8 Things to Know Before Taking Cooking Classes in Florence Italy

Looking for the best cooking classes in Florence Italy?

You’ve come to the right place! We recently went to Florence and are ready to help you choose the best Italian cooking class in Florence for your taste!

In this post, we will share the top cooking classes in Florence as well as eight important things to know before booking.

Top Cooking Classes in Florence Italy

Short on time? Here are our top three picks for cooking classes in Florence Italy:

8 Things to Know Before Taking Cooking Classes in Florence Italy

If you are still wondering which cooking class would be best for you, here are eight key things to know before booking a cooking class in Florence. We are confident that by the end of this post, you will know exactly which one is right for you.

1. Take a Class that Includes a Market Tour

When considering cooking classes in Florence Italy, you should consider taking a class that includes a market tour!

The main market in Florence is Mercato Centrale (or Central Market). It is where the locals often go for fresh ingredients and where anyone can grab a bite to eat.

The advantage of taking a market tour as part of your cooking class is that your guide will show you the best local vendors and places to eat, and you will get to try different local meats, cheeses, and jams. You will also learn a lot about Florentine food and culture!

Both of these cooking classes include a market tour at the beginning of the class:

READ MORE: Top 10 Markets in Florence Italy for Food, Flowers, Leather & More

2. Look at the Food Selections

This may seem obvious, but when selecting a cooking class in Florence Italy, be sure to look at the food selections that are offered for each class! For example, would you rather learn how to make a Neapolitan pizza or traditional Italian pasta?

While we love pizza, we were more intrigued by the idea of learning how to make pasta while in Italy, so we chose to take a pasta-making class.

Consider the kind of food you want to learn how to make before signing up!

3. Consider the Class Setting

Next, when deciding which cooking class to take, you should also consider the class setting. It is important to note that some cooking classes in Florence Italy are offered at a traditional cooking school, whereas others are offered just outside of Florence in a more picturesque Tuscan farmhouse setting.

While the class we took was at a traditional cooking school, it still provided a lively, fun atmosphere! With Italian cooking music on in the background, it was hard not to get in the mood in such a fun and classic cooking environment.

On the other hand, if you are more drawn to the picturesque farmhouse setting, then here are two extremely popular and highly rated classes that are offered at a beautiful Tuscan estate just outside of Florence. Click on the links below for video previews!

4. Consider the Class Length

Another factor to consider is the length of the class. Some cooking classes are as short as three hours, while others can be as long as seven, taking up a full day!

If you have an entire day to devote to a market tour and cooking class experience, we would recommend the full-day market tour and pasta-making class at a Tuscan estate.

Alternatively, if you would rather take a shorter class and still have some time afterwards for exploring more of Florence, we would recommend one of the 5-hour options above or this well-rated 3-hour pasta-making class.

5. Opt for a Class that Includes Dessert

Additionally, it is worth noting that some cooking classes do not include dessert. Given that Italians make some of the best desserts out there, you should definitely opt for a class that includes how to make a dessert!

The two most popular desserts taught in Florence cooking classes are gelato and tiramisu. We selected a class that taught us how to make tiramisu (one, because it’s one of my favorite desserts, and two, because we felt we could easily make it at home, which turned out to be true!).

Think about which dessert you would like to learn to make in Florence!

6. Choose a Class that Provides Take-Home Recipes

While many cooking classes in Florence provide recipes for you to take home, not all of them do. If you want to be able to replicate these fantastic dishes at home, make sure to look for a class that includes take-home recipes!

All of the classes recommended in this post include take-home recipes, so you can use your newly acquired Italian cooking skills later at home!

We have used our pasta and tiramisu recipes multiple times since coming back from Italy and have even shared them with family and friends. Once you get back, you will be glad to have them!

7. Arrive Hungry!

This may go without saying, but do not fill up on food before your class begins!

Many cooking classes in Florence serve appetizers to hold you over until the food you made is ready to eat. Your chef will usually provide you with an assortment of freshly baked bread or bruschetta, charcuterie, cheeses, and wine.

All of the classes recommended here include delicious appetizers!

Additionally, if you opt for a class that includes a market tour, then you will also be given a sample of tasty foods from the market. So come hungry!

8. Book Your Cooking Class Early

Finally, you should make sure to book your cooking class early!

One of the perks of booking with Viator is their “book now, pay later” and free cancellation policies. This flexibility makes it so easy to make bookings in advance, so that you won’t miss out on unforgettable experiences like this one.

These popular cooking classes fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your cooking class early before it fills up!

Summary:

We hope this list has helped you determine the best cooking class for you to take on your trip to Florence! To recap, here are our top three recommended cooking classes in Florence Italy:

What to Expect if You Book the Original Cooking Class & Market Tour

We took the Original Cooking Class & Market Tour on our recent trip to Florence, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip! We would 100% recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing cooking class in Florence.

Here is what you can expect if you book this same class:

This cooking class starts with a tour of Mercato Centrale, where your guide will give you a selection of delicious charcuterie, cheeses, and jams to try from the best vendors in the market. Your guide will also purchase fresh meat, vegetables, and herbs for the pasta you will be making later that day! Your guide will also give you some personal recommendations on the best places to eat if you wish to return to the market later on during your Florence trip.

