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International
Best food travel destinations and food tours around the world
Discover the best food tours around the world, from Tokyo and Bangkok street food to Italian pasta, Mexico City tacos and San Sebastián pintxos.
One of the best ways to understand a destination is through its food. From bustling street markets and family-run restaurants to vineyards and cooking classes, food tours can reveal the history, traditions and everyday life of a place – one delicious bite at a time.
Whether you want to hunt down the best tacos in Mexico City, learn the secrets of fresh pasta in Italy or explore Tokyo’s legendary food scene, these are some of the best food tours around the world to add to your travel bucket list.
RACV Travel & Experiences is your one-stop shop for travel, with RACV Members saving on European tours, cruises, holiday packages, travel insurance and more.
Italy: one of the best food travel destinations in the world
Italy is an obvious destination for food lovers, but its cuisine changes dramatically from region to region. In Rome, a food tour might take you through neighbourhoods such as Trastevere or Testaccio to sample pizza al taglio, supplì, pasta carbonara and gelato.
Head north and you could explore Bologna, renowned for tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini and mortadella, venture south to Naples to discover the birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, or Ligurian regional dishes like pesto alla genovese in the Cinque Terre.
Cooking classes are another popular way to experience Italian cuisine, with opportunities to learn how to make pasta, pizza or tiramisu before sitting down to enjoy your creations.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intrepid Travel's Italy Real Food Adventure, with eight days spent across Rome, San Gimignano, Bologna, Modena, Agriturismo and Venice discovering everything from cicchetti (small bites) to homemade dinners, fresh produce and local wines.
Italian food is more than just pizza and pasta - but they're hard to beat! Image: Getty
Japan: food tours through Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto
Japan is one of the world's great destinations for food lovers, with distinctive regional cuisines, centuries-old culinary traditions and everything from bustling markets and tiny neighbourhood eateries to Michelin-starred restaurants.
Tokyo offers an extraordinary variety of Japanese dishes in one city. Head through the Tsukiji Outer Market for seafood and tamagoyaki, into neighbourhood izakayas for yakitori and small plates, or to specialist shops serving ramen, sushi, wagashi and other Japanese favourites. A local guide can also explain Japanese dining etiquette, ingredients and cooking techniques that visitors may otherwise overlook.
Beyond Tokyo, Osaka is famous for casual favourites such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki, Kyoto offers an introduction to traditional Japanese cuisine and tea culture, while destinations such as Hokkaido are renowned for fresh seafood, dairy and regional specialities.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intrepid Travel's Japan Real Food Adventure, where you can journey through Japan's most delicious hotspots across Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Uji, Koya-san and Osaka - think temple food, sashimi, sake breweries, seafood markets, and much more.
One of Japan's most famous dishes is sushi. Image: Getty
Thailand: Bangkok street food tours and local markets
Thailand is one of the world's great destinations for food lovers, with distinctive regional cuisines, lively markets and street-food stalls offering plenty to discover. Popular dishes include pad Thai, som tam, boat noodles, grilled meats, curries and mango sticky rice.
While delicious food can be found across the country, Bangkok is the standout destination for food tours thanks to the extraordinary variety packed into its markets, neighbourhoods and late-night dining spots.
Beyond Bangkok, travellers can explore northern Thai cuisine in Chiang Mai, known for dishes such as khao soi and sai ua sausage, or discover the seafood, curries and Malay-influenced flavours of southern Thailand.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intrepid Travel's Thailand Real Food Adventure, enjoying bustling markets, tropical fruits and aromatic dishes across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Samut Songkram.
Thai food is bold, fresh and aromatic. Image: Getty
Mexico: tacos, mole and authentic food experiences
Mexico is one of the world's great culinary destinations, with regional cuisines shaped by Indigenous traditions, local ingredients and centuries of cultural influences. Mexico City itself offers everything from bustling markets and neighbourhood taquerías to bakeries, cantinas and acclaimed restaurants.
A Mexico City food tour might include tacos al pastor, carnitas, tamales, tostadas, churros and mole, while market tours can introduce travellers to important Mexican ingredients such as corn, chillies, beans, cacao and agave. Exploring with a local guide can also reveal lesser-known dishes and explain the history and traditions behind Mexico's diverse cuisine.
Beyond the capital, Oaxaca is renowned for mole, tlayudas and mezcal, while the Yucatán Peninsula has distinctive specialities such as cochinita pibil. Puebla, meanwhile, is closely associated with dishes including mole poblano.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intrepid Travel's Mexico Real Food Adventure, where a resident chef will take you through Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca to sample tasty treats and local specialties.
