Food & Wine Travel Guide

The regional foods of Italy have distinct ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques, with each destination demonstrating its heritage, and it’s here that you can discover, taste, and indulge during your Italy tour.

Deriving from centuries of malleable borders blending the traditions of former empires, kingdoms, and ancient settlements, some regions have gastronomic similarities, while others separate themselves with distinctive culinary traditions.

The truth is, Italian food by region is geographically and culturally specific.

Italian cuisine is among the world's most celebrated culinary traditions, where ancient techniques meet passionate artistry to create flavors that have shaped global gastronomy for centuries. Our guide to the best foods and drinks to try in Italy on vacation focuses on famous dishes, seasonal flavors, and delicious ingredients that exemplify Italian culture and cuisine with authenticity.

Try private couple's cooking classes in medieval Tuscan kitchens or family-friendly gelato workshops in historic Roman neighborhoods. Senior wine-tasting tours through rolling Piedmont vineyards or pizza-making classes in authentic Neapolitan pizzerias, you can explore where and how to sample traditional dishes that define regional identity across the Italian peninsula.

Whether you're fascinated by the ancient history of pizza's royal origins or eager to sample wines from celebrated vineyards where monks first planted vines centuries ago, a customized Italy trip designed by our destination specialists allows you to experience Italian gastronomy exactly as you envision, creating lasting memories through authentic encounters.

Italy is renowned for its culinary traditions, especially when it comes to pasta. This beloved staple is woven into the fabric of Italian identity and there are an overwhelming number of shapes and flavors. Each of our top Italian pastas to savor is a testament to the diverse regions and their unique gastronomic heritage.

Embark on a culinary adventure where each meal is a discovery. You could be savoring a classic Spaghetti Pomodoro in Sicily, feeling the authentic texture of pasta made with durum wheat semolina. Or perhaps you're delighting in the delicate, stuffed pockets of ravioli in Lombardy, filled with rich local cheeses and herbs. This guide delves into Italy's most popular pasta types, showcasing their origins and the delectable ways they are prepared.

Extraordinary travel begins with a human touch, and our destination specialists design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention. As you consider a culinary visit to glorious Italy, use the following information as a guide to what to tuck into. Then, connect with our travel experts to help you plan your trip.

This list of 12 of the best cheeses to try in Italy unveils their diversity, providing an explanation of their particular attributes, from flavor to texture, aroma to common food pairings.

The countless flavors, textures, and recipes of Italy’s cheeses derive from all over the country and are made from various animals’ milk, including cows, goats, sheep, and buffalo. While some are best used in cooking, others are eaten alone or as a garnish to elevate dishes. The possibilities are endless, with more than 450 varieties.

Investigate the flavors on our list and the locations in which each of the 12 top authenticated cheeses of Italy are typically produced so you can plan your trip to specific regions to sample the flavors you wish to try.

Cured meats are a culinary staple across the Italian peninsula and you can enjoy 14 of the best during your travels in Italy.

The Italian term for cured meats is salumi and is differentiated from French charcuterie by the meats used, their flavor, and the Italian methods of preparation and preservation. When visiting a deli in any region, you will find the country’s renowned salumi on display.

The following list offers information on the 14 best types of salumi from across Italy and where you can find each during your Italy vacation.

Every autumn, as the Italian landscape transforms into a canvas of golden and russet hues, the country's celebrated truffle season begins. Between October and November, the best truffle festivals to visit in Italy on Vacation celebrate the robust flavors of distinctive truffle varieties.

This curated list highlights the top festivals across Italy by region to help you plan the perfect route for your luxurious truffle tour, showcasing the culinary heritage of regions like Piedmont, Molise, Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia-Romagna, and Le Marche. For discerning travelers, these events are about tasting and understanding the deep-rooted traditions and passion that define Italy's gastronomic soul, providing an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of this prized fungi.

Extraordinary travel begins with a human touch, and our destination specialists design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention. As you consider a visit to Italy for its truffles, use this information as a guide before connecting with our travel experts to help you plan your trip.

Wine in Italy is a culture all its own and the country’s best wine regions provide the perfect introduction to the preserved traditions and evolving techniques you can discover, sample, and enjoy when on a wine tour of Italy.

The culinary culture is mostly directed by certain guidelines, especially when considering the importance of the history and heritage of wine ingrained in Italy's culture. From the pleasures of sipping it with an elaborate view of Mount Etna to the charm of visiting an antique cellar, when visiting the top wine regions of Italy, you can discover the spirit of the vine on the table, in the earth, and within the country's traditions.

Extraordinary travel begins with a human touch, and our destination specialists design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention. As you consider a visit to the top wine regions in Italy, use the following information as a guide before connecting with our travel experts to help you plan your trip.

