Cooking and food holidays
in the Mediterranean
Hundreds of millions of tourists hit the Med every year, drawn by bombshell beaches, storybook ruins and cultured cities, but for many it’s the food that’s the true knockout. Whether you’re into picnicking on fresh bread and cheese brought from a local market or dining out in one of the region’s top restaurants, Mediterranean food is fresh, delicious and – even better – famously good for you.
By joining others on a small group tour or booking a tailor made holiday, you’ll be led to the very finest producers, restaurants and markets well beyond the tourist trail, with the added bonus of discovering traditional and modern Mediterranean delicacies alongside knowledgeable local guides.
By joining others on a small group tour or booking a tailor made holiday, you’ll be led to the very finest producers, restaurants and markets well beyond the tourist trail, with the added bonus of discovering traditional and modern Mediterranean delicacies alongside knowledgeable local guides.
Our Europe Holidays
Italian cooking holiday, small group
Immersive gastronomy & cooking trips in undiscovered Tuscany
From
£1450
7 days
ex flights
Cooking and walking holiday, Spanish Pyrenees
A gastronomical experience in the Spanish Pyrenees
From
€1395
8 days
ex flights
Helsinki city break, winter sports & gastronomy
Helsinki with an overnight tour in the countryside tailomade
From
€634 to €800
3 days
ex flights
Italian food tours
Flavours of northern Italy on this special food-lovers journey
From
£2105 to £2320
10 days
ex flights
French Riviera holiday, walking, culture & cooking option
Experience real French culture while relaxing mindfully...
From
€450 to €1080
4 days
ex flights
Umbria cooking holiday, Italy
italian cooking in a farmhouse between Umbria and Tuscany
From
€1440 to €1650
7 days
ex flights
Short break pasta making & Italian food holiday, Tuscany
A Tuscan food adventure, learn to make pasta
From
£750
4 days
ex flights
Sicily food holiday in Italy
Be overwhelmed at how varied and diverse Sicily’s cuisine
From
£1499 to £1699
8 days
inc UK flights
Sicily small ship cruise, food & culture
Experience the flavours, landscapes and history of Sicily
From
£2249
8 days
ex flights
Turkey small group holiday, a food adventure
Exotic 2 week culinary and cultural tour of Turkey.
From
£975 to £1065
10 days
ex flights
Umbria gourmet tour, Italy
Relaxing gourmet tour: oil,wine, food tasting & art in Italy
From
€590 to €998
5 days
ex flights
Creative Spanish cooking holiday, Spain
Mediterranean fusion cooking experience at idyllic finca
From
€650 to €700
5 days
ex flights
French Riviera holiday, food, walking & culture
Experience real French culture while relaxing mindfully...
From
€450 to €1080
7 days
ex flights
Basque holiday, food adventure
Discover the food and wine of the beautiful Basque country
From
£1849
7 days
inc UK flights
South of France cooking holiday
French cooking workshop with local expert and yoga
From
€810 to €970
7 days
ex flights
Wine holidays in Andalucia, Spain
A week in Andalucia exploring Spain's undiscovered wines
From
€1295 to €1375
7 days
ex flights
Tuscany holiday, cooking, walking, truffle-hunting tour
An insight into the good, authentic sustainable rural life
From
€750
7 days
ex flights
Russia food holiday
A delicious Russian food trip, from St Petersburg to Moscow
From
£1520
10 days
ex flights
Learn Spanish and cooking in Granada, Spain
Discover Andalusian cooking & learn Spanish in Granada, Spain
From
€540
5 days
ex flights
Italian Alps walking and cooking holiday
Experience the Grandeur and Gastronomy of our Italian Alps
From
€1100
8 days
ex flights
North Spain small group holiday, a food adventure
Discover north of Spain food delicacies in Barcelona, Rioja & San Sebastian
From
£2055 to £2370
10 days
ex flights
Tuscany horse riding and food holiday
Horse-riding and delicious Tuscan food and wine.
From
€1285
8 days
ex flights
Georgia food and wine holiday with Carla Capalbo
Food tour of Georgia with food and wine expert Carla Capalbo
From
£2895
9 days
ex flights
Parma short break food and culture, Italy
Experience the food and culture of Parma, Italy
From
€415 to €1060
5 days
ex flights
Food and wine tour in Croatia and Slovenia
Food, wine and culinary traditions of Slovenia and Croatia
From
€3240
10 days
ex flights
Highlights of Sicily holiday for over 50s
Explore the food, culture and heritage of Sicily
From
€2396
12 days
ex flights
Where to go
Food helps you get to the heart and soul of a region and the Mediterranean is no different. France and Italy are the heavy hitters in this respect and no wonder - they are jam-packed with foodie offerings, from gourmet restaurants to Provencal markets and Tuscan trattorias, but each country has its own culinary specialities. You could head to Portugal for a walking and wine tour, tour the markets and vineyards of Croatia and Slovenia, get creative with tapas on a cooking break in Spain, explore spice bazaars and sample street food in Turkey or get hands on with the olive harvest in Greece.
