Okay, my mouth is watering already as I write this, and maybe starting it on an empty stomach wasn’t my brightest idea either… but then again, some topics are worth the torture.
Like, what is Europe without its food? The continent has always shared a special relationship with its cuisines, and even while food trends kept changing across the world, many dishes here stayed exactly how they’ve been made for generations. Not because they resisted change, but because they simply didn’t need it…
So, from tiny bakeries tucked into old streets to family kitchens that guard recipes like secrets, here’s my list of must try foods in Europe!
1. Pizza Napoletana: Italy’s Art Of Keeping It Simple
Let’s start with something really familiar… Pizza. Although, once you meet the truly original, you might realise we’ve been doing it very differently. The authentic Neapolitan pizza isn’t overloaded with toppings or reinvented with fancy twists, it’s actually quite the opposite. The magic lies in restraint…
The dough uses just four ingredients, but it is rested and handled with almost obsessive care. The dough is made using just flour, yeast, water, and salt, and is fermented slowly to achieve that airy, slightly charred crust. Traditionally topped with San Marzano tomatoes grown in volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius and creamy buffalo mozzarella, it is then cooked for barely 90 seconds in a blazing wood-fired oven!
Originally, pizza was everyday food for workers; quick, affordable, and filling. Today, it’s culinary royalty. Always funny how the humblest dishes often age the best… If you’re exploring food to try on Europe tour itineraries, this is one you should get your hands on!
Planning to explore Italy beyond food? Here’s a detailed guide on the best things to do in Italy!
2. Paella: Spain’s Celebration In A Pan
Few dishes capture community dining the way paella does. Born in Valencia, paella was originally a farmers’ meal cooked outdoors over open fire. Families gathered around while it simmered, with someone inevitably hovering near the pan pretending to check if it was ready yet.
Traditional Valencian paella includes rabbit, chicken, beans, and saffron-infused rice. The globally popular seafood version came much later as coastal adaptations evolved. The defining element of a great paella is socarrat; the crispy caramelised layer of rice at the bottom of the pan.
Paella represents the Mediterranean lifestyle, with slow afternoons, shared meals, and fresh, locally sourced ingredients, making it one of the best food in Europe experiences you can have.
3. Wiener Schnitzel: Austria’s Golden Classic
There’s something incredibly satisfying about biting into a perfectly crisp schnitzel. Thinly pounded veal cutlets are coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before being fried to golden perfection in butter or clarified fat. The crunch is well, really crunchy, the inside is tender and somehow, it manages to feel both simple and incredibly refined at the same time.
The dish dates back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and symbolised aristocratic dining culture. Traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon, schnitzel proves that European food often thrives on a delicate balance.
4. Goulash: Hungary’s Bowl Of History
Goulash started as survival food. Shepherds needed something hearty, filling, and practical while travelling with livestock. So they slow-cooked meat, spices, and vegetables into what eventually became one of Europe’s most beloved stews!
The soul of goulash lies in Hungarian paprika, a spice introduced in the 16th century that now defines the country’s culinary identity. The stew balances beef, onions, peppers, and slow cooking techniques to create deep, and mouthwatering flavours.
Goulash remains one of the most culturally significant examples of food in Europe, reflecting how regional spices shaped a national culinary identity.
5. Belgian Waffles: The Legendary Street Food
Belgian waffles may feel like a modern café indulgence, but their roots go back to medieval European street fairs. With crispy edges and soft interiors with just the right amount of sweetness, these are a treat to the taste buds!
Originally sold in street fairs and festivals, waffles were designed to be portable food. Today, they’re topped with everything from fruit to chocolate, but if you ask me, they barely need any help.
Sometimes the best food in Europe is handed to you on a paper plate while you’re wondering if you should order another one… I think you will.
Still deciding where to begin? Share your travel ideas with our team and let us help you shape the perfect itinerary.
6. Croissants: France’s Love Affair With Precision
Croissants might look effortless to make, well guess what, they are not. Each flaky layer exists because of repeated folding, rolling, chilling, and a whole lot of patience. What comes outside is a pastry that shatters slightly when you bite into it, leaving buttery crumbs as souvenirs!
