I’ve eaten my way through over 20 countries in Europe. These are the 5 cities I can’t stop thinking about.

When I first moved to the UK in 2021, I had one major goal: to travel as much as possible.

I spent my free time seeing the world with exciting weekend getaways, road trips, and hikes. Before I knew it, I had checked more than 20 European countries off my bucket list.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, one of my favorite things to do when traveling is to explore the culinary scene.

Although plenty of major European cities have delicious offerings, these five have become my go-to places for great food.

I love the vibrant multicultural food scene in Athens.

Greek dishes remind me that great food doesn’t have to have a million ingredients to be memorable.

Vegetables, feta, olive oil, and herbs create a fresh, fragrant salad; grilled meats and tzatziki prove simple but nourishing; and you can’t go wrong with freshly caught seafood. I’ve enjoyed all this and more in the capital city of Athens.

For authentic Greek fare, I love visiting places like Karamanlidika and Ella Greek Cooking.

I also highly recommend exploring Athens’ vibrant multicultural food scene, which includes Kurdish, Ethiopian, and Thai cuisines, among many others.

One of my favorite restaurants is Feyrouz, which serves fresh artisanal Levantine street food. Its peinirli (a sort of boat-shaped pizza) and lahmacun (a Middle Eastern flatbread) shouldn’t be missed.

I love how fresh the food tastes in Copenhagen.

From its innovative Michelin-starred restaurants to its New Nordic cuisine, Copenhagen’s culinary scene has blown me away.

Copenhagen is home to my favorite pastry in the world: a cardamom bun from Juno the Bakery. It’s warm, buttery, doughy, and oozing with aromatic cardamom and pearl sugar.

I also like to stop by local café chain Mad & Kaffe for a delightful brunch flight and Torvehallerne market for a lunch of traditional smørrebrøds, or open-faced sandwiches.

Porto is best known for its wine.

Located on the banks of the Douro River, Porto is synonymous with port wine, a type of fortified wine that’s been produced in the region for centuries and often served with dessert.

I recommend visiting Cockburn’s, Burmester, or Graham’s for guided cellar tours and port wine tastings.

Drinks aside, there are many great foods to try, here, too.

For a traditional Portuguese pork sandwich called a bifana, I like to eat at Conga. I also love the delicious spreads of tapas at The Door, TapaBento, and The Wine Box.

I’d also be remiss not to mention pastel de nata, the classic custard Portuguese pastry. In my opinion, Fábrica da Nata and Manteigaria have some of the best the country has to offer.

I think Florence has the best pizza, pasta, and gelato in Italy.

Florence is my favorite Italian city to visit. It’s extremely walkable, boasts striking Renaissance art and architecture, and has the best pizza, pasta, and gelato I’ve had in the country.

I recommend visiting Gustarium Firenze for their pizza al taglio, or pizza by the cut. There, you can sample multiple types of pizza with puffy, olive-oil infused crust, fresh-tasting ingredients, and unique flavor combinations, all for what I consider to be a reasonable price.

To scratch your pasta craving, I suggest stopping by La Giostra or Osteria Pastella. The former offers a romantic, cozy ambiance with brick arches from the 16th century, touting incredible tiramisu and ravioli with pecorino and pear. The latter is famous for its cheese wheel and truffle pasta.

The best way to end your food tour is with a stop at Sbrino, a gelateria that uses natural ingredients. It’s the best gelato I’ve had anywhere in the world.

I think my home city of Edinburgh has the best fish and chips in the UK.

I truly think my home city of Edinburgh has it all — mountains, medieval architecture, literary history, and a vibrant festival scene.

For traditional Scottish fare, I suggest visiting the Scran and Scallie. This restaurant adds an elevated twist to the basics, and has a rotating seasonal menu (and the best fish and chips I’ve had in the UK).

I also recommend trying haggis at Arcade Bar or Whiski Rooms. If you’re looking for more fine-dining options, places like Eleanore and Moss highlight the very best of Scottish produce.

Finally, I recommend capping off your visit by wandering through the charming neighborhood of Stockbridge for a long black at Cafēn and a pastry from Lannan Bakery.

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