12 Top European Destinations for the Ultimate Food Tour
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Sometimes, travel is about sampling completely new foods washed down with delicious local wines. If you’re seeking the best culinary destinations in Europe, look no further. From city break favorites like Copenhagen, Rome, and Istanbul to less obvious choices in Croatia, Greece, or Slovenia, here are the places that can tickle your tastebuds.
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Elegant, upmarket restaurants are as much a feature of Copenhagen’s dining scene as Danish pastries, with foodies flocking to the city to sample flawlessly executed fare. From modern Nordic cuisine to rich winter dishes designed to warm you from the inside, plenty of culinary delights await. Work up an appetite in summer by taking a dip at one of the city’s many swimming spots before tucking into a feast for a king—or queen.
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Porto, Portugal
It’s not only fortified red wine that the Portuguese city of Porto is good for. This destination is particularly well suited to anyone avoiding meat, as seafood is the highlight of Portuguese cuisine. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Gluten-free fare is also widely available. Whatever you dine out on, you can wash it down with wines from the nearby Douro Valley.
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Paris, France
With many food outlets, from local bakeries to Michelin-starred eateries, Paris is always a foodie favorite. The French capital offers many culinary delights, whether picking up freshly baked croissants for breakfast, tucking into croque monsieur for lunch, or savoring a fine-dining feast. Don’t forget to sample some pretty, pastel-colored macarons, too.
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Athens, Greece
Athens, the capital of Greece, offers a range of ocean and countryside produce. Here, locally produced meat is just as popular as fresh fish and seafood at seaside taverns, giving you the best of both worlds. Specialties of Greek cuisine include ouzo, the aniseed-flavored Greek aperitif, and cheeses like feta with the Protected Designation of Origin label.
Read also: Best Dishes To Try When Visiting Greece
London, UK
If you think British food is nothing to write about, think again. Nowhere does a full-cooked breakfast featuring bacon and eggs, a Sunday roast, fish and chips, pies, or satisfying puddings better. But what most appeals to foodies about London is the choice – restaurants here featuring cuisines from all over the globe. London’s culinary scene is hard to beat if you want the world on a plate.
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Istanbul, Turkey
If you love grilled meats, fresh seafood, or lightly spiced food, you’ll love Istanbul’s foodie scene. Situated where East meets West, the city is a culinary and cultural melting pot. From proper Turkish kebabs, fish casseroles, or pide—a topped flatbread to rival pizza—to delicate, honey-soaked baklava, you can sample the local flavors all over the city. The thriving street food scene makes great food affordable, too.
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Cavtat, Croatia
Fresh, healthy Mediterranean and Dalmatian cuisine is the order of the day in Cavtat, Croatia. Lush forests, beautiful beaches, and mountain peaks surround this small, sea-facing settlement. Stone-baked seafood, meat dishes, cheeses, meats, and lots of fresh vegetables and olive oil form the basis of the Dalmatian diet, which you can sample in local taverns.
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Rome, Italy
One of the historic and cultural capitals of the world, Rome should be equally famous for its food scene. Food tours are popular here so visitors can explore the city’s rich culinary traditions. Nose-to-tail eating is a thing; of course, there’s plenty of pasta, pizza, and gelato to sample. Creamy carbonara sauce originated in the city, so try some when in Rome.
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San Sebastian, Spain
Multiple Michelin stars have placed San Sebastian on the foodie map, and the Spanish city is at the cutting edge of contemporary cuisine. As it’s located within the Basque Country, pintxos are a local specialty and the regional answer to tapas. Perhaps surprisingly, cider production is also big in this part of Spain. Picturesque, shell-shaped La Concha Bay only adds to San Sebastian’s universal appeal.
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Vienna, Austria
The refined Austrian city of Vienna is most famous for sweet treats—think Viennese biscuits and Sachertorte. Coffee culture is big here, too, and having a pastry or cake to accompany your hot drink is de rigueur. The city’s Film Festival, held at Rathausplatz, is as much a culinary event as a cultural one. If fine dining is your thing, you’ll appreciate that over 100 Vienna restaurants boast Michelin stars.
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Maribor, Slovenia
For Michelin-level dining, fresh local produce, and fine wines from the Štajerska region, head to Maribor in Slovenia. A former European Capital of Culture, the city lies close to the Austrian and Croatian borders and is home to the world’s oldest grapevine. The region is a natural larder and ideal for lovers of outdoor life, while the city’s history can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
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Brussels, Belgium
There’s more to Belgian cuisine than mussels with fries, chocolate, and beer. Brussels is the capital of Flanders and Belgium and thus draws upon both culinary traditions. Belgian dishes tend to have a strong French influence, while Flemish food is generally based on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Must-tries include waffles, rabbit cooked in beer, and pralines.
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