The order in which you taste wine can have a marked effect on the aromas and flavors you find in each glass, outlining the first important hint in our top tips for wine-tasting in Italy. Mastering the sophisticated art of wine appreciation transforms casual sipping into an enlightening exploration of terroir, tradition, and the passionate craftsmanship that defines Italy's most celebrated wine regions.

While you are on exclusive tasting tours of prestigious wineries, historic cellars, and family-owned vineyards throughout the country, expert sommeliers will guide you through carefully orchestrated tastings that follow time-honored protocols designed to maximize your sensory experience. By asking thoughtful questions and maintaining an open mind, you may discover collective characteristics across diverse varietals as you deepen your appreciation for Italy's extraordinary wine heritage.

To explore dynamic characteristics while developing your personal preferences through expert guidance and authentic encounters, contact our travel specialists. They design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention to add the human touch to your Italy tour.

From wine tasting in Chianti towns to exploring Sicilian cellars or pairing wines with Venetian delicacies, you can enjoy the top wine-tasting experiences in Italy as you travel from one region to another.

Whether discovering the famous hills of Tuscany or searching for an elusive varietal in the northern mountains, enjoying the delicate balance of wine with food, or eager to uncover a lesser-known vineyard, Italy offers unforgettable experiences for dedicated oenophiles and casual wine enthusiasts.

Our recommendations for your wine-tasting tour in the country show you the diversity of its delicious varietals and historic wine culture. As you consider a visit to destination, use the following information as a guide before connecting with our travel experts to help you plan your trip. They design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention.

The seven best places for food and wine in Spain are idyllic, offering picturesque views, tasting rooms, and gourmet restaurants that present some of the world's finest food and wine.

Travel across Spain and unveil scenic beauty that intertwines with charming village squares. Cafes overlook outstanding vineyards and wineries complete a ballet between gorgeous untamed landscapes, antique towns, and manicured countryside.

Discover regions bursting with remarkable flavors as you take your time savoring the point at which classic cuisine and delicious wines meet local heritage, complemented by cultural charm and historical sites.

With an extensive area of Spain dedicated to viticulture, finding unique, picturesque, and essential wine experiences throughout the country is simple and exciting with our top seven food and wine things to do in Spain.

Discover well-known varietals or search for new flavors in historic destinations and sample distinctive dishes that celebrate the heritage of a region. With experiences that range from quaint and quiet to loud and lively, you can embrace the charisma of Spain through its wine and cuisine.

Step inside cave-style wine cellars or savor the perfect wine and food combinations on vineyard patios, in sidewalk cafes, and classic tapas bars, while using our guide as inspiration to find the right experiences for your trip.

Grab your favorite glass of Spanish red or white as you follow our guide to the six best wine regions in Spain.

Vineyards in areas you may have heard of, others in destinations remote and remarkable, the wine regions of Spain will impress as you indulge in signature favorites and new discoveries. From Riojas to sherry, bold to bubbly, the diversity of flavors captures the spirit and character of a local region.

Said to have the biggest amount of land dedicated to vineyards, Spain’s best wine regions will see you exploring picturesque and charming parts of this classic European country during your custom trip.

The most popular wine regions in Switzerland boast excellent varietals and you can explore six of the top areas for an unforgettable perspective of the history, culture, and flavors of the mountains.

Wine has been produced in Switzerland since Roman times and locals are loyal to the industry. Classified by the regions in which they are found, a variety of whites and reds offer a fine array of bodies, tastes, and colors that create an entire world of wines within the micro-climates of the terraced mountains and valleys.

Explore a different side of the exquisite landscape as you tour the six most popular wine regions in Switzerland.

The best wine regions in Portugal share the character and charisma of the country by revealing flavorful diversity in every bottle.

With vines rolling across hillsides that are cast in the shadows of fairytale castles, and even rising out of coastal sands, you can find hints of the idyllic scenery and the spirit of cultural history exuding from the wineries and flavors.

The following list focuses on our recommendations for the top Portugal wine regions you can visit for the most memorable experiences.

The best wine regions to visit in France embody the elegant flavors, long arc of regional history, and the intertwining of cultural traditions with wine-production heritage.

From full-bodied wines with aromas of warm valleys to refreshing offerings with scents of the sea, wine flavors and production represent the soils from which they are grown and the communities in which they flourish. Cultural and environmental factors play a wonderful role in the journey of a wine from vine to barrel, bottle to glass.

Whether you enjoy the famous tastes of Bordeaux and the effervescence of Champagne, or are looking for hidden treasures in Jura and Savoy, many of the wines produced around the country can only be experienced there, and you can find information on the various regions you can visit so you won’t miss a single flavorful opportunity.

Just like with wines cultivated across Europe, you can experience and enjoy the four best wine regions in Australia that account for the famous flavor profiles, aromas, and textures of the different vintages.

