BEST OF · ITALY TAPAS TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 9 italy tapas tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Walk through lesser-seen Venice with an English-speaking local guide, stopping at traditional bacari for cicchetti and three glasses of wine. Guides such as Gianmarco and Barbara add history, legends, food tips, and a friendly small-group feel. The two-hour route begins and ends at Enoteca Al Volto.
“such a nice group of people and the guide was fabulous 🤩”
Meet near the Oratorio delle Dame for a two-hour tasting led by Adriano, the owner of 26mq Urban Winery. Try four Sicilian wines from small producers, paired with local tapas, in a hand-built wine bar near Ballarò. Expect generous pours, personal stories, and the option to sit on a small balcony overlooking an 18th-century church.
“Super nice small winebar and very friendly personnel. Great wines.”
Meet at 4 pm near Rialto for a two to two-and-a-half-hour walk through Venice. A local guide such as Gianmarco or Giancarlo leads you to traditional bacari for cichetti and three local wines, with stops around Campo Santa Margherita, the Frari, and San Rocco. Expect a relaxed social outing, not a formal wine class.
“This tour was casual, easy, and fun! The food was great as was our guide. We enjoyed checking out new places slightly off the beaten path. We would definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Venice!”
Meet at Rosinita restaurant in Olbia’s Piazza Mercato for ten chef-made Sardinian tapas served with three seasonal wines. Expect bread, waffles, bowls, meat, fish, vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, and dessert-style bites. The menu changes monthly, children receive a separate soft-drink menu, and Italian or English service is available.
“The food was so good! Perfect amounts to fill you up but not overly stuffed”
Set out from Salerno with Fabio and his crew for a four-hour private boat party toward Amalfi. You’ll cruise past Cetara and Erchie, stop in a cove, enjoy an aperitif with tapas, and have free time in Amalfi. Evening departures run from 6:30 to 10:30 PM, with the boat reserved for your group.
Spend 2.5 hours walking Bari with an English-speaking local guide, often Lorena, Loreana, or Anna. Start at Molo San Nicola, taste octopus sandwiches and Barese focaccia, share taralli and olives with a spritz or beer, then finish with gelato or coffee on the Lungomare at sunset. Vegetarian options are available.
“Lorena was excellent.. very knowledgeable and the stops were great! Recommend to enjoy the local specialities”
Spend three hours with a private Rome host exploring aperitivo spots chosen around your tastes. Expect two drinks, Italian nibbles, and a walk through areas such as Trastevere, Testaccio, Piazza Navona, or Via del Corso. Alessandro is one possible host, and central hotel pickup can be arranged.
Meet an expert chef in central Olbia for a two-hour tasting of 10 Sardinian-inspired tapas made with seasonal meat, fish, vegetables, cheeses, and cured meats. You will pair the dishes with three glasses of wine, including red, white, and sparkling styles. Children receive a separate menu with soft drinks.
Meet Chef Barbara in Dorsoduro for a three-hour, small-group cooking class devoted to Venetian cicchetti. You will prepare six courses, including meatballs in tomato sauce, creamed cod with polenta, octopus, crostini, frittatina, and sarde in saor, then enjoy the meal with wine and water.
“We had a great experience with Barbara. It is actually very rare that you can take something from a cooking class to use at home, but here we learned several “tapas” dishes that were very tasty and easy to make. Barbara has years of experieRead more”
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