tourist experience food

10 of the world’s best foodie destinations (and what to eat when you get there)

Mar 1, 2024 • 12 min read

From dim sum in Hong Kong to barbecue brisket in Texas, be inspired to travel just for these epic flavors © Sammyvision / Getty Images

Have you ever eaten something so delicious while traveling that it becomes the defining memory of your trip? We have, too.

So, to ensure that will happen again, plan your next trip to an incredible foodie destination. We know just where you should go — and what you should eat when you get there. 

Here are 10 of the destinations and dishes, selected from our book Ultimate Eats , that we think are worthy of planning a trip around.

1. Try pinxtos in San Sebastián, Spain

Travelers heading to San Sebastián  in Spain will find an incredible city bursting with Basque culture, and surrounded by golden beaches and verdant hills. But there’s one compelling reason to visit that rises above all the others:  pintxos . The tiny bites (known as tapas outside of Basque Spain) are best consumed with an accompanying drink, seeing as you’ll be taking this particular culinary journey as a bar-hopping escapade through the streets of San Sebastián.

Originally small open-faced sandwiches, pintxos can today be experienced in many incarnations, from the traditional, piled-high toppings on bread, to molecular-gastronomy renditions with flavors that belie what you see on your plate. Needless to say, almost every local ingredient is represented. It’s hard to list favorites, but the simple examples are often the ones that blow your mind: battered white asparagus, a tuna-and-anchovy tart or maybe mushrooms braised with garlic.

To get the full pintxos and San Sebastián experience, have a lazy day in the city and surrounds, take an afternoon nap and then head out around 9pm. You’ll never be more than a few minutes from your next bar, a whole new menu of tasty treats and a whole new group of people eating and drinking.

2. Eat curry laksa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

One of the most compelling parts of visiting  Kuala Lumpur is wandering through the streets, finding fantastic little hawker centers tucked into the shadows of towering skyscrapers. At this feast for the senses, you’ll truly complete the experience when you sample a rich and creamy curry laksa .

On  Madras Lane , just off Petaling St, you’ll come across competing curry laksa stalls vying for your attention. Pick the one with the longest queue. When you have the bowl in your hands, choose a plastic chair (make sure it’s connected to the stall where you bought your laksa or you’ll be in trouble) and begin the swoon-worthy, sweat-inducing process of eating. Come again the next day to try the neighboring stall’s version.

A heady mix of spices and flavors (such as fresh turmeric, galangal, chili, candlenut and shrimp paste) go into the curry mix, which, when combined with coconut milk, creates the signature fiery-orange hue of the noodle soup. Two types of noodles (thin rice and thick egg) – along with shredded chicken, shrimp, cockles, tofu puffs, bean sprouts, a sprinkling of fresh chili and mint and a squeeze of lime – make up the rest of the lip-smacking ingredients. It’s an only-in- Malaysia experience.

3. Take a sushi master class in Tokyo, Japan

Japan offers a truly awe-inspiring array of food experiences , with few as memorable as sampling sushi in Tokyo . We wish we could say that if you’re going to eat sushi in Tokyo, go to Sukiyabashi Jiro or Sushi Saito, but the inordinately long waiting lists to get into either restaurant take the shine off the experience. That said, if your hotel concierge can work their magic, do not miss your chance; the sushi mastery on show at both places is undeniable. In the absence of this bit of good luck, however, there are some superb sushi restaurants in Tokyo that dish up life-changing experiences without the wait. Cases in point include Mantensushi Marunouchi and Jūzō Sushi.

Most top-end sushi chefs will serve their sushi  omakase- style, which just means you leave it to them and they will select, prepare and serve your sushi as they see fit. Don’t kick back and relax just yet, though – there are some etiquette rules to abide by. First, when your fresh piece of sushi is placed in front of you, pick it up with your hands rather than chopsticks, and don’t dip it in soy sauce or ask for any extra wasabi. The chef has seasoned the offering, so it is something of an insult to modify the flavor. Between courses, it’s fine to use chopsticks to pick up pickled ginger and the  oshibori  (hand towel) to clean your fingers.

Take your time and interact with the chef; it’s such an intimate setting and a perfect opportunity to learn more about this ancient culinary art form. Remember to pay attention to the rice as well as the fish. Sushi masters spend years perfecting their rice and consider it as important as all the other ingredients. Soak it all in – the tradition, the skill, the respect, the service, all amounting to the quintessential Japanese dining experience.

4. Taste tantalizing beef brisket in Texas, USA

Travel to Texas , US , and you’ll quickly learn something important about the locals: they know their barbecued meats. So when they line up for four or more hours to get some, it has to be special. That’s the situation at  Austin ’s  Franklin Barbecue  six days a week. Through the Franklin’s menu includes pulled pork, ribs, sausage and more, the main attraction is its smoked beef brisket.

The team here keeps it simple, rubbing the meat with a mix of salt and black pepper, then cooking it “low and slow” in oakwood smoke until it’s fall-apart tender and encased in a thin, salty crust. It’s a juicy, smoky Texas classic, judged best-in-class by Texans themselves. You could drive to Lockhart , the state-legislated “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” and be back in the time it takes to get into Franklin’s. But the queue is good fun, you can have a beer and meet some friendly Texans while you wait – and damn, that brisket is good .

5. Travel to Bangkok, Thailand, for som tum  

Hit the streets of Bangkok  and prepare for sensory overload. While the sights of the Thai capital will astonish you, you’ll have a similarly intense experience when you try som tum , green papaya salad. Som tum is a bang of flavor: it’s sour, salty, sweet and intensely fiery. It’s also texturally extraordinary, combining the crunch of peanuts with cool slivers of pale green papaya and carrot, and small, sweet, juicy shrimp and tomatoes. It’s sold from street vendors all over  Thailand  but is particularly beloved in the capital, where it feels like there’s a seller on every corner.

Grabbing a plate of som tum on the street, amid all the traffic chaos and the stifling heat, is a rite of passage for visitors to the city, and the epitome of this is the rambling, streetside shack  Jay So . But if you would prefer to revere your salad in relative peace and quiet, the restaurant  Somtam Nua , at the Siam Center on Siam Sq, has a worthy version – tamed slightly for Western palates but still delicious.

Continue your restaurant tour of Bangkok at these local favorites.

6. Heap toppings on  smørrebrød  in Copenhagen, Denmark

Stylish Copenhagen lures in travelers looking to soak up contemporary art, admire amazing architecture and shop for vintage clothes . But the perfect food experience in Copenhagen, a Danish smørrebrød , is anything but fussy – just take a slice of rye bread, put some butter on it and then heap it with whatever tasty ingredients you like.

But it’s not really that simple. There are some rules to smørrebrød that help to elevate it to something beyond just a piece of bread with toppings. First, thin toppings go on first, followed by the bulkier kind; second, when eating more than one kind of smørrebrød at once (and this is nearly always the case; good luck stopping at one), you start with the slice that features herring, move on to fish, then meat, then finish with cheese. This carefully choreographed sequence is designed to gently walk your palate through the flavor combinations so that one never overpowers the other.

If you’ve never had smørrebrød , before there are some classic combinations you’ll see all over  Denmark : for example, pickled herring, onion and dill; mayonnaise, boiled egg, shrimp, dill and lemon; roast beef, pickles, onions and horseradish; and blue cheese, apples and bacon. But these are just a tiny sample of the almost limitless number of toppings.

Copenhagen’s smørrebrød institution,  Restaurant Schonnemann , has been serving up the open-faced sandwich since 1877. Here, presentation is so delicate and refined it resembles sushi in style. Try the following for an ultimate smørrebrød experience, otherwise known as the world’s best sandwich degustation: herring marinated in dill cream with capers, onions and a fried egg; smoked salmon and smoked halibut with a crab and mayonnaise salad, tomato and basil; a breaded cutlet of pork with apples, thyme and onions; and, finally, Camembert with blackcurrant jam. And to drink? Why there are only more than 140 different schnapps, aquavit and genevers to choose from. That should do nicely.

Save these Copengahen restaurants to your itinerary.

7. Savor crayfish by the sea on New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand ’s scenery is a big allure for travelers who want to experience its incredible array of mountains, fields and coastlines. But beyond its eye-candy appeal, this lush environment also produces a wealth of delicious ingredients. On the east coast of New Zealand’s  South Island , about two hours’ drive north of Christchurch , is the picturesquely situated town of  Kaikōura . The town is famous for the abundance of marine life present offshore – with sperm whales, dolphins and seals often spotted close to land – with its name deriving from the Māori words kai (meaning food) and kōura (crayfish).

Trading on its namesake are numerous fresh seafood vans up and down the nearby coastline. Of these, one of the oldest – and best – is  Nin’s Bin . A 20-minute drive from the center of town, this basic blue-and-white converted caravan has a few wooden picnic tables scattered outside where locals and well-informed travelers hunker over fresh crayfish and mussels with a view over the Pacific Ocean. Nin’s Bin prepares its crayfish with butter, garlic and a sprinkling of parsley, letting the fresh and sweet flesh shine. Add a squeeze of lemon, throw in a cold beer and hope for a sighting of sperm whales – it could be the perfect afternoon.

Quotas on the number of crayfish being caught in this region have been put in place to protect the marine life here and promote sustainable practices. As such, many of the local shacks and restaurants, including Nin’s Bin, have strict seasonal opening hours worth scouting out before your visit.

8. Don't miss bowls of bibimbap in South Korea 

South Korea  offers up an incredible variety of experiences  in a tiny package. Likewise, one of its most popular dishes, bibimbap, offers a dizzying array of flavors in just one bowl. Beef and sautéed vegetables such as shiitake mushrooms, spinach and eggplant are piled on to warm, white rice and flavored with spicy chili paste and an umami-rich fermented soybean paste, topped with either a raw or fried egg. There are two main types of bibimbap:  jeonju -style, which comes in a cold bowl, and  dolsot , which comes in a piping-hot earthenware bowl – making it the perfect dish for any season.

Whichever one you choose comes to you like a display meal, with all the ingredients fanned out over the rice – so take a moment to admire the pretty culinary spectacle and know that the ingredients are chosen for specific reasons. The red of the chili pepper represents your heart, the green vegetables are for your liver, the yellow of the egg yolk is for your stomach, black or very dark items (mushrooms or soy sauce) are there for your kidneys and the white rice is for your lungs. Next, dive right in, mix the whole lot up and give your insides a boost.

9. Take a pilgrimage to Naples, Italy, for the perfect pizza 

Wander the pulsing, narrow streets of Naples  and you’re sure the catch a whiff of its most famous food: pizza. While there are infinite numbers of ways it can be prepared, there’s one version of our worldwide food obsession that will always stand prouder than the rest: the original margherita pizza from Naples. To eat margherita here is reminiscent of a religious experience – you’ll find zealous disciples of specific restaurants.

It’s believed the worldwide phenomenon was first created when a local baker prepared dinner for the visiting King Umberto and Queen Margherita in the 19th century. Legend has it he made three pizzas, and the queen was taken with the flavors of the tomato, mozzarella and basil version, in the colors of the Italian flag. From then on it has been named in her honor.

So where to eat it? One of the longest-standing establishments is Di Matteo . The huge, cerulean-tiled pizza oven fires out light and stretchy toasted pizzas that fly out of the door to pizza lovers on their own personal pilgrimage, and locals who appreciate the exalted position they find themselves in. If the queue is too long at Di Matteo, stroll the streets and find your own place of worship.

10. Snack on dim sum in Hong Kong 

Dim sum (which means “light snack”) is served all over the world – but nowhere does it like  Hong Kong . In fact, Hong Kong’s dim sum is a destination in itself. Dim sum (also known as  yum cha , which translates to “with tea”) has evolved from the traveler ritual of stopping for tea and snacks while on the road into what might be the world’s best brunch.

In Hong Kong you can sample your dim sum as simply or as extravagantly as your predilections go. At multiple locations across town,  DimDimSum does its tidbits traditionally – you’ll find that the  siu mai  (steamed pork dumplings),  har gow  (steamed shrimp dumplings) and  char siu bao  (BBQ pork steamed buns) are all excellent. The atmosphere is buzzing with students, travelers and lovers of dim sum on a budget.

At the other end of the spectrum are the Michelin-starred establishments like  Duddell’s  and  Fook Lam Moon . At the painfully elegant Duddell’s the classics are given an elaborate twist: think pork-and-shrimp dumpling with scallop and caviar, or a deep-fried pork-and-shrimp wonton with foie gras. By contrast, Fook Lam Moon’s mood is classic Cantonese, but still caters to Hong Kong society’s elite with offerings that come with small unexpected flourishes, such as the siu mai with crab roe or the steamed squid with curry sauce.

Whether jostling for elbow room at budget restaurants or sitting in elegant surroundings as silent carts glide towards your table, Hong Kong dim sum is the definitive version to try before the proverbial bucket gets kicked.

This article was first published May 2020 and updated March 2024

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How to Plan a Food Trip

Close your eyes. Think about your favourite city or place to visit. Now, imagine a food you love passionately. I’m sure you smiled! That’s it, eating and travelling are things that really move us. Well, that is what Food Travel means. Is there a better thing than to combine these two passions in a culinary trip?

What is Food Travel

Food Travel means moving around with the aim of exploring a destination gastronomic offer . Exploring the pleasures of the table has always been associated with moments of leisure, but on a gastronomic trip, the culinary experience is no longer just a complement but the main motivation in choosing a destination and in the way of exploring it .

In general, it means travelling to do food tourism , which we define as follows:

Food tourism is composed of activities that provide experiences of consumption and appreciation of food and beverages, presented in such a way that value the history, the culture and the environment of a particular region. by Food’n Road

Why Food Travel?

What we want to highlight is that, in practice, when we combine travel with gastronomy, there is a whole set of experiences and learnings about the history, traditions, environment and local culture that go beyond taste. Realizing this is life-changing!

