Pleasure Travel

Culinary regions, gourmet routes, manufactories and inns that are worth a visit.

Culinary travel – trends, tips & foodie experiences

Food is culture, identity, and experience. No wonder culinary travel is among the top travel trends. Whether it's street food in Bangkok, a vegan cooking class in Portugal, or a cheese tour through the Alps – culinary tourism is booming worldwide. But what truly defines a culinary trip today? What are the current trends? And how can you experience such gourmet journeys authentically and sustainably?

If you'd like to delve deeper into how we understand travel, you'll find further insights and examples from our own experiences on our overview pages about Slow Travel and Enjoyment:

• Travel for connoisseurs
• Slow Travel worldwide
• Wellness worldwide
• travel destinations worldwide

Here you will find answers and tips.

What does culinary travel mean today?

Culinary travel means making food and drink the central experience of your trip. It's not just about getting your fill, but about discovering the culture of a country with all your senses. This can be a Visit to the weekly market be, a Cooking class with locals or try local specialties directly at the Producers.

• Learn more here, where you can enjoy traveling in Germany.

Why is this so popular right now?

The culinary tourism market is growing worldwide by over 18% annually. Europe holds around 34% of the market share – culinary trips to Italy, France, Germany, or Greece are more popular than ever.

More and more people want authentic, sustainable and adventurous travel outside the mainstream.

Who travels for food – and why?

1. Gen Z & Millennials: Experience instead of luxury

These generations love discovering new cuisines, browsing markets, and experiencing food as a social event. Budget isn't always the most important factor—what's more important is that the experience is authentic, local, and Instagrammable.

📱 Did you know? Over 85% of Gen Z are influenced by Food content on social media inspire you.

2. Conscious consumption: sustainable, local, fair

More and more travelers attach importance to pleasure trips:

• local products instead of imported goods
• fair production & payment
• less meat, more plant-based alternatives
• transparent origin of ingredients

Food thus becomes part of a sustainable lifestyle – even when traveling.

Culinary travel means experiencing food on vacation

Experiences that are experienced individually make culinary trips interesting. Why not travel to a chef who offers gourmet evenings in a gourmet hotel? It doesn't have to be a beer trip around the world. What about a weekend with a visit in a brewery? Maybe this offers a gastronomy to experience? Or a wine tour on which you stay overnight with a winegrower? Pleasure trips can have many faces. Perhaps you fancy a gourmet cruise? They are available on board a barge through the canals in southern France. An experience that will be remembered.

Popular forms of culinary travel

Here are some of the most popular and modern formats for pleasure trips:

🧺 Markets & Food Tours – authentic insights into local cuisine

Perfect for getting to know typical ingredients, spices, and snacks – ideally with a guide who knows the stories behind them.

Discover food tours all over the world* (Advertisement)

🍜 Street Food & Hidden Gems – away from the tourist centers

Away from the tourist centers, the most exciting culinary discoveries often await – authentic, affordable, and often surprisingly good.

Choose your cooking class in Europe here* (Advertisement)

🧑‍🍳 Cooking with locals – culinary encounters

A real highlight: cooking together with locals – whether during a market visit followed by a cooking class or at a dinner at home.

Find out where you can learn traditional cooking from locals* (Advertisement)

🌿 Sustainable gastronomy & vegan/vegetarian options

More and more restaurants are focusing on regionality, seasonality and vegetarian/vegan options – often with modern, creative cuisine.

Here you can experience sustainable gastronomy* (Advertisement)

📱 Digital helpers – apps, AI and social media as travel companions

Apps, AI travel planning & TikTok/Instagram help you discover exceptional food spots, even in small towns.

This is how a wine tour becomes a culinary journey

New trends: What is changing right now?

💰 Cost awareness & quality

Inflation and rising prices mean that travelers are comparing more carefully – and placing more emphasis on good value for money.