Small group or tailor made
Cooking and food holidays can be either small group tours which depart on set dates, or tailor made itineraries allowing you to travel at any time of year. On small group food holidays, you’ll trypically travel with around eight to 12 fellow foodies, along with expert guides, spending between six days and two weeks on the road. That said, some food holidays re super flexible and can run with just two people, making them ideal for couples of a small group of friends. Other tours are tailor made, and last from four days up to two weeks, though you’ll have the flexibility to tweak your itinerary as you please, including upgrades to accommodation and transport.Whichever way you choose to go your holiday will be as varied as it is delicious with typical itineraries including visits to restaurants, cafes and vineyards, taking hands on cooking lessons or eating traditional meals in local homes. You could be centre based, spending your entire visit at the same hotel or guesthouse and going on excursions, tastings and taking cooking lessons during the day, or go point-to-point, moving on to a new destination every day or so, allowing you to soak up the energy, culture and cuisine in several different cities or regions.
Learning to cook
A food tour wouldn’t be complete without getting creative in the kitchen, and many of our holidays have cooking lessons at their heart. You could go hardcore and spend your entire break honing your chef skills, or take a gentle approach and mix cookery lessons with visiting producers and markets, dining out in restaurants and just exploring the region. Options include whipping up tapas in the Pyrenees, learning how to make French classics on the Riviera, or perfecting your pasta in Umbria.Wine tours
It goes without saying that wine plays a big part in our food and cooking holidays, whether that’s choosing the perfect pairings for your meals or getting to know the grape in greater depth. Some trips will have a full-on wine focus, with the bulk of your time spent touring vineyards and wineries as well as meeting the producers themselves. Others will build in an afternoon or two of wine tasting along with other foodie pursuits. Either way, you’ll brush up on your history and practical knowledge as well as improving your palate and getting a few extra bottles for your wine collection, too.Combinations
While you might love to spend a week just stuffing your face around the countryside, most foodie trips allow at least a little time to focus on cultural or indeed physical activities. You could, for example, choose to walk all that food off a little by alternating days spent cooking and tasting with days spent out on the trails. Or, you could mix your foodie fix with time spent cycling, painting, doing yoga or taking to the waters around Sicily, the Amalfi Coast or Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands, pulling into harbours to sample fresh Mediterranean produce and to meet the local people and artisans who make it.
Vegetarian and vegan holidays
For some people a food holiday in the Mediterranean wouldn’t be complete without a hearty dose of Iberico ham, oozing French cheeses or fresh seafood, but our operators can cater for vegetarians and vegans, too. You could learn the secrets of Mediterranean vegan cooking in Greece; or spend a week indulging in wine and vegetarian cooking in Portugal.Classic Mediterranean cooking
The fertile, sun-kissed lands of the Mediterranean have produced a ingredients and a diet that’s famously healthy, thanks to plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses, olive oil and a smattering of fish, meat and cheeses. Food and dining rituals are hugely important. Meals are to be shared with family and friends, lingered over and savoured, and dining out Mediterranean-style is a highlight for many travellers, with laid-back, friendly atmosphere and many families out until late.Our top Europe Holiday
Short break pasta making & Italian food holiday, Tuscany
A Tuscan food adventure, learn to make pasta
From
£750
4 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 15 Apr, 26 Apr, 2 May, 14 Jun, 20 Jun, 19 Aug, 7 Oct, 15 Oct
2020: 15 Apr, 26 Apr, 2 May, 14 Jun, 20 Jun, 19 Aug, 7 Oct, 15 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Europe or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Highlights
Italy
Food is central to life in Italy, but it’s about far more than pasta or pizza. Not that we’re suggesting you skip these. Try fresh pesto in Liguria or a pizza in Naples and you’ll never be satisfied with poor substitutes again. Proper Italian food is diverse, distinctive and big on regionality and seasonality.
Piedmont is the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, where specialities include arborio rice, white truffles, Castelmagno cheese and Barolo wine. In Umbria, try norcineria (cured pork produce) or hearty spelt and barley soups, delve into cucina povera (peasant cooking) in the backstreets of Rome, or try Arab-influenced dishes or unique, nose-to-tail street food in Sicily.
Piedmont is the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, where specialities include arborio rice, white truffles, Castelmagno cheese and Barolo wine. In Umbria, try norcineria (cured pork produce) or hearty spelt and barley soups, delve into cucina povera (peasant cooking) in the backstreets of Rome, or try Arab-influenced dishes or unique, nose-to-tail street food in Sicily.
Spain
Spain’s sunny climes, lush hills, forests and oceans produce excellent fish, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and free-range meat – often organic, frequently local, and all cooked to absolute perfection. Fish here is excellent. Andalucíans are famous for their pescaito frito (fried fish) but this is also the heartland of Iberico ham. You can get paella just about anywhere in Spain, but if you’re looking for authenticity then head to its true homeland – Valencia.You’ll find tapas that are a world away from the often lame offerings found outside of Spain. Simple and varied, typical tapas includes olives, tortilla de patatas, croquetas, sardines and a huge array of cheeses and cold meats. In less touristy areas, you’ll still get tapas as they were intended: free of charge with your drink.
