10 unmissable European road trips for food lovers

10 best European road trips for food lovers

UK: Southwest 660

Starts: Poole, Dorset

Ends: Penzance, Cornwall

This scenic, 660-mile route around England’s south-west peninsula specifically focuses on the coasts of Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. While we’re not suggesting you do it all in one go, pick a few key destinations and plan your journey around some of the best foodie locations in the UK.

Set off from Poole, one of England’s prettiest seaside towns, after fuelling up for the drive at the Custom House Cafe on the harbour (for anything from a toasted tea cake to asparagus Florentine) and head to Lyme Regis. Here, in the ‘Pearl of Dorset’ on the Jurassic Coast, you can tuck into tasty fish and seafood at Rockfish, overlooking the bay; all ingredients are local and sustainably sourced, such as scallops, Dover sole, gurnard and hake. Next, motor on to Lympstone, a charming East Devon village set by the River Exe. Treat yourself to a decadent meal at Lympstone Manor, overseen by one of Britain’s most renowned chefs, Michael Caines. The fine dining restaurant has a variety of menus where you’ll find dishes from Cornish turbot to lobster salad and roasted pigeon.

Off to Padstow, you have the choice between two other celebrated restaurants: Rick Stein’s The Seafood or Paul Ainsworth’s No. 6. Stein celebrates 50 years of his opening in Padstow in 2025, and the current menu features classic dishes from the past five decades, from Dorset oysters to sea bass with beurre blanc and Indonesian seafood curry. At No 6, the menu is a little more experimental, with dishes such as beetroot with smoked eel or veal sweetbreads.

End your road trip in stunning Penzance, legendary home of pirates, known for its artistic influences and quirky architecture. Settle in for a classic cream tea at a cosy cafe like the Honey Pot (you can even have a savoury tea) or sink a pint of local cider at the historic Admiral Benbow inn, decorated with a fascinating collection of shipwreck artefacts from the past 400 years.

IMG_4491 Bayard's Cove Fort Dartmouth nedium resolution copy

France: Burgundy

Starts: Dijon

Ends: Beaune

The Burgundy region is famed for great food and wine, and is home to some of France’s most classic dishes, such as boeuf bourgignon, coq au vin and duck confit. Start a road trip in the elegant capital of the region, Dijon, and try local delicacies such as oeufs en meurette – eggs poached in red wine sauce – at renowned gastronomic restaurant, Meurette et Persille. Stock up on historic mustard brands such as Maille, Grey Poupon or Le Moutarderie Fallot – Dijon has been producing this spicy condiment since the Middle Ages.

Then it’s on to the small town of Nuits-St-Georges, best known for Pinot Noir wines. Plan a visit to Domaine de l’Arlot, a biodynamic winery offering guided tastings and vineyard tours, or Maison Moillard, a historic house which also produces cremant. Head to nearby Pommard, synonymous with full-bodied reds – stop by Château de Pommard, founded in 1726, for a wine-tasting session coupled with a deep dive into the local terroir.

End the trip in Beaune, and visit Hélice, L'Escargotier Beaunois to learn about how the local snails are prepared and cooked, and sample them too. Enjoy a range of the best local dishes at the restaurant, Au Coq Bleu, and finish with a plate of regional cheeses, including the pungent Epoisses Berthaut, nutty Abbaye de Citeaux and creamy Délice de Bourgogne.

Greece: Peloponnese

Starts: Kalamata

Ends: Nafplion

This scenic route through the Peloponnese isn’t strictly linear, but it’s packed with strong Mediterranean flavours and rich culinary traditions that make it worth the detours. Begin in the coastal town of Kalamata, famous for its plump, dark olives – try them fresh at the local farmer’s market (known as the Agora) or paired with mavrodafni, a sweet, fortified regional wine. Tuck into hortopita (pie with greens and feta) and stifado (meat stew) at Kardamo, or fresh, grilled fish and seafood, cuttlefish risotto or steamed mussels at Notias.

Next, head south to the rugged Mani Peninsula and stop in the stone village of Areopoli, where the food is as unpretentious as the landscape. Sample wild greens, sfela – a salty, brined sheep’s cheese often served grilled – and honey sourced from Mani’s aromatic mountain wildflowers. Drop into friendly, family-run Taverna Vaggelis for lunch, which specialises in barbecued meat, or the cosy To Mavromichaliko, where you’ll find dishes such as stamnato, beef stew cooked in a clay pot. Continue to Monemvasia, a fortified medieval town clinging to a rock off the coast. Dine inside the castle walls at Chrisovoulo, where seafood and local specialties like skioufitha pasta are served with a glass of malvasia wine.

