Top Florence Cooking Classes

There are scores of highly-rated Florence cooking classes, but these are the top five right now, according to ratings from previous customers:

• Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class at a Tuscan Farmhouse
• Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour 
• Pasta Making Class in Florence
• Florence Cooking Class: Learn How to Make Gelato and Pizza
• Wanna Be Italiano - The Original Cooking Class & Market Tour in Florence

That depends. Cooking classes in Florence start at US$30 for a group pasta-making lesson and go up to US$1,300 for private cocktail-making with a well known expert. There are plenty of options for different budgets, though. Some cooking classes are paired with a private farmhouse lunch, market tour, or romantic dinner, for example.

No experience is necessary—the fun of cooking classes is that they’re designed for all levels, especially beginners. You can expect to learn new skills, from pasta rolling to gelato making, while your instructor guides you through every step. Classes are hands-on and approachable, and you’ll usually receive the recipes after your lesson so you can keep practicing at home.

Florence cooking classes come in a range of durations, so it’s easy to plan around your schedule. Plan to spend 2.5–3 hours in shorter classes, which are usually held in the city center and teach you how to make a couple of dishes, such as pasta and tiramisu. Half-day classes (usually around five hours) allow time for more recipes and extra experiences, from market tours and wine tastings to visits to the countryside.

Florence is known for several dishes, including ribollita (white bean and vegetable stew), pappa al pomodoro (a thick tomato and bread soup), and sandwiches made with lampredotto, similar to tripe. The city’s most famous dish is arguably Florentine steak (bistecca alla Fiorentina), a grilled T-bone served rare.

Yes, most Florence cooking classes can accommodate dietary restrictions, especially for vegetarians. Some classes are specifically designed around vegan or gluten-free recipes, so look for these specialty experiences first. Otherwise, you’ll likely be able to make restriction-friendly alternatives in group or private classes—just confirm with the chef before booking.

There are tons of fun tours and excursions in Florence aside from cooking classes. According to previous travelers, these are the best activities to book for your next trip:

• Wine Tasting
• Private Drivers
• Vespa Rentals
• Art Classes
• Day Trips

Florence cooking class prices vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now: 

• Florence: Fresh Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class + Lots of Good Wine
• Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine in Florence
• The Real Italian Artisan Gelato
• Cooking Art Brunelleschi with Unlimited Wine
• Cooking Art Brunelleschi

Before booking a Florence cooking class, read what’s on the menu and choose a class that makes dishes that most interest you: Some classes are all about Tuscan pasta recipes, while others might focus on pizza or gelato. Check the duration and itinerary, too; longer classes may include a local market tour, while shorter experiences get straight to the cooking. Finally, confirm the meeting point for the class—some experiences may be located outside of the center of Florence.

There’s no formal dress code for Florence cooking classes, but it’s best to wear comfortable shoes and sleeves you can easily roll up, as you’re likely to spend most of the class on your feet and with your hands in a bowl of pasta dough. Avoid wearing white or anything precious—there might be sauce splatters.

Florence cooking classes are a great activity year-round. Most experiences are held indoors, offering a break from the summer heat or winter chill, and classes are capped at a comfortable group size, no matter the season. Generally, September–October and April–June are the best months to visit Florence, when the weather is mild and the city is free of summer crowds.

Yes and yes. Most cooking classes end with eating, which means you can expect to enjoy a full meal of the dishes you prepared during the lesson. Wine is almost always included, but quantities vary from one welcome drink to unlimited glasses of Chianti, so check the details before you decide on a class.

Yes, private cooking classes are very popular in Florence. If you’d like a customized menu and more attentive instruction from the chef, private lessons are the way to go—just be prepared to spend more than you would on a group class. If a private course is out of your budget, look for a group option capped at around eight people; you’ll still get to be involved in the cooking and ask lots of questions.

Most Florence cooking classes offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the event starts, so be sure to cancel before the local cut-off time for a full refund. Read the fine print before booking since policies may vary. Fortunately, most cooking classes take place indoors, so it’s unlikely you’ll need to cancel due to bad weather.

That depends on your interests and schedule. If you only have a couple of hours, book a city-center class that’s walkable from your hotel and major attractions, so you can easily continue a day of sightseeing. If you can spare a half day and want to see the scenic Tuscan hills, book a countryside class with a view. Some experiences include shuttle transportation from Florence, or you may need to drive, call a cab, or take public transit.