Discover wine experiences in the wine regions of the world here* (Advertisement)

🌍 Sustainability & Responsibility

Topics such as climate protection, CO₂ compensation, plastic avoidance and fair value chains are becoming more of a focus.

🎯 Micro-Adventures & Slow Travel

Instead of long-distance travel, short, intensive culinary trips nearby are becoming increasingly popular – by train, electric car or bus.

Our tips on how you can implement this, for example, on wine tours

If you want to experience wine, there are many options. You can explore a wine region by choosing one Road trip on a wine route do. If your culinary journey is to be sustainable, try the wines of a region in a hotel in the middle of the vineyards. This is best when in the area Wine Experiences to offer. This quickly turns a weekend getaway into a wine weekend. A picnic in the vineyards is nice. A culinary journey goes well with Wine tastings make it a pleasure experience. And if the wine tour is supposed to be something special? Then you look for wine experiences in beautifully situated wineries . held

Wine experiences with winemakers and in wine regions are something special. Here, too, there are offers that allow you to look behind the scenes. Perhaps you can even help with the work. How about a vacation on a winery? During the day, you hike through the vineyards. In the evening, after a dinner, where house wines are obligatory, you relax in a winemaker's room. The best option is to organize wine tours yourself. We offer suitable route suggestions, such as the Wine tour to Rioja in SpainAre you interested in other beverages? How about learning more about sea buckthorn and its properties?

Food trips are active trips

Discovering a country or a city through its cuisine often means getting to know its people better. This can be the case when you visit a cheese factory that produces a Cheese speciality as it has been for centuries. In cities you have the opportunity to Food Tour These are interesting if you are looking for restaurants where the locals eat. We use food tours when we are not yet familiar with the specialties of a region. This gives us an insight into the local cuisine on our gourmet trips.

There is one thing that culinary trips are not: boring trips. With a little planning, you can create a vacation where you will come home with experiences and insights that you did not previously suspect how exciting they are. Get to know the local people. Get involved in their way of life. This creates experiences that remain unforgettable. Regardless of whether you are exploring your travel destination in a gourmet hotel or on a gourmet cruise, or whether you are exploring the area around your holiday destination on your own, there are offers for every taste. Be inventive and approach your hosts. You will see, it is fun to immerse yourself in an unfamiliar way of life.

Go on a Journey of Discovery

It is very exciting to put a motto on your culinary journey. You can even do that at home. We were in Burgenland on the way in the footsteps of the Christmas goose. During the trip we bought ingredients for a feast. We cooked this in a restaurant at the end of the trip. Why not get to the bottom of the specialties in Germany? We did that on one culinary country tour through Hessen. We visited producers. They showed us how they make their products.

Enjoy a Gourmet Cruise

We have never been on a gourmet cruise. That must be fun. Instead, we spent one evening on a river cruise on the Rhone with a gourmet dinner. The food was served on a table with a view of the river. It wasn't just the food that was a pleasure. The view of the landscape along the Rhone contributed to the enjoyment of this evening in France. There are also cruises in which gourmet food plays the main role. There is one on the Danube or the Moselle. Both rivers cross wine regions. So what could be better than turning a culinary journey into a delightful experience. Trips to savor are perfect for this.

Why not travel to a Chef?

Have you ever thought about traveling to a chef? What could be better than learning from the experts? We've done that several times on our culinary trips. In Vienna, for example, we took a cooking class to learn how to Waldviertel specialties cooks. in the Gailtal in Carinthia We learned how to twist noodles. We prepared a soup from herbs we had collected beforehand. We also enjoyed a herbal menu from the show kitchen at a gourmet hotel.

There are many opportunities to take cooking classes. Hotels often offer them, and gourmet regions also offer them. It's worth keeping an eye out for them.