End your journey in charming Nafplio, a seafront town full of neoclassical architecture and culinary charm. Try kreatopita (meat pie), honey-laced desserts and wines from the nearby Nemea region. Aiolos Tavern offers simple Greek classics, from moussaka to fava bean purée, made with fresh local produce, while Omorfo Tavernaki delivers a more rustic, deeply traditional experience.

Discover more inspiration with our picks of the best Greek food trips, from must-visit islands to mainland hotspots.

Credit: E Filli, Greek National Tourism Organisation

Spain: Basque country to La Rioja

Starts: San Sebastian

Ends: Logroño

From pintxos to Tempranillo, this lovely route serves up the best of northern Spain’s bold, wine-soaked flavours. Begin in San Sebastián, the gastronomic capital of the Basque Country. Snack your way through the Old Town with a pintxos crawl along Calle 31 de Agosto – don’t miss txangurro (spider crab), gilda (skewers of anchovy, olive and pickled guindilla pepper) or talo con chistorra (a corn flatbread wrapped around sizzling sausage). Make sure you order a glass of crisp, sparkling txakoli wine, if only to see how the waiters pour it from a great height. For a refined – but expensive – take, book a table at Arzak or Akelarre, both Michelin-starred temples to avant-garde Basque cuisine.

Next stop is Bilbao, where modern culture meets culinary tradition. Tuck into bacalao al pil-pil (salt cod in a garlic emulsion), marmitako (tuna and potato stew) and pastel de cabracho, a rich scorpionfish pâté. Soak up the city’s ornate heritage at Café Iruña, or go cutting-edge at Nerua, inside the Guggenheim Museum. Don’t miss La Ribera Market for a local pintxos fix.

Next, drive to Haro, the beating heart of Rioja Alta wine country. Visit Bodegas Muga, Bodegas CVNE, or La Rioja Alta for tastings amid century-old barrels, and sample hearty local fare like chorizo riojano (a mildly spicy pork sausage) and patatas a la riojana (potato and chorizo stew). Dine at Beethoven Restaurante for traditional Rioja dishes, or try Los Caños for rustic, local charm and a slab of moreish Basque cheesecake.

End the road trip in Logroño, where the tapas-bar-lined Calle Laurel forms the perfect finale. Try pinchos morunos (spiced pork skewers), setas a la plancha (garlicky grilled mushrooms) and local sheep’s cheeses. For casual eats, hop from Bar Soriano to Bar Ángel; or go upscale at Ikaro, where Riojan tradition gets the Michelin treatment.

The Netherlands

Starts: Gouda

Ends: Maastricht

This trip pairs the country’s finest cheeses and beers with a scenic route through its most delightful cities. Begin in Gouda, where the eponymous cheese is king. Time your visit to catch the Gouda cheese market (Thursdays, April–August), or taste young, aged and herbed varieties at ’t Kaaswinkeltje, the city’s oldest cheese shop (dating from 1880). For something sweet, head to Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek for warm, freshly pressed stroopwafels (flat waffles made with syrup).

Next, make your way to Utrecht, where medieval canals meet a lively, youthful food scene. Try a broodje bal (meatball sandwich) or an uitsmijter (fried egg sandwich), and for something different, book a spot at Kaasbar Utrecht, where cheeses glide past you on a conveyor belt. For a more refined dinner, De Goedheyd offers upscale seasonal fare in a heritage building. Wash it all down with organic brews from De Leckere Brewery.

Then stop in Breda, a southern city with a Belgian edge. Don’t miss Brabantse worstenbroodjes, the region’s beloved sausage rolls, along with zoervleisj, a sweet-sour beef stew. For something more upscale, head to Restaurant Chocolat, where Dutch cuisine gets a French twist, or enjoy cheese platters and sandwiches at Koffie bij Teun. Sample bold new brews at Frontaal Brewery, a rising star in Dutch craft beer. Pause in Eindhoven for a quick bite of poffertjes (mini pancakes) before continuing to Maastricht, a city that feels more Belgian than Dutch. Try Limburgse vlaai (fruit pie), pungent Limburger cheese and rich stews like zoervleisj at Café Sjiek, and visit Brouwerij Bosch, a historic brewery offering tastings and tours.

