Top Syracuse Dining Experiences

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.

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.

Some history-focused group walking tours can feel impersonal and rushed. Enjoy an intimate experience on this private walking tour of the small island of Ortygia in the historic center of Syracuse. As you walk from the ancient Greek Temple of Apollo to the Arethusa Fountain and through the Jewish Quarter, your guide reveals the rich history of the ancient city.

Experience Sicily’s cuisine and hospitality first-hand with this home pizza and tiramisù class in Syracuse. Meet your host and get right to work kneading and forming pizza dough then finishing it off with classic toppings before assembling a creamy tiramisù. Cap off your lesson by sampling the fruit of your labors over a celebratory meal with your host.

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.

You can't visit Italy without trying at least one pasta dish... So, we'll teach you two! Learn how to roll 'sfoglia' (fresh pasta) by hand and how to prepare 2 simple different kinds of pasta from scratch with your local host. As the icing on the cake, you will learn to prepare also the iconic Tiramisu. Share your passion for the Italian cuisine as you make new friends in this hands-on cooking class. It's a great way to truly experience Italian culture. This experience is held by Cesarine, the oldest Italy’s network of home cooks available in more than 500 cities all over the country. Cesarine stands for "home cook", they are passionate and welcoming local hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences. The Cesarine serve only local specialties from their family cookbooks to tell the great story of their traditional regional cuisine.

Rather than looking up recipes online, enjoy a more authentic and practical way of learning how to make Italian dishes—a hands-on cooking class in Syracuse. To help expand your knowledge of local ingredients, the experience begins with a market tour to pick up seasonal produce. Then, go to a local’s home for an aperitivo and a chance to make both pasta and tiramisu.