6 top international travel destinations for great food
As food tourism becomes increasingly popular, world travelers crave immersive experiences, like sipping wine in the rolling vineyards where grapes are grown, hunting for truffles beneath the misty canopy of a Croatian forest, or passing fragrant dishes across a family's table at a home-hosted dinner in Vietnam.
Whatever you're hungry for, these top food travel destinations and experiences recommended by EF Go Ahead Tours will make your next food vacation unforgettable.
1. Italy: The classic food-and-wine pilgrimage
Why it stands out
When people talk about the best food destinations in the world, Italy is almost always near the top of the list. Italian cuisine comes alive as you travel, shifting with the seasons and regions but always rooted in the surrounding land and sea. In Venice, cicchetti and spritzes pair perfectly with an afternoon along the canals. Florence and Tuscany lean into simple, rustic dishes with fresh pasta, olive oil, and wine, reflecting the flavors of the land. Rome delivers bold classics like cacio e pepe and carciofi, perfected over generations. And in Sicily, layers of history and multicultural influences come together in seafood, pastries, and sun-ripened wines.
The perfect food experience in Italy
The perfect food experience in Italy? Getting to know specific regions and cities through their most celebrated dishes and drinks. One can’t-miss example: tasting your way through Italy’s most iconic cities, from Venetian seafood and Florentine market fare to Roman classics served in historic neighborhoods.
For a taste of island life done the Italian way, head to Sicily, situated off Italy’s southern coast. The perfect food tour should involve snacking your way through Palermo’s buzzing street markets, sipping volcanic wines near Mount Etna, and sitting down to a long, leisurely meal hosted by an Italian Contessa.
In the northeastern reaches of the country, explore with wine tastings in medieval castles, behind-the-scenes visits to prosciutto and cheese producers, and sips of prosecco in the hills where it’s made. Whichever region appeals to you most, no trip to Italy would be complete without experiencing a few hands-on cooking classes and wine tastings along the way.
2. Spain: Tapas, markets and long, lively dinners
Why it stands out
If you’re chasing the best food in Spain, you’ll find it in shared plates, buzzing markets, and meals that stretch long into the night. Tapas in Spain aren’t just food; they’re a social ritual, often enjoyed barhopping with friends. Of course, while these shareable small plates may be among the most famous foods from Spain, they aren’t the only thing on the menu. In Valencia, saffron-scented paella marries the flavors of land and sea. Barcelona’s famous wine bars stay lively late into the night, and along the Costa Brava, simplicity and quality define the cuisine, with fresh-caught seafood, delicate regional cheeses, and pa amb tomàquet (rustic bread rubbed with fresh tomato and oil).
The perfect food tour in Spain
Spain is one of Europe’s best foodie travel destinations, built around connection, curiosity, and flavor. The perfect travel experience should include learning to cook paella where it was born, browsing colorful markets, sipping coastal wines, cava, and vermouth, and enjoying tapas crawls and leisurely dinners in Spain. There are also group tour experiences where visitors can enjoy Spain alongside fellow travelers who believe meals are meant to be shared.
3. Croatia: Coastal cuisine, Istrian food and wine
Why it stands out
When people think about European food destinations, Croatia often flies under the radar—but the food in this special country is really, albeit quietly, exceptional. Croatian cuisine shifts beautifully by region: fresh seafood and white wine along the Dalmatian coast, olive oil and truffles in Istria, and rustic inland flavors shaped by centuries of Mediterranean and Central European influence. From grilled fish pulled straight from the sea to hand-rolled pasta finished with local olive oil, the best food in Croatia should be enjoyed slowly, preferably with a glass of local wine and a view of the water.
The perfect food tour in Croatia
Make your way along the Adriatic as you learn about sustainable fish farming (and taste the freshest sea bass!), explore silvery salt pans, and meet the local producers who bring Croatian cuisine to life. You’ll stop at family-run olive groves, shop open-air markets, and even head into the forest for a hands-on truffle hunt in Istria. Along the way, you’ll discover why this corner of Europe is such an underrated food destination.
4. Japan: Sake, sushi and steaming bowls of ramen
Why it stands out
If you’re searching for the best food in Japan, you probably won’t have to look too far. On a trip to Japan, you’ll find some of the top cuisine in the world around every corner. Japan’s street food offers fun, fast, and flavorful dishes that go straight from the grill and into your hands, while intimate sushi counters reveal the precision and artistry that define Japanese cuisine. Ramen in Japan sits perfectly between the two, pairing slow-simmered broths with the ease of a quick meal, whether enjoyed at a cozy Tokyo counter or on the go. Add in sake brewed from regional rice and water, and Japanese food becomes a journey of place as much as taste.
The perfect food tour in Japan
On a visit to Tokyo, Kanazawa, and the region near Mount Fuji, explore markets and food halls in Tokyo, roll your own sushi, master ramen-making, sip Niigata sake, browse Kanazawa’s legendary Omicho Market, and experience traditional tea ceremonies—all on an immersive journey that connects cities, countryside, and culinary tradition.
5. Thailand: Bold flavors and night markets
Why it stands out
The entire country of Thailand is a feast for the senses, but the food is the main course. Thai food is all about balance—sweet, salty, sour, and spicy coming together in dishes that are complex and craveable. On the streets of Bangkok, tangy pad thai is cooked to order and fragrant curries simmer with coconut milk and fresh herbs. At night, the Chiang Mai Night Market comes alive with energy, chatter, and flavor. From floating markets and riverside boat noodles to Michelin-recommended restaurants, Thailand’s food reflects the warmth, creativity, and generosity of the people who make it.
The perfect food tour in Thailand
When diving into Thailand’s food scene, try a guided street food tour in Bangkok, hands-on cooking classes, night market visits, and a chance to help out on a traditional rice farm. You’ll enjoy sweet Thai iced tea and aromatic boat noodles, and cap your tour with authentic Thai cuisine at a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
6. Vietnam: Fresh, herbaceous food and family-style meals
Why it stands out
Vietnamese cuisine reflects centuries of Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French influence, creating dishes that are vibrant, fresh, and exciting. The best food in Vietnam happens where locals live and eat—on bustling streets or around a kitchen table, sharing meals served family-style. In Hoi An, colorful markets overflow with fragrant herbs, fresh produce, and local specialties, while Hanoi’s street food offers an endless parade of bold flavors, from steaming bowls of pho and smoky grilled pork to luscious egg coffee and sticky rice cakes. In the countryside, water buffalo guide traditional rice cultivation, a practice handed down through generations and still central to life in rural Vietnam. Vietnam is one of Asia’s best food destinations, offering a mix of deep natural heritage, street-level excitement, and intimate culinary experiences.
The perfect food tour in Vietnam
Taste your way through northern and central Vietnam with a guided street food walk in Hanoi, dinner in a local family’s home, market visits, and an optional candy-making workshop. You’ll start your days with Vietnamese coffee and sample classic Vietnamese dishes like pho, banh mi, and fresh spring rolls along the way.
The best food destinations in the world don’t just serve incredible meals—they invite you behind the scenes. From local-favorite street markets to family-run farms, the countries with the best food offer experiences that feed your curiosity as much as your appetite.
If you want to learn about a culture unlike your own, eat local when you travel.
This story was produced by EF Go Ahead Tours and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
