Culinary adventures in Italy

Italians embrace food as an essential way of life: something to savour and to spend hours revelling in alongside good company and fantastic views.

Italian food is so much more than rich gelato, hearty pastas and savoury pizzas (though those are great, too). A cooking holiday in Italy will draw you into the depths of Italian flavours and the complexity of the dishes – and likewise the culture – proving why Italian food is the most-copied cuisine in the world.

Italian Cooking Holidays

Our range of Italian cooking holidays allow you a deeper insight into authentic Italian cuisine. Rather than simply trying the food in Italy, you’ll understand the heritage of each dish, the work that goes into preparing it and come away with genuine expertise in Italian cuisine.

What Are Cooking Holidays?

An Italian cooking holiday will help you to expand your knowledge of flavour combinations and allow your creativity to flourish. Get to understand the elements of local Italian ingredients and be daring and bold with them, and – most importantly – share stories and a glass of wine with other passionate cooks over a meal you’ve prepared together.

With local chefs, fourth-generation cooks and Italian artisans showing you the way around the kitchen, you’ll return with new skills and satisfied tastebuds.

You could combine your Italian cooking holiday with another hobby, to really make the most of this outstanding country to visit, by heading to Abruzzo for gorgeous walks in the hills, or to Florence to brush up on your Italian skills.

Where to experience cooking courses in Italy

Explore one of Italy’s diverse regions in a pure cooking holiday or combine your Italian cooking classes with another hobby or passion like painting, horse riding, hiking, yoga or learning to speak Italian.

Cook carbonara with a stunning view of the Bay of Naples on an Italian cookery course in Sorrento or discover the seat of the ancient Roman Empire with one-day Italian cooking classes in Rome.

Find the freshest Italian ingredients in the enticing food markets of Bologna or create caprese salads near the canals of Venice or the stunning villages surrounding Lake Garda.

In Tuscany, let the sun-baked hills and local Tuscan flavours inspire your creations (and wander the romantic streets of Florence while you’re at it!) or head to charming Puglia or Umbria to discover serene settings, regional delicacies and palate-pleasing local vino.

Whatever your tastes, you can find a cookery holiday in Italy to indulge your inner chef and a group of like-minded people to experience it with. Never settle for an ordinary Italian holiday again.

Who are our Italian cooking holiday guests?

Fervent foodies, beginners who struggle to roll fresh dough, lifelong chefs – everyone is welcome in the kitchens of our Italian cooking schools.

You’ll meet people of all ages and nationalities on cooking holidays in Italy, from solo travellers to couples to friends. Some love local, seasonal food, others are simply looking for a getaway that blends relaxation with life-enhancing activities (and excellent meals).

All that’s required is a passion for food, a love of learning and a refusal to be boxed in. Sound like you?

Thousands of people have already discovered that our eclectic mix of cooking holidays in Italy are as diverse as the people who go on them. Come and join them.

Looking for cooking holidays elsewhere? Want to see what else you can get up to during your time in Italy?

Take a look at our range of cooking holidays, or our full list of unique, local experiences in Italy to discover more.

Why choose Not In The Guidebooks?

We’re passionate about helping people find the most amazing experiences on their travels, through meeting local people, exploring new places, and discovering alternative activities that make holidays special. We do this by carefully selecting partners in countries around the world who are experts in their local area, sourcing interesting people who can guide you through immersive experiences.

We’ve got local partners all across Italy, from the Mediterranean coast to the country’s touristic centre – Rome. Choosing a Not In The Guidebooks holiday in Italy means you don’t have to choose between a beach holiday or an activity-filled break, you can get the best of both worlds with a unique trip.