Once back at the cooking school, the cooking classes will begin. First, the chef will teach you how to make a delectable homemade tiramisu!

Each table (around 6 people) will make a large batch of the tiramisu fillings, made from egg, mascarpone, and sugar. Since only a hand whisk is used to whip the ingredients, we were glad that this part was more of a group effort! Once the fillings are ready, then each person will assemble their own personal tiramisu.

During this time, you will also be served some tasty appetizers, such as bruschetta, charcuterie, and cheeses, along with a glass of Chianti wine – a welcome treat after all of the effort!

After a short break, you will learn how to make two different kinds of pasta (tagliatelle and ravioli), completely from scratch! The pasta is made with eggs, flour, and semolina, and each person will make their own ball of dough. The chef will help you know when the dough is the perfect consistency.

One of the things we loved about this class was that no special tools were required. Everything you learn to make in this class can be made with what you already have in your kitchen at home!

While the dough is resting, the chef will demonstrate how to make two traditional Italian sauces – an aromatic Bolognese ragout (which takes all day if made properly) for the tagliatelle and a light butter and sage sauce for the ravioli. The chef will also demonstrate how to make a ricotta and spinach filling for the ravioli. All are delicious!

After the dough has rested for about thirty minutes, you will roll out the dough and make the noodles. Specifically, you will learn how to make two different kinds of pasta – tagliatelle (long, thin, flat noodles) and ravioli (square noodles with a filling). This part was so much fun!

Once the pasta is finished, the school chefs will cook and prepare the pasta together with the sauce. You will be served a magnificent homemade meal of fresh tagliatelle with Bolognese ragout, and ricotta and spinach ravioli with butter and sage sauce! After lunch, you will also be served your homemade tiramisu to enjoy for dessert.

We thoroughly enjoyed this cooking class on our last trip, and we would recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable and memorable cooking class in Florence.

✔ Book your Florence cooking class & market tour today!

Best Places to Stay in Florence Italy

To get the most out of your trip to Florence, we would definitely recommend staying a couple nights if you can! The best place to stay in Florence is in the city center near the Duomo so that everything is within easy walking distance of your hotel.

Here are a few recommendations:

• The St. Regis Florence ($$$): This historic 5-star hotel is one of the top luxury hotels in Florence. The building was designed by Brunelleschi himself. It is located along the Arno River and offers sweeping views of Ponte Vecchio.

✔ Check prices for The St. Regis Florence here!

• NH Collection Palazzo Gaddi ($$): (My personal favorite recommendation!) This beautiful, Renaissance 5-star hotel from 1596 has excellent reviews. It is just a five-minute walk to the Duomo and the train station, making it an ideal location for both exploring Florence and taking day trips to the Tuscan countryside. The hotel’s rooftop terrace boasts a spectacular view of the city.

✔ Check prices for NH Collection Palazzo Gaddi here!

Visiting Florence: FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Florence.

What is the best month to visit Florence Italy?

The best months to visit Florence Italy are March, April, October, and November (just avoid Easter weekend). In early spring and late fall, the weather will be cool and enjoyable, and the city will be far less crowded than in the summer.

How many days is enough to visit Florence?

We think two full days and three nights is enough time to visit Florence and see the main sights. However, you could easily spend three days or more!

In two full days, you can visit the Duomo, climb the dome, see the Uffizi and the Accademia Galleries, and walk through Florence’s squares and along the Arno River.

With three or more days, you can take a cooking class or vespa tour of Tuscany, explore more of the city’s art galleries and museums, or add on a day trip to the Tuscan hill towns.

READ MORE: How Many Days in Florence Is Enough?

Is Florence a walkable city?

Yes, Florence is extremely walkable! Other than getting to and from the airport, you can walk everywhere in Florence. We never used a taxi other than getting from the airport to our hotel when we arrived in Florence and getting from our hotel to the train station when we left.

We do recommend staying in the city center near the Duomo for the best accessibility to the main sights and attractions – especially if it is your first time in Florence!

How far apart are Florence and Tuscany?

Florence is the capital of Tuscany, so it is actually part of the Tuscany region. However, if you are wondering how far the city of Florence is from the idyllic rolling hills of Tuscany, the answer is not very far! There are several ways to access the Tuscan countryside from Florence.

For one, you can take a vespa tour from Florence and ride a vespa through the scenic roads of Tuscany, or you can take a guided Tuscany day trip to several of the nearby hill towns and vineyards. You can also take a train to Siena in about 1.5 hours and explore this beautiful Tuscan hill town on your own in a day.

Conclusion: Cooking Classes in Florence Italy

Florence is a wonderful place to visit and one of the best places to take cooking classes in Italy! Whether you want to make a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza or traditional, made-from-scratch pasta, you have an amazing selection of cooking classes in Florence Italy to choose from.

If you love the idea of cooking Italian food and enjoying a delicious meal on a beautiful Tuscan estate, Florence is the perfect place to book an Italian cooking class. We know that it will be a fun and unforgettable experience. Buon appetito!