For lovers of wine and good food, and those who want to discover new gastronomic experiences, we have selected some travel destinations in Europe. If traveling for you is not just to visit the most popular sights and walk around the city, and you are in search of new tastes and unique and authentic experiences, then this selection will definitely please you. So, pack your luggage, and let’s go:
📍COLMAR, FRANCE
Colmar is one of the few towns in the Alsace region that wasn’t destroyed during World War II and still keeps its historical charm. It was founded in the ninth century, and Old Town has remained well-preserved. Alsace region is known for producing some of the best Riesling and Gewurztraminer wines in the world and Colmar is considered it’s capital. This town is set in the heart of the Alsatian Wine Route, which is the oldest wine route in France with 170 km of picturesque winegrowing villages, ruins of castles from the Middle Ages, outstanding landscapes, and famous vineyards. Except for the wine tasting, visit the house of the sculptor, Bartholdi, who created the Statue of Liberty. If you are looking for fine dining, you should visit one of Colmar’s seven Michelin-starred restaurants, which is quite a large number for a town with a population of about 70,000 people.
📍SAINT-TROPEZ, FRANCE
Tarte Tropézienne or also known as “La Tarte de Saint-Tropez“ is a light and creamy dessert made by Polish confectioner Alexandre Micka in 1955. The desert got its name from Brigitte Bardot while she was in Saint Tropez filming And God Created Woman.
With the growing popularity of actress and St Tropez as the best place for summer holidays in the south of France, the desert became soon a business empire. Alexandre Micka trademarked the name in 1973. The original bakery is still in the main square in St Tropez.
📍SAMOBOR, CROATIA
20 kilometers from Zagreb and just 5 kilometers away from the Slovenian border, Samobor is just perfect for a one-day trip. This small town near the capital of Croatia is famous for its local dessert – Kremšnita. This layer cake is made from puff pastry, filled with vanilla custard cream and beaten egg whites. The whole cake is typically dusted with powdered sugar and should be eaten warm. Don’t worry, a short 30-minute hike to the ruins of an old castle will help you burn the calories after 😉.
Another gastronomical stop in the town is Cellars Philipecz. The Filipec family is one of the oldest families in Samobor and is known as the local producer of Bermet and Mustard (Muštarda). Bermet is an authentic Croatian wine of sweet-bitter taste, firstly produced by Samobor pharmacists in the mid-18th century. The family keeps the secret of production from one generation to the other for over two centuries.
📍BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
It is a crime against gastronomy to come to Budapest and don’t try chicken paprikash. This dish is one of the highlights of domestic gastronomy and combines five key Hungarian ingredients: onions, green peppers, tomatoes, paprika, and sour cream. Serve with nokedli, which are similar to German spaetzle.
📍STRASBOURG, FRANCE
We already talked about the wine, so let’s stop on another speciality from the Alsace region – Flammekueche. Cooked in a wood-fired oven, this pizza-like thin-crust dish is topped with fromage blanc or crème fraîche, thin-sliced onions, and lardons. Originally, the Flammekueche was a homemade meal that wasn’t so popular until the “pizza boom” of the 1960s. Nowadays it is impossible to come to Strasbourg without trying Flammekueche or “choucroute” (sauerkraut).
Choucroute is a cabbage braised in white wine and an assortment of sausages, ham, smoked pork, and steamed potatoes, with a dash of mustard. Sounds quite simple, but this meal even has its own certification label – the European PGI (Protected Geographical Indication). Strasbourg is located in the Eastern part of France and its historical island is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. So, there are many things to do and see here. Plus, Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament.
📍BILBAO, SPAIN
If you have never been to Bilbao before and consider yourself a foodie, then Pinxos should be a reason enough to plan a trip there. Pintxos is the Basque Country’s version of tapas, which is almost exclusively served in bars. The word pintxo in this region means spike, that’s why a toothpick is an important element of this snack. Bilbao’s Old Town, known as Casco Viejo, connects 7 picturesque streets. That is the place where you’ll find the most authentic Pintxos in Bilbao.
📍ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Istanbul is a street food lover’s paradise. If you are among them, then this experience can’t be missed. You may not be lucky enough to taste all types of local street food during your stay, but at least you can be sure of its quality. In Istanbul, the municipality issues certifications and permits for street food sellers, and they are constantly being supervised.
You must try Lahmacun (Turkish pizza among the tourists) that is cooked over wood, Börek with tea for a quick Turkish breakfast, and finally, Tantuni. It is made of chopped beef, tomatoes, and parsley in a soft lavash wrap. Tantuni became famous across the country in the 1980s and was a cheap food for poor people. Today it is popular street food, delicious but oily. Don’t forget to add some lemon juice before taking a bite.
📍MILAN, ITALY
Risotto alla Milanese, is perhaps the most famous dish in the Lombard cuisine. By legend, this saffron-flavored classic risotto was created in the 16th century, during the construction of Duomo by Flemish painter Valerio Diependale, who regularly used this spice to stain the glass windows yellow. Very soon, it became a traditional accompaniment to ossobuco, another signature dish of Milan. The first written recipe of Ossobuco (in Italy – l’oss bus a la Milanesa) was found in 1891, so as you understand, these wine-braised veal shanks have been prepared in local trattorias for centuries. Definitely worth trying!
📍NAMUR, BELGIUM
In Namur, you could find a Wallonian brewery that has been independent and family-owned for over 150 years. Blanche de Namur takes its name from the medieval princess, who accompanied her Swedish husband to Scandinavia and never came back to her country again. In honor of her beauty, was created Blanche de Namur. This classic Belgian wit bier has been awarded ‘World’s Best Wheat Beer’ at the 2009 World Beer Awards, as well as ‘Europe’s Best Belgian Style Witbier’ in 2012. In 2013, the beer received the ‘Europe Silver’ award at the 2013 World Beer Awards.
📍LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND
Did you know that in Lausanne is the biggest number of vineyards in Switzerland? In 2007 Lavaux terraces, which were built by Cistercian monks in the 12 century, were recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage. The natural, cultural and culinary highlights of this area are definitely well worth a visit.
Get inspired and plan your culinary holiday in Europe in the best gastronomic destinations. To save money on roaming costs during your trip and treat yourself to something delicious for dessert, order an MTX Connect SIM card in advance or activate your new eSIM through our app.