The 15 Shopping Tours in Sicily Most Worth the Money

1.Street Food and Local Market Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 540 reviews · 3 hours · from $81Our pick

Join an English-speaking guide for a three-hour walk through Palermo’s Capo and Vucciria markets, side streets and local food stops. Expect arancina, panelle, sfincione, a seasonal dessert and three drinks, plus Palermo stories and a stop at an old working-class bar. Groups are limited to 12; guides include Angelo, Simone and Vinz, though the guide varies.

“Angelo made the tour so fun and engaging. We loved his energy and information.”

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2.The Original Catania Street Food and Market Tour by Streaty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 345 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71Top rated

Follow a local guide through Catania’s fish market and historic center, tasting arancini, market fruit, Sicilian dessert and more. The three-hour walk includes two alcoholic drinks and fizzy fruit juice, with guides such as Allegra, Gisella and Davide. Expect local food stories, generous tastings and plenty of walking.

“We had a top notch tour guide, who knew a lot of history, but also about the food of Sicily and was engaging and this was well worth it!”

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3.Sicilian Cooking Class & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 212 reviews · from $107

Meet at Porta Messina at 10:00 AM for a chef-led tour of Taormina’s market, then cook Sicilian dishes at the restaurant. Expect hands-on pasta making, local ingredients, coffee and snacks, and a shared lunch with wine. Paolo is among the chefs who lead the class.

“the whole experience was great. We visited a market, prepared several dishes and then enjoyed eating it with nice wines. There was so much food and wine provided that we couldn't consume it all. This was an excellent outing.”

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4.Wanna be Sicilian: Palermo Cooking Class and Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 197 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $60

Start at Palermo’s Mercato del Capo, where a chef helps you choose seasonal ingredients and sample local bites. Then make arancini, maccheroni alla Norma and cannoli in a professional kitchen, before sitting down to eat with wine. Chefs have included Lidia, Salvatore and Nadia, though your instructor may vary. The class is suitable for vegetarians with advance notice, but not for people with celiac disease.

“It was wonderful if I could give more stars I would. Enjoyed everything very much. Chef Salvo was very good and personable”

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5.Volcanic Wine Tasting in a Metropolitan Market

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 119 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53Best value

At Catania’s Piazza Scammacca, a sommelier introduces four Sicilian wines shaped by volcanic soils, pairing each glass with food prepared by local chefs. Expect a 90-minute tasting with insights into Etna, local grapes, and the market’s setting. Hosts have included Luca, Andrea, and Frederico.

“We had a most interesting and very knowledge host. Very much enjoyed the sparkling wine and appetisers. I am gluten intolerant and special food was prepared for me, all absolutely delicious. The whole experience was great. Would recommend”

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6.From market to Table Cooking lesson with a local in Sicily

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $163

Meet Letizia or Giuseppe near Syracuse’s Temple of Apollo at 10:30 am, then shop Ortigia’s market for seasonal ingredients before cooking and eating at a family country home. In this English-language class, you may make fresh pasta and other Sicilian dishes, with a maximum of seven people and a meal included.

“It was a fabulous day. We shopped at the Ortigia market for the ingredients for lunch and learned about the local produce and fish. Then we went to Guiseppe’s family home for a wonderful cooking experience. We had a fun time with two other couples learning to make pasta and caponata among other dishes. Would highly recommend.”

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7.Catania Street Food Tour: Fish Market & City Centre

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 104 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $55

Meet your English-speaking guide beside the Elephant Fountain for a 2.5-hour walk through central Catania, with stops for Sicilian street food and the morning Pescheria fish market. Expect local history alongside arancini, fried fish and sweets. Guides have included Dora, Luca and David. Vegetarian options can be arranged, but the tour is not suitable for vegans or people with gluten intolerance.

“awesome tour, great guide Dora. she was very sweet and kind. great food options. i will recommend this tour to people.”

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8.Taormina Half-Day Sicilian Cooking Class & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · from $152

Meet Chef Massimo at Taormina’s Arch of Porta Messina for a six-hour food outing. On morning departures, visit the fruit, vegetable, and fish markets to choose ingredients, then head to a panoramic home for hands-on cooking. Make Sicilian dishes and dessert, and share the meal with two types of wine.

“host was amazing , great instruction and kept it fun for the whole day. great views and even better food.”

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9.Sicilian Cooking Class w/ a Visit to Local Market

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 76 reviews · from $107

Meet near Porta Messina for a three-hour Sicilian cooking class with a local chef and team. When the market visit is running, you’ll shop for ingredients before making dishes such as fresh pasta, eggplant parmigiana and seafood. Then sit down to eat your work, with wine, water and soft drinks included.

