5 Cooking Classes in Sorrento, Italy (And Which to Choose!)
If there was ONE thing I knew we were absolutely doing on our first trip to Italy, it was a cooking class. I mean, you can’t go to Italy and NOT do this right?!
With only 5 days on the Amalfi Coast & Sorrento, we wanted to squeeze in as much as possible, so we ended up doing a cooking class on our very first night!
But before our trip, I remember being completely overwhelmed with all the different cooking class options in Sorrento.
Did we want to make pasta or pizza? How much did we want to spend? Did we care about cooking in a kitchen or outside with a view?
Below I’m breaking down 5 different cooking classes in Sorrento (including the one we chose and why!) to help you easily compare price, duration, and what’s all included before you book!
What Type of Cooking Class Should You Book?
There are tons and tons of cooking classes in Sorrento (one of the many reasons I loved staying in Sorrento vs the actual Amalfi Coast).
I’ve narrowed down my top 5 choices in this guide to help you choose the perfect one for you!
In general, there are a few discerning factors to consider before you decide:
Pizza vs. pasta: Some classes are strictly pizza making, while others focus on fresh pasta like gnocchi, eggplant parmesan, or ravioli. A few combine both. The pizza only classes are typically shorter and cheaper, but the pasta classes include more variety!
In Sorrento vs. up in the hills: Most of the cooking classes on this list take place 10-20 minutes outside of Sorrento up in the hills, as this is where the farms, lemon groves, and beautiful views are located. Some include round-trip transportation from Sorrento to the class location, others don’t. I’ve included one class that actually takes place in the town of Sorrento in case you don’t want to journey far.
Garden/farm vs. restaurant kitchen: Related to the above, some classes are held in an actual working kitchen/restaurant, while others take place outside/on a family farm where you’ll walk through the garden before cooking, sometimes picking your own lemons/herbs if you’re visiting in season.
Group vs. private: Most classes run as small groups (8 to 15 people), which keeps the price down and is very fun! However, if you’d rather a more personal experience or have a large group, I’ve included a private class option on this list.
Dietary needs: If you have specific dietary needs, I recommend seeking out specialized cooking class or confirming in advance with the cooking school that they can accommodate you. I have included a gluten-free cooking class in this list in case that applies to you!
Here’s a quick summary of the 5 classes and what’s included in each:
| Class | Price | Duration | Transportation | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta Making Class at Tirabusciò | $108 | 3 hours | Round-trip included | Pasta, mozzarella tasting, wine, dessert |
| Pizza Making Class at Tirabusciò | $69 | 2 hours | Round-trip included | Pizza, mozzarella tasting, wine, dessert, coffee |
| Pasta Cooking Class With a View | $137 | 3.5 hours | Round-trip included | Pasta, dessert, wine, limoncello, welcome cocktail |
| Gluten-Free Pasta Making Class | $103 | 2.5 hours | Not included (available on request) | Pasta, dessert, wine, limoncello |
| Local Cooking Class in Sorrento | $171 | 3 hours | Not needed | Pasta, main course, dessert, appetizers, wine/cocktail |
#1. Pasta Making Class at Tirabusciò Sorrento (The One We Did!!)
⏱️ Duration: 3 hours | 💰 Cost: ~$108 per person | ⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 on GetYourGuide
✅ Includes: Mozzarella demo & olive oil tasting, wine, eggplant parmigiana, handmade ravioli, tiramisu, round-trip transportation from Sorrento
This pasta making class at Tirabusciò Sorrento was the one we chose, and I can’t recommend it enough!
For $108 per person, you’ll get to spend 3 hours cooking fresh eggplant parmigiana and handmade ravioli while drinking wine with a small group of other travelers!
They offer the class twice each day: one at 10:30am for lunch and another at 6:00pm for dinner. We chose the evening one since we had action-packed days the rest of our trip, like visiting Pompeii, Capri, and doing a boat tour around the coast!
A van picked us up in the center of town and drove us up to the school in less than 10 minutes. The second we walked in, we were handed aprons and a glass of Italian red wine (a dream).
To kick off the class, our instructor made fresh mozzarella right in front of us, explaining the “magic water” they use in the process. We each got our own ball of mozzarella to try, plus fresh, warm bread and a variety of their homemade olive oils to complement it.
Once we finished our mozzarella, we moved into the main kitchen area with about 12 other students, where we started the class off by making eggplant parmigiana.
After frying the eggplant ourselves, we stuffed and rolled it with ricotta and mozzarella, layered it into a tin with fresh tomato sauce and basil, and sent it off to bake.
While the eggplant was in the oven, we moved onto making fresh pasta (which was a first for both me and my husband!!).
After combining flour, egg, salt, pepper, and olive oil and kneading it until our hands were cramping, we ran the dough through a pasta machine a few times to flatten it, layered it with cheese, and cut it into ravioli!!
Some people that had leftover dough also got to turn the extra into spaghetti!
We got to cook the ravioli ourselves and finish it off with sauce and fresh basil, at which point our eggplant parms were also done.