Food and Travel, an experience we never forget

On a trip, we want to have different experiences from our daily lives. These experiences become remarkable when you feel connected with them. That’s exactly how food plays its role.

The bond with food is a universal language, after all, no matter where you came from, food is certainly part of your history. That is why every travel memory always comes with a flavour .

The experience is for everyone

It is a mistake to think that this type of trip is only for those who like to (and can) eat in renowned restaurants, or visit expensive wineries. The food tourism industry is creative and aware of the interests of travellers.

Best of all, it is a democratic and flexible way of travelling. Nowadays, you can easily explore a gastronomic culture in different ways: in the countryside or in the city, individually or in groups, with luxury, with adventure. There is a broad range of options for all budgets and tastes.

We should not fail to mention that technology has also helped a lot of people who are looking for food experiences during a trip. Today, you can easily find online restaurant reviews, menu translation, independent guides, local dining platforms, and more.

For example, how about including a cooking class on your next trip? In addition to having fun while learning traditional dishes, you can cook these dishes when you return home, and remember the trip while sharing the experience with friends and family.

Want more ideas? Check out the list below with some examples of what to do on a culinary trip .

Activities in Food Tourism:

• Take a street food tour;
• Tasting of local dishes and beverages;
• Follow regional product routes (e.g. travel on wine or coffee routes);
• Eat at traditional restaurants;
• Share meals with local people;
• Participate in culinary events and festivals;
• Visit local markets;
• Learn about the production of food by visiting farms and artisan producers;
• Participate in cooking classes;
• Visit exhibitions that explain the history of local cuisine;
• Culinary expeditions with chefs and specialists.

If you want to understand each of these activities in detail, we have written another article that explains the main activities of food tourism .

How to Food Travel

You can choose between an immersive food trip, where the entire itinerary is centred on the culinary experiences of the destination, or just include some food tourism activities to complement your itinerary .

But, regardless of your travel style, there is a secret to unlock the full potential of food tourism: Curiosity!

Try to understand not only what people eat, but why they eat in one way or another, what are the local ingredients, what is the story behind the food they prepare. Ask, interact, taste and smile.

How to Plan a Culinary Trip

You can plan a culinary trip independently or through agencies. And whatever your choice is, Food’n Road will help you .

To begin with, get inspired by our Food and Travel blog and explore food destinations with guides and content from each country.

After choosing the destination of your next trip, we suggest two paths :

If you want to plan your itinerary independently, visit our marketplace to find and book experiences , we handpick the best food tourism activities and tours from around the world .

Now, if you want a true gastronomic journey adapted to your taste, we suggest our Food Travel Design service to make a completely customized itinerary for you .

It makes a difference to go beyond the plate

On a culinary trip, you end up learning a lot about the local culture and the best, directly with the residents, exchanging information, trying new flavours and having fun.

During our travels, something that always strikes us is to notice the similarities between the cuisine of distant countries and how the same ingredients are used in such different ways.

For example, have you ever wondered how important the chilli pepper is for Asian cuisine even though it is a native ingredient from the Americas? With each trip, a new discovery!

Food Travel is much more than travelling to eat

We can learn a lot on a trip like this, meet people with different realities from the ones we live in, see other lifestyles, and encourage the preservation of heritage and traditions .

By sharing the table with local people, listening to their stories and talking about typical dishes, you will feel part of the place and will appreciate aspects that were previously unknown. 

On your next trip, try to learn about the destination by exploring the local cuisine and I am sure you will never forget this experience.

Count on Food’n Road to plan your next culinary journey and have a nice trip!

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21 Top Foodie Destinations Around the World

If you love food and want to explore some really fantastic foodie destinations, we’ve got the list for you! Adding culinary activities to your vacation itinerary is one of the best ways to experience the culture of the destination you’re in. 

This list contains 21 of the best places to go for foodie vacations. If there’s one thing we truly believe here at Savored Journeys, it’s that eating well and traveling well go together like… well, you can’t have one with the other, as they say.

» Looking for awesome dining experiences to travel for? Try these 10 Most Remote Dining Locations . You might like How to Recreate International Dishes at Home.

For us, it’s part of the experience to taste the  tapas in Barcelona , the sushi in Tokyo , chocolate in Switzerland, and that incredibly delicious sauerkraut soup in Prague . That’s why we make it a priority to visit top foodie destinations around the world. If you agree, then you’re probably a foodie traveler, just like we are.

We make food a priority during our travels, in order to experience the culture, learn about the people, and immerse ourselves in what makes this place unique. Yes, we believe you can do all of that through food.

Read more about our favorite foodie cities: Paris | London | Bologna

Table of Contents

Why We Travel For Food And So Should You

Culinary vacations are becoming more popular now than ever before. We’ve all started to realize that many of our favorite things to do on vacation and the strongest memories we take back home with us have to do with food.

Maybe you took a really great food tour , or you learned to make pasta in Italy, or you ate at a particularly amazing fine dining restaurant. Those are all cherished memories now.

Have you ever noticed how even the faint aroma of something you ate on vacation instantly takes you back to when you experienced it? Tasting an Argentinian Malbec transports me to a tasting room in Mendoza . The smell of galangal and lime instantly brings to mind the Thai cooking class we took in Chiang Mai.

Even the sight of choclo (really large corn) gets me excited for the intense flavors of Peruvian food . Just ask Nick – “big corn”, makes me unreasonably excited. Food is powerful. It’s what makes us who we are as a people. It is an essential part of life and community.

In fact, I seriously question whether you can experience the real, authentic side of a culture without experiencing the food.

After all, what is Thailand without a plate of Pad Thai, China without Dim Sum, Canada without poutine, Mexico without street tacos?

Indulging in Michelin starred restaurants , veering off the beaten path to where they make the best fried noodles, immersing yourself in pasta making in Chianti, or even accepting a dare to eat balut in the Philippines – these are the things vibrant memories are made of. Check out these vegetarian food experiences too!

Top Foodie Vacations Around the World

We are always searching for culinary vacations that promise incredible dining options, fun food-inspired experiences and some really good wine to wash it all down with.

And while there are so many great locations around the world that satisfy that craving, some stand out more than others in the culinary department. I have to admit, even picking only 21 destinations that we think are foodie heaven is hard – there are so many!

When it comes to foodie destinations, the best ones have irresistible food that’s you can’t find anywhere else. Some will immediately come to mind, like Italy and Spain. Others you have to search a little for.

1. Mendoza, Argentina

Some of the best wines come out of Mendoza, but did you know about its culinary scene? Mendoza is a perfect spot for foodies who want to enjoy all three of pillars of good travel in one destination: good food, wine and adventures.

Many of the top wineries in the region serve impressive multi-course wine lunches from their winery restaurants that have often have breathtaking views of the Andes from every seat and include as much wine as you want to drink.

Visit these wineries and restaurants for a complete foodie experience in Mendoza:

• Bodega Ruca Malen (lunch and wine tasting)
• Andeluna Cellars (lunch and wine tasting)
• The Vines of Mendoza (for a comprehensive tasting)
• Siete Fuegos (Fine dining on an open fire — and stay at The Vines Resort & Spa – check prices and read reviews )

Tours you may enjoy:

• All day, small group, luxury wine tour with gourmet lunch
• Maipú Wine-Tasting Tour from Mendoza Including Trapiche Winery

2. Paris, France

When people plan their trips to Paris, they tend to forget that the city is a foodie paradise, even though it’s in France. There are so many fun food things to do in Paris that will enhance your sightseeing, help you build lasting memories, and create a diverse and interesting itinerary. 

With so many delicious French foods to try, croissants and Croque Monsieurs belong right there alongside the Eiffel Tower and Sacre-Coeur. No vacation to the French capital is complete without trying the foods that make the country so unique – yes, escargot and frog’s legs included!

Whether that’s a stop off one of Paris’ many street food markets to check out the products, at a local crepe stand, or on a full-day food tour , there are many ways to taste and enjoy Paris.

If you have extra time, you can also get outside of the city to either the Bordeaux wine regio n or Champagne wine region . Reims and Epernay are two of the main Champagne cities to visit to learn more about French wines .

Tours you might enjoy:

• Montmartre Hill Sweet & Savory French Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour
• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

3. Tuscany, Italy

One of the top things on most foodie’s bucket lists is to take cooking classes in Italy . We dream of making tender, homemade pasta and rich meaty tomato sauces, drinking wine in Tuscany and eating briny olives and antipasto on the terrace overlooking the vineyards.

This experience can be found all over Italy — there’s no shortage of cooking schools and wine tasting tours.

One of our favorite areas in Tuscany is Chianti. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous and easy to get around (see our self-guided Chianti tour ideas), there are dozens of amazing Chianti Classico wines to try. Here are some of our favorite places to stay in Tuscany for wine tasting.

I’ve always been enchanted with Montepulciano, as well.

Montepulciano is a charming hilltop town in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, known for its picturesque streets, historic architecture, and world-class wineries. The town is surrounded by rolling hills covered in vineyards, and the local wine industry is a major part of the economy and culture.

There are several wineries in and around Montepulciano that offer tours and tastings, like Avignonesi, Poliziano, and Boscarelli.

• Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside
• Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence

4. San Sebastian, Spain

It might not be a major cosmopolitan city like Paris or London , but San Sebastian is perhaps the greatest food destination in the world, with more Michelin stars per capita than any other city and a thriving pintxos scene that you won’t believe until you see it.

It makes the list not only because of the overabundance of haute cuisine, but because it is literally paradise, with its incredible view over the crescent bay and the beautiful La Concha Beach. There are three 3-star restaurants, among a handful of 1- and 2-starred places, plus a plethora of pintxos bars serving gourmet-style bites that are just as good as any fancy meal you’ve ever had.

• Here’s a great evening pintxos tour in San Sebastian that you’ll love.
• Arzak – 3-stars — one of the top restaurants in the world — not to be missed.

Just an hour or so from San Sebastian is the Rioja wine region of Spain, where you’ll also find some really incredible food from Michelin star chefs and formidable home-style restaurants. One of the funnest foodie things we’ve ever done was a pinchos crawl down the tiny streets of Logrono, Spain. It’s a foodie’s dream!

• Evening Pintxo-Tapas Tour with a Local Expert
• PINTXOS in San Sebastian – Private Gastronomic and Cultural Adventure

5. Bordeaux, France

Combine the delicious wines of Bordeaux with the gorgeous scenery and you have the vacation every foodie has been dreaming about in France. You should plan for at least a week in Bordeaux to give it justice. You can spend two days in the Left Bank and two days in the Right Bank , and still only scratch the surface of the wine and food possibilities.

Also, be sure to spend time in the center of Bordeaux, where we found some really incredible food options, from wine bars to street food markets. The newly opened wine museum is also very much worth a visit.

A bike tour through Bordeaux is perfect for wine enthusiasts, foodies and really anyone who wants to enjoy the countryside while biking through some of the world’s most beautiful vineyards.

You can enjoy a winery biking tour through the Left Bank or the Right Bank. The area around Saint Emillion is my favorite, and it’s flat and easy to ride.

Imagine foie gras, duck confit, and black truffles paired with bold and complex Bordeaux wines. You’ll be having gourmet lunches and dinners paired with world-class wine every day. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Check out these guided foodie activities in Bordeaux:

• Small-Group Saint-Emilion Day Trip from Bordeaux
• Bordeaux Gourmet Food Walking Tour with Lunch

6. New York City, New York, USA

New York City is also a culinary capital of the world. Here you’ll find incredible food everywhere, from street vendors to Michelin-starred restaurants and even a few completely outrageous foods that you won’t find anywhere else.

Culinary trends seem to start and end in NYC. But one of the things that makes this city so great is the high number of really talented chefs that call it home. Most of them have restaurants there that aren’t insanely hard to get into, so you can eat dinner made by a master. Some to check out are Le Bernardin, Eleven Madison Park, and Cosme (by the legendary Mexico City chef of Pujol ).

Be sure to also make it to favorites like Katz Delicatessen, Momofuku Noodle Bar, and the Peter Luger steakhouse. You’ll also find huge, thin slices of New York Pizza, street hot dogs, Jewish delis, extravagant brunches. It’s all there waiting for you to discover.

• Greenwich Village Walking and Food Tasting Tour
• Chelsea Market and High Line Food Tour

7. Tokyo, Japan

I’m a huge sushi fan. Who isn’t, right? In Tokyo, you will find the freshest, best, most amazing sushi in the world. If that’s not reason enough to head to Japan for your next foodie vacation, I don’t know what else I can say – WAIT, yes I do.

How about the really fun, totally cool izakayas you can find in all the back alleys and small crevices around the city. It sounds like dive bar quality, but it’s so not. In fact, it’s an adventurous foodie’s dream. Or the old Tsukiji outer market , which is an absolute must visit in Tokyo.

You’ll see foods you’ve never heard of before , even lots of unique Japanese drinks , and get to sample tons of things along the way. In Japan, you can eat the best of every type of food they make, from gyoza to okonomiyaki to ramen and takoyaki. Nearly every chef is a master at his cuisine.

Another great activity in Tokyo for food lovers is participating in a traditional tea ceremony. You can see what it’s all about and learn the proper manners in an informal ceremony in Hamarikyu Gardens . These things and more are part of our complete 3-day foodie guide to Tokyo.

• Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
• Walking Food Tour of Shibuya at Night

8. Bangkok, Thailand

I think Thai food is very much a universally loved cuisine. Getting to try authentic Thai dishes the way they were meant to be eaten (at a night market or from a street vendor in Thailand ) is one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had.

In Bangkok, there are opportunities for cooking classes , food tours, street food for every meal, even Michelin star restaurants. For an even more unique experience, head out of town to the nearby floating markets to witness something you won’t see anywhere else. Make sure you try the mangosteens. Oh so good.

