Top European Travel Destinations for Foodies

Bit of a foodie? Holidays are the ideal time to explore new cuisines and get your taste-buds inspired. Read on for a look at three of Europe’s favourite foodie destinations.

Perched on the dreamy Bay of Biscay, San Sebastian is an understated, hidden treasure of the proud Basque Country, located on the border between France and Spain. The resort town is known for the sprawling beauty of Playa de la Concha beach and film festival favourite Centro Kursaal. Museo San Telmo can be found in an ancient 16^th century monastery, a museum displaying and celebrating all things wonderfully Basque including artefacts and art. As if this wasn’t enough, San Sebastian is also well renowned for what it has to offer foodies the world over. As well as boasting 15 Michelin stars, the town is scattered with traditional Pintxos bars where you will find a selection of the freshest, most seasonal produce in snack forms, that can be enjoyed with the spare change in your pocket. Just don’t forget the glass of wine.

Located in the elegant French Riviera, on the glittering Mediterranean Sea, Nice is a city with a rare mix of cool blue seas, vivid architecture and an old, lingering air of opulence. Glance anywhere and your eye will be met with views almost too picturesque to take in; no wonder it was such a source of inspiration for great artists and musicians like Matisse, Berlioz and Klein. Onto the cuisine, and the locals have a few delicious dishes up their sleeves, such as the Pissaladière – a local tart made with onions and anchovies. Nice is also where the globally adored salade niçoise originated. Streets are packed with cafes and restaurants for every pocket size, ready to delight with fresh, local flavours. If you’re in the mood, pay the Cours Saleya food market a visit for a first hand look at the finest produce Nice has to offer.

Nothing says charm like Italy. Home to some of the most magnificent art, sculpture, history and food the world has to offer, it’s just brimming corner to corner with classic, rustic beauty. Florence, capital of the Tuscany region, is home to gorgeous treasures like Michelangelo’s ‘David’ sculpture, Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ and Da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation’, and it’s no surprise it’s also known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’. When the endless historical wonders have you exhausted, it’ll be time to turn to Florence’s own culinary delights for nourishment. The natural surroundings of Florence mean food is always at its freshest. Regional dishes include Sciappo (salt-less bread), Crostini Neri (liver pate) and Crespelle alla Fiorentina (a mouth-watering pasta dish comprising of ricotta cheese, spinach and béchamel sauce). Bellissima! Wander the magical streets and explore this delectable food scene for yourself.  You won’t want to come home.

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