Europe is a food-lovers paradise! We’ve eaten our way throughout this incredible food continent and these are definitely 8 foods worth travelling to Europe for.
How many do you know and how many have you tried?
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8 Foods Worth Travelling to Europe For
1. Pizza in Italy
Pizza is the essence of Italy and can be found in all shapes and flavours around the country. They say that the first pizza was made during Roman times, more than 2000 years ago! The city of Rome has delivered its own pizza, “Pizza al taglio” which literally means pizza by the slice. It comes in rectangular form and it’s sold by weight.
Read our 10 foods in Rome you need to try.
Our comprehensive 3 day itinerary in Rome covers you for food, activities, where to stay and much more!
The bigger the piece or better the toppings, the higher the price. The favourite toppings are always fresh; tomatoes, prosciutto, basil and mushrooms.
There is no way we could compose this list of foods worth travelling to Europe for without real Italian pizza.
If you stop by Florence on this perfect 2-day itinerary, then you must visit one or all of these best 5 pizza places in Florence.
2. Borek in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Borek is made from filo pastry, filled with spicy minced ground beef and onion, it can be found almost at every corner in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Borek originates in Turkey, but the people of the Balkans have perfected it.
It is that hearty street food that you get addicted to instantly.
It can be eaten for breakfast or after a late night out. If meat is not your thing, try the cheese and spinach borek.
We think the best borek is at Buregdzinica Bosna in Sarajevo or eaten as part of a fantastic cooking class in Belgrade, Serbia.
Don’t miss our EUROPE CITY GUIDES
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- SOFIA 2 Day Itinerary
3. Langos in Hungary
If you haven’t tried langos, you are seriously missing out on some wholesome food goodness! Langos is a deep-fried flatbread made from flour, salt, yeast and water. It’s then topped with sour cream, grated cheese and garlic.
Soft, oily and delicious! It can be found at markets, train stations or at the beach.
The name comes from ‘láng’, the Hungarian word for flame as traditionally lángos was baked in the front of a brick oven, close to the flames. It’s believed that langos used to be eaten as a hearty breakfast by the Hungarians to keep warm during the cold winters.
These are definitely foods worth travelling to Europe for.
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4. Balik Ekmek in Turkey
If you are heading to Istanbul, go straight to the Galata Bridge and find street vendors at the boats selling Balik Ekmek, which literally translates to a fish sandwich.
A fried piece of fish is placed on fresh Turkish bread with onion, tomato, lettuce and roasted peppers, seasoned with a squeeze of lemon. This dish features in our list of must-try foods in Turkey.
Read our Complete Turkish Food Guide and see what you must eat while you’re here.
The fish is grilled right on the boats and the locals say that Balik Ekmek has fed the people of Istanbul for centuries. The story has it that the fishermen decided to pull up their boats at the bridge and sell fish directly to all hungry bypassers while grilling it on their boats.
The best food experience in Istanbul!
BEST FOOD EXPERIENCE IN ISTANBUL – Taste of Istanbul Food Tour
5. Paella in Spain
Paella is regarded as the national dish of Spain, however, the original paella comes from the city of Valencia. There are many types of paella and you can literally travel the country for the best.
Paella consists of rice, meat (chicken, pork or rabbit) or seafood, beans, peas, peppers and the key ingredient saffron, which gives paella that yellow colour. It is simply delicious.
Check out this Paella Cooking Class with Tapas and Market Visit in Valencia.
The name paella comes from the name of the pan that this dish is cooked in. Locals seem to believe that it used to be a dish of the Spanish men, cooking a simple meal in a large pan for the whole family on Sunday afternoon.
There are certain foods worth travelling to Europe for, and when you travel to Spain, don’t miss this one!
6. Pierogi in Poland
Pierogi is a well-known icon of Polish cuisine. They are little soft, doughy dumplings cooked to perfection. They can be steamed or fried, savoury or sweet. Pierogi can be found in Poland but are also a prevalent pub food in Canada.
Our favourite fillings include potato and cheese, meat, and cabbage. These are some of our favourite foods when travelling in Europe, so put them on top of your list.
The best pierogi are handmade ones made with love by grandmothers, but look into so-called milk bars filled with locals, and you will find some true gems.
If you visit this country, try these 18 traditional foods from Poland.
We ate so many delicious pierogi during our road trip in Poland. Check out our post featuring our 8 favourite cities in Poland.
Read more: The Perfect 2 Days in Krakow Itinerary
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7. Herring in The Netherlands
We couldn’t make a list of foods worth travelling to Europe for without including herrings in the Netherlands. Yes, we know the Netherlands is not known for its food, but the Hollandse Nieuwe Haring is surprisingly delicious.
The herring is raw (yes hello Dutch sashimi) preserved in salt and brine, served with onions and sometimes with bread and gherkins. The locals have their own way to eat it – by lifting the tail in the air and lowering the herring into their mouth.
Find the herring stands around the charming streets of Amsterdam; simply look out for the Dutch flag. And remember the Hollandse Nieuwe Haring is only sold between May and July.
Our 3 day itinerary for Amsterdam is perfect to help you plan your time in this awesome city.
Recommended Food Tour – Amsterdam’s Jordaan District Dutch Food & History Tour
8. Currywurst in Germany
Yes, it is all about the sausage in Germany. Boiled or fried sausage is cut into bite-sized pieces and covered with a thick tomato-based sauce that is enhanced with paprika, Indian curry spice or chilli powder.
There are multiple versions of the currywurst and the best can be found at street food vendors in Berlin.
Currywurst goes hand in hand with local beers. The Berliners believe a local woman created the first currywurst right after the end of WW2.
She found the curry powder left by the British soldiers and mixed it with cut up sausage to create a different flavour for everyday food. And just like that, currywurst was born!
Europe is a fantastic place to enjoy many incredible culinary experiences.
Whether you want to join a food tour or learn how to cook a new cuisine, this is the best continent to explore for food.
Did you enjoy our post on eight foods worth travelling to Europe for? What would you add to this list?
Travel Tips for Europe
We have many travel guides and tips for Europe— an incredible continent!
Are you travelling on a budget? These ten cheapest European countries will help you plan an itinerary that lets you see as much as possible while there.
Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.
Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Europe, and our food map of Europe will inspire your culinary journey.
For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies, a couple of them are located in Europe.
Here are 8 things to know about travelling to Eastern Europe and it’s good to know these 7 misconceptions about Eastern Europe too.
These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels.
You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Europe. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual European countries, or consider a regional eSIM for Europe (which covers 39 countries).
If your travels in Europe are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming European departures, or view Tourradar for great deals on group tours in Europe.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
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