The best thing about Bangkok food is that there is a lot of it everywhere. There used to be street food vendors dispersed throughout the city, but now there are conglomerations of food stalls that you can find in the city. Some of our favorites are Bangkok’s Chinatown Market, Wang Lang Market, and the Chatuchak weekend market.

No matter where you’re staying, there is likely a street food market nearby. Be sure to keep your eyes open as you walk around. Street food is definitely the way to go in Bangkok. It’s so cheap and it’s delicious.

• Bangkok Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk
• Chef designed Bangkok Food Tour for 8 Exclusive Guests

9. London, England

Another big city that is often overlooked as a food destination is London . But don’t make this mistake! London is the food capital of the world. No where will you find the array of international food choices , dining experiences , and foodie activities  that you will find in London.

People often think London doesn’t have good food – or that it consists merely of fish and chips and pub food. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, London is one of the biggest food cities in the world. You can find every type of cuisine imaginable in the city. Plus, where else in the world can you find nearly dozens of afternoon tea choices ?

You can browse around London’s many markets , including Camden Market and  Borough Market – which are two of our favorites, or you can stop for a street food break at the really cool and fun Boxpark in Shoreditch.

We absolutely love Soho for the dizzying array of food choices. You can’t walk three steps without coming up a different restaurant, wine bar, pub, waffle bar, gelateria – you name it.

• London East End Food Tour
• Secret Food Tour: London Bridge & Borough Market w/ Private Tour Option

10. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia, is a great food city, with many great restaurants to check out around the city. Some of our favorite restaurants in Melbourne are located on Flinders Lane. Two that I highly recommend are Chin Chin and Lucy Liu.

While staying in Melbourne, don’t miss the opportunity to get out to the wonderful Yarra Valley wine region. There are more than a dozen of wineries to visit. It’s a cool climate, so they produce a lot of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and some sparkling.

We love food and wine events, and Melbourne, Australia is home to one of the best, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival . The festival extends for 17 days in March and features global culinary superstars who host events, create unforgettable dishes for participants to sample and draw crowds of over 250,000 each year.

• Melbourne Foodie Discovery Walking Tour
• Yarra Valley Wine & Food Day Tour from Melbourne with lunch at Yering Station

11. Stellenbosch, South Africa

Only an hour outside of Cape Town is the Stellenbosch Wine Region of South Africa. Of all the places we’ve been to for wine tasting, Stellenbosch is my favorite. The winery experience is so much more inviting and relaxed here.

You can take a tour with a group, so you don’t have to drive yourself, or you can plan your own winery tour with a designated driver. When you arrive at a winery, you’ll be able to  relax at a table or on a comfy couch and have the wine samples brought to you.

The region also has a large number of top restaurants with chef’s who know the wine well and create masterpieces that live up to the wine.  Some of the best foodie things in Stellenbosch:

• Rust en Vrede Restaurant
• Overture at Hidden Valley Restaurant
• Spier Winery and Eight at Spier Restaurant
• Visit Stellenbrau Brewery

When you’re done eating your way through Stellenbosch, there’s another nearby wine region to explore: Franschhoek. Both areas are well known for their gourmet cuisine and fine wines.

• Full Day Afrivista Wine Tours from Stellenbosch
• Wine Tasting and cultural tour with a wine maker

12. Bologna, Italy

While there are many touristy things to do in Bologna and the surrounding area, it truly is one of the best culinary vacation spots in the world.

There are so many food experiences to have in this area, from a full blown DOP food tour that takes you to a Parmigiano-Reggiano factory, a Parma ham production facility, and a home where traditional Balsamic vinegar is made, to a more intimate cooking class in the city, you simply will not run out of food-related things to do.

The Emilia-Romagna area (of which Bologna is the capital), is known for its wine, but you may think it’s only home to the sparkling semi-sweet Lambrusco wine. Lambrusco is found mostly in the northern part of the region, but Romagna makes mostly Sangiovese red wines, in a style not too different from neighboring Tuscany.

A wine-tasting trip to Romagna will reveal a whole new world of wine you didn’t know was out there.

• Bologna Food Tour from a local perspective
• Secret Food Tours Bologna w/ Private Tour Option

13. Mexico City, Mexico

When we were preparing to go to Mexico City , thoughts of indulging in real, authentic Mexican food were all I could think about. I could eat burritos, carnitas, enchiladas, tacos and guacamole all day, every day and be perfectly content.

If that sounds like something you might say, then a culinary trip to Mexico City should definitely be at the top of your list! There are a lot of great eating experiences to have around Mexico City. We found some really great restaurants , like Pujol and Maximo Bistrot. We tried many different mezcals and tequilas, and spent an entire day wandering around Mercado Roma, tasting awesome foods.

We also highly recommend taking a food tour – we like this historic center food tour . You may even want to try your hand at making some of these foods – if you’ve never handmade a tortilla, I think it might be time you tried!

Here’s a cooking class that includes a food market tour.

• Colonia Roma Food Tour
• A Night of Tacos and Mezcal in Mexico City

14. Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan

When it comes to food, Japan has more dishes to love than nearly anywhere. But for me, the star of the show is one single street in Osaka, called Dotonbori . And one of my favorite things to eat there is the famous Osaka dish, Okonomiyaki, pictured above. Dōtonbori is one of the principal tourist destinations in Osaka.

It runs along the Dōtonbori canal from Dōtonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba district of the city. It’s not a huge area. It covers only about 8 blocks. But it is absolutely jam packed with restaurants, food stalls and street vendors selling every type of food specialty Japan is known for. I would make a special foodie trip to Japan, just to visit Dotonbori and eat my heart out.

Around 5pm, Dotonbori Osaka turns from a fairly quiet, mostly deserted street, into a bustling and utterly jam-packed food metropolis with lines of hungry people queued up to buy trays of hot-off-the-grill gyoza , yakisoba, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, sukiyaki! If you can eat it, they are selling it. On Dotonbori food is king!

• Eat, Drink, Cycle: Osaka Food and Bike Tour
• Sushi Cooking Class in Osaka
• Osaka Local Foodie Walking Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

15. Lima, Peru

You wouldn’t think it, would you? But Peru was named the top South America Food & Drink Destination by Frommer’s and for very good reason. Peru has a multicultural population that includes immigrants from Spain , China, Japan and more, and that helps to create a thriving food scene with regional variations that are unique and unexplored. 

Lima’s signature dishes, like ceviche and chicharones, are becoming favorites around the world and opening people’s eyes to the flavors of Peru. (Read our guide on foods you must try in Peru.) Restaurants like Astrid & Gaston have been delighting foodies for many years in Lima.

Superchef Gaston Acurio of La Mar and many others are priming the city with a modern take on traditional favorites. Now is the time to experience Peru’s food scene, before it is fully discovered.

⇒ Where to stay in Lima, Peru: Hilton Lima Miraflores ( see prices and read reviews )

• Lima Gourmet Food Tour: Evening Experience
• Peruvian Cooking Class Including Local Market Tour and Exotic Fruit Tasting

16. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans food expands way past typical American food. It has a style and culture all its own, with Creole and French influences. It’s an amazing place to explore if you’re a foodie who likes to try new things.

Not only does New Orleans have an abundance of great chefs and dining experiences , it also boasts a rather sophisticated cocktail scene. Many of the cocktails served in New Orleans are routed in the city’s eclectic past, and come not only with a swizzle stick, but a long history that you’ll want to hear all about.

• Unique foods you’ll want to try in New Orleans
• Shortcut Guide to the best restaurants, cocktail bars and things to do in New Orleans
• Click to see the best hotels on and near Bourbon Street .
• New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter with Small-Group Option
• New Orleans Cooking Class

17. Copenhagen, Denmark

A must-do on many foodie’s list is Copenhagen , Denmark, to eat at  Noma , a highly acclaimed restaurant that’s spent many years at the top of the  The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Chef/owner Rene Redzepi knows how to delight diners with his ultra-modern menu, now in a new location on the edge of Christiania. However, Noma remains very difficult to get into, not to mention expensive.

Even if you can’t make it to Noma, Copenhagen is blessed with chefs who came out of the Noma kitchen to build their own restaurants like 108, Amass, and Sanchez.

A few of our favorite options in Copenhagen are 1 Michelin star Relae, the first all-organic restaurant to make the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Baest (from the same owners), and 2 Michelin starred AOC.

For a more laid back food experience, head to the trendy food-filled Reffen on Copenhagen’s industrial Refshaleøen, where food trucks and stalls sell high quality International dishes.

Where to stay in Copenhagen: 71 Nyhavn Hotel ( see prices and read reviews .)

• The Copenhagen Culinary Experience Food Tour
• The Art of Baking Danish Pastry

18. Hong Kong

Hong Kong a wonderful food city, with all kinds of great food stalls, restaurants, and dishes with many cultural influences to try. One of the best ways to acquaint yourself with the food and to discover some of the best places to eat and drink in Hong Kong is by taking a food tour.

There are a dizzying number of restaurants in the city, not to mention foods that many Western travelers haven’t even heard of before. Let an expert guide you through the experience. Probably the most iconic food in Hong Kong is dim sum. There are even a few super affordable dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong with Michelin stars.

You must go to one of these top-rated restaurants to order a full meal of dim sum. For a Michelin-star meal, head to Tim Ho Wan. Another one to try is One Dim Sum . Roast goose is the dish I will never forget. It’s an iconic Hong Kong dish that you absolutely must try. The crunchy skin and layer of rendered fat over tender meat. It’s a thing of true joy.

We ordered roast goose in a tiny restaurant called Yat Lok Roast Goose in the Central neighborhood on Hong Kong Island.

• Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts
• Hong Kong Markets Private Walking Tour with Local Guide

19. Istanbul, Turkey

One of the best places you can travel to for an amazing foodie trip is Turkey . As one of the most visited countries in the world, Turkey has a lot to offer visitors. From seaside resorts on the Mediterranean Sea, historical sites, welcoming people, rich culture, amazing museums and delicious Turkish dishes, a trip to this county will be quite memorable.

Whether you’re spending time in Istanbul, Capadoccia, or one of the other popular cities in Turkey, you’ll be able to try great food everywhere you turn. Each area has a spin on the dishes they serve, but look out for things like Doner Kebab, Meze, Pide, and Baklava.

• Taste of Two Continents Food Tour
• The 10 Tastings of Istanbul With Locals: Private Street Food Tour

20. Naples, Italy

Each region of Italy has its own unique list of specialty foods you must try, and Naples is no different. From the iconic Neopolitan pizza, to deep fried macaroni, to rum-soaked sponge cakes, you really must spend some time eating your way through Naples to fully discover the city and all its charms.

Be prepared. There are a LOT of great things to eat in this city.  If you’re looking for a way to experience the best Italian food in Naples, there’s really no better way to do it than to go on a food tour with Eating Europe . We spent a week venturing around the city to find the best pizza.

Our favorite pizza in the city was at Pizzeria Da Attilio, but there are memorable pizzas at 50 Kalo and Antico Borgo Ai Vergini . These are just a few of the top of their game. Other foods to try include Pizza Fritta, Cuoppo and Pasta Frittatine.

• Naples Street Food Tour With Local Expert
• Street Food Tour of Naples with City Sightseeing and Top-Rated Local Guide

21. Catalunya, Spain

If you’ve been to  Spain , you already know that the entire country is vastly rich in culture, heritage, and especially  products and foods  that are specific to each micro region. Catalunya is one of those regions, and the amount of unique products, recipes and foods you can find there is astounding.

Catalunya has a very complex food culture. Not only does it have specific products that you don’t find in other parts of Spain, each of the smaller areas of Catalunya also have their own unique dishes that other areas of Catalunya don’t have. As a foodie in that area, you really will become immersed in a rich food culture. Even if you wanted to avoid it, you couldn’t. Food is so much a part of who they are.

While there, we discovered a plethora of products and foods you must try. You can visit wineries (there are many different wine regions – including Priorat and Emporda , plus they make Cava in Catalunya.)

With all of these great culinary destinations, you’ll never run out of food-centric vacations to take. We’ve been to each one of these and have loved them all. The variety of food around the world is just astounding.

Why not visit some of your favorites and find new dishes to love!

Be Prepared For Travel Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:

🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home

• Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
• Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner )
• Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
• Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)

Related Posts:

• 36 Best Beach Drinks to Order at All-Inclusive Resorts (+ Recipes!)
• 13 Unconventional Things To Do in Washington DC
• 11 Port Houses to Visit in Porto

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Like this post? Why not save it to Pinterest? FOLLOW US  on  Pinterest ,  Instagram ,  Facebook  for more great travel inspiration and tips.

Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

48 thoughts on “ 21 Top Foodie Destinations Around the World ”

Nice list! I have been to a Lima, New Orleans, Tuscany, Switzerland, & Bordeaux and definitely agree! I turn every trip into a foodie destination, and while some places are better than others I have yet to be disappointed by the overall food anywhere. Right now I’m parked in South Korea and finding this food to be some of my favorite in the world!

Thanks for posting your thoughts, Katie. With so many awesome food destinations around the world, it’s hard to narrow it down, but I think most foodies would agree that these are some of the very best. I loved South Korea too. So much good food. I look forward to reading more about your adventures there.

Have you never been to Turkey?

oh my goodness! I have a lot of traveling and eating to do! I have been to Spain twice but not San Sebastián but love the food there! And Tuscany-so good! I went to a South African wine tasting recently so can’t wait to get there in person to drink the wine! And hardly a Better place in the US like NOLA!

Right? It’s hard to beat any of these places for good food. That’s what I love so much about traveling for food – there’s always more to discover!

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Well I thought reading the article would help me choose a foodie destination for our 10th anniversary but now I’m famished and I can’t pick one location!!!so im going to ask as a foodie who’s travelled on a foodie vacation, where would you go?!? Ok let me rephrase that if you had to choose 1 place that’s amazing and you could visit again where would it be? Suggestions greatly appreciated!

