Top 10 Global Foodie Tourist Destinations

The food tourism market is expected to grow by more than 15.2% over the next decade as travellers tap into this fast-growing holiday trend. 

A food tourist – also known as a culinary or gastronomy tourist - is someone who travels to a destination primarily because of the food and drink that can be found there.

According to Original Travel, it’s about more than just eating and drinking in another city or country – being a food tourist involves an interest in and appreciation of the history, culture and environment of the area you visit.

It is an holistic experience, learning about the context surrounding the food and drink consumed.

Here are 10 of the best locations for food tourists to explore:

 

Located in the region of Catalonia, Barcelona has a wealth of food and drink to sample, including tapas. The beautiful thing about the tapas that’s become synonymous with Spanish cuisine is that it gives you the chance to try many different dishes in one sitting.

Think choices like stewed oxtail cooked slowly in traditional Spanish tomato sauce (sofrito), served with fresh bread for mopping it up.

From sweet pastéis de nata (custard tarts) to freshly caught seafood, the Portuguese capital has become as famous for its cuisine as it has for its landmarks and architecture. 

 

Try a hearty traditional caldeirada (fish and potato stew) or arroz de marisco (seafood rice, often made with prawns, mussels and clams). 

There’s also Portugal’s national dish: bacalhau (salted cod). Bacalhau can be prepared in many ways, including with fried potatoes and onions,

with cream, or in the form of croquettes.

Italy is well known for its incredible food, so it’s difficult to narrow it down to one city, but there’s just something about Naples.

Visit a family-run restaurant and you’ll sample recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

 

The city’s most famous dish is its pizza, set apart by the soft, thin, smoky crust that’s slightly charred from the wood-fired oven, flavourful San Marzano tomatoes and creamy mozzarella cheese.

Thai is one of the most popular cuisines worldwide, with many countries offering their versions of it, but you can’t beat going straight to the source for some authentic food and drink.

Street food is a huge part of Thailand’s culture, especially in Bangkok and it’s an easy way for you to sample the many flavoursome meals available.

 

Pad Thai is a must-try. This noodle dish is traditionally made with stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, tofu, bean sprouts and meat or shrimp. These ingredients are mixed in a tasty fish sauce and topped with peanuts, vegetables and fresh coriander.

Mumbai’s cultural diversity is reflected in the sheer volume of different food available. People from all over India and beyond come to the city and so it’s natural that this would be reflected in its cuisine.

 

For a real taste of traditional Mumbai, try vada pav - fluffy buns filled with dumpling fritters and chutneys - or the Bombay (Mumbai) sandwich, which is two slices of white bread filled with potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, beetroot, peppers, onions, cheese and chutney.

You’ll never go hungry in Ho Chi Minh City, with stalls and food carts lining the streets at almost every turn. The city is full of residents from all over Vietnam and the cuisine reflects that, with dishes originating from around the country.

 

Perhaps the most well-known Vietnamese dish is pho (pronounced ‘fuh’), a soup made of bone broth, rice noodles and thinly sliced meat, then garnished with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, chilli and lime. 

It’s not exaggerating to say Tokyo has everything from traditional, family-run restaurants to the lively Japanese version of a pub – an izakaya.

Establishments tend to specialise in one type of cuisine and do it really well, with Chefs boasting years of experience. Expect to devour all manner of yakitori skewers, kaiseki (small plates), sushi and street food, along with local produce from the market.

 

There’s so much more to Mexican food than tacos and Mexico City is proof of that. The area can trace its cuisine’s origins back to the 14th Century, when settlers ate a diet mostly made up of maíz (corn) and frijoles (beans), both of which continue to be staples today.

From well-known classics like tacos al pastor (pork tacos) and enchiladas, street food snacks like esquites (corn salad in a cup) and tortas (meat, vegetable and cheese sandwiches), to the more unusual dishes like chapulines (toasted grasshopper), there’s something to satiate your hunger.

 

Mouth-watering food and warm hospitality lead travellers to Marrakech time and again. Wander through the medina (the city’s historical centre), shop for spices and other edible goods at a souk, or sit down for a hearty meal at a restaurant.

Morocco’s most well-known dish is tagine, a comforting combination of meat or vegetables, herbs, spices, potatoes and sometimes dates that’s prepared in a clay pot. It’s often served with couscous.

 

New Zealand’s capital is a haven for foodies, with an increasing focus on local, seasonal ingredients. The city’s walkability means it’s easy to stumble across somewhere good to eat, especially if you make your way to Cuba Street, which is known for its extensive range of eateries.

The types of cuisine offered vary hugely, with Chefs taking inspiration from their travels and bringing back new ways to prepare food. Don’t forget to make time to try authentic Maori cuisine, which often features ingredients like kumara (sweet potato), inanga (whitebait) and freshly baked rewena paraoa (sourdough bread).