned as some of the best in Italy and this 5-hour cooking class is the perfect introduction. Shop for ingredients at Taormina Market, learn to make traditional Sicilian dishes like fresh pasta and Caponata, then sit down to enjoy a delicious homemade lunch, accompanied by Sicilian wine.

Sicily is home to a unique cuisine, different from mainland Italy and often hard to access without the knowledge of a local. With this Sicilian cooking class, enjoy an exclusive glimpse into Palermo’s culinary traditions by exploring one of the city’s oldest markets with a local and then preparing classic dishes at a family-run cooking school. Make four courses and sample what you’ve created during a celebratory meal.

Discover Catania’s unique culinary tradition during this 4-hour hands-on cooking class. Begin the tour at the historic fish market to select your fresh ingredients for your meal. Then head to the guide’s apartment to prepare a 3-course meal from a menu of Italian specialties such as bruschetta, gratin mussels, risotto, fresh ravioli, swordfish, stuffed squid and more. Then sit down and enjoy your freshly prepared meal that you created.

Discover the Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Stromboli and Panarea from Taormina. Journey to each island by motorboat, exploring the local shops at your leisure or taking a cool dip in the sea. Afterward, cruise around Stromboli to see the island’s volcano. Keep your eyes peeled for the crater of Sciara del Fuoco, known to light up the sky with its jet-like eruptions. After a full day of touring the UNESCO-listed islands, return to Taormina.

Spend an evening immersed in Sicilian cuisine and culture on this 2.5-hour walking tour of Taormina. Led by a local guide, travel to the city’s top spots to sample fresh fish, bruschetta, sweet Sicilian cakes, and other regional specialties. Complement your dishes with a glass of Prosecco, red and white wine, and Italian liqueur. As you walk and taste, learn more about the city's culinary history from your guide.

See why Taormina earned the nickname ‘the Pearl of the Ionian’ while exploring its picturesque coastline from the water. On this half-day boat tour, get the best perspective of dramatic sea caves, the Grotta Azurra and Capo Taormino as your captain navigates along the rocky shore and through spectacular bays. Splash into the crystal-clear waters for a swim, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch with views of the Isola Bella island nature reserve.

While your ship is in Messina, see more of Sicily on a half-day trip to Taormina. Take a guided tour of this historical city, including a stroll along Corso Umberto, once an ancient Roman street, and a visit to the Greco-Roman Theater. Plus, sample Sicilian delicacies, admire views of Mt. Etna and Giardini-Naxos bay from Castelmola, and on return to Messina, check out this ancient port’s highlights. Port and Taormina pickup and drop-off included.

Take a break from the heat and crowds of the mainland and see Taormina and Mount Etna from the sea on this small-group boat tour. Depart Giardini Naxos to follow the coast, as you admire attractions such as the Grotta dell'Amore, Capo Taormina, the Grotta delle Sirene and the Scoglio dell'Elefante. Dive into the crystal clear waters off Isola Bella for a refreshing swim and relax on board while savoring Sicilian sweets and Prosecco.

Indulge your love of food and wine on this all-day tour of the Etna countryside. After a convenient hotel pickup, learn about the region’s history and culture from a local guide as you cruise through scenic Sicilian villages. Stop at a family-run winery, a picturesque farmhouse with delicious food, and a pastry bar. Enjoy wine tastings and samples of local cheeses, salumi, and pastas included in the tour price.

Spend your afternoon sailing—and swimming—along the Coast of the Cyclops. The 10-passenger yacht offers a small-group experience, allowing for anyone to learn the basics of sailing. Help to steer the boat if you’d like, and dive in at Ulysses’ Grotto. Toast your Catania sailing trip with a glass of provided Prosecco and a Sicilian aperitif. Bonus: booking this tour supports a non-profit mission to promote sustainable life at sea.

Finding the best cannoli bakeries—pasticcerie—in Taormina can be a fun challenge, but it can also turn into fruitless trips between neighborhoods. With this tour, take the guesswork out and let a chef help you prepare cannoli from scratch, using traditional recipes starting with the crusty shell and ending with sweet ricotta cream. When you’re done, taste your creations and receive a “cannoli expert” certificate.