I know, food overload! Where you go depends greatly on the type of food you like and whether you want to do mostly food things, or historical things too. If I had to pick one, is go with Bologna Italy. You can do so many different food activities there, plus extend down into Florence and Tuscany. My second choice would be Tokyo. If you like Japanese food, you will be in foodie heaven there.

Have you been to Bilbao, Spain?

Yes and we love the food in that region!

always malaysia is a food paradise

Hi, Great list. Thank you for your post. I have a passion for travel and food as well and I gained a lot of information from your post. It creates motivation for me a lot. I hope that in the near future, you will have other posts like this. Best regards

Glad you enjoyed it!

nice post thanks

Left out Istanbul, Turkey. Best food ever!

You’re right, Carolyn. I love Turkish food too.

Wonderful blog! Thanks for sharing!

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Great blog. Thanks for sharing..

www.luxxpress.com

You left out Vietnamese street foods in Ho Chi Minh city . Also street foods in Hong Kong.

Absolutely! We’ll be sure to add those to the list in the future.

You are missing Ho Chi Minh City.

Thank you! This list is really helpful. Our website is also about foods to eat in different cities. https://foodieadvice.com/

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i’m gonna cry..where is malaysia….it’s country with the food paradise???uwahhhh

So sorry! I agree that Malaysia is a fantastic foodie paradise.

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I’m a merchant mariner and I’ve traveled my whole adult life going all over the world trying good eats. I just came back from SE Asia and I’m pretty astounded that you would include Manila on this list. If there is a great Philippino dish to try it’s certainly the Sinigang not street squid (which I do love). However, the food game in PI isn’t on par with the rest of Asia. Have you been to Borneo? I’m in San Diego right now and I can honestly say that the food game here is better than half of these cities listed.

Part of the fun of traveling for food is to try these different cuisines and decide which ones you like the most. 🙂

Hi..I think you forgot India here ….I assume you never been to India.

We have, in fact, been to India and are headed back in January. This list can’t possibly be all inclusive. It’s just a taster of options for people looking to do culinary vacations. Thanks for adding India.

Missed Chengdu, China in the heart of Sichuan cuisine!

Worth a visit if you get a chance! The food, people and city are lovely!

Thanks Patrick!

Southern Italy (especially Naples and Sicily) is never mentioned in these rankings but it’s probably the best foodie region in Europe, easily topping Central and Northern Italy (Rome, Tuscany, Bologna, Venice and so on).

Thanks Christian. We visited Naples and Puglia this year and loved the food. It’s definitely a good addition to the list.

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Hey Laura, just finished reading the article, and god I’m so craving for that Neopolitan Pizza and a glass of wine imported from Italy only!!!!

Sounds amazing, right?!

Awesome write-up! Food tours are an amazing experience not only for foodies but for travelers who are interested in the culture of the destination as we all know that cuisine and food culture of any destination is based on historical influences and the uniqueness of the environment. For my tour, Delicious Kyiv: Ukrainian Wine & Appetizers Tasting Tour all wines and specialties of Ukrainian cuisine are prepared with ingredients from local wineries and farms.

I’m disappointed with the list. You missed Charleston, SC big time. It is a foodie destination and the best vacation destination.

We love Charleston too, but we wanted to keep the list short and not focused only on the U.S.

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• Travel Resources

What’s New in the World of Food Tourism & Culinary Travel?

“Food tourism is the act of traveling for a taste of place in order to get a sense of place.” ™ World Food Travel Association

Travelling the world to experience different cultures through food is not new, but the opportunities for immersion keep expanding. If you’re a foodie, or a food-focused traveller, here are some exciting things to watch out for in the world of food tourism.

Culinary Destinations

The concept of food tourism and culinary vacations have gained significant momentum, with more travellers seeking destinations renowned for their culinary experiences. Cities and regions are increasingly marketing themselves as food destinations, showcasing their local specialties and culinary traditions to attract tourists.

Experiential Dining

Food tourists are seeking more immersive and hands-on experiences, going beyond just tasting the local cuisine. This includes participating in cooking classes, visiting local markets, and engaging in farm-to-table experiences where they can learn about the sourcing and preparation of ingredients.

Fusion Cuisine

Fusion food has become popular among travellers, especially among millennials and Gen Z. They are interested in trying innovative combinations of flavours from different cuisines, resulting in unique and exciting dining experiences.

Sustainable & Ethical Food Practices

With an increased focus on sustainability and ethical food production, food tourists are seeking establishments that prioritize locally sourced, organic, and ethically produced food. There’s a growing interest in supporting businesses that follow environmentally friendly practices .

Technology Integration

Technology is playing an essential role in food tourism. Food-related apps, online reviews, and social media platforms influence travellers’ choices regarding where and what to eat during their trips. Additionally, some tours and experiences are incorporating virtual reality and augmented reality to enhance the dining experience.

Food Tourism Festivals & Events

Food-themed events and festivals have become significant draws for tourists. These gatherings celebrate local food culture and can range from small-scale street food festivals to large international food events, such as:

1. Oktoberfest – Germany : Oktoberfest is one of the world’s largest and most famous beer festivals, held annually in Munich, Germany. The festival usually takes place from late September to the first weekend in October. It celebrates Bavarian culture with an abundance of traditional German beer, food, music, and various attractions.

2. Taste of Chicago – USA: This annual food festival usually takes place in the summer, spanning multiple days. The festival showcases a diverse array of Chicago’s food scene, including famous deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, ethnic cuisine, and desserts.

3. La Tomatina – Spain : La Tomatina is a unique and lively food festival held in the town of Buñol, Spain. It takes place on the last Wednesday of August, during which participants engage in a massive tomato fight. Thousands of people come together to throw ripe tomatoes at each other, creating a vibrant red spectacle.

4. Cherry Blossom Festival – Japan : While not exclusively a food festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival, also known as Hanami, is a significant event in Japan, celebrating the blooming of cherry blossoms in spring. During this time, people gather under cherry blossom trees to have picnics and enjoy various traditional Japanese foods and snacks.

5. Pizzafest – Italy : Also known as Naples Pizza Village (Napoli Pizza Village), Pizzafest is a popular pizza festival in Naples, Italy. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and this festival celebrates the city’s culinary heritage. The event showcases various types of pizzas from local pizzerias and includes pizza-making competitions, workshops, and entertainment.

These food festivals not only offer a chance to indulge in delicious cuisine but also provide a unique cultural experience and a glimpse into the culinary traditions of the respective regions. 

Food and Beverage Pairings

The pairing of food and beverages, such as wine, craft beer, or artisanal spirits, is gaining popularity in food tourism. Travellers are interested in exploring how different beverages complement and enhance the flavours of various dishes.

Street Food

Street food continues to be a major attraction for food tourists, offering affordable and authentic local flavours. Food tours specifically centred around street food are becoming more prevalent in many cities.

Cultural Exchange Through Food Tourism

Food tourism is viewed as a means of cultural exchange, providing tourists with insight into the traditions and heritage of a destination through its cuisine. This also includes learning about traditional cooking techniques and recipes passed down through generations.

Dietary Preferences and Food Allergies

Food tourism has adapted to cater to different dietary preferences and restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan , gluten-free, and other special diets. Restaurants and food tour operators are offering more inclusive options to meet diverse needs.

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How To Get The Most Out Of Your Food Tourism Experience

Food tourism, also known as culinary tourism, is all about traveling far and wide to taste and learn about unique cuisines and culinary cultures. From mouth-watering thin-crust pizza in Napoli, and exquisite omakase dining in Kyoto, to street-side pho in Hanoi, buttery croissants in Paris , and sugary  beignets in New Orleans — this is where the excitement of travel meets the universal language of food, an undeniably delicious combination.

But before you hurriedly and hungrily hop on your flight in impatient hopes of having the best spanakopita of your life in Greece or the soupiest xiaolongbao in Hong Kong, take a moment and unleash your inner foodie detective. This is the first and crucial step — do your research and thoroughly investigate the destination's food scene before your culinary adventure even begins. Familiarize yourself with local dishes, street food, regional specialties, markets, farms, cooking classes, and unique dining experiences.

Planning your gastronomic journey will help you know exactly where the best spots are and which ones are best avoided. To streamline your food tourism experience with some tech-savviness, look into starting a favorites list on Tripadvisor or Google Maps, so you can keep note of the restaurants, cafes, beerhalls, gelaterias, or izakayas you want to visit. If you are vegan or vegetarian, the HappyCow app can be your global foodie guide, providing details, reviews, and directions to thousands of plant-based establishments worldwide.

Live the culinary story of your destination

To get the most out of your food tourism experience, immerse yourself in the local culture. Venture beyond the typical tourist traps and seek out places where locals dine. If the area is bustling, the food smells good, and you don't see many tourists around — you may have won yourself a gourmet jackpot. Street food stalls, farmer markets, and neighborhood eateries often serve the most authentic and tasty food. Stray from the beaten path and walk the food trails of the locals. Zapiekanka? Pampoenkoekies? Shakshuka? Yes, please!

Speak to chefs, vendors, and locals to better understand the cuisine. Don't just eat; engage. You'll often discover hidden gems and learn the stories behind the food you're eating. Instead of coming somewhere to munch quickly and taking lots of pictures before moving to the next item on your itinerary, practice conscious culinary tourism — take it slow, have a chat, and sink your teeth into the experience.

A food tourism 2021 study  published in the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research suggests that foodie trips become memorable through social interactions, senses, and feelings, trying new things, paying attention, and mindfully reflecting on the experiences. Those who love food and drink and travel for it felt these experiences stuck in their memory the most. Try something new; sign up for cooking classes, wine or beer tastings, food tours, or a farm stay . These hands-on experiences are not only educational but can also be some of your most memorable activities. 

Respect, learn, and revel in your food journey

Your food journey is not just an exploration but a recipe with two ingredients: respect and learning. Each place has its food etiquette and traditions. As a visitor, you should respect these practices; they show appreciation for the culture; also, educate yourself before your arrival to avoid any unintentional offense. For example, in most Asian countries, it is highly taboo to stick two chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice — a symbol of death, bad luck, and an invitation for spirits to dine with you. That's an RSVP you don't want to receive. 

In the age of Instagram and food blogging, documentation has become an integral part of our dining experiences. However, chronicling your gastronomic expedition goes beyond just photos — it involves capturing the stories, customs, and unique personal moments that come with each dish you enjoy. Consider keeping a travel journal, blog, or vlog, where you can note down recipes, local anecdotes, and reflections to keep lasting memories of your adventure. 

The heart and soul of food tourism is the thrill of discovery. Sample dishes you can't pronounce, indulge in local delicacies, and experiment with unfamiliar ingredients. Do not be passive — embrace this lively, interactive experience that engages your senses and transports you to a different world. Food tourism is more than just food; it's about the people, stories, and cultural insights that come with it. Let the world be your dining table. 

Food Tourism Is the Perfect Entrée for Greener Travel

Mary Ann Ha , Skift

April 22nd, 2022 at 1:15 PM EDT

It’s Earth Day 2022, marking yet another year on this planet with our outward cries on climate change and way too empty preachings on practicing sustainability. We all know for greener travel, change starts from the top down, or in the case of food tourism, from the Earth up. So ... who is really doing something?

Mary Ann Ha

Food, a necessity in life and a universally-agreed upon way to the soul, has long been a strong stimulus for traveling the globe. With the growing reliance on the digitized, mass sharing of experiences over the past decade, expectations for food tourism have  increasingly evolved in recent years .

But as the celebration of Earth Day on Friday reminds us, food tourism can serve as a strong way to make sustainable travel easier, and even more desirable. Here are few ways:

Sustainable Food Itineraries

Group adventure travel agency Intrepid Travel has operated Real Food Adventures, a range of tours that focus on food experience-based travel itineraries, since 2013. When it originally launched, only six trips were available. After the pandemic, a total of fifteen tours are a part of the program, with new venues such as South Korea, the Balkans, Israel, and Palestine. The travel plans are characterized by intimate experiences that immerse travelers in the local culture, such as indulging in vegan samosas in the bustling streets of Delhi, sourcing local seasonal ingredients in the Tuscan sun, or enjoying a home-cooked meal in Morocco’s Blue City, Chefchaouen.

Intrepid’s climate journey dates all the way back to 2005. They became carbon neutral in 2010, until realizing that carbon neutrality wasn’t enough, and they came out with an emission reduction target in 2020.

“The tourism sector has the forefront set in the climate crisis because destinations are getting impacted by these extreme weather events,” said Intrepid’s Global Environmental Impact Manager Susanne Etti. “We have a clear warning from the science community. By setting that emission reduction target, we basically now have a clear path to decarbonize our offices, but also our trips: transportation, accommodation, and the experiences.”

Plant-based meals are recorded to typically have ten to fifteen times smaller climate impact than that of animal products, and the most recent climate change report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change describes plant-based diets as a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change, said Etti.

Intrepid also offers Vegan Real Adventures — travel plans that are not only focused on vegan food, but strive towards a vegan lifestyle with the most minimal global footprint possible. Every step of the journey, such as transportation and accommodation, are all taken into consideration as Intrepid works with nearby suppliers, tailoring the entire travel experience to local conditions and the traveler’s personal preference.

Recent feedback for these food adventures have been highly encouraging, to say the least. Travelers reported that the experience was really life-changing to their well-being.

“Some customers take changes home, and come back and say that it has impacted even their career choices,” said Etti. “It’s really about experiencing a good vegetarian meal and realizing, ‘Hey, I’m not really missing out.’”

Cultural Context Matters Always

However, Intrepid also recognizes the importance of cultural context, and that sustainability looks different for everyone.

“You can’t assume that every location, every country is the same,” said Etti. “We see different levels of climate action at the government level, but also in the advancements in energy supply or food. You have to look into local plant-based options, but still celebrate the culture and ensure that you reflect the culture in a way that the customer would like to experience the country.”

