10 Best Food Tours of Catania

Catania is a beautiful coastal city located on the island of Sicily. Here you will find many of the best things to do during your holiday on the island. Besides touring and seeing beautiful architecture, you will have the opportunity to go on different types of tours. Among them are the gastronomic tours, because Sicily is a great place to eat.

Food is an essential part of any trip, so I'm sure you'll love one of these options. Some include a sightseeing tour through the streets of Catania, others take you to special places like Mount Etna. Not only will you taste the typical Sicilian food, but also the wines and liquors of this region. Are you up for it?

Many times we are recommended well-known and luxurious restaurants. Although it can be a good plan, there is nothing like tasting the street food of a city. In Catania you will find very good options, are you willing to try them? Your guide will take you on a walking tour of at least three hours to sample the best of Catania for only €70.

Wandering the streets of Catania tasting its food is undoubtedly one of the best tours you can do in this city. The first thing you'll do is meet your guide and your group at a pre-arranged central location. Generally, the meeting point is the Piazza del Duomo.

The first stop is the Catania Fish Market (Piscaria Mercato del Pesce). There you can walk among the benches and Sicilian food stalls. If you don't like seafood or are allergic to it, it would be better to talk to your guide and skip this stop. After this site you will pass through the Giardino Pacini urban park.

You will continue your tour to Piazza Mazzini where you can eat various special delicacies typical of Sicily offered by local vendors. Continue to Via dei Crociferi, also known as the church street, and then to Piazza dei Quattro Canti, where you will learn about local traditions. At the end you can return or continue to enjoy your stay in Catania.

Practical information

• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Price: approximately 70 €.
• Advantages: normally with this type of tour you can get to know the city and its architecture.
• Disadvantages of this option: you have to spend the whole time walking and the food tastings are short.

Sicily is an enchanting Mediterranean island where you will find not only beautiful architectural treasures but also natural treasures. Mount Etna is the ideal natural site to visit on your holiday. To make it more interesting, you can go on an excursion that includes a tasting of top quality international wines.

On tours from Catania to Mount Etna your guide will pick you up at your hotel for your convenience. This is great, as you won't have to take public transport. Once there, you can start a leisurely walk. Your guide will tell you all the details you need to know about this beautiful site. Appreciate the view and don't forget to take pictures.

After the tour it will be time to head to the wine cellars. There you can learn about the production of this exquisite drink. You will be able to taste red (good for your health), white and rosé wines from the different family vineyards. Along with each drink you will also receive a sample of regional specialities. These include different types of cheese, salami, sausages, cured ham, mushrooms, olives, homemade bread and much more.

Besides tasting all these foods and drinks, you can also tour the vineyard. The view is beautiful! You will see the beautiful Sicilian countryside full of life with its lemon, almond, olive and orange groves. You will definitely be able to disconnect from the noisy city life and connect with nature. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Practical information

• Means of transport: private transport.
• Duration: about 6 hours.
• Price: about 200 €.
• Advantages: you will get to see beautiful vineyards, taste the best food in Catania and top quality wines.
• Disadvantages of this option: you should be prepared for a tour of Mount Etna. For some people it can be exhausting. Make sure the hike up the volcano is short.

If you plan to stay in Catania for a day, I am sure you are looking to make your time very valuable. That's why I recommend you to include in your day a gastronomic night tour. This way, you can get to know the city at night and dine on the best of the local food.

Also, after six in the evening, the weather is the best for touring the city. You won't have to endure the high midday temperatures or the sun burning your skin. It is undoubtedly the best time of the day for a leisurely stroll through the streets of Catania. It is worth noting that this is a walking tour, so you will need to wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

To start this tour, you should meet your guide and your group at a pre-arranged point. Normally, these tours start at the Piazza del Duomo and continue to the Catania Fish Market. So you will have the opportunity to get to know this place during the night - it is always full of life!

Following the tour, you will pass through the Giardino Pacini park, the Museo Civico Castello Ursino and Piazza Mazzini. In all of these places you'll find local eateries and food stalls worth trying. The evening favourites are almost always the crispy fried crespelle, iced fruit granita and the delicious cipollina.

Practical information

• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Price: approximately €60.
• Advantages: you avoid the crowds and the high temperatures of the day, as well as getting to know another side of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: due to the low light, you may not be able to appreciate all the beauty of the sites you pass through. However, this is not necessarily a problem if you are only interested in sampling Catania's delicious food.

