Best of · FOOD
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 food experiences justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Spend about 2.5 hours walking central Lisbon with a private local guide such as Ana, Alfredo, or Angelo. Choose six or 10 tastings, sample Portuguese favorites, and shape the route around your tastes, with city sights and food history along the way.
“Incredible food tour! Anne included an incredible tour of the city as well as many great food and drink stops!”
Spend about three hours with a private local guide such as Ana, Maria, Giorgio, or Eden, tasting six or 10 Tuscan foods and drinks while walking through Florence. Expect market stops, historic squares, Ponte Vecchio, gelato, and plenty of local stories.
“You’d better arrive with an appetite! Giorgio was a wonderful guide. He was not only knowledgeable about the different foods and wines that were offered. He had an extensive knowledge of all of Italy’s various regions and their histories. It didn’t take me long to guess that he was a former history teacher! I would recommend Giorgio and Viator tour company any time! I’ve gone on many tours using them, and have never been disappointed”
Spend three hours partying off Playa den Bossa with international DJs, a welcome drink, fruit, Spanish muffins, music, and a Mediterranean swim stop. Hosts such as Sebastian and Juan Sebastian are known for keeping groups involved. Drinks beyond the welcome serving cost extra unless you choose an added package.
“Juan Sebastian was a brilliant host! We attended the trip for a hen party and he took care of the group as soon as we arrived, making sure we got a great area and our drinks sorted! Boat trip itself was super fun and great value for money! Would go again!”
Meet a private local foodie at Campo Manin for six or ten Venetian tastings, from mozzarella in carrozza and cicchetti to prosecco and gelato. Guides such as Giada, Alessandra, Claudia, and Giacomo tailor the route and explain Venice’s food customs as you walk between local stops.
“Fortunato had a lot of knowledge on Venice and was very nice. It was a great tour with lots of walking and some food. We wanted to try one specific food and he didn’t let us leave without trying it. Super nice and thoughtful.”
Meet your private English-speaking guide at Piazza Dante for about three hours of Neapolitan food and city sights. Depending on your plan, expect six or ten tastings, from pizza a portafoglio and fried seafood to mozzarella, ragù, babà, and limoncello, with vegetarian alternatives available.
“My husband & I visited Napoli with our friends. Our tour guide, Pina, was absolutely wonderful!! She left it up to us as to what we wanted to try & offered several suggestions along the way. She also threw in historical facts about Napoli as we walked through the city. My favorite was the fresh fish from the market. If you’re thinking about a food tour, book this one!!”
Spend 3.5 hours exploring Soho with an English-speaking guide such as Tom, Jordana, Dave, or Lizzie. Taste Indian, Burmese, Sicilian, and Cantonese dishes, enjoy selected drinks, hear music and literary stories, and finish with dessert and cocktails at Basement Sate.
“It was a brilliant way to get to know SoHo and its history and diverse cuisines. Great tour, food and a fun group of people. Highly recommend.”
Spend about two hours walking Granville Island Public Market with a small group of up to 12. Guides such as Lydia, Maggie, Michael, Nolan, and Anjela lead tastings of cheese, salami, doughnuts, tea, Thai food, pickles, coffee, and more. Vegetarian and pescatarian options are available with advance notice.
“Mark was fantastic and a great local. He selected some great stalls with original and award winning foods for us all to taste. His commentary was lively and full of excellent details about the food products, their manufacture / production. Many of the stalls/ chefs had trained overseas and been rated 5 *. Was great value for money tour with excellent selection of store to showcase Vancouver food selections. Must do again when back in Vancouver.”
Walk Amsterdam with a guide such as Rudolph, Jan, Catharina, or David, stopping at brown cafés, markets, delis, fish shops, and historic eateries. You’ll taste Dutch cheese, apple pie, herring, Indonesian satay, bitterballen, and more in a group of no more than eight.
