Catania: Street Food & Market Tour with Sicilian Bites

Summary

Walk Catania’s market streets tasting arancini and sharing laughs

You’ll taste your way through Catania’s markets with a local guide who knows every shortcut and snack stand. Expect hot arancini, fizzy fruit juice, Sicilian desserts, and stories you won’t find in any guidebook. It’s messy, loud, and full of flavor — exactly what Sicily should feel like.

What’s the experience like?

We started weaving through the backstreets of Catania just as the Pescheria market was waking up — you could smell that mix of sea and fried things before you even saw the stalls. Our guide, Andrea, waved us over near Piazza Duomo (I was already distracted by some old guy arguing about swordfish prices). He handed me a paper cone with something hot inside — first bite, I burned my tongue but it was worth it. Salty, crunchy, oily in a way that makes you want more. I didn’t expect to be eating standing up next to locals shouting over each other, but it felt right.

Andrea had this way of telling stories that made me forget we were on a tour — he pointed out which stalls had been there for generations and which ones to avoid unless you like “tourist prices.” We tried arancini (he says Catania does them best), and I swear I still think about that saffron rice. Someone in our group tried to say “granita” with the right accent; Andrea laughed so hard he almost dropped his beer. The whole thing felt kind of chaotic but in a good way — people squeezing past with crates of oranges, the clang from fishmongers’ knives, that weird fizz from the fruit juice they poured for us. Sun kept shifting between clouds so sometimes you’d get this flash of light on the wet cobblestones.

We passed Ursino Castle at some point — Andrea paused just long enough to tell us about medieval Sicily before steering us toward another snack (I lost track of how many). There was a stop along Via Crociferi too; honestly, by then my hands were sticky from dessert and I barely caught all the history bits. But I remember him saying something about church bells echoing off stone walls here for centuries. At one point I realized I hadn’t checked my phone for ages — too busy eating or listening or just watching people argue in dialect over cheese prices.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Catania street food and market tour

• Meet guide and travellers
• Walk among market benches
• Sample daily street food
• Have a toast with group
• Pass by and admire sights
• View Ursino Castle and learn history
• Enjoy special delicacies and history
• Learn about traditions on Via Crociferi
• Try local specialties off tourist path

Top questions

How long does the Catania street food tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

Is vegetarian food available on this tour?

The morning tour is suitable for vegetarians and pescatarians; the night tour is not.

What foods are included on the Catania street food tour?

You’ll sample arancini, street food bites (enough for a meal), Sicilian dessert (cake or granita), seasonal fruit from the market, plus two alcoholic drinks or one fizzy fruit juice.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is near Piazza Duomo in Catania.

Is this street food tour suitable for people with allergies?

No; there is high risk of nut contamination and it is not suitable for vegans or those allergic to dairy or gluten.

Are drinks included in the price?

Yes; two alcoholic drinks (beer or wine) plus one fizzy fruit juice are included.

Does the tour include entry to Ursino Castle?

No; you’ll admire Ursino Castle from outside while learning about its history.

What’s included

Your walk includes generous tastings of Catania’s best arancini and street food bites (enough for lunch), two alcoholic drinks or one fizzy fruit juice, Sicilian dessert like cake or granita, seasonal fruit picked up at the market stalls along the way, plus all stories shared by your local expert guide as you wander through lively streets and markets together.