While Etti works to find sustainable suppliers from Intrepid’s Melbourne headquarters, Real Food Adventures prides itself on its ability to be flexible, thanks to their tour leaders on the ground. As true ambassadors, they are specially trained to understand how climate change is impacting their own country and what they can do at a local level, so that they also can make specific suggestions to travelers when asked questions around a plant-based meal.

The Michelin Revolution

When it comes to making monumental rifts in institutions backed by centuries of tradition, leaders are expected to take charge, to lead by example. That is exactly what the Michelin Guide’s Green Star Rating is doing for food tourism and the dining industry.

The Michelin Green Star was introduced in 2020 as an annual award, much like its famous red star cousin, to recognize restaurants that are paving the way when it comes to sustainable dining experiences. These restaurants are expected to “hold themselves accountable for both their ethical and environmental standards”, according to the Michelin website, whilst also working to avoid or reduce waste of other non-recyclable materials from their supply chain. 

“The Green Star was designed to put the spotlight on role models,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide. “To those who are influencing their peers, their customers, and the whole ecosystem around the restaurant, from produce suppliers to recycling.”

The idea for the award came to light when Michelin inspectors began seeing a sense of real willingness towards climate-friendly meals both in their chefs and their gourmets. Still, the Michelin Guide wasn’t prepared for the enormous response and waves of influence their program would make.

“Even after just a few years, we are all really impressed by the positive impact it has had within the industry,” said Poullennec. “It’s been a real trigger, igniting revelations between the restaurants. Originally, the three Michelin stars, the gold, was the benchmark. Today, the Green Star is the real benchmark for the industry.”

Like Intrepid, the Michelin team understands that sustainability looks different for different communities. To the inquiries he receives everyday from chefs all around the world asking how to get the Green Star, his answer is the same: “Share insights with chefs around you who do have the Green Star, because there are different ways to be sustainable, depending on where you are, in the context in which you operate.”

Ironically, while the origin of the program began far earlier than the pandemic, lockdown accelerated its growth and success.

“During the Covid pandemic, chefs and their teams had time to reflect on their own practices,” said Poullennec. “Now, many of them pay much more attention to local sourcing and taking care of the community. We’ve seen them challenge and change their approach to sustainability without compromising on the quality of the food.”

When Michelin inspectors started going back to restaurants after the announcement of the Green Star, they found chefs more committed to the cause than ever — the “green” topic had turned into an appealing one. Chefs were changing their mindset and the way they train their teams. Many of them, even with three Michelin stars, are reportedly looking for a fourth green one. Others are much more willing to target the green star even before the original red one based on the quality of food.

Chefs weren’t the only ones who were busy reflecting. Diners are also paying a great deal more attention to the way they eat, and this has changed the way customers view the restaurant experience.

As the creative mind behind the only plant-based French fine dining experience in London, world-renown Michelin-starred chef Alexis Gauthier is one of many catering to a new realm of diners. 

His first restaurant and second restaurant, Michelin-starred Gauthier Soho, were both classical restaurants embodying the epitome of French gastronomy — scallops, foie gras, filet of beef, and “every piece of animal you can think of” on the menu. 

In 2016, Gauthier made the decision to go vegan, and his restaurants with him. Since going plant-based, Gauthier Soho received a new wave of customers. The influx of new diners are younger, more willing to have discussions of cruelty-free dining, and understanding of conversations about sustainable eating.

“It’s an easy concept for them,” said Gauthier. “And when they find it on the plate, they are happy to pay for it, which is really wonderful.”

Gauthier has always been transparent about his optimism around plant-based fine-dining in French cuisine, which is notorious for its traditionalism. Now, he wants others, especially the next generation of chefs, to recognize that there is an entirely new space for creation while still practicing sustainably. 

“It’s like discovering a new planet,” said Gauthier. “The young chefs are going to be able to express their own creativity, and have so much more identity in the food they are going to make. This is not only good for the one that creates, but also for the one that’s going to pay for the creativity.”

Gauthier is one of many at the forefront of breaking traditionalistic ideals in the food world and, for many tourists who travel just to taste good food, the entire Michelin experience.

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Tags: climate change , dining , food , food and beverage , food and drink , food tourism , intrepid travel , michelin , sustainability , travel agents

Photo credit: Roadside chef cooking in Hua Hin District Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Thailand. jittawit.21 / Adobe

Protect Your Trip »

The 15 best foodie tours in the usa.

Savor fresh seafood, authentic Tex-Mex and more during one of these highly regarded outings.

(Getty Images) |

Consider these gourmand-approved excursions when visiting America's top culinary spots.

Savannah Taste Experience: Savannah, Georgia

Sonoma Food Tour: Sonoma, California

Austin Eats Food Tours: Austin, Texas

Bite San Diego: San Diego

Walk Eat Nashville: Nashville, Tennessee

Taste of Houston Food Tours: Houston

(Jamie Francis | Courtesy of TravelPortland.com)

Forktown Food Tours: Portland, Oregon

Savor Seattle Food Tours: Seattle

Charleston Culinary Tours: Charleston, South Carolina

Gourmet Food and Wine Tours: Napa Valley

Melting Pot Food Tours: Los Angeles

Foods of New York Tours: New York City

Chicago Food Planet: Chicago

Doctor Gumbo Tours: New Orleans

Local Tastes of the City Tours: San Francisco

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• Business Management

Designing Attractive Food Tourism Experiences

July 08, 2019 •

4 min reading

As it’s not dependent on the natural attributes of a destination such as sun, sea and sand, food tourism can be an important tool for hospitality and tourism businesses, allowing them to attract tourists during off-peak times.

However, food as a motivation for tourism is under-researched, especially in terms of what motivates tourists to undertake a food-related vacation. Researching this topic, Professor Barry O`Mahony of EHL Lausanne joined with Dr Diep Ngoc Su from the University of Economics, Danang, Vietnam and Professor Lester Johnson from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia to identify the internal motives of potential food tourists.

The results of their study help us understand the food travel motivation from both a tourist and a destination perspective, while it also provides practical advice for Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and hoteliers.

The study and its methodology

There are two major categories of travel motivation: push and pull factors.

Push factors relate to internal travel motives such as rejuvenation, escaping routine, exploring new places, and relaxing.

Pull factors are destination attributes that attract tourists to choose one destination over another.

In order to further validate these factors, the research team reviewed five food travel blogs to look for articles showing motives for food travel as well their perceptions of what would attract them to a food destination. Blogs included: A Global Kitchen, The Travel Bite , Behind the Food Carts , Misadventures with Andi , and The Funnelogy Channel . These award-winning blogs were selected because they inspired their readers with travel adventures through food. Blog posts were analysed over a 14-month period.

During an online survey, data was collected from groups of foodies on Linkedin and Facebook . Each group was required to have a minimum of 1,000 members and participants should have been intending to take a food tourism vacation in the near future. Over 350 participants from diverse backgrounds completed the survey. Nearly half were aged between 25 to 35 years old and the rest ranged from 36 to 65 years old. More than 90% had an undergraduate or postgraduate university degree, implying that food tourists have a high level of education. Annual income varied from low to high, indicating that income is not the main driving force for food tourism.

What are the main motivations for a food tourist?

Six major motivations were found to be important for a food tourist according to this survey. Three of them are push factors: the taste of food, cultural experiences, socialisation; and the remaining three are pull factors: core food tourism appeals, traditional food appeals and local destination appeals.

Here are the main points:

• The taste of food was found to be the most important motivator for food tourists.
• Cultural experiences and socialization were next – the latter was described as the desire to increase friendships in a food tourism destination. Food tourists look for destinations with an abundance of cultural and heritage features, unique specialty shops, markets selling local farm produce, cultural events, a rural environment and farmers’ markets.
• Food tourism appeals were another motivation, including traditional food villages and visitor-friendly food markets; and
• Local destination appeals were also a major motivation, encompassing cultural events that feature food and other traditions of a food destination. Local destination appeals are related to opportunities to engage in diverse cultural activities.

There are many more food-related experiences that can attract food tourists:

• Dining with locals was another sought after experience, allowing tourists to taste home-cooked food and experience local culture.
• Cooking classes, visitor-friendly food markets and packaged food tours can help food tourists increase friendships with other tourists, familiarize themselves with farmers, cooks and food producers, or engage with local chefs.
• Food festivals or events can also provide food tourists with stimulating food tourism experiences.

How can destinations attract food tourists?

Hoteliers and destination management organizations should offer various food-related products and services in order to gain food tourism benefits.

For example, they should offer tourists the opportunity to taste local food in traditional settings, authentic restaurants or traditional food villages. This strategy can also help design unique themes for tourist experiences while creating an attractive food destination image.

Destination management organizations can also focus on enhancing cultural experiences through the food-related activities offered at their destinations. Each destination has a unique story related to the local culture, people and food traditions that can be shared with visitors. These stories are a great tool for destination marketers to promote distinctive travel experiences and develop a unique destination brand.

Another strategy that destination managers should consider is to provide opportunities for food tourists to communicate and connect with fellow food enthusiasts and tourists. For instance, establishing food tours guided by celebrity chefs or cooking classes organized by local chefs is a way to give participants the chance to get to know each other in various ways such as cooking and dining together.

Food travel motivation is diverse and destinations can attract food tourists in a multitude of ways.

Professor and Chief Academic Officer at EHL

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The Rise of Food Tourism: Exploring Culinary Travel Trends

Table of Contents

The impact of social media on food tourism: how instagram and food bloggers are shaping culinary travel experiences, exploring local food culture: uncovering authentic culinary experiences in popular tourist destinations, sustainable food tourism: promoting responsible travel and supporting local food systems.

Indulge in the flavors of the world: The Rise of Food Tourism.

Food tourism has become a global phenomenon, with travelers increasingly seeking out unique culinary experiences as a central part of their journeys. This growing trend has been greatly influenced by the rise of social media and the emergence of food bloggers as influential tastemakers. In this article, we will delve into the impact of social media on food tourism and how platforms like Instagram have shaped culinary travel experiences.

In today's digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for sharing experiences and discovering new destinations. Instagram, in particular, has revolutionized the way we explore and engage with food. With its visually-driven format, Instagram allows users to showcase mouthwatering dishes from around the world, instantly transporting their followers to different culinary landscapes.

Food bloggers, with their expertise and passion for gastronomy, have played a significant role in shaping the food tourism industry. These influencers have built loyal followings by sharing their culinary adventures, providing recommendations, and offering insights into local food cultures. Their carefully curated content has inspired countless travelers to embark on food-focused journeys, seeking out the same delectable experiences they see on their screens.

One of the key ways social media has impacted food tourism is by creating a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) among users. As people scroll through their Instagram feeds, they are bombarded with images of mouthwatering dishes and exotic food markets. This constant exposure to enticing food content fuels a desire to taste and experience these culinary delights firsthand. As a result, travelers are increasingly planning their trips around food, seeking out destinations known for their vibrant food scenes and unique culinary traditions.

Instagram has also made it easier for travelers to discover hidden gems and local food hotspots. By following food bloggers and using location tags, users can find recommendations for authentic eateries that may not be featured in traditional travel guides. This democratization of food recommendations has allowed travelers to go beyond the tourist traps and immerse themselves in the local food culture, creating more authentic and memorable experiences.

Furthermore, social media has given rise to a new breed of food entrepreneurs. As food bloggers gain popularity, they often collaborate with restaurants and food brands, creating unique dining experiences and promoting local culinary offerings. This symbiotic relationship between influencers and the food industry has not only boosted the visibility of lesser-known establishments but has also contributed to the growth of food tourism as a whole.

However, it is important to acknowledge the potential downsides of social media's influence on food tourism. The pressure to capture the perfect food photo for Instagram can sometimes overshadow the actual dining experience. Some argue that the quest for the perfect shot can detract from the enjoyment of the meal itself, as diners become more focused on documenting their experience rather than savoring the flavors and ambiance.

In conclusion, social media, particularly Instagram, has had a profound impact on the rise of food tourism. Through visually captivating content and the influence of food bloggers, social media has shaped the way we explore and engage with food while traveling. It has created a sense of FOMO, allowing travelers to discover hidden culinary gems and promoting local food entrepreneurship. However, it is essential to strike a balance between capturing the perfect food photo and fully immersing oneself in the culinary experience. As food tourism continues to evolve, social media will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of gastronomic exploration.

When visiting a new city or country, many tourists are no longer satisfied with simply visiting the famous landmarks or museums. They want to experience the local culture in a more meaningful way, and what better way to do that than through food? Food is a universal language that brings people together, and it is often deeply rooted in a region's history and traditions. By exploring the local food culture, travelers can gain a deeper understanding of the place they are visiting and connect with the local community on a more personal level.

One of the key aspects of food tourism is the search for authenticity. Travelers are no longer interested in generic, touristy restaurants that serve watered-down versions of local dishes. They want to taste the real thing, prepared by local chefs using traditional ingredients and techniques. This has led to a rise in food tours and cooking classes, where travelers can learn from local experts and get a hands-on experience of the local cuisine . These experiences not only provide a unique and memorable travel experience but also support the local economy and help preserve traditional culinary practices.

Popular tourist destinations have also started to embrace food tourism as a way to attract visitors. Cities like Barcelona, Tokyo, and New Orleans have become known for their vibrant food scenes, with street food markets, food festivals, and Michelin-starred restaurants drawing in food-loving travelers from around the world. These destinations have recognized the value of their local food culture and have made efforts to promote it as a key part of the tourist experience. This has not only boosted tourism but has also helped to preserve and promote local culinary traditions.

In addition to exploring local food culture in popular tourist destinations, travelers are also seeking out lesser-known regions and off-the-beaten-path destinations for their culinary adventures. They want to discover hidden gems and taste dishes that are not found in guidebooks. This has led to a rise in food-focused travel itineraries that take travelers to remote villages, family-run farms, and local markets, where they can sample authentic regional specialties and learn about the traditional food production methods.