“We are a group of four joining another two couples from the states. The eight of us are visiting Amsterdam. I communicated with Thijs, the founder of the operator, as I intended to give a fair review base on facts. Firstly, it would be unfair to give a one star review given all the good efforts and care our guide Mark, the operating company and the owners of places we visited had put in, therefore two stars. We have enjoyed our time with Mark our guide, the places we visited as well as friendly gestures of other guests. The culprit who left us a really bad taste with this tour…”
Cruise the Bávaro coast with guides such as Don Julio and Don Pablo, snorkel at a coral nursery and natural pools, sip a Cocoloco on a secluded beach, and eat fresh grilled food from a floating kitchen. The adults-only boat limits bookings to 35% of capacity.
“Our experience on this excursion was fantastic..we had a full 45 min of great snorkeling...the crew was very friendly and attentive....open bar was plentiful, fruit sticks and cheese croissants were served after snorkeling, then they took us to a Read more”
Walk Al Fahidi and Al Seef with a live guide, taste karak tea, samosas, falafel, shawarma, luqaimat, and camel milk ice cream, then cross Dubai Creek by abra to the Spice and Gold Souks. Guides including Maaz Khan, Fesal, Ibrahim, and Khan are praised for clear stories and helpful souk advice.
“A MUST DO IF YOU ARE IN DUBAI! This tour was truly outstanding and exceeded all my expectations. I loved how well it combined cultural and historical background with incredible food experiences. Being able to try so many different cuisines made the whole experience even more special and memorable. Our guide, Marahad (sorry if I misspelled the name!), was absolutely fantastic – friendly, knowledgeable, and great at engaging with the group. You could really feel their passion for what they do. The only small downside was that the timing could have been a bit better organized, as there was some waiting around. However, this was mainly due to some participants…”
Spend about 10 hours island hopping from Phuket to Maya Bay, Pileh Bay, Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Don, Loh Samah Bay, and Koh Khai Nai. Guides such as Tik, Nun, Bao, and Lily lead the day, with snorkeling gear, halal lunch, drinks, hotel pickup, and three marina options included.
“This was arguably the best thing we did in Thailand. The crew was so attentive and kind!!!! They always made sure we had water and got all the photos we wanted. Truly exceptional experience and my friend and I are so grateful to have participated. We chose to snorkel and stay on the speed boat and were not disappointed at all. Lots of fish at the reef and we loved swimming in the turquoise waters around the islands.”
Join a guide and up to seven others for four hours of Greek food and drink in central Athens. Taste souvlaki, four wines, cheeses, olive oil, mastiha, dinner, and gelato while walking through Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Plaka.
“Eugenia is the perfect foodie guide and hostess, everything was well planned. She has a vast amount of knowledge of Athens and Greece. We would highly recommend this tour...thank you for an incredible evening!!!”
Charter a private 40-foot Bali catamaran from Puerto Aventuras for about four hours of reef snorkeling, chef-prepared food, premium drinks, and time with your own group of up to 10. Bring your music for a relaxed, personal cruise, but budget separately for transportation, dock fees, and service charges.
“Wonderful crew. Beautiful surroundings. Played our own music, had good food and drinks. Lovely way to end our Mexico trip. Highly recommend.”
Join a local English-speaking guide such as Oscar, Roberto, Aitor, or Milan for three hours in Bilbao’s Casco Viejo. You’ll visit classic bars and local favorites, taste six pintxos with four drinks, and learn how food, football, history, and Basque customs shape the city.
“This tour was well organised, informative. The tour guide ( Rzoberto )was friendly and informative and Made the tour feel special and intimate. Thank you Matthew Kuna - Melbourne Australia”
Join a local guide such as Usoa, Marina, or Irene for a three-hour evening walk through Bilbao’s Old Town and bar scene. Expect a full meal of pintxos and small plates, paired with Txakoli, cider, Rioja, vermut, and non-alcoholic options.
“Great for foodies to learn about the city, culture, and history. It provided an opportunity to meet other travelers and share experiences over food and spirits.”
Pick a door, a deck or a driver.
