Europe has some great food. One cannot taste it all in three weeks. But you can try.
Food is an integral part of life and should never be the destination. Eating communally, and enjoying food as a bonus after hard work are essential components of European life.
To get the best out of the European food scene, it is necessary to combine these two aspects during your visit.
Do some sightseeing, and then enjoy a relaxing meal afterwards.
I have prepared a three-week itinerary that goes through the Mediterranean region, offering plenty of classic European sights and a suggestion for enjoying the local specialties at each stop.
There is a slight detour into the Alps. I just couldn’t leave out Swiss cheese.
The 21-Day European Food Itinerary
- Arrive in Rome (3N) – Wander round town to help with recovery from your flight. Visit the Testaccio Markets. Discover the street food scene with supplì or pizza al taglio.
- Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Stroll through Campo de’ Fiori and enjoy an aperitif on a terrasse in Piazza Navona or a Gelato on the Spanish Steps.
- Spend a day exploring the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Take Dinner in the Trastavere part of town, known for being where the Romans eat.
- Florence (2N) – Take an early train to Florence. Visit the Uffizi Gallery or the Duomo in the afternoon. Try a Florentine steak (bistecca alla fiorentina) for dinner.
- Head out to the Tuscan countryside. Visit a local winery in Chianti or Montepulciano for a tasting. Make sure you get truffles at some time.
- Modena Via Parma (1N) – Before leaving Florence, walk through the Mercato Centrale, near the train station. One the way to Modena stop at Parma to tour a Parmesan cheese factory (Parmigiano-Reggiano is the Italian name of the cheese)or taste some Parma ham. In Modena learn about Balsamic Vinegar and get Tagliatelle Bolognaise for dinner (Tagliatelle a la Ragu originally comes from here)
- Travel to Milan (1N) – It’s just a short trip to Milan. Visit the iconic Duomo di Milano, including its rooftop terraces. Among the Galleria, the spectacular shopping area there are many speciality food stores. Try the saffron-infused Milanese risotto for dinner.
- Travel to Montreux (2N) – Visit a local cheese shop before you leave Milan and get some regional cheeses like Gorgonzola and Taleggio for lunch on the train. The scenery along this journey past Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps to Montreux is spectacular. This is a longer day of travel than other days.
- Take the Golden Pass train up into the Swiss Alps to Gruyere.– Ride the scenic Golden Pass train to Gruyere and visit the Gruyères Castle and check out the cheese. The Maison Cailler chocolatier is nearby. Ride the Train back down to Montreux and get a Fondue for dinner.
- Dijon (2N) – A morning train to Dijon will get you to the heart of French wine country – Burgundy. Enjoy the old town during the afternoon and if you get there before lunch visit the covered markets. Try Escargots (snails) for dinner.
- Take a local train through the vines to Beaune. Tour the Hospices de Beaune and stop by some of the many wineries for a tasting.
- Travel to Lyon (1N) – Head to France’s gastronomic capital, Lyon, known for its culinary diversity. Enjoy a visit to a traditional bouchon, sampling quenelles and Lyonnaise sausages. Stroll through the traboules (hidden passageways) of the old town for a sampling of Lyons ambience.
- Narbonne (2N) – Take a morning train to Narbonne. Spend the afternoon exploring the Cathedral and the well-preserved Roman cellars. There is a wealth of Roman ruins in Narbonne.
- Spend the morning exploring Les Halles, the covered markets, before taking a tour to a winery nearby. Languedoc wines are often overlooked. If you prefer, head to Carcasonne, about an hour away for a walled medieval city.
- Barcelona (2N) – Time to head to Spain. About 4 hours away is Barcelona. Visit the Sagrada Família, a truly modern church in the afternoon. For dinner try the Esquerra de l’Eixample district. In France you might have had a Creme Brûlée for desert. Here try the Crema Catalana, an orange flavored version of this classic dessert.
- Enjoy your exploration of Barcelona at your own pace. It is a city that is great for just wandering. Park Güell is a great option if you want more of Gaudi’s architecture. Try a Fideuà for dinner. This is Barcelona’s answer to Valencia’s paella but with noodles.
- Bilbao (2N) – After a morning train ride, visit the Guggenheim Museum and take a stroll along the Nervión River in the afternoon. Have Tapas for dinner. Here in Basque Country tapas are called pinxtos.
- Explore the bustling Mercado de la Ribera in the morning . There is much to be seen in the old town in the afternoon. Make sure to have seafood for dinner. Bilbao is known for it.
- Madrid (2N) – Head towards the Spanish capital. One of Europes great cities. Head to the La Latina quarter in the evening for Tapas. You can never have too much when in Spain.
- Spend the day exploring the great museums of La Reina Sofia and the Prado. The Prado is home to the old masterpieces of the Renaissance and La Reina Sofia Museum is where Picasso’s Guernica and other modern pieces are kept. While here try Lavapiès district for some multicultural cuisine. Madrid is one of Europe’s most multicultural cities.
- On your last day in Madrid visit the Plaza Major and the Royal Palace if you still have time, before flying home.
How to Follow this Food Itinerary
This itinerary is best done by train. It permits you to be free to taste wines without worrying who whould be the designated driver.
The best airports to fly into are Rome or Madrid. Madrid if you want to do the route in reverse.
Staying in Hotels is recommended, the extra cost of an AirBnB is unnecessary as you probably won’t be cooking yourself. With a proper reception desk, you can ask for a recommendation of a local restaurant. This is decidedly more difficult in an AirBnB.
One day in an apartment is maybe a good idea though. Head to a farmers’ market, get your own food and realize that you now need a cooking course. The best cooking techniques for local foods have been honed by centuries of European traditions.
Restaurant Recommendations
I don’t recommend restaurants as people’s experiences vary so much, depending on the staff working. Of course, famous Michelin-starred restaurants are always good, but they aren’t a standard part of the European food culture.
My suggestion is always to ask a local for a recommendation. Ask at your accommodation or your tour guide if you had one during the day. Ask where they like to eat, not “what is best.”
These suggestions are the most up-to-date reviews of a restaurant. Things change, people leave for new jobs, and online reviews are inherently untrustworthy.
Best Regions for Food in Europe
There really isn’t a ‘best region’ for food in Europe. Everywhere is different.
If I was doing this itinerary myself, I would probably just stay in France, but I appreciate that others enjoy more than just French food.
That said, it is excellent and diverse, and anybody can enjoy a long trip to France for food, not just me.
Each region offers a completely different style, from the creamy food of Normandy, to the cheesy food of the alps and through to the fantastic seafood of the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean basin is the most diverse region in Europe, which is why I concentrated on it. It just follows that the food is most diverse here.
In the Winter, Germany and its Christmas Markets are well known for their sweet market foods.
Austria is of course, home to many famous meals, like schnitzel and strudel, from the time of the Empire. It is well worth a visit as a food lover, even if the food can be somewhat ‘heavy’ in the mountains.
Ireland and the UK are known for having a bland cooking style – at least traditionally. Today’s food scene is completely different. Restaurant food is an excellent blend of modern with traditional and local ingredients. The UK is of course, known for its Indian Curries as well.
Southern Italy and Southern Spain offer
Portugal for Baclava, Sicily for Canoli, Poland for Pirogies, Lithuania for Borscht, the list could be endless.
Take my itinerary as a suggestion and build on it yourself.