Food Specialties are Souvenirs

Culinary travel also means looking for specialties. market visits, Shopping spree specialty shops as well as visits to Hofläden or farm cafés and producers are part of every gourmet trip. In some food destinations, even visits to supermarkets are exciting. I'm thinking, for example, of Newfoundland, where we Kabeljaubäckchen We discovered the region. Souvenirs that we bring home from these visits allow us to relive the experiences in our kitchen. Therefore, we enjoy spending time between our tours Recipes to try out that we bring with us from pleasure trips.

Wine, Beer or Street Food Festivals

Wine tours in Germany don't just mean a wine tour Mosel, Rhine, Danube or Hand to explore. Wine regions offer even more culinary travel experiences. Food and wine festivals are everywhere. A visit is suitable both for a weekend trip and as part of a wine tour wine tasting.

We asked wine travel bloggers from all over the world which wine festivals. They recommend it. Often, it's also worth taking a look at the daily newspaper. There you'll often find information about beer festivals or street food festivals. If you combine a wine tasting on the Moselle with an overnight stay in a gourmet hotel or Holiday home, it quickly turns into a culinary journey that is fondly remembered. Or go on a search for the specialties on site.

Tips for your next culinary journey

• Research local specialties in advance – and where you can try them authentically.
• Use platforms like Eatwith, Airbnb Experiences or Withlocals for real encounters.
• Learn some basics of the local languageto better navigate markets or when ordering.
• Avoid typical tourist traps and consciously look for places where locals also eat.
• Pay attention to labels & seals, e.g. organic, fair trade, slow food, in order to consume sustainably.
• Share your experience on social media – but remember: enjoy first, then post 😄

Enjoyment travel destinations all over the world

Delights from the region

At TravelWorldOnline you will find a list of gourmet travel destinations around the world that we recommend. It doesn't matter whether you want to travel to Canada or through Germany. At any time of year. In summer as well as in winter. On our trips we look for gourmet experiences as well as routes for gourmets and cities that promise enjoyment. We define the term "enjoyment" quite broadly. Our destinations can offer delights for the palate as well as for the eyes and ears. When making our selection, we attach great importance to recommending delicacies from the region. These can be dishes that are typical of the destination. We look for restaurants that offer an experience for gourmets. But they can also be places where you can learn more about how the products of a region are produced.

Delights for the eyes

At the same time, we find great pleasure in exploring nature and experiencing it in a way that engages the senses. As slow travelers, we focus on destinations that invite leisure. You won't find hikes, mountaineering, or adrenaline-pumping activities in our travel tips. Instead, we seek out places that offer relaxation. We present experiences that promise a break from everyday life. You don't need to embark on a multi-day hike to enjoy a landscape. A picnic on a bench with a view of the mountains or a lake is just as rewarding. All you need is time and leisure. We also include wellness experiences in this category.

We also include wellness experiences in this category. If you're specifically looking for places where things are deliberately quiet, you'll find our overview here. Adults-only hotelsSpending a few days relaxing in a wellness retreat is reason enough for us to include it in our list of gourmet travel destinations.

Delights for the ears

Last but not least, we count music and theater among our pleasures destinationsThere are places where concerts and theater are shown in locations that make them a pleasure. These can be festivals. But they can also be concerts in front of a backdrop that inspires. When selecting these pleasure travel destinations, we want to recommend events that are a special experience.

Gourmet travel destinations: Culinary highlights for gourmets

Traveling and good food go hand in hand. There is hardly a better way to get to know a culture than through its cuisine. From wine regions in Europe to spicy street food markets in Asia to exotic dishes in South America - culinary experiences make traveling something special. Here are some of the best destinations for food lovers around the world.

gourmet regions in Europe

France – Gourmet tours through Bordeaux, Provence & Alsace

France is a paradise for gourmets. Each region offers its own culinary products, from fine wines to delicious cheeses.

In Bordeaux is all about wine. Here you can, for example, stroll through endless vineyards and taste fine wines such as the famous Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot in wineries. There are also regional dishes such as duck confit or canelés, small caramelized cakes.