Mexico is full of delicious regional dishes. Image: Getty
Vietnam: street food tours and traditional Vietnamese cuisine
Vietnam is one of Asia's most rewarding destinations for food lovers, with regional dishes, fresh ingredients and vibrant street-food cultures found throughout the country. Hanoi is a particular highlight for food tours, with its Old Quarter packed with pavement kitchens, markets, cafés and family-run eateries.
A Hanoi food tour might include steaming bowls of pho, smoky bún chả, crispy bánh mì, savoury bánh xèo and traditional Vietnamese coffee. Exploring with a local guide can help travellers discover places they might otherwise walk past, while learning about ingredients, dining customs and the history behind popular Vietnamese dishes.
Elsewhere in Vietnam, food tours offer distinctly different flavours. Visit Hue to discover dishes influenced by its imperial history, explore Hoi An's markets and specialities such as cao lau, or head to Ho Chi Minh City for a diverse street-food scene shaped by influences from across southern Vietnam.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intrepid Travel's Vietnam Real Food Adventure, which will have you sipping, slupring and crunching your way through Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and other foodie hotspots across Vietnam. Or embark on the Vietnam & Cambodia Real Food Adventure to pair popular Vietnamese dishes with the less known but no less delicious Cambodian cuisine.
Exploring Vietnam with a food guide can help you discover new and exciting dishes. Image: Getty
Spain: tapas tours, pintxos and regional specialities
Spain is a fantastic destination for food lovers, with distinctive regional cuisines ranging from Andalusian tapas to Galician seafood. Travellers can join tapas tours through Madrid and Seville, explore Barcelona's markets and Catalan cuisine, or head to Valencia to discover the home of paella.
A food tour typically involves moving between bars to sample tapas and pintxos: small dishes that can range from simple combinations of local produce to elaborate creations. Exploring with a local guide can help travellers find standout venues, understand how to order and learn about the Basque ingredients and culinary traditions behind each bite.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intreid Travel's Northern Spain Real Food Adventure, taking you on a Spanish food pilgrimage across Barcelona, Logrono, Basque Country, San Sebastian, Oviedo, and Santiago de Compostela.
There's also the Spain & Portugal Real Food Adventure, which combines the Northern Spain tour with fabulous Portuguese food meccas like Porto, the Douro Valley, Alentejo and Lisbon.
Tapas is an iconic Spanish culinary tradition of small-format eating. Image: Getty
Morocco: spice markets, tagines and culinary traditions
Morocco is an enticing destination for food lovers, with a cuisine shaped by Amazigh, Arab, Mediterranean and other cultural influences.
Marrakech is filled with bustling souks, traditional bakeries, market stalls and restaurants offering an atmospheric introduction to Moroccan cuisine. Think tagine, couscous, freshly baked bread, olives, dates, Moroccan pastries and mint tea. Exploring the city's markets with a local guide can also introduce travellers to ingredients such as preserved lemons, saffron and aromatic spice blends, while explaining how they are used in traditional cooking. Evening food tours around Jemaa el-Fna can be an especially memorable way to experience the city’s street-food culture.
Beyond Marrakech, travellers can explore the traditional food of Fez, sample fresh seafood in coastal Essaouira or discover regional dishes in destinations throughout the Atlas Mountains and beyond.
RACV Members save when booking with RACV Travel & Experiences on Intrepid Travel's Morocco Real Food Adventure, relishing in mesmerising markets, master recipes and traditional meals across Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen, Moulay Idriss, Casablanca and more.
Traditional mint tea is a delight in Morroco. Image: Getty
How to choose the best food tour for your next holiday
Before booking a food tour, check how much walking is involved, how many tastings are included and whether the experience accommodates dietary requirements or allergies. Small-group tours can provide a more personal experience, while cooking classes and market visits are ideal for travellers who want to dig deeper into local food traditions.
It's also worth checking exactly what is included in the tour price and reading recent reviews before booking.
Most importantly, arrive hungry. The best food tours aren't simply about finding somewhere good to eat – they can help you understand a destination through the people, ingredients and traditions that make its cuisine unique.
While the locations listed above are out top picks, there are many other incredible food tours to discover - such as Cambodia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, China, South Korea, Portugal, Greece, Georgia, Croatia and Slovenia, or the Balkans.