Food tourism has also been influenced by the rise of social media and the increasing popularity of food blogs and Instagram accounts dedicated to documenting culinary experiences. Travelers are now able to research and plan their food-focused trips with ease, thanks to the wealth of information available online. They can read reviews, find recommendations, and even connect with local food enthusiasts who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for their local cuisine.

In conclusion, the rise of food tourism has transformed the way people travel, with more and more travelers seeking out authentic culinary experiences in popular tourist destinations. Exploring local food culture has become a way for travelers to connect with the local community, learn about traditional cooking techniques, and taste unique flavors that are specific to a particular region. Whether it's through food tours, cooking classes, or off-the-beaten-path culinary adventures, food tourism offers a rich and immersive travel experience that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions. So, the next time you plan a trip, consider exploring the local food culture and uncovering the authentic culinary experiences that a destination has to offer.

Food tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more travelers are seeking unique culinary experiences during their trips. This rise in food tourism has not only provided a boost to local economies, but it has also given travelers the opportunity to explore different cultures through their food. However, as the demand for food tourism continues to grow, it is important to consider the impact it has on the environment and local communities. This is where sustainable food tourism comes into play.

Sustainable food tourism is all about promoting responsible travel and supporting local food systems. It is about experiencing the local cuisine in a way that is respectful to the environment and the people who produce the food. This means seeking out restaurants and food markets that prioritize sustainable practices, such as using locally sourced ingredients and reducing food waste.

One of the key aspects of sustainable food tourism is supporting local food systems. This means choosing to eat at local restaurants and food stalls, rather than opting for international chains. By doing so, travelers are not only supporting local businesses, but they are also getting a taste of the authentic local cuisine. This not only helps to preserve culinary traditions, but it also ensures that the money spent on food stays within the local community.

In addition to supporting local food systems, sustainable food tourism also focuses on reducing the environmental impact of food consumption. This can be done by choosing restaurants that prioritize sustainable practices, such as using organic ingredients and minimizing food waste. It can also involve seeking out food experiences that are more environmentally friendly, such as farm-to-table dining or participating in cooking classes that teach sustainable cooking techniques.

Another important aspect of sustainable food tourism is being mindful of the cultural and social impact of food consumption. This means being respectful of local customs and traditions when it comes to food, and being open to trying new things. It also means being aware of the social issues that can arise from food tourism, such as gentrification and the exploitation of local food producers. By being mindful of these issues, travelers can ensure that their food experiences are not only enjoyable, but also ethical.

There are many ways in which travelers can engage in sustainable food tourism. One option is to seek out food tours or culinary experiences that are specifically focused on sustainability. These tours often take travelers to local markets and restaurants that prioritize sustainable practices, and provide them with the opportunity to learn about the local food culture. Another option is to do some research before traveling and seek out restaurants and food stalls that are known for their sustainable practices. This can involve reading reviews, asking locals for recommendations, or using online resources that highlight sustainable food options.

In conclusion, sustainable food tourism is an important aspect of the rise of food tourism. It is about promoting responsible travel and supporting local food systems. By choosing to eat at local establishments, supporting sustainable practices, and being mindful of the cultural and social impact of food consumption, travelers can ensure that their food experiences are not only enjoyable, but also ethical. So, the next time you plan a trip, consider incorporating sustainable food tourism into your itinerary and explore the culinary delights of the local cuisine while supporting the communities that produce it.

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Food Tourism: What It Means And Why It Matters

Kristen Fleming holds a Master of Science in Nutrition. Over her 8 years of experience in dietetics, she has made significant contributions in clinical, community, and editorial settings. With 2 years as a clinical dietitian in an inpatient setting, 2 years in community health education, and 4 years of editorial experience focusing on nutrition and health-related content, Kristen's expertise is multifaceted.

Food. Many love to eat it, some love to cook it, and others simply love to talk about it. It is no secret that food plays a significant role in our lives. And while we all have our own unique relationship with food, there is one thing that we can all agree on – food is an experience .

Food tourism is the act of traveling for the purpose of experiencing food. This can be anything from going on a wine tour to visiting a local farmer’s market. Food tourism has become a popular way to travel in recent years as it provides people with an opportunity to connect with the local culture through food.

Would you be interested in learning more about food tourism? Keep reading to find out what it is, why it matters, and some tips on how to get the most out of your food tourism experience.

What Is The Meaning Of Food Tourism?

Travelers often seek out destinations that offer them a chance to sample the local cuisine. This type of tourism is known as food tourism. It’s also called culinary tourism or gastronomy tourism.

Food tourism can take many different forms. It can be as simple as trying a new dish while on vacation, or it can involve planning an entire trip around visiting different restaurants and food festivals ( 8 ).

Some people even choose to study culinary tourism, which is a field that combines the elements of anthropology, sociology, and economics to understand how food can be used as a tool for cultural exchange ( 2 ).

No matter how you define it, food tourism is a growing trend all over the world. And it’s not just about trying new foods – it’s about understanding the culture and history behind them.

What Are The Characteristics Of Food Tourism?

Food tourism includes any type of travel that revolves around experiencing food ( 6 ) ( 7 ). This can range from eating street food in Thailand to taking a cooking class in Italy.

Some of the most common activities associated with food tourism are:

Visiting Local Markets

Local markets are a great way to get a feel for the local cuisine. They also offer an opportunity to buy fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.

Trying Street Food

Street food is a staple in many cultures and a great way to sample the local cuisine. It is often less expensive than sit-down restaurants and offers a more authentic experience.

Attending Food Festivals

Food festivals are a great way to try a variety of local dishes in one place. They also offer the opportunity to learn about the culture and history behind the food ( 10 ).

Taking Cooking Classes

Cooking classes are a great way to learn about the local cuisine and how to cook traditional dishes. One may learn new cooking techniques, as well as about the culture and history behind the food.

Touring Wineries And Breweries

A common misconception is that food tourism only includes food and not beverages. However, touring wineries and breweries is a great way to learn about the local culture and taste the local products.

At a winery, one can learn about the wine-making process and taste the different types of wine produced in the region.

At a brewery, one can learn about the brewing process and taste the different types of beer produced in the region.

Some regions may be known for a certain type of spirit, and you can visit distilleries for those as well.

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Eating At Michelin-Starred Restaurants

Fine dining is another aspect of food tourism. Michelin-starred restaurants are known for their excellent food and service.

While at it, one can also learn about the chef, the history of the restaurant, and the thought that goes into each dish.

Touring Food Factories

Food factories offer a behind-the-scenes look at how food is produced. This can be anything from a chocolate factory to a pasta factory.

Touring food factories is a great way to learn about the production process and see how the food is made.

What Are The Benefits Of Food Tourism?

Food tourism can have a positive impact on both the traveler and the destination.

Benefits For The Traveler

Food tourism is becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason. 

For travelers, it ( 5 ):

• Offers the opportunity to try new foods and experience new cultures.
• Is a great way to learn about the history and culture behind the food.
• Can be a more authentic and immersive experience than other types of tourism.
• Is a great way to support local businesses and the local economy.
• Can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends.

Benefits For The Destination

Food tourism can also have a positive impact on the destination. 

For destinations, food tourism:

• Can help to promote the local cuisine and culture.
• Is a great way to attract visitors and boost the local economy.
• Can help to create jobs and support local businesses ( 1 ).
• Can help to improve the image of the destination.
• Can help to preserve traditional foods and recipes.

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What Are The Challenges Of Food Tourism?

While food tourism can have many positive benefits, there are also some challenges that need to be considered. These include:

1. Ensuring Food Safety And Hygiene Standards Are Met

Food safety is a major concern when traveling, and food-borne illnesses can ruin a trip ( 11 ). It is important to research the restaurants and markets before eating anything .

Using your common sense and following basic hygiene rules (such as washing your hands) can also help to reduce the risk of getting sick.

2. Ensuring Food Is Ethically And Sustainably Sourced

With the rise of food tourism, there is a danger that destinations will start to mass-produce food for tourists, rather than focus on quality. This can lead to unethical and unsustainable practices , such as using forced labor or over-fishing ( 3 ) ( 4 ).

3. Managing The Impact On The Environment

Food tourism can have a negative impact on the environment if it is not managed properly. For example, if too many people visit a destination, it can lead to pollution and damage to the local ecosystem ( 9 ).

4. Ensuring Fair Working Conditions For Those Involved In The Food Industry

The food industry is often characterized by low pay and long hours. This can be a problem for those working in the industry, as they may not be able to earn a decent wage or have enough time to rest.

5. Addressing The Issues Of Food Waste And Overconsumption

Food tourism often involves trying new and different foods . However, this can lead to food waste if people do not finish their meals or if they order more than they can eat.

It is important to be aware of the issue of food waste and to try to minimize it where possible.

Where Is Food Tourism Most Popular?

Food tourism is particularly popular in countries with strong culinary traditions. Below are several examples of such destinations, along with a description of what they offer food tourists .

Porto (Portugal)

Porto is known for its port wine, which is produced in the surrounding Douro Valley. The city also has a number of traditional restaurants serving Portuguese cuisines such as bacalhau (codfish) dishes and francesinha (a sandwich with meat, cheese, and ham).

Lisbon (Portugal)

Lisbon is another Portuguese city with a strong culinary tradition . The city is known for its seafood, as well as for pastries such as the Pasteis de Belem (a type of custard tart).

Palermo (Italy)

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, an island with a rich culinary tradition. The city is known for its street food, which includes dishes such as arancini (fried rice balls) and panelle (fried chickpea fritters).

Vientiane (Laos)

Vientiane is the capital of Laos, and its cuisine reflects the influence of both Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. The city is known for dishes such as laab (a type of meat salad) and khao soi (a noodle soup).

San Sebastian (Spain)

San Sebastian is a Basque city located in northern Spain. The city is known for its pintxos (small plates) and for Basque dishes such as txakoli (a type of white wine) and cod with pil-pil sauce.

Paris (France)

Paris is one of the most popular food tourism destinations in the world. The city is known for its fine dining, as well as for its more casual bistros and cafes. 

Paris is also home to a number of markets, such as the famous Les Halles market, where food tourists can sample a variety of French specialties.

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New York City (USA)

New York City is another popular food tourism destination. The city offers a wide range of cuisines, from traditional American dishes to the cuisine of its many immigrant communities.

New York is also home to a number of famous restaurants, such as the Russian Tea Room and the Rainbow Room.

Tokyo (Japan)

Tokyo is a city with a rich culinary tradition. The city is known for its sushi and ramen, as well as for its more traditional dishes such as tempura and yakitori. Tokyo is also home to a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, making it a popular destination for food tourists.

Tips For Food Tourism

If you’re interested in trying out different cuisines while traveling, there are a few things you can do to make the most of your food tourism experience.

Do Some Research Before You Go

Read up on the cuisine of the place you’re visiting, and try to find out what dishes are particularly popular. This will help you narrow down your options and make sure you don’t miss out on any must-try dishes.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Recommendations

When you’re in a new city, ask the locals where they like to eat. They’ll be able to point you in the direction of some great places to try.

Be Open To New Experiences

When you’re trying out new cuisine, don’t be afraid to experiment. You might find that you like something that you never would have thought to try before.

Respect Local Customs And Traditions

When you’re traveling, it’s important to remember that not everyone does things the same way as you do. Be respectful of local customs and traditions, and try not to offend anyone.

Enjoy Yourself!

Food tourism should be about enjoying new experiences and trying new things. So relax, and enjoy the ride.

The Bottom Line

Food tourism is a growing trend, and there are many destinations around the world that offer something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for fine dining or street food, it’s sure there’s a place that will suit your taste.

DISCLAIMER:

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

• A study on the importance of Food Tourism and its impact on Creating Career 2017 (2017, researchgate.net)
• Culinary Tourism (2014, link.springer.com)
• Darker still: Present-day slavery in hospitality and tourism services (2013, researchgate.net)
• Disentangling tourism impacts on small-scale fishing pressure (2022, sciencedirect.com)
• Food and tourism synergies: perspectives on consumption, production, and destination development (2017, tandfonline.com)
• Foodies and Food Events (2014, tandfonline.com)
• Food tourism value: Investigating the factors that influence tourists to revisit (2019, sagepub.com)
• Global report on food tourism (2012, amazonaws.com)
• Re-evaluating the environmental impacts of tourism: does EKC exist? (2019, link.springer.com)
• Reviving Traditional Food Knowledge Through Food Festivals. The Case of the Pink Asparagus Festival in Mezzago, Italy (2020, frontiersin.org)
• The Importance of Food Safety in Travel Planning and Destination Selection (2008, tandfonline.com)

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17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow

Written By: Linda Voltaire

Updated On: December 21, 2022

Visiting Russia? These are the top 17 things to do in Moscow to help you plan your trip.

If the western world has New York City , the first great metropolis on the eastern side of our planet is Moscow. A huge city with a complicated and impressive history, Moscow gets a bad rep over Russian politics – but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Capital to the largest country in the world, Moscow takes the grandeur of its standing very seriously.

This is a place where luxury is king and where opulence takes a front seat in every aspect of life. The buildings are grand and imposing, the parks are luscious and enormous, and even the subway stations look different in Moscow than anywhere else in the world.

Table of Contents

Best Things to do in Moscow, Russia

Walking around Moscow is also going through the tumultuous history of the 20th century, which had Russia as one of its main protagonists. There are fascinating remains of these times everywhere in the former Soviet capital, from the gorgeous Seven Sisters skyscrapers to the Orthodox cathedrals that were closed for the better part of a century.  Still, Moscow is also a completely modern city, with a vibrant social and party scene, incredible restaurants, and some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

After living in Russia’s capital as an ex-pat for four years, I got the privilege to experience not only the main attractions in Moscow but also the everyday life in this huge city and quickly found my sweat spots off the beaten tracks! So here is my list of my top 17 things to do in this exciting metropolis!

