Best food in Europe: top destinations for foodie holidays

Europe’s food scene is as varied as its landscapes. Every trip has the potential to become a plate-by-plate adventure, with foodie holidays that revolve around markets, neighbourhood restaurants and local specialities.

Whether you are planning short foodie weekend breaks or longer foodie retreats, Thomas Cook can help you find the best food cities in Europe.


Turkish food: where to go for a flavourful foodie adventure

From breakfast menemen mopped up with warm flatbread to late-night plates of kebab and meze, Turkish food keeps the flavour dial turned right up. In Istanbul, it’s easy to build your own foodie walking tour, grazing on gözleme-style pancakes, börek and lahmacun from tiny bakeries and street-side grills as you wander between neighbourhoods.

Antalya is a brilliant base if you want beaches and serious food in one place, with traditional ocakbaşı grill restaurants, local spots serving tahini-rich piyaz and plenty of places to end the evening with strong Turkish coffee and a slice of baklava.

You can find Thomas Cook’s guide to Antalya here.

Italian food: where to find the most authentic flavours


Italian food is a classic for a reason, but the real magic happens when you start tasting your way through the regions.

If pizza is top of the list, Naples is the place to try the original Neapolitan style - a soft, chewy base with a puffy, blistered crust, simple toppings and a quick blast in a wood-fired oven. In Rome, you’ll usually find something very different on your plate - thinner and crisper.​

Regional dishes show just how varied Italian food can be. Desserts aren’t limited to delicious tiramisu. In the Alpine areas of Trentino-Alto Adige, apple strudel is the surprise headliner. If you head to Sicily, cannoli stands out as one of the island’s most iconic treats. It all makes Italy ideal for foodie weekend breaks.

Spanish food: Which cities to visit for tapas - and more


Spanish food is made for sharing, from plates of gazpacho in Malaga to churros and coffee in Madrid. The original tapas is closely associated with Andalusia in the south. Pull up a stool and you might graze your way through tortilla, croquetas, boquerones and jamón in one evening, turning dinner into a slow, sociable crawl.​​

For many, the Basque Country is a bucket list foodie holiday, with cities such as San Sebastián and Bilbao famous for their pintxos - bite-sized creations lined up along bar counters, from simple skewers to cheffy, restaurant-style mouthfuls.

Our verdict

There’s no right or wrong destination when it comes to foodie breaks. Turkey, Spain and Italy are customer favourites, but we all have different tastes. Where will you choose to go?