Looking for the ultimate European vacation for foodies? Keep reading and discover the best food destinations in Europe that will make your belly happy!
We all agree… One of the best thing about traveling the world is to try all the different food and discover the culinary culture and customs of a new place. If you are looking for the best European vacation for foodies, you are in the right place!
After living and traveling around Europe for years, I can assure you that the following countries are the best food destinations in Europe! Keep reading and your belly will thank you!
This post highlights the ultimate European vacation for foodies itinerary and all the famous dishes you can’t miss!
BEST FOOD DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE
FRANCE
French cuisine is well-known worldwide. But did you know that there is more to it than just cheese and bread? I have a whole section about french cuisine with the must-try dishes in this article.
So, what make France one of the best food destinations in Europe? Easy! The diversity of its food!
Each region of the country has their own typical dishes and uses different ingredients and ways of cooking. Olive oil and seafood in the southern part, cheese and heavy cream in the Alps, crêpes and galettes in the north-west, tons of butter in the north-east…
You could do a road trip all around the country and feel like eating foods from different countries!
Something else about France that makes it one of the best food destination in Europe? The culinary technique! French chefs can cook the most sophisticated and gourmet meal, as well as the simplest and most comforting.
In other words, you will find there the food you are looking for to make the most out of your vacation for foodies!
Here are 5 French dishes that you must ABSOLUTELY try on your foodie trip:
- Snails or Frog Legs: They are not only delicious, they are also a whole experience. French people are considered “weird” to eat them but, try them before judging.
- Raclette or Tartiflette: Typical winter dishes from the Alpine region made of potatoes and cheese. You can’t go wrong with these!
- Crêpes or Galettes: If you are visiting the Brittany region, you won’t be able to miss it anyway. Start with a salted galette and finish your meal with a savory crêpe.
- Boeuf Bourguignon: Beef meat slowly cooked in wine, often served with Gratin Dauphinois (potatoes cooked in heavy cream), it is one of the most comforting meal you could eat in France.
- Ratatouille: I know, I know… But I am not talking about any kind of ratatouille. You have to try it during summer, in the south of France. It is going to be the best you’ve ever had!
ITALY
Country of pizzas and pastas, but not only! Italian food is one of the best European food, and when you visit and try them all, you will quickly understand why!
So what else is there to eat in Italy? Italy, as France, has an insane variety of food. And even if you want to stick to pastas and pizzas, you could eat a different one every single day of your foodie trip!
Before giving you the best Italian food you should try on your next travel, here are some fun facts about it:
- There are more than 350 different shapes of pasta in Italy… That’s almost one type of pasta for each day of the year! Insane, I know.
- There are around 63 thousand pizzerias in Italy. Which means that if you visit one per day, it would take you more than 172 years to visit them all.
- Gelato and ice cream are two different things. Ice cream is frozen and stored between 0 and 5 degree Fahrenheit (-15 °C) while Italian Gelato is not actually frozen. That’s why it melts more quickly in your mouth.
Here are 5 Italian dishes (that are not pizzas and pastas) that you must ABSOLUTELY try on your foodie trip:
- Risotto: Creamy and filling, you can’t possibly say no to a risotto! And there are so many recipes for it that you will never get bored with it.
- Cured meat: If you had to pick only one of the Italian cured meat to try I’d suggest you try the Prosciutto… But I don’t see any reason why you should make such a choice, so go wild and TRY THEM ALL!
- Tiramisu: Whether you like coffee or not, you have to try tiramisu. I can’t give you any logical reason to do so if you are not a coffee lover, just do it.
- Arancini: “Stuffed rice balls that are crumbled before being deep-fried.” If this definition doesn’t give you the urge to go on a foodie trip to Italy, I don’t know what will…
- Ossobuco: Veal meat cooked with vegetables, white wine, and broth, often served with Risotto, it might be one of the most comforting foods to try in Italy.
SPAIN
You’ve all heard (and probably had) paella at least once in your life. I believe that’s what made Spanish food famous, along with tapas.
And if you don’t know any of these two specialities of the Spanish culinary culture, you definitely will after your foodie trip there!
One thing you probably didn’t know about the famous Spanish Iberico ham (that will give you the urge to take a trip to Spain)? It is known to be the most expensive cured meat in the world! Why, you might ask? The reason is actually quite simple actually… Iberico hams have to cure for at least two years (and up to 4 years!) before we can enjoy it.
Here are 5 SPANISH dishes that you must ABSOLUTELY try on your foodie trip:
- Paella: You probably already know what a paella is… But for those who don’t, paella is a Spanish rice dish (originally from Valencia) cooked with meat, seafood, or vegetables. It is the most known Spanish dish and with reason! Just try it while you are there, you won’t be disappointed.
- Gazpacho: Cold soup made of raw vegetables, the gazpacho is the perfect cold dish to freshen up after a day exploring in the sun.
- Tortilla Española: Spanish omelette made of eggs, potatoes, and (optionally) onions. If you like omelettes, you are going to love it!