Attractions in Moscow

When visiting a famous city like this one, it’s a must to go through the most iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin & Surrounding Area

No place tells the story of Moscow’s power in the past century the way the Red Square does. This is where the biggest political meetings in the USSR occurred for many decades, and you can feel the power on each step.

Here, you’ll also find the historic museum at the entrance, showcasing the decades of history behind this iconic landmark. The Lenin Mausoleum, perhaps the most famous resting place in the world and home to the remains of the former communist leader, is also here.

On one side of the Red Square you’ll find the Kremlin, the fortified complex that now hosts the presidential residence. This is also home to the most iconic of all Moscovite landmarks: St. Basil’s Cathedral, a 16th-century marvel of colors. This is the best spot to take a selfie and show the world you’ve reached the Russian capital!

• Get your Kremlin Skip the Line Tickets and Kremlin tour here.
• Free cancellation up to 24-hours in advance of the tour.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

You can easily spend a couple of days just exploring the Moscovite city centre, and the Bolshoi Theatre should be your second stop. Walk past the Red Square and then head to the nearby Bolshoi Theatre, one of the oldest and most renowned houses of opera and ballet on Earth.

Visit for the impressive early 19th-century architecture, but if you’re seeing a ballet performance, make sure you book between 3 and 6 months in advance! I can strongly recommend this as it is a truly unique experience!

• Book a private 2-hour tour of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre.
• See the presidential box reserved for tzars, watch a rehearsal and skip the lines through a separate entrance.
• Free Cancellation up to 24-hours in advance.

3. Luxury Shopping at GUM and TSUM

While many might think of Moscow as the sad place with the long bread queues from the USSR days, it’s been quite the capitalist haven for a while.

If you’re up for some shopping, you’ll find one of the biggest luxury malls in town, TSUM, right behind the Bolshoi and GUM, at the red square. GUM is the most famous department store in town, where you’ll find luxury everywhere and all high-end brand. 

All in an imposing late 19th-century building with lots of history, worth a visit just for the design, its bridges and the glass roof even though you are not up for shopping!

4. Christ the Savior Cathedral

A newer addition to the gorgeous Moscovite cathedrals and my grandeur neighbor during my years in the city Don’t let the young age of this building fool you. After the perestroika in the early 90s, the newly revived Russian Orthodox Church received permission to build a cathedral on this site. They did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church.

The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes as tall as the skies in bright gold and gorgeous paintings and decor! Bring a shawl to cover your hair to adjust to the local tradition.

Head to the back of the cathedral and you will find one of the most photographed bridges in Moscow, the Patriarshiy Most. This is the perfect spot to get a good view and photo of the cathedral but also to see the Kreml and Gorky Park from a distance. Or why not just enjoy a moment watching the river and its boats!  

• Get around Moscow with ease using the Hop On Hop Off boat and Bus ticket. 24, 48 or 72-hour tickets available.

5. Gorky Park

Cross the river and head to Gorky Park along the Moscow river. The most famous green area in town, similar to New York ’s Central Park and the weekend hangout for locals. There are many beautiful parks in the city, but if you’re only visiting for a few days, this is the unmissable one! 

With fair attractions to entertain children, beautiful artificial lakes and gardens, and lots of outdoor activities, it’s a lovely place to relax. A place of rest in the middle of the metropolis. The area in front of the New Tretyakov Gallery & the Muzeon Park of Arts is actually one of my favorite oasis as a bit more quiet and peaceful than Gorky itself.

Why not spend some time in the museum to get a great tour of Russia’s history through art or just enjoy the art exhibition outside where local artists spend their weekends. 

6. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow is from the Moscow River. There are many stops for the boats and one is just next to Gorky Park. See the city from another perspective – and turn the ride into a romantic one by taking the evening cruise. Moscow is magic during the night.

If you’re looking for a truly luxurious experience, take the Radisson Blu cruise – or the Erwin for a delicious seafood dinner. Both stop at Gorky or at the luxury Radisson Royal Hotel, set in one of the Seven Sister’s skyscrapers.

• We use Get Your Guide when booking city tours and they offer a River Sightseeing Cruise seeing all the main tourist attractions in Moscow

7. Metro Hopping

First inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow subway system is one of the oldest in the world, and certainly the most beautiful. Started under Stalinist times, each metro station is dedicated to grandeur and oozing personality.

Visiting the subway stops is an attraction in and of itself, and Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, Kropotkinskaya are my favorites. Those surrounding the Red Square are also mesmerizing – in general, these are kind of like underground palaces.

Most of the signs at the Moscow Metro now have Latin letters, so it’s very easy to get around!Unfortunately, the trains are not as beautiful and pleasant as the stations but still, this is a true Moscow experience.  Take a guided tour of the 9 most beautiful Metro Stations including the award-winning art deco station. See more details here.

8. Arbatskaya & Artsy Moscow

Novy Arbat Street is one of the most touristy areas in the city, with lots of shops and cafés directed at visitors. When you walk a little beyond, you’ll find a different part of town, where the hip scene thrives because so many artists live in the area. Just follow the small streets with fewer tourists!

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings hosts the main building of the Moscow State University, one of the most prestigious colleges in Russia – and the one with the best view.

Although this is a little outside the city centre, the sight from above is more than worth it, with the nearby fountains and park and then the whole of the city behind them.

10. Russian Market

If you love to visit markets wherever you go, Moscow has one of the most impressive ones in the world – the Izmailovsky. You can easily take the metro here and feel like you’ve been transported to another time.

This place was first built in the 16th century and retains the look of an old fairytale, with a lineup of colorful old castle. A lovely local experience beyond the confines of the bustling metropolis, where you can also try some delicious Russian barbecue.

Here, you’ll find beautiful souvenirs at great prices.

Off The Beaten Track Moscow

Once you’ve covered the most touristic spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer – and the places below will also be full of locals! Moscow is a city for hipsters, full of trendy and arty spots where you can literally feel the creativity oozing! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend my sweat spots below!

11. Patriarshiye Prudy

This is my favorite area in the entire city! While Moscow is generally a very noisy metropolis, Patriarch Ponds is far quieter, yet such a vibrant place. This is a very hip and trendy area making you think you are rather in Paris than in Moscow. Here the streets are narrow and full of chic eateries and clubs to see the local crowd.

A little bohemian and with an air of peace you won’t find anywhere in the city this is a great spot to spend an afternoon with your thoughts.

12. ArtPlay

Barely 15 minutes away from the city center you’ll find the artsiest Moscow district: ArtPlay. For decades, this block was a factory, but it was renovated to become a hub for the arts not too long ago.

Now, you’ll find it’s full of exhibitions, showrooms and art schools – and some of the most creative people in town. Writers, painters, and young hip people use ArtPlay as a rendezvous, and you can feel the creative energy here. The industrial design with modern interior decoration is also a feast for the eyes!

13. Shopping Local Designs

If you’re into design, both international and local, you’ll find lots of cute things at Patriarshiye Prudy. Department store Podium Market is also a great spot for shopping, as a department store everywhere in town, with lots of local and international brands. There’s one in the Four Seasons Hotel next to Red Square. My favorite Moscow mall is Tsvetnoy Central Market, a cool spot with great brands, lots of inspo, and even a cute café!

14. Moscow City

Like many other great capitals of the world, for the past few decades, Moscow has hosted a super modern area full of modern skyscrapers – Moscow City. With a completely different vibe than the rest of town, it’s like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressively tall glass buildings. Here, you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, such as Ruski and Sixty they are perfect spots for dining or enjoying a glass of wine with a view. There are also a relatively new shopping mall with lots of international brands called Affimall!

Wine, Dine, and Party in Moscow

Gone are the gloomy Moscow days – cold as it might be in the winter, Russia’s capital is a place for the senses. Great food and drinks abound – and the clubs are hot, too!

15. Where to Eat in Moscow

Moscow is a great metropolis where people love to dine out, and there are endless options for delicious food. The flavors are as diverse as you’d expect from a big city, with options of fine dining and little hipster eateries. 

• For traditional Russian flavors, I can’t recommend Café Pushkin, Dr. Zhivago, and Turnadot enough.
• When looking for international cuisines, Italian is always the way to go, and my local favorite is Probka.
• Fine dining is best done among the clouds at White Rabbit, with European flavors.
• As for the hip spots, you can spend a full day just eating around trendy places, from burgers to Asian fusion.

More Dining Options

• Patriarshiye Prudy offers a lot of small and classy spots with cool concepts, like breakfast restaurants I Love Cake and Fresh.
• For dinner, I love the NYC experience of Saxon & Parole, and the wonderful trendy Pins, with its delicious food and drinks.
• For delicious Asian food head to CutFish. 
• Lastly, there’s a recent revival of food markets in Moscow, offering lots of great choices of international flavors at affordable places.
• Don’t miss out the Vietnamese food stand at the Danilovsky market, and everything at Usachevsky!

16. Rooftopping

Big cities deserve to be seen from above, having a cocktail among the clouds. These are my recommendations for rooftop bars in Moscow.

• As I mentioned in the Moscow City section, Sixty & Ruski are two of my favorites, overlooking the newest part of town. 
• White Rabbit and its fine dining is also a lovely place for a fun dinner looking down on Moscow.
• O2, in the city center, has an advantage above all others: amazing views of the Red Square.
• Buono, above the Radisson Royal Hotel, might be the most romantic rooftop hotel in town, with its candlelit setting.
• Also on the Radisson stands the Mercedes. It’s a luxurious and posh experience with delicious cocktails.
• The Sky Lounge offers a peculiar experience, mixing an old Soviet building with futuristic additions.

17. Moscow by Night

Party the night away! The city is full of bars everywhere, but there are some areas where you’ll find more than others.

• Patriarshiye Prudy has lots of hip and small clubs and great bars, including the super fun private club Clava, which has a great vibe and people from all walks of life.
• For more hipster style bars, Red October is the place to go.
• Streak is a summer favorite, with a lovely terrace to catch a beautiful sunset – plus, their mozzarella bar is delicious.
• At night, Red October lights up with clubs everywhere, including the cool rooftop one Gipsy.
• Jagger is also a great spot during summer with a more relaxed vibe in garden setting. 
• For the traditional Russian luxury experience, go to SohoRooms, a whole other world including all-night go-go dancers.

There are so many things to do in Moscow at night and during the day, you definitely need several days to explore this exciting destination.

Moscow is a must-see city, a city like no other ! I hope you will enjoy this Russian metropolis as much as I did!

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About Linda Voltaire

Linda Voltaire is the owner of Travel with a Silver Lining, home to reviews of gorgeous boutique & design hotels, hip & trendy eateries as well as authentic and personal travel experiences beyond the crowd. She started blogging after a life-changing trip across South America. Follow Linda at TravelWithASilverLining / Facebook / Instagram /

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10 thoughts on “17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow”

These places look so awesome! Moscow is truly a beautiful city

Very good article, you have explained so nicely. Russia has always been a part of history and its good to know about much more about architecture and other things, wish i could see the inside of façade

Thanks for sharing such a nice article.You have very beautifully explained everything that one need for a trip to Moscow.

Nice article. Love the hidden gems and graffiti art, would love to visit Artplay. Thanks for a comprehensive guide to Moscow!

Moscow is a city where the past and the future live side by side. Here we can find everything from medieval fortresses and Soviet monoliths to glass skyscrapers and innovation centers.

Your article is good and meaningful .

Thanks for sharing about ArtPlay district, we didn’t know about it and it looks amazing 🙂 Hopefully there’ll be a second time in Moscow, we visited last May and really liked the city!

Wonderful stuff! I’ve been to Moscow, but not properly – it’s a long story lol!

Anyhoo, my next thing is to fly from Berlin to Moscow and then travel from there to Beijing via the Trans-Mongolian / Trans-Siberian train. Now, if only I could just find the time …!

I hear Moscow is very beautiful at night. I hope to get out there one day. A friend of mine went to St. Petersburg and had a great experience. Despite all the tension we see on the news with Russia and other Countries like the U.S. I wonder what the sentiment is with Russians and foreigners visiting their country for tourism. Especially Americans.

that looks like quite a beautiful place. 🙂

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

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Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

Godzillas Hostel is one of our favourites in Moscow but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alya and Campbell

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

• Destinations

Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

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Want to travel like a local? Sleep in a Mongolian yurt or an Amish farmhouse

Immersive lodgings are booming, as travelers embrace the food, traditions, and architecture of the places they visit.

At Three Camel Lodge , travelers sleep in yurts in the middle of Mongolia ’s Gobi Desert. Views just outside of the round, tent-like dwellings feel zapped in from the age of Chinggis Khan : herders driving goats across the steppe, a lone woman trotting by on horseback.  

Three Camel Lodge exemplifies a new boom in culturally immersive lodgings, where hotels and homestays steep guests in a destination’s distinctive architecture, traditions, and food. Call it bed, breakfast, and a crash course in local customs.

“Some sectors of the hospitality industry don’t just want to put heads in beds—they want to make hotels into cultural hubs and places to interact with locals,” says Samantha Hardcastle, founder of the Storied Experience , a travel consulting firm that specializes in creating experiential programs.

A cultural immersion might mean sleeping at a tented Bedouin camp in the Moroccan desert or in an Amish farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania . At Three Camel Lodge, guests try Mongolian archery, visit nomadic herders in the surrounding desert, and listen to traditional throat singing after meals in the dining yurt.

Here’s why these rooms with a view of another world are thriving, and how to experience one yourself.