Italy: Calabria

Starts: Cosenza

Ends: Pizzo

Adventurous, rustic, and unapologetically fiery, Calabria serves up southern Italy at its most soulful. This journey from mountain towns to seaside villages offers a taste of the region’s most iconic ingredients – from spicy ’nduja (a spreadable sausage) to sweet red onions and rich, hand-shaped pasta.

Start in Cosenza, a historic hill town with a lively culinary scene. Sample fileja – the region’s twisted pasta – served with creamy tomato and ’nduja sauce, followed by pitta ’mpigliata, a spiced, honeyed pastry filled with raisins and nuts. For dinner, try A Cantina Cosentina for Calabrian classics or Calabria Bella for seasonal, locally sourced dishes just steps from the Duomo.

The next day, head onwards to Pizzo, the birthplace of Tartufo di Pizzo, a decadent, cocoa-dusted gelato bombe filled with hazelnut or chocolate sauce. Enjoy it in its purest form at Gelateria Bar Dante, the original café that put it on the map. Try local specialties like Pecorino del Monte Poro cheese and grilled coastal fish at Pepe Nero, a favourite for classic Calabrian cuisine.

Spend a couple of days in Tropea, Calabria’s jewel on the Tyrrhenian coast. The star ingredient here is the cipolla rossa di Tropea – a sweet red onion protected by PGI [Protected Geographical Indication] status. Taste it caramelised on focaccia, folded into seafood dishes, or raw in summer salads. For dinner, try Ristorante Pimm’s for a modern spin on regional ingredients, or Terrazza degli Dei for hearty, traditional fare with a gorgeous view out to sea. The trip ends in Scilla, a postcard-perfect fishing village wedged between cliffs and sea. Known for pesce spada (swordfish), the town’s signature dish is grilled or rolled with herbs and breadcrumbs. Dine at Il Casato, perched above the beach with sweeping views, where you can enjoy seafood-infused fileja and marinated local olives.

North Macedonia

Starts: Skopje

Ends: Ohrid

It might not be the first place you think of going for good food, but North Macedonia blends Ottoman heritage, Balkan traditions and hearty, homespun flavours.

Begin in the capital, Skopje, where the streets of the Old Bazaar overflow with smoky grills and colourful spice stalls. Start with ajvar – a smoky roasted pepper spread – followed by tavče gravče, the national dish of slow-baked beans and kebapi, sizzling grilled meat sausages served with fresh bread and onions. Head to Destan for a classic kebapi plate, and Pivnica An for traditional fare and local brews.

Then travel west to Tetovo, in the shadow of the Šar Mountains. This town’s rich cultural blend is reflected in its food – think selsko meso, a rich pork, mushroom and pepper claypot stew, alongside pita (flaky pastry filled with cheese or meat) and fresh mountain trout. Dine at Sharri, a local favorite for hearty, regional dishes. Next, head south to Bitola, a charming town of Ottoman architecture, cafés and broad boulevards. Sample pastrmajlija, a spiced meat pie often dubbed ‘Macedonian pizza’, alongside ajvar with local cheeses. Try Pepsito, a warm, traditional restaurant by the Dragor river.

Finish up in Ohrid, where cobbled lanes lead down to one of Europe’s oldest and clearest lakes. Dine on fresh Lake Ohrid trout, grilled or cooked peka-style under a bell-shaped lid, and sip orahovnica, a walnut liqueur popular with locals. For lakefront views, head to Kaneo Restaurant, or tuck into hearty, traditional fare at Taverna St. Sofija.

Ohrid is a small resort city on the hilly shores of Lake Ohrid in the southwest of the Republic of Macedonia.

Portugal: West Coast

Starts: Lisbon

Ends: Porto

A road trip along Portugal’s wild west coast offers a heady mix of Atlantic views, historic towns and some of Europe’s most delicious food. Begin in Lisbon, where the scent of grilled sardines and warm pastéis de nata fills the air. Tuck into bacalhau à Brás – salted cod scrambled with eggs and potatoes – and slurp up amêijoas à Bulhão Pato, clams in garlic and coriander. For a variety of bites under one roof, head to the famous Time Out Market. Or go classic at Cervejaria Ramiro, a Lisbon institution famed for shellfish. Then detour inland to Évora, a UNESCO-listed town in the Alentejo region. This is hearty, rustic cuisine at its finest – think açorda alentejana (bread soup with garlic and poached egg), migas (fried bread or tortilla chips mixed with pork or seafood) and full-bodied local wines. Dine at Tasquinha do Oliveira, a local favourite.

