Best of Europe: 3 food tours to try 

Immerse yourself in a culinary experience  

If you’re a foodie who’s thinking of travelling to Europe this fall, you’ve likely got a list of restaurants you want to try – but why not go a step further and immerse yourself in a culinary tour? Instead of a typical European vacation package, learn firsthand from the winemakers and chefs behind your favourite wines and dishes. You can bring your new skills home and cook for friends. Or better yet – invite them along!

We’ve pulled together itineraries for Europe’s top foodie spots. All of our tour packages include a round-trip flight, airport transfers, accommodation and excursions. Simply pack your bags and we’ll take care of the rest.

Read on for the gastronomic highlights of our best food tours across Europe.

1. Easy Pace Gourmet Italy (10 days/8 nights) 

The best Italian cooking tours include pasta and wine – and this one is no exception. Get a guided food tour of Bologna where you’ll sample cheese, chocolate and handmade pasta. Then you’ll try your hand at making your own! Learn how to make tortellini and pair it with wine.  Then, visit vineyards in Bologna, Tuscany and Lazio, where you’ll meet the people behind the wine, learn about the winemaking process and of course, sample some. You’ll also visit a cheese factory in Tuscany, where you can sample sheep’s cheese.  In Florence, browse the stalls of Mercato Centrale food market, then learn to make bruschetta, hand-rolled pasta, sauces and desserts.

Insta-worthy spot: Dinner and wine tasting in an ancient wine cellar in Frascati.

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2. Epicurean Adventure in Barcelona (9 days/7 nights) 

Get the best of Spain’s foodie scene by experiencing Barcelona. Visit the mountains of Monserrat, an hour outside of Barcelona, and enjoy some sparkling wine after a cellar tour of a rural family-run Cava winery.  In Barcelona, learn how to cook some of Spain’s authentic dishes like paella, gazpacho and tapas. Then, immerse yourself in a truly authentic experience when a local chef hosts you in their home and shares their passion for food.  You’ll also join a wine guide on a tour of some local hot spots, where you’ll be welcomed to taste wines from different areas of Spain paired with tapas. Learn how to taste, pair and buy with the group.

Insta-worthy spot: A walking tour around Barcelona’s famous Boqueria market.

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3. Flavours of Portugal (10 days/8 nights) 

Let your tastebuds travel to Portugal! Hop on a tuk-tuk in Lisbon and try pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), then dine at a restaurant in the Chiado quarter owned by a two-Michelin-star chef.   In the Algarve region, enjoy fresh fish and Dom Rodrigo: a gooey egg yolk and almond specialty made from the recipe of local nuns. Visit the natural salt pans and learn about the traditional hand harvesting process; indulge yourself at the spa there. Take a cooking lesson, sample local flavours like grilled sardines or xerém (corn meal porridge) or visit the market in Olhão.

Insta-worthy spot: Taste award-winning olive oil at Oliveira da Serra, the country's largest olive grove.

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