Tour Details
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Historic District
- Artisanal Food Shops
Photos & Highlights
- Discover the vibrant Piazza Benedetto Cairoli and the Jewish Ghetto, where holiday traditions and culinary heritage blend in every bite
- Uncover the history and customs behind Rome’s festive foods, guided by a local expert who brings centuries of tradition to life
Select a date
Tour Description
Explore the streets of Rome as the city’s festive lights and traditional holiday treats bring warmth to the winter air. Starting in the historic Piazza Benedetto Cairoli, your local expert will guide you through hidden corners and festive hotspots, explaining the origins of the holiday pastries, like panettone, a traditional Italian Christmas bread, and torrone, a creamy nut-filled nougat.
From one stop to the next, your guide shares how Roman holiday treats have evolved through cultural exchanges and preserved local traditions, adding flavor and depth to your experience. As you sip on a cup of silky Italian hot chocolate, you’ll be immersed in the holiday spirit, gaining a richer understanding of Rome’s unique culinary heritage and the timeless joy of its winter festivals.
Throughout your journey, you’ll see and feel the warmth of the season and the excitement of Romans engaging in their cherished holiday traditions. You'll visit small artisan shops, learning how to order seasonal treats in Italian. Along the way, stop for freshly roasted chestnuts from street vendors.
Whether you’re a food lover, history enthusiast, or simply curious about Roman holiday traditions, this tour will reveal Rome’s holiday charm in a new way, with memories that linger far beyond the last bite of torrone.
- You want to experience Rome’s holiday season through the flavors and dishes of the season.
- You’re interested in learning the histories of iconic Roman treats and traditions.
- You enjoy exploring neighborhoods with rich, layered histories, and you’d like to visit the spots the locals frequent instead of the typical tourist hot spots.
- You’d like to discover Rome’s holiday atmosphere in an authentic, off-the-beaten-path way.
- Panettone: Savor a traditional Italian Christmas bread, rich with fruits and a sweet, buttery flavor.
- Hot Chocolate: Savor the warmth of thick, Italian hot chocolate, a comforting treat in Rome's winter.
- Roasted Chestnuts: Enjoy the smoky, nutty taste of freshly roasted chestnuts, a classic Roman street food during the holidays.
- Torrone: Delight in torrone, a creamy, chewy nougat filled with nuts, embodying the essence of Italian holiday sweets.
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Seasonal Gelato: Experience a twist on tradition with gelato featuring festive, seasonal flavors.
These tastings do not replace a meal. Please keep in mind that we are taking you to local establishments that are often family-run, so hours and availability may vary.
Dietary restrictions should be shared in advance in order to possibly adapt the tour. We don’t recommend this tour for X and Y allergies to avoid the possibility of cross-contamination.
General Information
- This tour entails a moderate walking distance, including uneven cobbled streets.
- To ensure everyone enjoys the tour, let us know of any mobility concerns or dietary needs during booking.
- Note: We support local, often family-run establishments, where opening hours and availability might vary.
Tasting Fee
- Tour cost does not include a sit-down meal or food purchases outside of the provided tastings.
- These tastings are carefully selected to enhance your experience but do not necessarily constitute a full meal.
Availability Information
- This tour operates exclusively from December 1st to January 6th. Outside of these dates, the special holiday treats we feature are not available in shops.
- We have designed this tour to begin at 10 am and 3 pm to avoid meal times, ensure all venues are open, and take advantage of winter daylight hours.
- While we typically don't offer this tour on Sundays. Several of the venues we experience together are family-owned and operated, and remain closed on Sundays.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
A few things that pair well with this tour:
- Gloves and a cozy winter coat to stay comfortable while strolling Rome’s festive streets
- A reusable tote or large bag to carry any extra treats you might pick up along the way. A journal to jot down culinary insights
- Keep the culinary explorations going with a Rome Culinary Audio Guide
Are dietary restrictions accommodated?
We will try our best to accommodate, but we recommend contacting us beforehand for any specific needs.
Is this tour appropriate for kids?
Absolutely! Please mention your children's ages and interests when booking to ensure we assign a guide who's great with kids.
What happens if there’s inclement weather on my tour date?
Rain or shine, our tour goes on! We're equipped to make your experience delightful, regardless of the weather.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Overall, yes. All sites are accessible, although the length of itinerary and terrain might pose difficulties. Please note, the shops we visit do not have wheelchair-accessible toilets. Contact us for more information regarding how we can cater this tour for any accessibility needs you may have in your party.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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12 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Fantastic! Camilla was so well-informed, with such a lovely sense of humor. And the tastings were spectacular!
Danielle
Dec 30, 2022
Chiara was very, very helpful as well as informative.
She had incredible knowledge about Roman cuisine and was very helpful called a Taxi for us at the end.
Jacqueline
Jan 1, 2020
We had a wonderful time with Eleanora. She had fun stories and very knowledgeable about the Rome food scene.
Daniel
Dec 22, 2018
