Perugia: Food & Wine Walking Tour with Tastings & Local Stories

Summary

Perugia food tour with wine tastings and local stories on foot

You’ll wander Perugia’s historic center alongside a local guide, tasting fresh pastries and cappuccino for breakfast before sampling regional cheeses, prosciutto, truffle pasta, chocolates, and artisan gelato. Meet shopkeepers who share their stories between bites and sips of Umbrian wine. It’s not just a food tour — it feels like being let in on something quietly special.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the clatter of cups behind the bar — that soft, milky smell of cappuccino drifting through the narrow streets of Perugia. We squeezed into this tiny café off Corso Vannucci where our guide, Francesca, greeted the owner like an old friend. She handed me a pastry still warm from the oven (can’t for the life of me recall the name — something with honey), and I just stood there for a second, not wanting to ruin it by eating too fast. That’s when Francesca started talking about how Etruscans used to walk these same stones. It felt weirdly grounding.

We wandered past faded banners and laundry lines to a spot where they slice prosciutto so thin you can almost see through it. The cheese was sharp — tangy, almost grassy — and paired with this white Grechetto wine that tasted like sunlight on stone. A couple of locals at the next table were arguing about football (or maybe politics? hard to tell), but everyone paused when our guide explained the story behind Fagiolina del Trasimeno beans. Apparently they’re nearly extinct? I’d never tasted anything quite like them — earthy, nutty, drizzled with olive oil that smelled green somehow.

I didn’t expect to love Perugia’s chocolate as much as I did. There’s this old spice shop where we tried both famous brands and some odd little squares dusted with chili powder. The owner winked when I hesitated before biting in — “piccante,” he warned me, laughing. My mouth burned just enough to make me laugh back. We finished at a gelateria that’s apparently one of Italy’s top 100 (who knew?), where I picked pistachio out of habit but ended up stealing bites of my friend’s fig-and-walnut scoop instead. Still think about that flavor sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Food and history tour in Perugia

• Enjoy cappuccino and pastry breakfast
• Taste cheeses and Prosciutto in cafe
• Sample Fagiolina del Trasimeno with wine
• Taste chocolates at oldest spice shop

Top questions

How long does the Perugia food tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 4 hours.

Are vegetarian options available on this Perugia food & wine tour?

Yes, vegetarian options are available but vegan or gluten-free diets aren’t recommended.

Is pickup included for the Perugia walking food tour?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet your guide in central Perugia.

What foods are sampled during the day trip in Perugia?

You’ll try pastries, cheeses, prosciutto, olive oils, truffle pasta, chocolates, gelato, wines and craft beer.

Is this tour suitable for children or strollers?

Yes, infants and small children can join in a pram or stroller.

Does the tour include alcoholic beverages?

Yes, wine and craft beer tastings are included along with non-alcoholic options.

Will we meet local chefs or shop owners during this food tour?

Yes, you’ll meet restaurant owners, chefs and shopkeepers who share their stories along the route.

What’s included

Your day includes more than ten tastings—think pastries fresh from the oven for breakfast followed by regional cheeses and prosciutto in historic cafés—plus sips of Umbrian wines and craft beers as you stroll with your local guide through Perugia’s old town; you’ll also taste truffle pasta, chocolates at an old spice shop, artisan gelato at one of Italy’s best gelaterias—and hear personal stories from chefs and shopkeepers along the way.