Culinary internships in Rome
When it comes to internationally beloved recipes and cultural gastronomy, few places on the globe can top Italy’s infamous reputation. Italians have much to be proud of, as their culinary heritage is about more than just food! Their iconic dishes reflect a passion for quality and the joy of eating well with friends and family. Culinary interns in Rome have access to a unique cultural experience, for both personal and professional development. Combine Italian language lessons with hands-on kitchen assistance experience. As an intern, you’ll be exposed to different culinary techniques, collaborating alongside experienced crew who’ll provide a window into their culture and craft.
Internship Highlights:
- Combine your internship with Italian language lessons.
- Enhance your culinary skills with guidance from professionals.
- Gain insight into local techniques and specialities.
Type of host organizations:
- Restaurants
- Bakeries
- Cafes
- Delicatessens
Internship details
Is Italy your dream destination for mouth-watering traditional dishes? If your career path is focused on exploring a love of food and culture, then don’t miss a Culinary internship in Rome! Gain experience as you immerse yourself in the Italian language, learning about delicious recipe techniques, cooking methods, and best practice from industry professionals. Culinary internships in Rome include Italian language lessons, to support the cultural and social aspects of this experience.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation included. You can explore remote internships, if you are looking for an internship program that you can undertake from home.
Italy is known the world over for its culinary delights. Quality in-season ingredients and simple seasonings lead to rich, authentic dishes packed with color and flavor. As a culinary intern, you’ll learn the ropes of what it takes to contribute as an effective team member in a real kitchen. Whether it’s developing recipes, preparing and producing pasta, bread or pastries, assisting with meal prep, creating decorations and garnishes, or assisting with content creation, blog and social media posts, food articles and reviews, come prepared to get stuck in and showcase your skill, creativity, and adaptability in a fast paced environment.
Culinary internship experiences vary and if you’re at a more introductory level, then you should expect a more introductory internship. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand what your skills are, how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, and what you enjoy. Note that while your internship can be conducted in some English, a language barrier can still be encountered, so interns should be prepared for the very natural and normal frustration of not always understanding what is being said around them.
All internships in Rome include mandatory Italian language lessons, which are included within the minimum duration requirement of the internship. For beginners to the Italian language (levels A1 and A2), you’re required to complete a four-week Italian language course at an accredited language school in Rome before you commence activities at your internship placement. This is included in the internship program fee and arrangements.
Interns with intermediate Italian will complete two weeks of language lessons, prior to commencing the placement, instead of four. If you have intermediate language skills you will be required to provide verification (such as a B1 or B2 level certificate) and/or demonstrate your listening comprehension and spoken proficiency. These two abilities (listening and speaking) are the most important skills that will be assessed, to determine if you’re able to complete your internship as an “intermediate” speaker of Italian.
Typical Schedule
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The schedule for this internship can vary between a part time and full time commitment. Hours could range from approximately 9 or 10 am through till 3 pm. Note that some schedules can involve activities on Saturdays or evenings. Specific schedules are communicated in advance, according to assigned internship placements. If you have requirements for your schedule, please ensure they’re discussed in advance.
Career Benefits
Culinary interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Recipe development.
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Preparing and producing pasta, bread or pastries.
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Meal preparation.
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Content creation.
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Social media marketing.
Professional development opportunities:
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Gain real word experience in a professional kitchen.
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Build your industry connections.
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Enhance your knowledge and passion for culinary excellence.
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Build Italian language skills in a professional environment.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Italy photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | $5,598 Equivalent to $99 /day |
| 10 weeks | $6,390 Equivalent to $91 /day |
| 12 weeks | $7,083 Equivalent to $84 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
- It is important to note that internships in Rome include mandatory Italian language lessons, which are taken in conjunction with the internship program. Beginners to the Italian language must commit to a minimum duration of at least 10 weeks, which includes Italian language lessons for the first 4 weeks. Intermediate Italian speakers (B1 or B2 or higher) must commit to a minimum duration of 8 weeks, which includes at least 2 weeks of Italian language lessons, prior to commencing the placement. If you have intermediate Italian language skills, you will be required to provide verification (such as a B1 or B2 level certificate) and/or demonstrate your listening comprehension and spoken proficiency. These two abilities (listening and speaking) are the most important skills that will be assessed, to determine if you're able to complete your internship as an "intermediate" speaker of Italian.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Language lessons and internship schedule
It is important to note that internships in Rome include mandatory Italian language lessons, which are taken in conjunction with the internship program. This approach is designed to enhance the enjoyment of being in Italy, while developing professional social, and cultural competencies. While your internship can be conducted in some English, a language barrier can still be encountered to a certain extent. Interns should be prepared for the very natural and normal frustration of not always understanding what is being said around them. Most interns are able to have a successful internship experience and it is essential to come prepared and willing to surmount a language barrier, as opposed to being intimidated by it.