The benefits of cultural immersion

Seventy percent of respondents to American Express Travel’s 2022 Travel Trends Report said they were interested in vacations that featured cultural immersion . “If you have an experience that’s awe-inducing or extraordinary—sleeping in a safari tent in the middle of Africa versus drinking margaritas at a beach hotel—it causes your dopamine and serotonin to rise,” says Paul J. Zak , a professor of economics and psychology at California’s Claremont University who studies the science of immersion. “That creates peak memories which are stored more deeply in your brain.”

Immersive stays are “about getting travelers to experience a place and come back and genuinely be able to say, ‘I’ve been to Guatemala or Northern Thailand ,’” says Darrell Wade, the CEO and founder of Intrepid Travel , which includes stays in villages and remote communities in many of its trips.

How to find culturally immersive hotels

Want to make an immersive hotel part of your next trip? Research whether a property or tour company offers genuine interaction with locals and their way of life, and whether the hotel financially benefits the community.  

“You want to feel like you’re visiting a community, and that its people are on equal footing with you,” says Hardcastle. “Look for a place that incorporates locals in a way that has them not catering to you as a tourist but encountering you as a friend.”

( Find out whether travel can make you more empathetic . )

Properties that employ and seek input from locals can provide experiences benefiting both travelers and residents. For instance, Kenya’s Kalepo Camp provides overnight stays in comfortable safari tents near the herding grounds of the semi-nomadic Samburu people. Samburu guides lead bush walks from the camp; guests can also visit community members in their mudbrick manyattas (villages).  

On the lands of the Huron-Wendat peoples of Quebec, Canada , the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse is a recreation of a traditional bark dwelling. Guests can stay here, listening to stories from First Nations hosts and sleeping beside an interior campfire.

“When you create spaces that bring people together, it results in what we call ‘euphoric bonding,’” says neuroaesthetics expert Robyn Landau . “That combats loneliness and drives empathy.“

Landau, whose Kinda Studios uses science to study how humans perceive art and other built environments, believes visiting places that feel very far from everyday lives helps travelers truly unplug and “get away from the mental chatter.”  

In other words, a deep dive into another culture amounts to a true vacation.

Hotels that embrace another place

Culturally immersive lodgings usually fall into two types: rustic village stays, where you bunk in simple digs amid a community, and more luxurious hotels where the architecture and programming reflect the destination. The sort of stay you choose depends both on your budget and how adventurous you are.

With higher-end immersive hotels, guest rooms might be situated in traditional dwellings (the vintage wooden Khmer houses of Sala Lodges in Siem Riep, Cambodia ) or kitted out with locally made art and furniture ( Shinta Mani Mustang in Nepal ).  

Activities showcase regional customs and lore. At Guenja The Sámi Ecolodge , an Indigenous-owned property in northern Sweden , guests sleep in cabins with moss-covered roofs and spend time cooking, harvesting crops, and feeding animals (like reindeer) with a herding family.

With a homestay, travelers overnight within the community itself. Experiences include sleeping in small-town guesthouses on Village Ways ’ multi-day treks through the Indian Himalayas, where visitors help cook chapatis and learn traditional songs with their hosts. During Intrepid Travel’s “Real Borneo” trips , guests bunk in bamboo huts in the jungle and fish with residents.

( Here are the new hotels Nat Geo loves for 2024 . )  

Homestay accommodations are generally clean and comfortable, but, says Wade, “sometimes you might be outside of your comfort zone”—meaning no electricity or hot water for showers.

In travelers’ quests to go deeper and further, these overnight stays might represent the best way to get to know a place. “There’s so much genericness in the hotel business,” says Jalsa Urubshurow, the founder of Three Camel Lodge. “If you highlight local architecture and the local community, it adds another layer to your exploration.”

What to know

Related topics.

• CULTURAL TOURISM
• EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL
• INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
• ARCHITECTURE

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More From Forbes

10 foods you should think twice about eating on your next vacation.

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One of the great pleasures of traveling to foreign shores is to dive mouth-first into the local cuisine. Whether it’s the tastiest Thai pad kra pao or the best German bratwurst, sampling national and regional foods is a fantastic way to get a true taste of new cultures. Also, most of them are delicious!

Eating pufferfish, or fugu, can be fatal—and not just for the fish.

International food tourism is big business. There are lots of operators offering itineraries focussed on tasting local delicacies, often branded as ‘exotic’. Food bloggers and influencers are eating ever weirder and more wonderful things to get their view counts up. These things have conspired to make many people bolder and more tempted to taste whatever is offered to them.

But that’s not always a good idea. Some of these dishes may be alien enough to your system to make you ill, or even represent real health risks. Others may be ethically or ecologically questionable, coming from exploited ecologies or communities. The simple rule of thumb is to know what you’re eating, what it can do and where it came from. With that in mind, the International Drivers Association has created a list of ten world foods and drinks you may (or may not!) be tempted by, but that you should think twice about before eating. Bon appetit!

Raw pufferfish eggs, aka blowfish roe, ready for human consumption. If you dare.

1. Pufferfish eggs, Philippines

The pufferfish is best known in cuisine terms as fugu, the heavily regulated fish delicacy most favored in Japan. Fugu contains a potentially fatal poison called tetrodotoxin, which has to be very, very carefully prepared to remove the poisonous bits and prevent the rest of the fish being contaminated. Eat a little of it and you’ll feel euphoric, eat too much and you won’t feel anything at all because you’ll likely be dead. Specialist chefs train for years to get the license they need to prepare it safely for eating.

In the Philippines, pufferfish eggs are a lesser-known, more underground delicacy. As such, they don’t always come with the same rigorous standards you’ll find in Japan, which makes the risk of tetrodotoxin poisoning far higher. If you see them on a menu or are offered them by a waiter, maybe opt for a delicious adobo instead.

JPMorgan Joins Goldman Sachs In Serious Bitcoin Halving Price Warning

Google makes a major new sale offer to pixel 8 buyers, las vegas show sues michael jackson estate over broadway show logo, 2. hoochero, venezuela.

The clue is in the name—hoochero is an alcoholic drink found in Venezuela made from fermented raw sugarcane, water and other indeterminate ingredients. It’s mostly homemade and not something you’ll find in bars, with good reason. The inconsistencies in its preparation by home enthusiasts can lead to dangerous levels of methanol, which make it poisonous and potentially fatal.

Instead, try a La Tizana. A classic Venezuelan drink that swaps the alcohol for grenadine and other fruits, it’s drunk as a refreshing pick-me-up.

Casu Marzu, ripened, opened and ready for consumption—maggots and all.

3. Casu Marzu, Sardinia, Italy

Known equally as the cool-sounding forbidden cheese and the not-so-cool-sounding maggot cheese, Casu Marzu is considered the world’s most dangerous cheese. Which is quite the accolade!

It starts life as a Pecorino Sardo cheese. At a specific point in its maturation, the cheese rind is opened and the eggs of the cheese fly are laid into its developing curds before it is sealed up again. The larvae hatch in the curds, begin eating it and in digestion give the cheese a soft texture and pungent flavor. Once matured, the Case Marzu is eaten, maggots and all, usually with fresh bread and an intense local Sardinian wine called Cannonau.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Casu Marzu poses some health risks and is banned in most countries around the world, including the entire EU. However, it has been reclassified in Sardinia as a ‘traditional food’ and as such is exempt from most food laws. Still, you’ll be hard pressed to find it even there, as it’s mostly sold under the counter between locals or simply made and eaten at home. Delicious.

An African giant bullfrog, tasty but toxic.

4. Giant African bullfrog, Namibia

A traditional delicacy in Namibia, the Giant African bullfrog is known locally as efuma or omafuma in plural. Celebrated for its potency, it’s mostly eaten during the rainy season. Local advice is to only eat them “after the third rain” or when the bullfrogs start croaking and breeding.

And that timing is crucial, as eating them out of season at the wrong time can give you kidney failure—what the locals call Oshiketakata. This risk comes from the toxins they accumulate during certain life stages. Usually, these dangers can be avoided with proper preparation, but the risk is real.

If you’re tempted, perhaps just take a look at one before you dine—they’re not exactly handsome and grow to the size of a housecat, which means they contain enough poision to be lethal. That should be enough to put you off!

Street food to gourmet meal, fried tarantula is popular with Cambodian locals, especially with chili ... [+] dipping sauce.

5. Fried tarantula, Cambodia

In 2023, some 3.5 million tourists visit Cambodia, many of them hungry to try the mostly delicious food. A staple of many local restaurants and street food vendors is the fried spider, and often more specifically the fried tarantula. A genuinely loved delicacy among Cambodians, they can fetch quite the price in comparison to local wages.

Beyond the general ick factor of eating a creature that many people find unbearable just to be near, there are other concerns about their consumption. Large spiders in particular are often hunted unsustainably, with question marks lingering over the impact this may have on local ecosystems. Also, I once tried one and they taste really, really bad.

Topped with peanuts and mint, raw blood soup doesn't look bad but should be avoided.

6. Raw blood soup, Vietnam

Tiết canh, to give it its Vietnamese name, is a traditional dish of raw duck, goose or pig blood. Tasty as that sounds, it’s described by culinary fans as cool, sour, buttery and gelatinous. Naysayers claim it has a more metallic taste.

Often served with strong alcohol, local beliefs hold that its cooling properties can help regulate body temperature, cure mouth ulcers and even prevent anemia. But its popularity is declining as health authorities recognize the inherent health risks of consuming raw blood. This is particularly true for the duck and goose blood versions due to concerns around avian flu. Best avoided then.

The Madagascar Sunset moth is spectacular, if it makes it past the caterpillar stage.

7. Sunset Moth Caterpillar, Madagascar

The sunset moth is revered as a noble spirit in Madagascar. Take a look at one and you’ll soon see why—they are absolutely spectacular in colors and patterns. That reverence and beauty hasn’t stopped them finding their way onto the dining plates of some, as they’re also boiled or fried and eaten as a rare delicacy when in caterpillar form.

Unfortunately, the sunset moth caterpillar is also highly toxic. Their sole diet is plants from the family Omphalea, which are toxic to most animals. And as the caterpillars don’t digest the toxins in the plants, they remain in their bodies until adulthood, making them potentially lethal to hungry predators, including humans.

Ackee, delicious when ripe, dangerous when not.

8. Ackee, Jamaica

You’ll likely find Ackee in your local market, freshly ripened or tinned. It’s a staple of Jamaican cuisine and is widely eaten around the world. But if you’re not careful, it can also cause some problems.

If eaten unripe and improperly prepared, Ackee can be toxic thanks to its hypoglycin A and B toxins. This can lead to what’s known as Jamaican vomiting sickness. You don’t have to avoid Ackee, as it can be delicious in the right dish, just make sure it’s ripe for consumption beforehand.

San-nakji Korean raw octopus poses a genuine choking risk.

9. San-nakji, South Korea

Anyone who’s seen My Octopus Teacher likely thinks twice about eating octopus nowadays, despite how delicious it can be. But in South Korea its consumption is taken to another, particularly cruel level.

San-nakji is a dish where a live octopus is cut into small pieces and immediately served, usually with sesame oil while the octopus pieces still squirm. The risk here isn't just the thought and ethics of eating something still moving but rather the danger of the tentacle suction cups, which can stick to the mouth or throat and create a serious choking concern. Indeed, in 2023 an 82-year-old South Korean man died of a heart attack after just such a choking incident.

Fresh blood clams remain popular in Asia, despite the health risks.

10. Blood Clams, Shanghai, China

Humans have long eaten clams, renowned for their authentic sea taste and simplicity to transport. And while most are safe (and delicious) to eat, blood clams, or more specifically blood clams from Asia are most definitely not.

Long popular in China, the consumption of blood clams has caused mass outbreaks of illness in the country. It’s not actually because of the clams themselves, but rather the environment they’re harvested from. These are waters high in viruses and bacteria that can survive the quick-boil cooking method favored particularly in Shanghai.

Chinese health authorities have linked blood clams (sometimes called red clams) with hepatitis A and E, typhoid and dysentery. If you really, really want to try them, the wild harvested blood clams found on the US east coast and Mexico are safe to eat.

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Live updates, ubereats delivers customer empty mcdonald’s big mac box after computer glitch deletes her order: ‘speechless’.

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There’s nothing more exciting than the anticipation of an Uber Eats delivery, especially when you’ve been craving it all day. 

But imagine the disappointment you’d feel if that eagerly awaited meal turned out to be… an empty box.  

You’d think – are Uber Eats trolling me? Is my actual delivery on the way?

That was the bizarre experience of one woman who ordered her favorite McDonald’s meal using the app, only to receive a sad, empty box where her food should have been.

In what appears to be a strange glitch, every single item that makes up a Double Big Mac burger had been deselected, leaving the McDonald’s staff no choice but to give her what she ordered — absolutely nothing! 

“They must have thought I was cooked”

The woman, Mel, took to Facebook to explain: “There was a glitch in the Uber Eats app, and somehow it deselected every ingredient.

“Macca’s [McDonald’s] staff must have thought I was cooked and just sent me an empty box.”

She then shared a photo of the receipt attached to the bag, which shows all eight of the usual Big Mac ingredients removed.

“No Big Mac Sauce, no regular onions, no pickles, no salt and pepper seasoning, no cheese, no lettuce, no meat patty, no Big Mac Bun,” it read.

“The Emperor’s new burger”

“Technically, there should have been one patty in the box. There are two all-beef patties and the instructions only removes one,” one eagle-eyed commenter pointed out.

“Oh my God, sorry, but that is so funny,” another chimed in.

“Ah yes,” wrote a third. “The new Big Mac Air.”

“The Emperor’s new burger,” quipped a fourth, while someone simply wrote, “#cleaneating.”

“I see the randomized diet mode has been activated,” another joked.

“I’d probably laugh and virtual high-five the employee who delivered exactly what the order requested… before getting upset that I don’t have Maccas [McDonald’s],” someone else shared.

And one woman responded: “I’d just be speechless. I’ve placed my order and waited for delivery, and I’m back to where I started – with no food.”

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