Leave the seaside behind and embark on a journey up the famous Mount Etna volcano on a full-day tour. Pass through traditional Sicilian villages until you reach the Silvestri craters and admire the scenic views at 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). Enjoy a food and wine tasting at a local winery built right on the slopes of the volcano and end the day with a tour of Taormina.

See the stunning Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Vulcano and Lipari from Taormina. Take a motorboat across the turquoise waters to the UNESCO-listed chain of volcanic islands. Enjoy free time to explore, kicking back with a mud bath in Vulcano, cooling off with a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea or checking out the Lipari Archaeological Museum for a bit of island history. Your day concludes with transportation back to Taormina.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Catania and discover the great Mount Etna on this full-day excursion. Alongside a private guide, head to the southern slope of the volcano and explore the lava flows and craters. Then, head to Taormina for a guided tour of the city center and free time to explore. End your day in the medieval village of Castelmola and stop to taste the special almond wine.

Snack your way through the streets of Palermo on this Sicilian food tour. Explore backstreet markets and food stalls specializing in local delicacies like stuffed rice balls and chickpea fritters as your guide fills you in on local history, culture. Plus, this small-group tour has a limited number of participants for a more personalized experience.

Get a taste of Sicily with this private tour to Mt. Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Leave the driving to your private guide and take in the scenery as you drive through mountain villages, stopping at a local honey farm. Visit the famous Silvestri Craters and an Etna winery for lunch and a tasting of both red and white Sicilian wines. This tour can be customized, including the addition of a cable car ascent to 3000 meters up the volcano.

Observe dolphins in the Gulf of Catania safely and sustainably with this low-impact tour. Set off with a crew of specialized skippers and marine biologists to learn about the local dolphin population and watch them frolicking in the open waters off Sicily. This tour abides by the international agreement for the conservation of cetaceans and is certified as eco-friendly, so you’ll get close enough to snap photos without disturbing the animals.

Complement your Taormina excursions with a dose of Italian culture when you attend this evening of opera. Talented singers will perform duets and arias from some of the most popular Italian-written operas, including La Traviata, Tosca, and La Bohème. Tickets also include a glass of Champagne, plus opportunities to admire photo-worthy views of the city from the theater's terrace.

Enhance your sightseeing experience of Sicily on an enriching full-day excursion to Erice and Segesta from Palermo. Delight in the medieval majesty of Erice, a walled town that reigns over the picturesque harbor of Trapani. Delve into historical wonders of Segesta at the archeological site, marveling at the unfinished temple and absorbing sweeping vistas of Sicily’s sun-drenched valleys and undulating hills.

Marvel over the geological wonders of Mount Etna, then visit the elegant resort town of Taormina on this action-packed full-day tour from Catania. Soak up the dramatic scenery of Europe’s highest active volcano as you visit the hilltop resort of Rifugio Sapienza; ride the cable car to the 9,514-foot (2,900-meter) peak of Mount Etna (optional) and explore a natural lava cave. After exploring the lava cave, have a delicious tasting of the local products such as honey, oil and wine. On the way to Taormina, you will stop and see the beautiful "Isola Bella” from above. Then spend the afternoon enjoying your free time in Taormina, among medieval churches, ancient Greek theater, and lively shopping district.

Reaching Palermo from Taormina by public transportation can be time-consuming. Shave hours off your trip with this private transfer that includes pickup at your Taormina hotel or the Giardini Naxos port and drop-off at your final destination in Palermo. Leave the driving to a professional and relax on board an air-conditioned minivan with bottled water provided.

Taste your way through the bustling markets and piazzas of Catania on a mouth-watering, half-day culinary tour. Visit fish markets, bakeries, bars and stalls to sample the best Sicilian street food with a local guide. Try regional specialties like ‘arancini’ (stuffed fried rice balls), fizzy drinks, ‘cipollata’ (bacon-wrapped onions), ‘zibibbio’ wine and decadent cannoli. Learn what makes Sicilian cuisine unique from the rest of Italy while discovering some of Catania’s cultural treasures.