France
The French have come to be defined by their cultured way of life and love of eating and drinking. Bread, cheese and charcuterie form the backbone of any French spread and markets in Mediterranean France are a feast for the senses, with local specialties such as Camargue salt and saucisson d’Arles holding court next to wonderfully fresh Provençal fruit and vegetables. This being the Med you’ll find a plethora of tantalising seafood, with hearty fish stews and simple grilled fish dishes a highlight.
Then there’s le vin, such an important part of French culture that you can plan an entire itinerary around it, particularly among the never-ending vineyards of the Languedoc. A holiday that combines culture, wine and cuisine will allow you to experience the region in all its delicious, multifaceted glory.
Then there’s le vin, such an important part of French culture that you can plan an entire itinerary around it, particularly among the never-ending vineyards of the Languedoc. A holiday that combines culture, wine and cuisine will allow you to experience the region in all its delicious, multifaceted glory.
Turkey
Skip tourist menus and dodgy kebabs and instead chow on real local cuisine at simple diners (lokantas), içkili restoran (licensed restaurants) and taverns (meyhane), or amid the fire and smoke of street stalls, and you'll discover a vibrant culinary tradition. Turkey is justly famous for its meze, which you’ll find throughout its Mediterranean region. Well loved dishes include patl?can salatas? (aubergine mash), sigara böre?i (cigar shaped cheese pastries), and imam bay?ld? (aubergine stuffed with onions and tomatoes).Grilled meat is found everywhere and usually served simply with flatbread and some kind of salad. Arab influenced adana kebap, and ?skender kebap, which comes with a hefty dollop of tomato sauce and yoghurt, are highlights. Vine leaves stuffed with rice and spices, sarma, are popular as is Lahmacun: flat break baked with ground meat, tomato, peppers and onion. This being the Mediterranean the seafood is almost as dazzling as the coastline, with sardalya (grilled sardines) and sar?göz (black bream) both great value and delicious. Try the wine, too, and meet small local producers.
Greece
For the best of Greek goodness head straight to the source, making for coastal villages for fresh fish, up into the mountains for lamb and pork, or into fertile farmland to taste the freshest of olive oil. Greeks serve up fabulous grilled and spit-roasted meats and souvlaki is a revelation if you’re used to standard kebab shop fare. Fish is often grilled whole and drizzled with ladolemono (lemon and oil dressing).
Mezedhes (small dishes) or meze for short are the best dishes for vegetarians, since many are meat-free. Best shared amongst friends they include classics such as tzatziki (yoghurt, cucumber and garlic), melitzanosalata (aubergine) and saganaki (fried cheese). You’ll also find Greek salad everywhere. True to form, it’s made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta and olives, though it’s often given an extra twist with local greens, capers or nuts.
Mezedhes (small dishes) or meze for short are the best dishes for vegetarians, since many are meat-free. Best shared amongst friends they include classics such as tzatziki (yoghurt, cucumber and garlic), melitzanosalata (aubergine) and saganaki (fried cheese). You’ll also find Greek salad everywhere. True to form, it’s made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta and olives, though it’s often given an extra twist with local greens, capers or nuts.
More about Europe
Hey, this is a big place that crosses time zones, mountain peaks and wild and woolly stretches of coastline so if you’re thinking of the best time to visit Europe check out our temperature and rainfall chart that will take you from Finland to Spain and back to the UK before you’ve had time to blink.
If you’re searching for a continent that’s about as an eclectic mix of old and new as you can imagine then our Europe travel guide lifts the lid on what we rate & what we don’t including information about the food, shopping & people to help you discover Europe like a local.
Where to go in Europe to make the most of your time obviously depends on what you’re into however, if you’re looking for ideas then mull over our favourite Europe highlights featured on our interactive map and you’ll soon get to grips with distances and travel times in Europe.
Our top activities in Europe range from activity holidays to cultural touring with every chance possible to go wild, never to be missed.
Take a safari – in Europe! Sure, you won’t see the Big Five, but there are some really big beasts and giant-sized thrills waiting for you here, from tracking wolves through snowy mountains to swimming with dolphins in clear Atlantic waters.
Find out which tours have made our European adventure breaks top 10 as well as the best times to go, and direct links to other relevant trips and travel guides.
Family holidays in Europe are laid-back and hassle free, with a huge array of sights and activities to keep both parents and kiddies happy.
We’ve asked our friends in Europe for travel tips with some superb results including Europe travel advice on why you shouldn’t skip the Peloponnese, getting off the beaten track in Spain and respecting Croatia’s tricky past.
There’s never been a more important moment to travel right in Europe with masses of overdevelopment, cruise ships, walking pollution and captive cetaceans still hot topics when it comes to responsible tourism issues in Europe.
Find all our Europe guides in one place from Croatia to Finland and everything in between and discover some of our activity guides such as Walking in Spain or multi activity holidays in Montenegro.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: pxhere] [Intro: Petr Kratochvil]
[Where to go : Liubov Ilchuk]
[Combinations: Ken Mayer]
[Italy : Michela Simoncini]
[France : JillWellington]
[Greece: Kullez]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