- Tapas: I know, I know, tapas is not technically a dish… But you can’t go on a vacation for foodies to Spain without having the “tapas experience”. Tapas are small dishes to share (or not) along with a glass of sangria. Most popular tapas to order? Papas bravas, Quesos (cheese), Gambas al Ajillo, Mejillones (mussels), Pulpo… I could make a whole blog post about Spanish tapas.
- Churros: It might bring back some childhood memories… But churros in Spain are next level! Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
TURKEY
No, Turkish food isn’t only döner. They are delicious, though, and deserve a spot in your vacation for foodies meal plan!
I don’t even know where to start when talking about Turkish food culture. Relatively healthy, full of flavors, and fairly diverse, even picky eaters will find something they like.
It might seem similar to Lebanese food, but they use different spices in the preparation of their dishes, which make the result quite different.
As you may know, Turkish culture is a blend of ancient traditions and modern influences. Also, being home to many ethnic and religious groups, the diversity of this country can be experienced through the variety of its national dishes. That means, you will have to try a large amount of them to be able to get a general idea… Lucky you!
Here are 5 TURKISH dishes that you must ABSOLUTELY try on your foodie trip:
- Pide: You could compare it to a Turkish pizza (I apologize to Italian and Turkish readers.) in the sense that it is made of a stretch ball of dough and then filed with any kind of toppings. It is then cooked in a wood-fire oven, which make the crust perfectly crispy.
- Kebab meat: You’ve probably all already had kebab meat in your home country… But the Turkish kebab meat is beyond all expectation. You will have trouble going back to your local Turkish fast food after that.
- Baklava: Believe it or not, I am not a sweet tooth… But I would never say no to a Baklava. Sweet, crunchy and comforting, you can’t possibly miss it on your foodie trip!
- Inegol kofte: Meat balls (often looking more like a sausage than a ball…) made of beef or lamb meat and often served with bread and sauce, it is one of the most popular dish in Turkey. The way the meat is seasoned makes it uniquely flavorful. Trust me, you won’t be able to stop eating!
- Yaprak dolma: Vine leaves rolls filled with rice or mince meat, you either love it or hate it. I won’t tell you which side I am on, just give it a go. After all, adventures and taking risks is also part of planning a vacation for foodies!
GREECE
Even though Greek and Turkish cuisines share some similarities (due to historical and geographical facts), they are different in many ways.
With an emphasis on olive oil, herbs like oregano, thyme, and rosemary, and ingredients like feta cheese, yogurt, and honey, Greek cuisine is quite “fresh”. And their salads are the perfect dish after a long and sunny day exploring!
Did you know that Greek cuisine has something similar to Spanish tapas, called “mezze”? What better way to start your meal and socialize with your friends than by sharing delicious food?
Here are 5 GREEK dishes that you must ABSOLUTELY try on your foodie trip:
- Moussaka: One of the most comforting food you will find in Greece. The Moussaka is a baked dish composed of eggplants, mince meat and béchamel sauce.
- Dips: Greek cuisine is full of different kind of dips. Tzatziki, Taramasalata, Melitzanosalata, Hummus… Just try them all and pick your favorites!
- Spanakopita: Spinach and cheese pie, often made with feta cheese, this Greek dish that can convert even those who believe they don’t like spinach into fans.
- Gyros: This might be the best “sandwich” ever… Roasted meat served in a pita along with fresh vegetables and sauces, it is the perfect snack to have on the go while visiting this beautiful country.
- Souvlaki: An other great take-away food! Souvlaki is made of grilled meat (and sometimes vegetables) on a skewer. You can eat it like that or sometimes put it in a pita to eat it like a sandwich!
BELGIUM
Belgium… A country often forgotten when planning a “vacation for foodies” itinerary!
You might be surprised to know that there are some great food (other than Belgian chocolate) to discover along with discovering this small, yet lovely, country!
Most of Belgian national dishes are often mistaken for French food, but some of them are TRULY from Belgium. And believe me, you need to try them there!
Anyway, you’ll need some food to soak up all the Belgian beers you are going to drink on your trip there! So here we go for some food insipration!
Here are 5 BElgium dishes that you must ABSOLUTELY try on your foodie trip:
- Belgian Fries: And don’t call them French fries in front of locals. They are really proud of their fries and honestly, as a french girl, they are so much tastier than ours!
- Waffles: No waffles in the world can be compared to Liège Waffles. Just try them and see for yourself!
- Belgian beef stew: Some would compare it to the French Boeuf Bourguignon… The recipes are quite similar indeed. Beef cooked in wine. But Belgians have added their secret ingredient to the mix to make it unique. And what better secret ingredient than beer?
- Chicken with Fries & Applesauce: I know how it sounds… But the Flammish region of Belgium absolutely love to mix salty and savory flavors. And honestly, chicken, fries and applesauce is a surprisingly good mix!
- Speculoos: These little brown, thin and crispy biscuits often served with coffee. You might have had some before. A little warning thoug… They are highly addictive!