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Beginners to the Italian language must complete the 4-week introductory Italian language course (included in their total duration) before beginning their internship placement.
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Intermediate Italian speakers (B1 or B2 or higher) must complete at least 2 weeks’ Italian language course (included in their total duration) before beginning their internship placement.
The Italian language instruction is offered through an accredited provider and member of the Association of Schools of Italian as a Second Language (ASILS).
Weekends and travel
There’s so much to see and do within the city of Rome, it can almost seem overwhelming! However, our internship hosts in Rome have the best advice and know all the tricks for getting around and making the most out of your time. They are happy to coordinate cultural excursions directly - whether you want guided museum tours, evenings at the opera, or tickets to sporting events. When you’re ready get out of the city and explore the Roman countryside, you won’t be disappointed by a visit to Sermoneta. With its Caetani Castle and beautifully preserved medieval churches, it’s considered to be one of Italy’s loveliest towns. Sermoneta is also home to the Gardens of Ninfa. Famed for their romantic atmosphere, the expansive gardens contain ruins, towers, frescos, and over 13,000 varieties of plantlife. Rome’s central location in Italy makes it conveniently situated to visit other Italian cities, such as Florence, Venice, Milan, Sicily, and Tuscany, as well as other destinations within Europe. Transportation systems are fast and economical, connecting Rome to both regional and international destinations.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Rome begin monthly, with the exception of August. Other exceptions to general start date availability throughout the year may occur when start dates are closed due to public holiday disruptions or if the program has already reached capacity. Beginner Italian language speakers typically begin the program on the first Monday of the month. Two start dates per month are available for intermediate Italian language speakers (B1 and B2 or higher).
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
All participants fly into the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) or Ciampino–G.B. Pastine International Airport (CIA), in order to receive their airport pick up and be transported to the homestay accommodation.
Orientation is held on the afternoon of the Monday start date and covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
If you are planning to spend time independently in Italy prior to your internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can arrange an alternative pick up from another location within Rome. Otherwise, you may make your own way to the local team’s office on Monday for your start date (and opt to have the return transportation to the airport covered, instead of your airport pick up).
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation, outside of the program dates, can be arranged in advance and are subject to availability.
All participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
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Accommodation and WiFi
Interns in Rome are hosted in friendly and welcoming homestay accommodations. In the event that home-stay accommodation has reached maximum capacity, interns can alternatively be accommodated in an apartment, sharing with other interns or Italian language students.
Interns can expect to have their own bedroom but may be accommodated alongside 2 to 3 other students or interns. Bathrooms are shared. Living is comfortable and WiFi is provided. Laundry is included within homestay accommodation - usually it will be done once a week.
Accommodation is typically situated within 20-30 minutes walking distance to the local team’s office (where the Italian language lessons also take place). The commute time to internship placements can vary. Although some are quite nearby, in many cases, interns should expect a commute time of 30-45 minutes by public transportation (metro or bus). If interns prefer to stay at accommodation which is further from the office, yet closer to the internship placement instead, this request may be granted (subject to availability).
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one apartment, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. Rooms sizes vary.
Meals
Internships on this program do not include meals, as affordable supermarkets are easily accessible and accomodation will have kitchen facilities for you to utilise. Italy has a thriving coffee culture which is delightful to partake in (there is also WiFi in almost all coffee shops and restaurants). For eating out, interns may budget approximately 3 - 5 Euro for a light breakfast (about US$5 - 7) and 5 - 10 Euro for a simple lunch (about US$5 - 12). There are ample dining options ranging from budget to high end. Italian cuisine offers a range of incredible dishes to experience, including well known classics such as pizza, pasta, and more.
Essential country information
| Capital | Rome |
| Population | 61.7 million |
| Languages | Italian |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 |
Weather and climate:
Italy has a diverse climate, which is influenced by the Apennine Mountains, which form the peninsula’s backbone, and the Alps, which make up most of its northern boundary. Four different seas also surround the Italian Peninsula and influence it’s weather patterns - the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian, Ligurian, and the Tyrrhenian. Due to its geography and longitudinal stretch, the climate ranges from humid subtropical to oceanic. In particular, the Po valley has harsh winters and hot summers.
Focusing on Rome, where the internships are based, summers are short, hot, dry, and humid, while the wintertime is long, cold, wet, and often cloudy. The hottest months of summer are from mid June till mid September. During this time, the average daily high temperature is above 82°F / 28°C. The colder months are from late November through late March, when the average daily high is below 60°F / 15°C. The coldest day of the year is typically recorded in January. The wetter time of year is usually September through May.