Australia has become one of the world’s top 10 wine producers. The country’s wine regions account for over 100 grape varieties that grow around large metropolitan areas, within cool maritime climates near the coast, and on islands to create eclectic tastes that embody the diverse Australian terroir.

Whether eager to sample the wine and food of a world-famous destination or expand your understanding of Australian wines, when visiting the country’s best wineries, you can embrace a wine-tasting experience unlike anywhere else in the world.

The nine best wine regions in Argentina offer distinct flavors and unique landscapes.

With a variety of tastes that satisfy local and international markets, vineyards spread across desert regions and mountain slopes, crossing the Patagonian border or edging high altitudes near Bolivia. Each sip offers an exciting new experience as Argentina grows its reputation.

From adopted grapes to ubiquitous varietals, the wine-growing regions of Argentina are not just about creating flavor profiles, but also capturing the essence of the landscape and the culture of the country.

The sushi kitchens of Japan have traditionally been dominated by men, however, women have been shirking tradition and stereotypes by becoming pioneers of sushi-making with the top four female sushi chefs you can visit during your Japan trip.

While stigma surrounding female sushi chefs continues to plague the industry, women are brushing off the myths and crafting perfect sushi dishes from the kitchens of progressive restaurants as well as their own, women-led eateries.

From the perfect piece of nigiri to a sensational slice of sashimi, this list compiles the best sushi restaurants in Japan where female sushi chefs are challenging Japanese tradition.

The top foods to try when visiting Buenos Aires highlight the city as a place of culture and mystique.

Buenos Aires attracts tourists from around the world eager to experience the history and tango, but you can also indulge in its food to truly discover the heritage.

Argentina is famous for steak and wine, but the city's cuisine combines native ingredients and international flavors. Our list of dishes can help you find the right culinary choices for your visit to Buenos Aires and Argentina.

Most travelers only scratch the surface of Vietnamese cuisine’s true depth of flavor, but our list of the country’s 12 most popular dishes to try on your vacation will give you an authentic taste.

Soup and noodles feature prominently on Vietnamese menus and there is a range of spicy, sweet, and salty variations to try. Beyond popular soups like pho and noodle bowls like cao lau, fried spring rolls, egg coffee, and other delicacies will tantalize your taste buds on a Vietnam vacation.

Find everything you might like to know about top dishes and where to try them when you visit the bustling and beautiful country.

Our list of eight food cultures focuses on the etiquette associated with a cuisine, highlighting the importance of tradition and heritage you can enjoy during your custom-tailored trip.

Dining in a foreign country goes beyond knowing when to use certain utensils or your hands, and instead encompasses the very tenets of the cuisine, highlighting historic flavors, customary cooking methods, personal values, and the decorum associated with the kitchen and dining room.

Dining experiences around the world awaken the senses, from the texture of a dish to the aromas, visual aesthetics, or tastes. Find ideas on where you can visit on your next trip to experience the world’s culinary cultures.

Explore the world with Zicasso by working with top travel specialists who will bring your dream vacation to life. Our primary goal is to make planning, booking, and traveling easy and enjoyable.

As the most-reviewed and highest-rated luxury travel company, we are committed to delivering life-enriching custom tours that are seamless and exclusively yours. Whether you dream of creating authentic Italian pasta in Tuscany or witnessing the Great Migration across the Serengeti, we will help you design your trip of a lifetime.

Extraordinary travel begins with a human touch, and our destination specialists design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention. As you consider your next vacation, use the following information to guide you in how we work. Then, connect with our travel experts to help you plan your trip.

Knowing your budget is an essential component of any trip-planning process. Whether the sky's the limit or you have specific parameters, a customized vacation allows for maximum flexibility, helping you prioritize and make the most of your investment.

Working with Zicasso enables you to travel confidently, knowing we rigorously vet the world’s best destination specialists. As the most-reviewed and highest-rated luxury travel company, we connect you with experts in the top 2% of the industry. They will design your journey with care and insight, taking the guesswork out of planning and ensuring you receive unparalleled value.

Extraordinary travel begins with a human touch, and our destination specialists design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention. As you consider your next vacation, use the following information to guide to planning your budget. Then, connect with our travel experts to help you plan your trip.

The world's most extraordinary desserts exist beyond restaurant menus and tourist guides. These culinary treasures embody cultural secrets, family traditions, and moments of authentic discovery that transform ordinary travel into extraordinary memories you can taste.

Stand in a centuries-old Florentine chocolatier's workshop, witnessing the creation of a torte so pure it contains no flour, eggs, or butter. Hold a dessert that appears to be liquid water, yet dissolves on your tongue within minutes of its creation. These experiences await travelers who seek the hidden stories behind each destination's most guarded culinary secrets.

Extraordinary travel begins with a human touch, and our destination specialists design every journey with care, insight, and personal attention. As you consider exploring these culinary experiences around the world, use the following information as your guide before connecting with our travel experts to help you plan your trip.