“The Sicilian cooking class in Taormina was truly a fabulous experience from start to finish. Paolo, the chef, made the day fun and full of laughter, sharing anecdotes like “in Sicily, we don’t need doctors; food cures everything, even a broken heart.” We started by visiting the local market, where Paolo’s connection with vendors gave us great insight into local fish and produce. Back at the restaurant, the hands-on cooking class was professional and interactive, and the team was incredibly efficient. We enjoyed wine, personalised aprons, and certificates. It was a highlight of my trip!Read more”

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10.Traditional Cooking Class & Ancient Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 72 reviews · from $134

Meet your chef at Bar Cristina in Syracuse, then visit Ortigia’s market to choose local ingredients. In a small group of up to eight, you’ll prepare Sicilian dishes with the chef and eat them for lunch. The menu can reflect what looks good and what you like. The market is closed on Sundays, when the chef shops along Ortigia’s streets instead.

“Enzo and his daughter were FANTASTIC! We really enjoyed how they made us all feel like family! The class, location and food was phenomenal- a trip highlight. Will do it again next year for sure...”

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11.Palermo Street Food & Market Tour by Eating Europe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $77

Spend about three hours tasting Palermo classics with a local English-speaking guide, from chickpea fritters in Ballarò to fresh-filled cannoli and espresso. The route also passes historic arches, squares and churches. Groups are capped at 12, and the food selection can change by day or season. Giusi is one guide named for this tour, but guide assignments may vary.

“We had an amazing time on our Palermo Street Food & Market tour with Giusi as our guide. We were very impressed that she had such extensive knowledge about the history and ingredients of the food we were tasting. We did not leave hungry! These were full portions we got to try and it was all delicious! The market was busy and bustling and so fun to experience. Hands down the best tour we booked while in Palermo, highly recommend!”

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12.Half-Day Cooking Class & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 60 reviews · from $203

Meet chef Patrizia at Porta Carini for a market visit and a four-hour cooking class in central Palermo. Shop for seasonal ingredients, prepare a Sicilian meal in a group of up to eight, then sit down to eat it with Sicilian wines. Vegetarian and gluten-free menus are available.

“Wondeful experience! Loved the visit to the market, the explanations about its relevance, and all the traditions around typical products. Once at Patricia's place, it was a marvelous experience! Local cheese and wine, cooking 4 different dishes, learning from an experienced cook and a local expert! Patricia is super kind and conects easily with experienced guests and debutants! Full immersion into Sicilian culture!! Great way to discover Palermo”

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13.Market Tour and Cooking Class with Chef Riccardo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $169

Meet Chef Riccardo at Sikelia coffee shop, then shop Catania’s market for ingredients and visit a local wine shop or farmer before cooking a seasonal three-course Sicilian meal at his home. Riccardo and his wife, Sally, host a small group of up to eight. If weather allows, lunch is served beside their pool with a panoramic sea view.

“Absolutely amazing, hands down the best experience we’ve ever had! They give the real local experience topped with making you feel like a true part of their family! We learned so much and can’t wait to recreate everything back home!”

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14.The Original Fish Market and Street Food Tour of Catania

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 36 reviews · 3 hours · from $81

Meet your English-speaking Sicilian guide at Piazza del Duomo, then explore Catania’s fish market, sample fish bites, arancini, seasonal fruit and local street food, and visit a lava tunnel. Beer or wine and a seasonal dessert are included. The market does not operate on Sundays, though selected food vendors remain open.

“Davide was exceptional. Informative, knowledgeable and a great sense of humour. Food and drinks were plentiful, and delicious. Would highly recommend this tour.”

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15.Guided tour of Ortigia with Fish Street Food at the market

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 27 reviews · from $57

Explore Ortigia on a 2.5-hour guided walk from the Temple of Apollo to Piazza Archimede, the Cathedral and Arethusa Spring, with fish street food at the market. The tour runs in Italian or English, and the Cathedral entrance ticket is included. No guide names or tasting portions are specified.

“The tour was excellent and was informative and interesting. We came across places that we probably would not havevseen ourselves. It is not really a cannoli tasting tour as you get a voucher for one which you go get yourself after the tour. I thought we would be tasting different ones as we did our walking tour around the city. As it was you only get one , so jot really a tasting tour. It would have been helpful if thr guide had told us which outlet to go to as we passed it , as it was we had to Google it and then find it . Having said…”

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