Top Syracuse Food & Drink

Experience some of the best in Italian cuisine during this private culinary experience during which you’ll learn to create three regional dishes and sample local wines. Benefit from the attention of your personal host, as they teach you Italian cooking tricks you can replicate at home, all from the privacy of their home. Finally, dine with them for an intimate experience not all travelers get to enjoy.

Discover the excellent food and wine of Syracuse on a 2.5-hour walking tour in Ortygia, the historic old city center. Your knowledgeable local guide takes you to three family-owned eateries to taste a variety of authentic dishes such as appetizers, fresh fish and pastries, accompanied by samples of wine and liquor. You’ll also pass landmarks including the Piazza San Rocco, Piazza del Duomo, Santa Lucia church, Piazza San Giuseppe and the Piazza Archimede with its stunning Fountain of Diana, providing another experience of Sicily’s rich culture.

You will find yourself immersed in the culture and colors of Sicily, if you are interested I will take you to a unique and special greengrocer to choose with you the products that we will then use to cook our menu. I will explain the various uses of each ingredient to create more dishes and the different seasonal variations. If you prefer to find the ingredients on site, you just have to choose a menu to cook and I will take care of everything. I will welcome you into my home for a unique experience during which you will savor the aromas and flavors of authentic Sicily If you would like to learn how to cook a particular dish, I am ready to accommodate your requests. Mine is a typically Sicilian and generally Italian cuisine, with local and top quality products, the result of your experience will be in the dish that you have cooked yourself. The best souvenir that you will take with you home to amaze your friends with new flavors!

While many winery tours make one or two quick wine-tasting stops, this private tour visits three wineries on the slopes of Mount Etna in one day. After pickup from your hotel, drive through the picturesque Sicilian countryside and mountain villages to internationally recognized wineries. Tour each winery from the cellar to all over the estates and sample about 4-5 Etna wines at each stop, often pairing them with local food products.

Explore the deep historical roots of Sicily on this private tour. Spend four to five hours touring monuments and landmarks in Syracuse and learning about their fascinating past. See spots that were important in classical Greek and Roman times, and take a walking tour of Ortigia, the center of Syracuse. If you have selected that option, a visit to a top restaurant completes the tour with a tasting of local wines and food.

Though known for its ancient landmarks and history, Syracuse also boasts a rich culinary culture that shouldn’t be overlooked. Combine a market tour with a cooking class for comprehensive insight into Sicilian cuisine and benefit from the full attention of your local host throughout. Browse fresh produce in a bustling market, get hands-on experience preparing three regional specialties, and enjoy an intimate dining experience with your private party and host.

Sicily is known for its unique cuisine and there’s no better way to experience the culinary side of the island than with a local. Join a home cook to choose ingredients at the neighborhood market and food shops, and then head to their Syracuse kitchen for a cooking demonstration featuring classic Sicilian dishes. Cap off your experience with a four-course lunch or dinner including wine and, of course, espresso!

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic Siracusa recipes treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from Sicily cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Visit Europe’s highest volcano, Mount Etna, and Taormina on this private excursion. Despite being the world’s most active volcano, many reside on the slopes of Mount Etna, producing gourmet products such as honey and wine using the fertile volcanic soil. Enjoy tastings and lunch on the volcano and then head to the hilltop town of Taormina for a guided tour of its landmarks, including the ancient Greek theater.

The "Etna Tour from Syracuse" experience will begin with the pick-up at the structure that hosts you. Once you reach the Rifugio Sapienza (1920 meters above sea level), you will have two opportunities: you can choose whether to go for a simple trekking along one of the Paths of the Etna Park, up to 2000 meters or, alternatively, you can choose the "Etna high altitude" option . In this second case, with extra costs to be paid locally, you will reach an altitude of 2504 meters using the Etna cableway and with special 4×4 off-road vehicles, you will reach an altitude of 2900 meters above sea level. After leaving the Sapienza Refuge, the tour will continue in Zafferana Etnea: the city of honey. Here, you can  taste typical local products and discover the secrets of honey processing.

Thanks to this tour - which will allow you to visit two pearls of the island - you will be able to discover the essence of Sicily. You will start the tour with an independent trek along the paths of the Etna Park and once finished you will stop in Zafferana Etnea, the city of honey: here you will be able to taste the excellent local honey. Soon after, you will leave for the beautiful Taormina. Situated on a promontory, from here you can enjoy splendid panoramic views; there are two entrances, which lead to the city center: Porta Catania and Porta Messina. Along the medieval streets of Taormina, every corner smells of Sicily: you can taste typical foods, buy typical Sicilian souvenirs and observe the beauty of the sea. You can choose whether to independently visit the Ancient Theater, the main monument of the city, and the Villa Comunale, inspired by English gardens and home to a remarkable variety of exotic plants.

Let someone else take care of the planning and driving on this private full-day tour of Mount Etna with wine tasting from Syracuse. After pickup from Syracuse, stop at a local honey farm for tastings. Then, head to the Rifugio Sapienza hotel at 6500 feet (2000 meters where you can visit the Silvestri Craters, shop for souvenirs, and take an optional ascent via cable car and Jeep to 9800 feet (3000 meters). Stop for wine and lunch at an Etna winery before returning to Syracuse.