Top Milan Cooking Classes

Whether you want to roll fresh pasta or nail the perfect tiramisu, there are a ton of 5-star cooking classes in Milan. Travelers gave these the best ratings and reviews:

• Milan--The Secrets to Learn Fresh Pasta and Tiramisu
• Learn to Cook with an Italian Chef
• Choose Three Recipes to Cook from all the Traditional Cuisine
• Gelato and Pizza Making Class in Milan
• Authentic Italian Cooking Class in a Milanese Loft

Yes. While you’ll never run out of things to do in Italy’s most modern city, taking a cooking class is definitely worth it. Not only will you brush up on your culinary skills, but you’ll also be able to pick a local chef’s brain and get to know some fellow travelers over a homemade feast.

Cooking classes in Milan run for US$70–US$150, with most going for around US$100 per person. Less expensive courses tend to focus on a couple of simple dishes, while pricier ones teach you more elaborate recipes and offer extra perks, like market tours and a recipe book to take home.

Plan to spend 3–5 hours at a cooking class in Milan, giving you enough time to chat with the chef and prepare a few dishes. Cooking classes typically end with your homemade meal and leisurely conversation over wine—so try not to plan anything right after your booking in case it runs long.

Since most participants are visiting from outside Italy, most Milan cooking classes are taught in English. While there’s no need to learn Italian before your class, knowing a phrase or two would definitely enrich your experience—especially if you’ll be shopping for ingredients with the chef.

Milan is the capital of one of Italy’s top rice-producing regions, which makes pasta and saffron-infused risotto alla Milanese the city’s most famous creamy carb dish. Milan is also known for meat recipes, including cotoletta alla Milanese, a fried veal cutlet, and ossobuco, a slow-cooked beef shank with rich bone marrow. Panettone, the sweet and pillowy Christmas bread, also comes from Milan.

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

• Wine-Tasting Tours

• Private Drivers

• Rail Tours

• Night Tours

• Day Trips

Milan 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:

• Mamma Mia - Make Your Own Italian Pizza

• Pasta Workshop in Local Loft

• Become a Master in the Kitchen: Learn to Cook with an Italian Chef

• Pasta and Tiramisu Join Our Cooking Class

• The Secrets to Learn Pasta and Gelato (Ice Cream)

Milan cooking classes take place in a variety of locations, from cooking schools in the historic center to locals’ homes on the outskirts of town, so choose the experience that’s most appealing to you. Also, think about what you’d like to cook—some classes teach you the ins and outs of pizza and gelato, while others are all about pasta. Finally, double-check whether your class is private or shared with other travelers.

Arrive hungry and ready to taste homemade pasta, tiramisu, and other dishes you’ll learn to cook in the class. Wear shoes and clothing you’ll be comfortable standing and cooking in, and don’t forget to ask your local host about their recommendations for dining and sightseeing in Milan. Your host will likely send you back with recipes to take home, but taking notes and pictures of the tips you learn along the way is also a good idea.

Most Milan cooking classes happen indoors, making them a great activity year-round since you’ll be protected from the elements. Generally, the best months to visit Milan are April and May, when you can enjoy daytime temperatures around 70°F and bypass the crowds that come to the city in summer and for September's Fashion Week.