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Best food experiences in Italy, from truffle hunting to wine tasting
Italy is full of wow-worthy culinary experiences—and these are the best foodie excursions worth traveling for in 2026 and beyond.
Is there a more iconic culinary destination than Italy? From pasta and olive oil to gelato and wine, an Italy tour is full of memorable meals—which is exactly what makes Italy the ultimate culinary destination in 2026 and beyond! Our Food & Wine Tours of Italy are packed with authentic and immersive excursions that peel back the layers of the country’s immense culinary heritage.
Whether you’re learning how olives are harvested for some of the world’s best olive oil or discovering the secrets of making delicious pasta, the best food experiences in Italy have something to sate your appetite. Read on for some of the most delicious food and wine experiences worth traveling to Italy for.
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Go on a truffle hunt in Piedmont
Italian truffles are a culinary delicacy that are part of the fungi family—and tasting them on a tour of Italy is a must! In fact, we love Italian truffles so much that we bring you on a real-time truffle hunt on our Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America’s Test Kitchen tour. Where do you find them, you ask? Truffles grow underground, which is why you need specially trained hunting dogs to find them, and the most famous typically come from Piedmont thanks to their premium quality.
Our insider’s guide to Italian truffle hunting tells you everything you need to know about these fancy fungi, but it’s important to note that color, size, aroma, and taste vary from truffle to truffle—making some more sought-after than others. There are white truffles, winter truffles, and (two of the most famous and notable), black truffles and Alba white truffles.
How to experience truffle hunting on tour:
While you can go truffle hunting in Italy all year, it’s actually illegal to hunt for truffles there during the month of May, as well as from Sept. 1–20. This is to protect the environment. The best time to go, however, is between October and December, which makes that the best time to travel on our Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America’s Test Kitchen tour. It’s one of the best food and wine tours in Italy—and your chance to cook up an adventure with America’s Test Kitchen.
You’ll have the opportunity to join a truffle hunt in Alba and sample truffles alongside other local delicacies. We only run these tours in October so that you can also experience the Alba White Truffle Fair, a festival celebrating all things truffles.
Sip world-class Italian wines in Piedmont and Tuscany
Like with truffles, Italy is home to some of the best wine anywhere—there are so many Italian vineyards to check off your bucket list! Thanks to its iconic vineyards and wine regions, Italy is made for oenophiles to sip their way up and down the boot. Travelers who prefer bold red wines should focus on tours of Piedmont and trips to Tuscany, two destinations known for world-class grapes like Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. In Piedmont, you’ll want to spend time in the Barolo area, while Tuscany is famous for Chianti and its Super Tuscans. Check out our Tuscan wine guide to find out more about where to get the best glass.
How to experience Italy’s famous wine countries on tour:
Many of our Italy tours include at least one wine tasting excursion. No trip would be complete without it, right? But on our foodie-focused Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America’s Test Kitchen tour, you’ll dive deep into the wine culture of Piedmont and Tuscany, two of the world’s most beloved wine regions. In Piedmont, you’ll visit the town of Barolo to enjoy lunch at a winery, followed by a trip into the winemaker’s cellar to sip a vintage or two. In Tuscany, you’ll tour a Chianti vineyard before having an Italian wine tasting, where you’ll get to sample some of the area’s famed Sangiovese wines.
Learn the art of pasta making in Bologna
A bowl of pasta is as vital to an Italy trip as touring a historical monument. What’s better than enjoying a portion of al dente deliciousness? Pasta making in Italy, of course! While we know that every Italian region is known for a unique style of pasta (and the sauce to go with it), we especially love the legacy of Bolognese, the slow-cooked meat ragu from Bologna. On our Bologna tours, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to make it yourself. For many of us, the best souvenir is a new skill you can take home.
How to experience the art of pasta making in Italy:
Both our Food & Wine: Northern Italy & the Italian Riviera tour and our Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America’s Test Kitchen tour include a stop in Bologna. You and your new travel buddies will put on your chef’s hats so you can learn how to make the region’s iconic pasta recipes: tortellini, tagliatelle, and ragu. Then, you’ll put your cooking skills to the test when for dinner, you’ll tuck into the very dishes you worked hard to prepare.
Taste olive oil at the source in Puglia
One of the most important ingredients in the Italian diet is olive oil. You’ll see it on nearly every table you sit at for meals during our Italy tours. What we love about the heritage around olive oil in Italy is that different regions have their own style that you can taste. Olive oil tours in Italy showcase the diversity of not just the agricultural practices but also of the artisanal customs and craftsmanship that go into every bottle.
How to experience Italian olive oil on tour:
Wondering where to try the best olive oil in Italy? Our brand-new A Week in Puglia & Southern Italy: Bari, Lecce & Matera tour isn’t technically a Food & Wine Tour, but it offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about the rich history of olive oil in Puglia. Near the village of Lecce, you’ll visit a farmhouse surrounded by gorgeous groves that are home to ancient olive trees. There, led by a family who’s been using a 19th-century press to make their oil, you’ll learn the ins and outs of how they craft their signature olive oil. Then, you’ll sit down and enjoy a tasting.
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Visit Lake Garda’s waterfront lemon farms
Italy is for citrus lovers, and Lake Garda’s unusual microclimate in the north has been a surprising destination for some of the country’s best lemons since the 13th century. What makes the lemon-farming scene in Lake Garda particularly unique is the lemon houses built into the rocky shoreline. They’re ingeniously designed to shield the delicate trees from harsh winter winds.
How to experience Lake Garda’s lemon farms on tour:
Another one of our newest itineraries, the Northern Italian Lakes & Alps: Maggiore, Garda & the Dolomites tour, shows off lesser-known pockets of Italy. If you love lemons, the two-night stay in the Lake Garda region includes a stop at one of the area’s famous lemon farms. You’ll walk through the fragrant groves and check out the lakefront lemon house, but most importantly, you’ll taste why the area has been a historic hotspot for citrus as you dig into tangy marmalades, candied peels, and the farm’s own limoncello.
Taste chocolate in Turin and see how it’s made
A trip to Italy will include lots of pasta and gelato—but be sure to seek out some top-notch chocolate, too! Did you know that Turin in Northern Italy is considered one of the world’s chocolate capitals? It’s true that the city is known for its cafe culture, but since the 16th century, chocolate-making has been an important local tradition. It’s known for gianduja, the tasty combination of chocolate and hazelnut. If you’re looking for top free time tips for Turin, popping into some of the city’s many chocolate shops is one of the best things to do.
How to experience Italian chocolate on tour:
During your three-night stay in Turin on our Food & Wine: Northern Italy & the Italian Riviera tour, you can sign up for our Turin Chocolate Demonstration & Tasting excursion. You’ll meet one of the city’s top chocolatiers, who will show you how Italian chocolate is made. You’ll also learn about how the organization hosts vocational classes for local businesses and unemployed people as a way of giving back. But, yes, the best part will be when you sample these sweet treats.
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