From a cheese-inspired trek through the Swiss Alps to discovering what’s next in New Nordic cuisine, these foodie adventures are worth travelling for. 

For travellers who plan their holidays around what’s on the plate and in the glass, these delicious destinations across the globe promise unforgettable food and exceptional flavours. Book that ticket and treat your tastebuds to the culinary journey they deserve. 

1. New Nordic cuisine in Copenhagen

One of the world’s most influential restaurants has entered a new chapter. Reopened in August, Copenhagen’s noma now has a new team at the pass, with the chefs who helped pioneer New Nordic cuisine alongside René Redzepi taking the reins in the kitchen, while Redzepi remains creative director. The menu will change monthly and continue to focus on what the region produces (foraged herbs, root vegetables, wild game, seafood and berries). Book a table at the Danish kitchen and build a foodie itinerary around your visit to see where New Nordic cuisine is going next. 

2. Savour the Basque coast

The coastal road through Spain’s Basque Country is designed for a slow reveal, all cliff-hugging bends and sudden glimpses of the Atlantic. It’s a region with serious culinary cred. The new Basque to Bordeaux Supercar Tour by HunterMoss glides through this countryside from Bilbao to the Belle Époque Old Town of San Sebastián to savour authentic pintxos before sweeping along the coast to Biarritz for a seafood feast. The thoughtfully curated seven-day itinerary for culinary-minded car lovers also winds its way into Bordeaux for a wine tour of three Grand Cru estates in Saint-Émilion, before one final toast on a French terrace.  

3. Taste Tuscany on two wheels

One of the best ways to get a taste of Tuscany is by bike. On an eight-day cycling journey through the Italian region with Tour De Vines, you’ll pedal past Florence’s terracotta-capped palazzi and through villages that have stayed the same for centuries. Led along quiet back roads by a local expert, long morning rides give way to leisurely vineyard lunches, where you will sample everything from pecorino and peaches to savoury prosciutto alongside Chianti poured by the growers themselves. Small groups. Unmatched views. Big appetites. Killer quads. 

4. Soak and sip through rural Japan

Spend the morning walking through a cedar forest before melting into the mineral-rich waters of an onsen. Walk Japan’s five-day Onsen Gastronomy tours pair the great ritual of soaking in hot springs with the country’s other mindful pleasure: eating well. Days cover just two to five kilometres, leaving room for long lunches of regional specialties and nihonshu sake tastings poured by producers who’ve been at it for generations. A local guide and a tour leader open doors that stay shut to most visitors, from sake breweries to family-run kitchens. 

5. Mexico City’s mezcal and markets

Cries of “elote! elote!" pepper the air as street vendors hawk their wares near the pushcarts lining Mexico City’s Mercado San Juan. Wandering through this vibrant market is just one of many highlights on Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Mexico Real Food Adventure. From sampling fresh pan dulce at a classic bakery to enjoying a paddock-to-plate farm lunch in Puebla, a tasting session at a mezcaleria and a hands-on cooking class in Oaxaca, every moment is a true celebration of Mexico’s culture and rich culinary heritage. A stop in San Pedro Tláhuac brings Nahuatl chinampa farming into the mix, too.  

6. Wine and char in Argentina

World-class malbec meets the magic of open-fire cooking in Argentina’s sun-drenched Mendoza province. Here against the Andes, vast vineyards set the stage for flame-charred asados, where prime cuts sizzle over crackling embers. Mendoza is in the heart of Argentina’s winelands, known for its unique high-altitude-desert growing conditions that produce exceptional drops for all palates. Sip bold reds and aromatic whites, breathe in the apple-crisp Andean mountain air and indulge in an unforgettable culinary escape.  

7. Hanoi to Hoi An

The best seat in Hanoi might well be a bright red stool six inches off the footpath, knees at your ears, a bowl of steaming phõ on the plastic table in front of you. One of the joys of travelling in Vietnam is discovering great places to eat: a bánh mì roll slathered in pâté and stuffed with fresh chicken and herbs in Hoi An; bún chà smoking over charcoal in the alleyways of Hanoi that Anthony Bourdain made famous; and bánh xèo crepes folded to order in Ho Chi Minh City. Sniff, slurp and savour your way through the country’s cities at your own pace, or join a guided street food adventure for the day with Secret Food Tours to discover lesser-known spots loved by locals. 

8. Lima, South America’s culinary capital

In South America’s culinary capital of Lima, chef Virgilio Martínez structures multi-course menus around altitude. Diners at Central, named No. 1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023, are taken on an extraordinary ecological journey from 15 metres beneath the Pacific Ocean to more than 4100 metres up the vertiginous slopes of the Andes. Beyond fine dining, the coastal capital dazzles with fresh ceviche drenched in leche de tigre and smoky anticuchos sizzling on street corners. From ancient Indigenous ingredients to pioneering gastronomy, every bite reveals why Peru’s vibrant food scene is the trip of a lifetime for adventurous epicureans. 

9. Hike the Swiss Alps for cheese

Follow the sound of tinkling cow bells beneath the soaring peaks of Mount Titlis. Switzerland’s 47-kilometre-long Alpine Cheese Trail weaves through wildflower pastures to seven authentic mountain dairies around Engelberg. Ascend nearly 2000 metres on foot or by e-bike, pausing at rustic huts to watch master cheesemakers transform fresh milk over wood fires. Here, you can sample artisan Alpkäse and learn the craft of traditional high-altitude farming. This scenic mountain journey is best experienced during the prime summer hiking season from June through September. Complete the full multi-day loop or drop in for easy day stages.  

10. The ultimate cruise for foodies

A tapestry of cultures and languages is sewn together seamlessly by Silversea on a voyage from Lisbon to Rome. But for all the diversity encountered across five countries in 10 days, echoes of each destination carry through the journey, not least in its cuisine. A warm southern climate unites culinary traditions from Andalusia to Tuscany. Onshore, padrón peppers drip with oil on a taverna table in Cádiz, paired with a dry sherry; typical meals are served within the olive groves of a farmhouse in Provence; and Chianti is sipped in the Tuscan hills. Onboard, the gastronomic focus continues through Silversea’s S.A.L.T. program: cooking classes, cocktails and menus that evolve as the journey progresses.

This article is part of International Traveller’s 100 Holidays You Deserve round-up. Visit the special 100 Holidays You Deserve hub to find inspiring adventures for every travel type.