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Half day+ · Florence itinerary

Florence Food & Wine: A Tuscan Tasting Itinerary

Tuscany invented the good life at the table, and Florence is its kitchen. This themed itinerary walks you through the Mercato Centrale, puts a rolling pin in your hand for fresh pasta, and rolls out into the Chianti hills for wine straight from the cellar — with the top-rated tastings, classes and half-day tours to book for each.

At a glance

  1. 1Mercato Centrale food walking tour
  2. 2Hands-on pasta cooking class
  3. 3Half-day Chianti wine tasting
  4. 4Gelato & Florentine steak to finish

Graze the Mercato Centrale

Begin with a food walking tour through the San Lorenzo district and the two-tier Mercato Centrale, where guides thread you between stalls of pecorino, finocchiona salami, lampredotto and cantucci. Tastings usually add up to a light meal, and a good tour explains the wine windows and street-food traditions along the way. Most run 2.5 to 3.5 hours and start from around €55.

Cook it yourself

Turn tasting into making with a hands-on cooking class. Many start with a market shop for ingredients before you roll fresh pasta, shape ravioli and layer a tiramisu — often with unlimited Tuscan wine poured as you cook. It's a relaxed few hours and one of the city's best rainy-day options; book a small-group class in advance, from about €60 with your own meal at the end.

Half a day in Chianti

Trade the city for the vineyards on a half-day Chianti tour, an easy escape into the hills between Florence and Siena. Trips typically visit two family wineries for cellar tours and guided tastings of Chianti Classico, often with olive oil and cured meats alongside. Round-trip transport from Florence is included, so you can enjoy the Sangiovese without worrying about the drive back — from roughly €70.

Finish sweet and savoury

Cap the theme with the two things every visitor should try: a proper artisan gelato and a bistecca alla Fiorentina, the towering Florentine T-bone grilled rare. Many food tours end near the best gelaterie, and evening tastings build the whole meal around the steak with a glass of Tuscan red.

Florence food & wine — FAQ

Are Chianti wine tours from Florence half-day or full-day?
Both exist. Half-day tours usually visit two wineries with tastings and round-trip transport, ideal if you want to be back in Florence by evening. Full-day trips add a third stop or pair Chianti with Siena and San Gimignano. Either way, transport from Florence is included so no one has to drive.
What do Florence cooking classes include?
Most hands-on classes cover fresh pasta and a dessert like tiramisu, and many begin with a guided shop at a local market. Wine is often unlimited, and you sit down to eat everything you make at the end. Small-group classes fill up, so book a few days ahead.
How long is a Florence food walking tour?
Typically 2.5 to 3.5 hours, with several tastings around the Mercato Centrale and San Lorenzo that add up to a full meal — come hungry. Evening versions build toward a Florentine steak and Tuscan wine.