Europe Tours & Holidays

While every European country will of course have its own delicacies based on factors such as its culture, traditions, and climate, the continent's cuisines can largely be broken down by Northern, Southern, Central, Eastern and Western Europe. For example, in Northern Europe, the food in countries such as Sweden and Denmark tends to be rich and hearty - it needs to help fight the cold, after all. Meat, fish, dairy, starchy foods and vegetables generally form the basis of this protein-rich diet. In Southern Europe, the cuisines range from Mediterranean, which encompasses a generally healthy diet with ample vegetables and seafood, and Balkan, which tends to be quite heavy and often spicy, with favourites like cured meats, pickled vegetables, and stews. 

Central European cuisines include a wide range of tasty dishes, from Germany's wurst to Poland's pierogis. Pork, sea fish and seeds tend to feature quite heavily on menus here, as are berries and delicious whole grain breads. Eastern Europeans usually favour hearty, comfort-style food, with a lot of meat, pastries, stews and soups. Yoghurt and cheese are important staples across the region, and pickled vegetables are also still common. Borscht, predominantly enjoyed in Russia and Ukraine, is a popular soup made with vegetables that can be eaten hot or cold. Finally, the cuisines of Western European countries like France, Ireland, Belgium and the UK usually have hearty, meaty dishes in common. Cheese is a very big deal in this part of the world, with an enormous variety available to try on your food tours in Europe.