Our entire group then headed out to the garden area to enjoy our hard work, and it was absolutely some of the best pasta I’ve ever had!! We had more wine with dinner and finished the evening off with some mouth-watering tiramisu before returning by van to Sorrento.
Overall, I would highly recommend this pasta making class in Sorrento!! It was the perfect balance between cost, time, and variety!
Book the exact pasta making class we did in Sorrento here! 🍝
#2. Pizza Making Class at Tirabusciò Sorrento
⏱️ Duration: 2 hours | 💰 Cost: ~$69 per person | ⭐ Rating: 4.9/5 on GetYourGuide
✅ Includes: Neapolitan pizza making, local wine tasting, custom toppings, tiramisù & coffee, round-trip transportation
If you want to make pizza instead of pasta, this pizza making class at Tirabusciò is the perfect choice!
This class is run at the same school where we did our pasta class (see above!), and round-trip transportation from Sorrento is also included with this one.
We actually saw them making pizzas when we were doing our pasta class and they looked amazing!
In this class, you’ll learn how to make authentic Neapolitan pizza from scratch, taste some local wine along the way, and customize your own pizza with whatever toppings you like.
The pizza class is a bit shorter and cheaper than the pasta one, so it’s a great option if you’re tight on time or budget.
There are three start times to choose from (11am, 1pm, and 6:30pm), so you can go for lunch or dinner!
It wraps up with tiramisù for dessert, which I can speak from experience was delicious! You also get some fresh coffee if you want it.
For those looking for a well-priced pizza making class in Sorrento, this is the perfect option!👇🏻🍕
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#3. Pasta Cooking Class With a View
⏱️ Duration: 3.5 hours | 💰 Cost: $137 per person | ⭐ Rating: 5/5 on GetYourGuide
✅ Includes: Round-trip transfer, welcome cocktail, gnocchi sorrentina or scialatielli, eggplant parmigiana, tiramisù, coffee, wine, limoncello tasting
If I were to go back to Sorrento, this is the cooking class I would probably book for our second time because of the dreamy views and great reviews!
This pasta making class takes place near a citrus grove in a family garden where you get to pick some of your own ingredients.
You’ll get to cook alongside a local chef on the terrace overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Sorrentine Coastline!
After a welcome cocktail, you’ll make either handmade gnocchi sorrentina or fresh scialatielli pasta, plus eggplant parmigiana! Local wine and a limoncello tasting are also included in the class.
There are two sessions daily, a morning class at 9:30am that ends with lunch or an afternoon class at 5:30pm that ends with dinner.
Round-trip transfer from your hotel in Sorrento is included! And if you’d rather not share the kitchen with strangers, there’s also a private group option!
#4. Gluten-Free Cooking Class with Chef Geppi
⏱️ Duration: 2.5 hours | 💰 Cost: ~$103 per person | ⭐ Rating: 4.6/5 on GetYourGuide
✅ Includes: Lemon grove walk, gnocchi, eggplant parmigiana rolls, lemon mousse, limoncello, drinks, digital recipe booklet
For my fellow travelers with tummy troubles, this cooking class with Chef Geppi was the only dedicated gluten-free class I could find on the Sorrento Peninsula!
Hosted at a family-run farm just outside town, the class starts with a welcome aperitivo when you arrive.
Then, you’ll walk through the property’s lemon grove, where you’ll pick fresh lemons straight off the trees (if you’re visiting in spring/summer season).
Then, guided by Chef Geppi, you’ll hand-roll potato gnocchi, make eggplant parmigiana, and prepare a lemon mousse dessert using the farm’s own citrus, all naturally gluten-free!
Afterward you’ll sit down to eat everything together with drinks included, then toast with homemade limoncello!
You’ll also walk away with a digital recipe booklet so you can recreate the dishes at home!
The farm is less than 10 minutes from Sorrento by car or train, and transportation isn’t included but can be arranged for an extra cost in advance!
#5. Local Cooking Class in Sorrento
⏱️ Duration: 3 hours | 💰 Cost: ~$171 per person | ⭐ Rating: 5/5 on GetYourGuide
✅ Includes: Welcome cocktail, cheese & cured meats, pasta course, main course, dessert, local wine
If you don’t want to deal with pickup logistics, this cooking class with a local is your best option, since it’s held right in Sorrento with no extra transportation needed!
While slightly pricier than the other classes, you’ll also cook more than just pasta or pizza, as it includes a main dish as well. Plus, a Prosecco cocktail and a tasting of local cheeses and cold meats when you arrive!
The class is limited to just 10 people, which means you’ll get more 1:1 time with the chefs!
Once everything’s cooked, you’ll sit down as a group to eat it all together with local wine. There’s both a morning session (11:00am to 1:30pm) and an evening session (6:00pm to 8:30pm) to choose from!
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide has helped you narrow down exactly which cooking class in Sorrento is best for you!
No matter which one you choose, take my word for it when I say doing a cooking class in Italy is a must-do bucket list activity.
It was one of my favorite memories from our trip, and my husband and I immediately bought a pasta machine when we got home so we could recreate the magic!!
If you’re looking for other activities to fill your itinerary, head over to my guide on the top 15 things to do on the Amalfi Coast & Sorrento for some more inspo!
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