Few breakfasts feel as beautiful as a fresh croissant with a hard coffee, as they remain a cornerstone of European bakery culture.
For first time travellers looking for café mornings in Paris and stunning mountain experiences in Switzerland, this Glimpse of Europe Holiday might be the perfect pick!
.webp)
7. Swiss Fondue: The Dish That Was Meant To Be Shared
Fondue is essentially a pot of melted cheese blended with wine, kept warm at the table, served in a shared pot, where diners dip bite-sized pieces of bread using long forks.
Born in mountain communities where winters were harsh and ingredients limited, locals melted cheese with wine and dipped bread to create a warm, communal meal.
Call it cheesy if you like, fondue has been getting away with it for centuries; inviting conversations, plenty of laughter, and usually one unlucky person dropping their bread, becoming the centre of friendly teasing! Among the best foods to try in Europe and the things to do in Switzerland, fondue reminds travellers that food often tastes better when shared.
Curious to experience fondue where it truly belongs? Explore our guided journeys across Switzerland, where alpine itineraries often include authentic local dining traditions.
8. Pastel de Nata: A Portuguese Dessert Born From Resourcefulness
This beloved custard tart came from a surprisingly practical beginning. Monks once used egg whites for laundry starch, which left them with a mountain of egg yolks. So instead of wasting them, they decided to turn them into desserts.
And thankfully, they did! The Pastel de Nata features a crisp pastry shell filled with creamy custard and slightly caramelised on top. Traditionally dusted with cinnamon or powdered sugar, this dessert has a way of turning just one into a very optimistic plan… Among the must try food in Europe, it beautifully proves that creativity often begins with making the most of what’s already in the kitchen.
9. Fish and Chips: Britain’s Crispy Classic
Fish and chips sound simple on paper, like how simple is battered fish served with thick-cut fries? But its history runs surprisingly deep…
The dish rose to popularity in the 19th century across working-class communities in the United Kingdom, thanks to the combination of freshly caught North Sea fish and potatoes that were affordable and filling. The magic of it lies in the batter. Traditionally made using flour and sparkling water or beer, it creates that unmistakable golden crunch while keeping the fish inside tender and flaky.
What makes fish and chips one of the must try foods in Europe is not just its taste, but its cultural place in British life. It’s beachside food, Friday-night food, and sometimes, the perfect excuse to sit by the sea with a paper-wrapped parcel of authenticity.
10. Moussaka: Greece’s Well-Kept Secret
Moussaka represents the heart of home cooking in Athens. The dish holds roasted eggplant, spiced minced meat, and creamy béchamel sauce, baked until beautifully golden.
Although versions exist across the Middle East and Balkans, the Greek variation gained prominence in the early 20th century when French culinary techniques influenced local recipes. It perfectly represents how food in Europe often evolves, absorbing influences, improving with time, and refusing to stay in one box.
11. Gelato: Italy’s Creamy Luxury
Richer, smoother, and more flavourful than regular ice cream, Italian gelato comes in endless varieties, from classic chocolate to unique fruit blends.
With less fat and less air than traditional ice cream, gelato feels denser, smoother, and more flavourful. Originally popularised during the Renaissance, gelato carries centuries of experimentation behind its creamy perfection! And honestly, very few travel experiences beat savouring a gelato while wandering aimlessly through a European street!
Planning to indulge in Italy’s creamy luxuries? Explore our curated tours across Italy, where select itineraries include authentic gelato tastings along the way!
The Final Bite
If Europe’s on your travel list, leave some room for detours. Follow the smell of bread from a tiny street bakery, stay a little longer over dinner, take chances on dishes you can't pronounce. Because as for me, I might forget what I saw… but never something delicious that I tasted.
If you’re eyeing to travel the world through plans that go beyond sightseeing and into immersive cultural and culinary experiences, explore these thoughtfully crafted journeys with Cox & Kings!
