Europe is a continent that has gathered the rich culinary cultures of dozens of different countries and cities. There are plenty of options to choose from, ranging from France’s mouth-watering desserts to Italy’s Amalfi limoncello that will cool you off on hot summer days.
If you’re a traveller who sets out to taste the unique flavours of different cities or simply wants to try traditional flavours during your travels, you’ve come to the right place! But we should warn you in advance: you may have a little trouble zipping up your pants after your trip.
🛎️ Reminder: To explore the best culinary destinations in Europe step by step with your digital tour guide, don’t forget to download Piri Guide! 😊
What is Gastro Tourism?
Culinary tourism or gastro tourism is a type of travel that focuses on exploring the culinary culture and cuisine of a specific region. Individuals experience both local cuisine and history or culture of the region. In this type of tourism, one can visit local markets and bazaars, as well as participate in food classes or workshops, while also tasting street food.
We recommend you to plan your trip around food festivals to fully enjoy the experience.
2023 Food Festivals in Europe
- May 18-21: Antwerpen Proeft – Antwerp, Belgium
- June 12-14: Santo Antonio Festival – Lisbon, Portugal
- July 26-30: Stragusto Food Festival – Trapani, Italy
- July 29-30: Crêpe Festival – France
- August 18-27: Copenhagen Cooking – Copenhagen, Denmark
- August 25-27: Gourmet Festival – Düsseldorf, Germany
Foodie Cities of Europe
We’ve made a list of foodie cities in Europe. Yet, we should remind you that you can find more on Piri Guide mobile app. Piri Guide detects your location, offers you the best travel routes, and starts telling you the hidden stories of wherever you are. All you have to do is to get your headphones or earbuds and follow the path at your own pace. Then, don’t set out for your trip before downloading the digital travel guide! 😊
Paris, France
If we are talking about Europe and food, we definitely need to mention France!
While exploring the City of Lights, Paris, you can be sure that your stomach will also feel an amazing satisfaction. We already know about France’s croissants and iconic baguettes, but what else can you eat in the heart of Paris?
- Escargots: Snails with garlic butter. Maybe not everyone’s taste, but if you’re going to try French cuisine, give escargots a chance.
- Coq au Vin: A chicken dish cooked with red wine, bacon, and mushrooms.
- Ratatouille: A vegetable stew made with eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes.
- Steak frites: “Steak and fries” – a delicious option that lives up to its name.
- Macarons: Of course, don’t leave without trying macarons!
- Crème Brûlée: A dessert made with a cream base and caramelized sugar on top.
- Moules Frites: Moules means mussels in French. As you can guess from the name, Moules Frites is mussels served with French fries.
If you’re looking for where to eat in Paris, we also recommend checking out our blog post “Bon Appétit! What to Eat in Paris?” 🥐
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, the city of Gaudi, is one of the gastronomic cities of Europe. While walking from La Sagrada Familia to Guell, from Camp Nou to Catalonia Square, you may feel hungry. So, what can you really eat in Barcelona?
- Paella: It is a rice dish with saffron, chicken, rabbit, and seafood.
- Tapas: They are usually served as a pre-meal snack in bars and restaurants. Our recommendation is patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), croquettes, and tortilla española.
- Seafood: When it comes to seafood, Barcelona offers you a wide range of options. Grilled octopus, razor clams, and paella de mariscos.
- Cava: It is a sparkling wine that goes great with tapas and seafood.
- Churros: It is a classic Spanish dessert. Churros are a type of fried dough that is dipped in hot chocolate. It may seem simple, but it is quite tasty.
While in Barcelona, you can also stop by La Boqueria market to taste local flavours even more closely.
Bologna, Italy
After a lovely tour of Italy, there are many things you can eat in Bologna, the gastronomic capital of Italy. Some of them are:
- Tagliatelle al ragù: It is a Bologna dish with fresh pasta and slowly cooked meat sauce.
- Crescentine: It is a dish where small pieces of bread, cooked with smoked meat and cheese, are fried.
- Prosciutto di Parma: It is a type of smoked ham, especially made in Bologna and the surrounding areas.
- Gelato: Gelato is the Italian name for ice cream. You can have the best Italian ice creams in Bologna.
- Lambrusco: It is a sparkling red wine of the Emilia-Romagna region. We are sure it will go well with your food while eating in Bologna! 🍷
Lisbon, Portugal
The capital of Portugal, Lisbon, has everything from fresh seafood to a variety of spices. Here are the foods you must try in Lisbon:
- Pastel de Nata: A type of pastry with cream. You can find it in almost every bakery in Lisbon.
- Bacalhau: Bacalhau is like Portugal’s national dish. It has dried and salted cod, and it comes with potatoes, onions, and olives.
- Grilled sardines: Sardines are one of Portugal’s main fishes. The best way to eat sardines is grilled.
- Caldo verde: Caldo verde is a traditional Portuguese soup made with potatoes, cabbage, and onions. It has chouriço sauce on top.
- Bifana: Bifana is a popular street food in Lisbon. It is a sandwich made with pork and served with mustard and spicy sauce.
- Ginjinha: If you want something different, you can try ginjinha liqueur made from cherries.
Vienna, Austria
- Assuming that you will already try Vienna’s famous schnitzel, we start our list:
Tafelspitz: Tafelspitz is boiled meat that comes with potatoes, horseradish, and apple-horseradish sauce. - Sachertorte: It is a cake that originally belongs to Vienna. Sachertorte has several layers of sponge cake and apricot jam and chocolate.
- Apfelstrudel: A traditional Viennese dessert with thin pastry dough and filled with apple,sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes raisins.
- Würstel: Vienna is also famous for its sausages. You can find many different types of sausages here, such as Würstel. The most well-known is the boiled sausage Wiener, served with mustard and bread.
The cuisine, history, and culture of dozens of countries are waiting for you! While you enjoy the delicious food of the city of your choice, you can also explore the city step by step by downloading the Piri Guide mobile app!