The Provence seduces with Mediterranean aromas. Fresh herbs, lavender honey and the famous bouillabaisse make this region the perfect destination for connoisseurs. A particularly impressive visit is a market where you can try olives, cheese and freshly baked baguette.

Im Alsace You can expect hearty dishes such as tarte flambée, sauerkraut and fine white wines such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Strasbourg and Colmar both have alleyways where you can relax in cozy wine bars.

Whether wine, cheese or fine patisserie – a gourmet journey through France is a feast for all the senses.

Italy – Culinary journeys through Tuscany, Piedmont & Emilia-Romagna

Italy is a dream destination for gourmet travel. The variety of regional products makes it difficult to choose a region - but some stand out in particular.

The Tuscany is known above all for its excellent wines, especially the Chianti. It is accompanied by Pecorino cheese, fresh olive oil and the juicy Bistecca alla Fiorentina. A visit to a country estate in Tuscany, where you can taste the products directly from the producer, is one of the unforgettable experiences of a gourmet trip.

Im Piedmont is all about fine ingredients. Here you will find, for example, the white truffles of Alba, accompanied by a glass of Barolo or Barbaresco. The cuisine is hearty, with dishes such as tajarin (homemade egg pasta) or vitello tonnato. In autumn, during truffle season, Piedmont becomes a paradise for gourmets.

The Emilia Romagna and Lombardy is the home of Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico di Modena and the famous mortadella. Here you can eat pasta dishes such as Tagliatelle al Ragù (the real Bolognese). A visit to Bologna or Modena is a must for anyone who wants to experience Italy's culinary soul.

Austria – Gourmet tours through Vienna, the Wachau & Styria

Austria offers a mixture of fine cuisine as well as down-to-earth dishes.

In Vienna For example, you can experience the famous coffee house culture. Here you can enjoy a Melange with a piece of Sachertorte or apple strudel. But hearty dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel or Tafelspitz are also among the highlights of a culinary journey.

The Wachau is, however, one of the most beautiful wine regions in Europe. Some of Austria's best white wines grow along the Danube, including the fruity Riesling and the spicy Grüner Veltliner. Wachau apricot dumplings or a piece of poppy seed strudel go perfectly with this wine.

The Styria is known for its pumpkin seed oil, which gives many dishes a nutty note. In the region around Graz you can try snacks with bacon, runner beans and Styrian cheese. The wines from southern Styria, especially the Sauvignon Blanc, are also a real insider tip.

Germany – Culinary journey through Bavaria, Mosel & the Black Forest

Germany has much more to offer in terms of cuisine than bratwurst and sauerkraut.

In Bayern For example, hearty cuisine awaits you. A typical snack with pretzels, Obazda and white sausage tastes best in a beer garden. The whole thing is accompanied by a freshly tapped wheat beer.

The Mosel is one of the oldest wine regions in Germany. Here everything revolves around the Riesling, which grows on the steep slopes of the river valleys. At a wine tasting in Bernkastel-Kues or Traben-Trarbach you can get to know the variety of these fine wines.

The Schwarzwald is also a paradise for connoisseurs. The famous Black Forest gateau comes from here, as does Black Forest ham. The rustic inns also serve hearty dishes such as game stew with spaetzle.

Portugal – Gourmet tours through the Douro Valley, Lisbon & Alentejo

In recent years, Portugal has established itself as a top destination for pleasure trips.

The Douro Valley is known for its port wine. In the picturesque wineries along the river, you can often taste this fine wine directly from the producer. It is often accompanied by regional specialties such as bacalhau (stockfish) or hearty meat dishes.

In Lisbon you should definitely try the famous Pastéis de Nata. The small custard tarts are definitely a must for every visitor. The fresh fish dishes with sardines, octopus or grilled dourada are also a culinary highlight.