Continue back to the coast and stop in Nazaré, a fishing village known for its giant waves and beachside seafood. Try grilled sardines straight from the boat, rich caldeirada (fish stew) and pão com chouriço – warm, smoky sausage bread sold fresh from the oven. Enjoy a relaxed meal with sea views at A Tasquinha. Wrap up in Porto, a city of granite facades and tiled churches. Sample a francesinha – a mighty, towering sandwich of steak, ham and sausage smothered in melted cheese and beer sauce – at Café Santiago, or try a modern take at Cantina 32. Don’t leave without sipping the city’s namesake Port wine; cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia for tastings at historic cellars, such as Graham’s or Cockburn’s.

Check out our guide to 7 Portuguese food trips for more travel inspiration, including a seaside break and exploring the country's rural heartland.

Two Portuguese trams traversing the cobblestoned streets of Lisbon

Switzerland: Alpine region

Starts: Montreux

Ends: Zermatt

Snow-dusted peaks meet indulgent comfort food and crisp mountain air in this divine journey through the Swiss Alps. Start lakeside in elegant Montreux. Dip into a bubbling pot of fondue moitié-moitié – a blend of Gruyère and Vacherin cheeses – then feast on filets de perche, fresh from Lake Geneva. Sip chilled white wines from the terraced Lavaux vineyards, just minutes from town. For lakeside dining, try Le Museum for specialities from raclette, served with boiled potatoes, pickles, and cured meats, to Charbonnade, a tabletop grill where you cook your steak yourself.

Next head into the hills to Gruyères, a medieval village crowned with a castle and steeped in dairy heritage. Visit La Maison du Gruyère for a deep dive into the making of the region’s iconic AOP cheese, and stay for lunch. For dessert, indulge in a slice of tarte aux myrtilles (blueberry tart) or the local delicacy: crisp meringues with double cream. Dine at Le Chalet de Gruyères, a picture-perfect alpine restaurant.

Afterwards, journey to Interlaken, set between lakes Thun and Brienz, and framed by towering peaks. Try crisp potato rösti – often topped with cheese or bacon – alongside Berner Platte, a carnivore’s fantasy of sausages, smoked meats and sauerkraut. Sample regional beers at Husi Bierhaus, or go for more classic dining at Restaurant Taverne in Hotel Interlaken. End your gourmet adventure in Zermatt, home to the Matterhorn and a haven for mountain cuisine. Enjoy a Walliser Teller – a platter of cured meats, pickles and cheese – and dip crusty rye bread (Zermatter Roggenbrot) into a final molten raclette. For sweeping views and authentic fare, book a table at Zum See, a remote mountain inn beloved by foodies and hikers alike, or Restaurant Schäferstube for hearty Valais specialities.

Scenic view of snowcapped mountains against sky,Zermatt,Switzerland

Romania

Starts: Sibiu

Ends: Bran

This taste of Transylvania combines medieval towns, mountain views and heart-warming dishes rooted in tradition. Begin in Sibiu, a charming Saxon town with cobbled lanes and pastel façades. Tuck into hearty local fare like ciorbă de burtă (creamy tripe soup), smoky mici (grilled sausages), and plăcintă cu mere – a flaky apple pie, often served warm. Dine underground at Crama Sibiană, a vaulted cellar restaurant, or opt for a modern spin on tradition at Kulinarium.

Next head to fairytale Sighișoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval citadels. Feast on sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls), caltaboș (spiced liver sausage) and papanași – Romania’s iconic fried doughnuts served with sour cream and jam. For atmosphere, try Casa Vlad Dracul, located in the reputed birthplace of Count Dracula, or go upscale at Joseph T. Restaurant. Drive onwards to Brașov, a lively city ringed by mountains and Gothic architecture, where you can dig into rustic dishes like mămăligă (polenta), bulz (polenta stuffed with cheese and bacon) and ciorbă rădăuțeană, a garlicky chicken soup with sour cream. Cosy up at La Ceaun for traditional stews or head to Sergiana for tasty Romanian-Saxon fusion.

End your trip in Bran, famous for its castle but equally rich in rural cuisine. Sample game dishes like venison stew, colțunași (dumplings filled with cheese or meat) and homemade cheeses. Casa din Bran offers traditional dishes in a rustic mountain setting, while Restaurant Bran Belvedere adds spectacular castle views to your final feast.