The most active volcano in Europe is one of the favourite destinations of all tourists visiting Catania. If you want to visit it and also want to taste a delicious meal, I invite you to take this excursion. On average this experience lasts seven hours and costs around 200 €.

From Catania your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you in an exclusive vehicle to Mount Etna. There you can take a leisurely exploration of its landscapes and craters. You will find yourself at about 2,000 metres above sea level, impressive!

After the short tour, it will be time for lunch. This usually includes typical dishes where fish is the favourite. If you can't eat this type of meat, I recommend you talk to your guide beforehand. While you are having lunch, you can accompany your meal with a good wine. At the end, you can do a little wine tasting and taste the best of the vineyard.

You can also try different types of honey produced here. This way you will be able to finish this gastronomic experience with a delicious sweet taste. When you finish, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Practical information

• Means of transport: private transport.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Price: approximately 200 €.
• Advantages: you will have the opportunity to see Etna and taste the delicious food of the city and its most exclusive wines.
• Disadvantages of this option: this experience is better for the end of the afternoon. Remember that it does not include lunch but small samples of food.

Traveler tip
All adventures that include a visit to Mount Etna require comfortable shoes and clothing. No matter how short the tour, it is always best to be prepared for a hike of at least one or two hours.

If you not only want to taste the food of Catania, but also learn how to cook it, then a private cooking class is the best plan for you. Even if you are travelling with children to Catania, this can be a good plan. In the class, the little ones can prepare the simplest of dishes- I'm sure they will have a great time in this kind of experience!

These classes are usually held in the home of a local Italian family. After being told the location, you must show up on time. This activity usually lasts an average of four hours and costs on average €150.

Everything you will learn to cook is part of authentic Sicilian food. Pay attention to everything the chef tells you, as he has more than one culinary secret to tell you - you'll even get to see his family cookbooks! You'll be able to prepare up to three delicious recipes.

Of course, when you're finished, you'll have the opportunity to taste your work. You can even accompany your meal with a delicious coffee or wine of your choice. This is also a nice occasion to meet new people and have a nice time. At the end you can go back to your hotel.

Practical information

• Means of transport: transport is not included.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Price: approximately 150 €.
• Advantages: You will be able to eat authentic Catanian food in one place and the best thing is that you will already know the family secrets of each dish to recreate it at home.
• Disadvantages: If you're not very good at cooking, the class may be a little tricky. However, the chef chooses simple recipes that everyone can follow, so you're sure to do just fine.

Some people may not be convinced to take a guided food tour in Catania, but it is a really good option. Getting to know and taste the food of a new city is always a must for every tourist. However, it is not always an easy task, as there are many restaurants and venues.

With the help of a local guide it is easier to find the perfect place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Even desserts are often included in this type of experience, the most typical being Sicilian cannolis. With a person who knows both the streets of Catania and its food, it will be easier to find the places that offer the best options.

This will save you the time it takes to check online reviews or the hassle of finding bad service in a place. In addition, guided tours are a unique experience that allows you to do an extra activity such as learning how to cook, getting to know the streets or exploring Mount Etna.

On the other hand, this type of experience can be adapted to all times of the year. If, for example, you travel to Catania during Christmas, you will be able to try the typical food of that time of the year, which is closely related to the sea and sweets. It is certainly an experience that you can enjoy at any time.

Food tours are a must-do experience when travelling for a few days in Sicily. However, it is important to keep a few things in mind. You should be aware that some recipes can be heavy, as they are fried or have many ingredients. Try to bring medicine in case of indigestion and always take care of the foods that your diet forbids you to eat.

On the other hand, I recommend you not to eat something strong before a gastronomic tour. Otherwise you will not be able to try all the dishes freely. Remember that several of these experiences include more than one dish so I think that if you don't eat much, you will have to order to go.

If you decide to do a tour from Catania that includes food tasting, make sure you have snacks or at least a good breakfast on the way. Some tours can be long, making your hunger grow and lunchtime not yet close.

One last tip is to make sure you drink water. Most tours include some kind of wine and, although you can try them, it's a good idea to have a bottle of water handy. Feel free to ask for your own, as in most cases it is included.