Explore the region Alentejo is still an insider tip. Here everything revolves around strong red wines, olive oil and Iberian ham. Many small wineries also offer tastings where you can try the best wines in the region.

Spain – Gourmet trip through Andalusia, Catalonia & the Basque Country

Spain is another paradise for foodies. From tapas and seafood to top-quality wines, there is something to suit every taste.

In Andalusia A lot revolves around sherry, olive oil and hearty tapas. In Jerez you can try fine sherry wines straight from the bodegas. Seville is famous for tapas bars where you can enjoy classics such as Jamón Ibérico, Gambas al Ajillo or Patatas Bravas.

Catalonia is known for its production of Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. In Barcelona and the surrounding area, you can not only take part in tastings, but also discover the diversity of Catalan cuisine - from pintxos to the famous Crema Catalana.

Im Basque country San Sebastián is a mecca for gourmets. The city has one of the highest densities of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. But you can also try small culinary works of art in traditional pintxos bars, often accompanied by a glass of txakoli, the region's sparkling white wine.

gourmet regions worldwide

USA – Gourmet trip through California, New England & New York

The USA offers an impressive culinary diversity. In California For example, you can enjoy excellent wines and fresh Pacific cuisine, New England pampers you with seafood and rustic specialties, while New York offers an incomparable food scene.

California is also the center of the farm-to-table movement. Napa Valley as well as the sonoma county are famous for their wines, often combined with regional specialties such as artisanal cheese. In San Francisco You should definitely try fresh Dungeness crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread. Los Angeles Instead, it impresses with a multicultural street food scene, from Mexican tacos to Asian fusion dishes.

In New England A lot of it revolves around seafood. Particularly famous are lobster rolls from Maine, where fresh lobster is served in butter or mayonnaise on a brioche bun. In Boston is definitely the creamy Clam chowder a must, while Rhode Island is known for its fried clams.

New York is another paradise for gourmets. From the classic New York Cheesecake about authentic Pizza in Brooklyn to first-class steakhouses, the city offers countless culinary highlights. In the delis you can also get pastrami sandwiches, while the food markets serve dishes from all over the world.

Whether west coast or east coast – a gourmet trip through the USA is full of exciting taste experiences.

Canada – Gourmet Tour through Quebec & the Okanagan Valley

Canada is not only known for its breathtaking nature, but also for its exciting, often underrated cuisine.

In Quebec For example, you can enjoy French-inspired delicacies. Poutine - fries with gravy and cheese - is the classic par excellence. Maple syrup also plays a big role: in spring, you can try fresh syrup in the "Sugar Shacks" that is poured over crêpes or bacon.

The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is one of the best wine regions in North America. Here you will find award-winning wineries that are particularly known for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There are also fresh, regional products such as salmon from the Pacific or game from the surrounding forests.

South Africa – Gourmet trip through Cape Town, the Winelands & the Garden Route

South Africa combines African, European and Asian influences to create a unique cuisine.

Cape Town is definitely the culinary center of the country. Here you can enjoy fresh fish in the harbor restaurants or try exotic street food specialties such as Bunny Chow or Bobotie at the markets.

The Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are world famous for their wines. The Cape Dutch wineries also invite you to taste the wine, often in combination with fine cheese or game.

The Garden Route also offers a wealth of culinary experiences, from fresh oysters in Knysna to game braais (South African BBQs). Here you can also visit sustainable farms that produce organic wine or olive oil.

Special culinary experiences – unforgettable culinary adventures

A gourmet trip is more than just good food. It is often special experiences that make a trip unforgettable.

• Truffle hunting in Italy or France: Roam through the woods with a truffle dog and taste the noble tubers directly on site.
• Street food tours in metropolises: From Bangkok to Lisbon, street food markets are the perfect place to discover authentic dishes.
• wine and cheese tastings: Try it directly from the winemaker or cheesemaker and learn more about the production process.
• cooking classes with local top chefs: Learn how to prepare a real Italian risotto or a Spanish paella.

