Travel Index Reveals the Best Cities Around the World for Foodies

When it comes to cuisine, each city worldwide has its own take on culinary habits and traditions. From pastries in Paris to sushi in Tokyo, every corner of the globe has something different to offer foodies.

Experiencing these culinary delights first-hand is a beautiful way to absorb the culture of a specific area while enjoying tasty treats. This leads to the question: Which city offers the best experience to food lovers?

To explore this further, we at Riviera Travel examined various cities worldwide, analysing the number of food tours, Michelin-Starred restaurants, and culinary classes, revealing the go-to destination for foodies.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the top ten!

The Best Destinations for Foodies Index

To develop our index and find the best destinations for foodies, we evaluated several key factors worldwide, including the number of food tours, culinary classes and Michelin Star restaurants.

1. Paris, France

In first place, Paris ranked as the go-to destination for foodies, with an impressive score of 82. The ‘City of Love’ is more than just a romantic hotspot and offers a range of interesting activities for food lovers, including a whopping 458 food tours and 96 culinary classes.

Additionally, foodies are spoiled for choice, with 118 eateries boasting  1-3 Michelin Stars—the most out of all examined cities. This highlights the high standard of Parisian food, with culinary delights a high priority in the French capital.

At Riviera, we offer an exciting food-themed river cruise down the River Seine, allowing people to enjoy the sights of Paris.

2. Rome, Italy

Italy’s capital city, Rome, scored 43 points and ranked the second-best destination for foodies. The city is home to 17 Michelin-starred restaurants, including Pipero Roma, a well-rated establishment offering fresh Italian cuisine to a very high standard.

There are also 113 food-related tours, allowing travellers to experience Rome’s encapsulating culture while enjoying some local cuisine. These include street food tours and more sophisticated sit-down meals.

Impressively, with 238 culinary classes dotted throughout the city, people can try their hand at replicating the world-famous Italian cuisine.
 

3. London, United Kingdom

In third place, London is another excellent option for foodies, scoring 32 points altogether. The capital city is a hotspot for top-rated restaurants, with 75 boasting at least one Michelin Star. Popular choices include Sabor, Hide, and Akoko.

Furthermore, with 47 food tours, there’s no shortage of entertaining experiences for food lovers to take advantage of. London offers a diverse range of culinary delights, with foods from all over the world on offer throughout the city.

The city offers 28 culinary classes for all skill levels, perfect for those looking to improve their cooking skills.
 

4. Porto, Portugal

Next, placing fourth in the ranking is Porto, the Portuguese city scored 24 points overall. The city has a nice blend of traditional and modern eateries, offering local cuisine and delights from around the globe. In total, Porto has 5 Michelin Star restaurants.

The city also offers 312 food tours, allowing travellers to experience tailored events with local cuisine and experts. There are also 21 culinary classes, some hosted at picturesque vineyards.

We at Riviera Travel offer a unique experience in Porto: a themed river cruise highlighting the Gastronomy of the Douro. This trip includes seven nights on board a 5-star ship. 

5. Madrid, Spain

Next, the Spanish capital city Madrid is ranked in joint fourth place with a score of 24 points. The city has an incredible blend of high-quality restaurants and food markets - including Cebo and Mercado de San Miguel.

Madrid features 26 Michelin-starred restaurants, offering food enthusiasts a world-class dining experience. For those eager to refine their culinary skills, the city also hosts 30 cooking classes set amid its charming scenery.

Additionally, 180 food tours give travellers ample opportunity to experience Spain’s culinary delights, including tapas and paella.
 

6. Venice, Italy

In sixth place, is Venice, which is ranked as another wonderful location for food lovers, scoring 18 points. While the city is often known for its beautiful canals and historic architecture, it remains a go-to place for high-quality food.

There are five Michelin-starred restaurants in Venice, with Ristorante Quadri and Local being the picks. With 198 food tours, travellers can experience Italian cuisine while cruising down the city's many canals.

Venice also has a range of culinary classes throughout the city, with 34 available to travellers
 

7. Berlin, Germany

Scoring 11 points in total, the German capital city, Berlin, ranks as the seventh-best destination for foodies. From varying street food stalls to 21 Michelin Star restaurants, the city offers a wide range of different gastronomical delights.

Germany is known for many local foods, such as currywurst, bratwurst and pretzels, the country has close historical ties to Turkey and many of the country’s foods are also available throughout Berlin.

Additionally, the city offers 57 food tours and four culinary classes, making it a great choice for foodies.
 

8. Istanbul, Turkey

In eighth place, scoring eight points overall, Istanbul ranks as another suitable destination for lovers of all things food! The city is home to a range of high-quality eateries, including 7 Michelin Star establishments, such as Neolokal and Mikla Restaurant.

Visitors can take in the Turkish sights while enjoying some local cuisine with 50 different food tours to choose from. Experts are also on hand to teach travellers culinary skills, with 21 classes available in Istanbul.

Turkey’s cuisine is a unique blend of Middle Eastern, Asian and European flavours, making it a great option for foodies.
 

9. Nice, France

The French city of Nice also scored eight points and ranked joint-eighth. Dishes such as salade niçoise and ratatouille both originated in the iconic city, highlighting its culinary heritage.

With France known for its superb restaurants, it’s no surprise to uncover eight eateries in Nice featuring at least one Michelin Star. There is also an impressive 74 food tours for visitors to fill their boots.

There’s no shortage of food-related activities in the city, with nine culinary classes, including home baking and French breakfast sessions.
 

10. Copenhagen, Denmark

Finally, rounding off our top ten list of the best destinations for foodies is Copenhagen, the Danish capital scored seven points overall. We believe everyone should experience the local cuisine in Denmark at least once in their lifetime, with delicious dishes such as Frikadeller and Smørrebrød.

The top-quality approach to cuisine is evidenced in the amount of Michelin Star eateries available - with 13 altogether. There’s also 23 food tours dotted throughout the city, allowing travellers to experience Danish cuisine first-hand.

Overall, with 16 culinary classes, foodies can learn how to master Copenhagen’s unique dishes with help from an expert.
 

Methodology

The Best Destinations for Foodies Index, created by us at Riviera Travel, assesses a range of factors to highlight the top destinations worldwide for experiencing local cuisine.

We examined three key areas: the number of food tours, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the total number of culinary classes available in each city.

Each destination was then given a score ranked by the other findings. The three factors were weighed before a score was given, the weights were:

• Michelin Star Restaurants: 40% weight.
• Food Tours: 30% weight.
• Culinary Classes: 30% weight.

Data for all three factors were sourced from TripAdvisor.