These experiences make a gourmet trip special – because they touch not only the palate, but also the soul.

Sustainable Enjoyment – ​​Traveling with Responsibility

Leisure travel should not come at the expense of the environment or the local people. Fortunately, there are more and more ways to enjoy sustainable travel.

• farm-to-table concepts: Restaurants that source their ingredients directly from local farmers reduce transportation routes and support small businesses.
• organic wineries & sustainable fishing: More and more wineries are focusing on organic production. When it comes to fish, you should look for sustainable seals.
• Fair Trade & local products: Fair trade coffee or handmade chocolate from small manufacturers are often the better choice.
• Enjoy plastic-free: When traveling, you can take a reusable water bottle with you or order street food without disposable packaging.

Sustainable enjoyment means traveling consciously and supporting authentic, local products – for a better travel experience and a better world.

Tips for the perfect gourmet trip

Good planning makes a gourmet trip even more enjoyable. Here are some tips to make your culinary adventure unforgettable:

• Best time to travel: Every region has its culinary peak seasons. The truffle season in Italy is in autumn, the grape harvest in France and Germany is in late summer.
• Find authentic restaurants: Avoid tourist traps – ask locals about their favorite restaurants or look for small, family-run places.
• Visit markets: Weekly markets are often the best place to try regional specialties and talk to producers.
• Be open for something new: Try dishes that you don't know yet - it's often the unexpected discoveries that inspire the most.

With these tips, your gourmet trip is guaranteed to be a complete success!

Conclusion: A pleasure trip is a journey for all the senses

Whether wine tasting in France, truffle hunting in Italy or street food in South Africa – gourmet trips let you experience a region with all your senses.

What foodie trip is next on your list? Let me know in the comments!

Conclusion: Culinary Trips are Exciting and Varied

These are just a few ways you can enjoy a culinary journey. There are many more. How about a music festival featuring specialty foods? Have you ever cooked with wild herbs? Or eaten at a local's home? It's exciting to discover how to combine food and drinks. Have you ever visited a farm to learn more about sustainability? There are even museums dedicated to food and everything related to it.

Food connects – more than ever!

Culinary travel in 2025 is more than a trend – it is an expression of Interest, respect as well as a thirst for adventureWhether at breakfast in a small guesthouse in Portugal or at a traditional dinner in Japan, food creates connections.

And that's exactly what traveling is all about, right?

We agree with our blogger friend Laura from Savored Journeys when she declares: Why I Travel For Food and You Should Too. Culinary travel is definitely fun.

📖 FAQs for culinary travel

❓ What is meant by culinary travel?

Culinary travel means consciously experiencing food and drink as part of the travel experience. It's about getting to know a country's culture through markets, restaurants, street food, or cooking classes—not just getting your fill.

❓ Which culinary travel trends will be particularly popular in 2025?

Particularly in demand are sustainable food experiences, vegan and vegetarian options, authentic street food tours, dinners with locals, and immersive experiences that are easy to share on social media.

❓ Why are Millennials and Gen Z particularly interested in food tourism?

These generations place great value on authenticity, experiences, and sustainability. They are strongly inspired by social media and seek out culinary experiences they can share and recommend.

❓ How do I find authentic food on vacation?

Tip: Avoid typical tourist areas and focus on places where locals eat. Markets, small family restaurants, and food tours with local guides are ideal for discovering authentic specialties.

❓ How can culinary travel be made sustainable?

Focus on regional products, support small producers, choose vegetarian or vegan options, avoid single-use plastic, and book experiences that respect fair working conditions.

Do you know this?

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The source for Culinary Travel – How Does It Work? is on-site research. We participated in press trips for this purpose, but also traveled individually and self-funded. We sincerely thank everyone for their support. However, our opinions remain, as always, our own. Additional sources: World Food Travel Association, European Travel Commission and Slow Food.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline