The World's Best Food Tours: From Reykjavík to Cape Town

Tripadvisor has named the world’s best food tours based on traveler reviews and ratings collected over the past 12 months. A culinary walking tour of Reykjavík took first place among food tours, while a tour of South Africa’s wine regions topped the list of wine and beer tours. The list also includes Lisbon, Rome, Osaka, Paris, Florence, Porto, Prague, and other popular culinary destinations. Here’s where to go for the best food, wine, and local flavors in 2026.

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The World’s Best Culinary Tours in 2026

The TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards “Best of the Best” 2026 ranking is based on traveler reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period. The “Best of the Best” award is given to less than 1% of the approximately 8 million listings on TripAdvisor, so only tours with consistently high ratings and a large number of positive reviews make the list.

The top 10 food tours in the world for 2026 include:

1. Reykjavik Food Walk – Reykjavik, Iceland. This three-hour food walk, which takes participants to about six local establishments, topped the list. During the tour, travelers sample Icelandic hot dogs, lamb, fresh fish, local cheeses, and desserts. It’s a convenient way to experience the country’s cuisine without having to search for restaurants on your own or figure out unfamiliar dishes.

2. Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour – Lisbon, Portugal. The tour introduces participants not only to popular Portuguese dishes but also to the cuisine of neighborhoods that tourists often overlook. The program includes tastings of local appetizers, traditional foods, and Portuguese wine. The tour is especially suitable for those who want to experience Lisbon not only through its main attractions but also through the everyday culture of the locals.

3. Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with 10 Tastings – Amsterdam, Netherlands. This tour combines gastronomy with the city’s history and includes ten different tastings. Participants sample traditional Dutch foods and modern urban dishes while exploring Amsterdam’s neighborhoods. The format allows you to see how the country’s classic cuisine has evolved under the influence of international cultures.

4. Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour – Split, Croatia. One of the most unusual itineraries on the list combines gastronomy with natural attractions. The tour includes a trip to the Krka Waterfalls, and after the sightseeing portion, travelers can sample Croatian wines and local products. This is no longer just a food tour of the city, but in fact a full-fledged day trip.

5. Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour – Rome, Italy. This evening tour winds through Trastevere—one of Rome’s most famous culinary districts. The itinerary features traditional Roman dishes, local appetizers, and visits to small family-run establishments. The evening setting gives the tour a special atmosphere, as the neighborhood becomes one of the liveliest in the city after sunset.

6. Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour – Osaka, Japan. This tour in Osaka stands out for the scale of its tastings: the itinerary includes about 15 dishes and three drinks. The main focus is on street food and spots popular among locals. Osaka has long been considered one of Japan’s major culinary hubs, so this itinerary allows you to sample many of the city’s signature flavors in just a few hours.

7. Montserrat, Tapas & Wine Tour – Barcelona, Spain. This tour goes far beyond a typical stroll through Barcelona’s restaurants. Participants visit Montserrat, and the culinary portion includes Spanish tapas and a tasting of local wine. It’s a great option for those who want to combine a cultural trip, nature, and gastronomy all in one day.

8. Greek Food Walking Tour – Athens, Greece. This walk through Athens introduces participants to the ingredients that form the basis of everyday Greek cuisine. Tourists visit local markets, small shops, and eateries where they can sample traditional appetizers, pastries, and other signature dishes. This itinerary offers a chance to experience the city’s culinary scene beyond the tourist restaurants near major landmarks.

9. Devour Paris Ultimate Food Tour – Paris, France. This Paris tour focuses on classic French foods: pastries, cheeses, gourmet delicacies, and dishes from small local eateries. Participants don’t just taste the food; they also learn about the traditions of French gastronomy and the stories behind specific places. The format is particularly interesting for those who want to experience Paris through its culinary culture, rather than just through its famous restaurants.

10. Lima Ultimate Peruvian Food Tour – Lima, Peru. Lima is the only South American city to make it into the top ten. The tour is dedicated to Peruvian cuisine and its blend of local ingredients, traditions, and modern gastronomy. For tourists, this is an opportunity to experience the country’s cuisine—which has long been one of the main reasons to plan a trip to Peru—all in a single excursion.

Travelers are choosing not just food tastings, but a full-fledged experience. The most successful itineraries combine gastronomy with a city’s history, local neighborhoods, nature, winemaking, or street food culture. That’s why such diverse formats appear side by side at the top of the list: from an evening in Trastevere and the markets of Athens to the Krka Waterfalls and Osaka’s street food.

Learn more about the world’s best restaurants in 2026 according to TripAdvisor by following the link.

The World’s Best Wine and Beer Tours in 2026

Separately, TripAdvisor has identified the world’s best wine and beer tours in 2026. This ranking is dominated by tours through the wine regions of Europe, South Africa, and South America, but the top ten also includes atmospheric pub tours in Prague and London.

1. Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch Wine Tour – Cape Town, South Africa. First place went to a tour covering three well-known wine-growing regions of South Africa. The tour includes visits to three wineries, tastings of local wines, and an introduction to the wine culture of the Cape Winelands region. This itinerary is ideal for those who want to combine culinary experiences with the picturesque vineyards near Cape Town.

2. Tuscany Wine Tasting Tour – Florence, Italy. The Tuscany tour ranked second in the global ranking. The program includes visits to several wineries, as well as tastings of wine, olive oil, cheeses, and meat delicacies. The itinerary also features a traditional Tuscan lunch or dinner, making it a truly comprehensive introduction to the region’s gastronomy.

3. Douro Valley Small Group Tour – Porto, Portugal. The tour takes you to the Douro Valley, one of Portugal’s most famous wine-producing regions. Participants visit two wineries, taste local wines, enjoy lunch, and go on a river cruise. As a result, this tour combines gastronomy, nature, and one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.

4. Maipo Valley Wine Tour – Santiago, Chile. This tour takes you through the Maipo Valley, considered one of Chile’s key wine-producing regions. The itinerary includes visits to four vineyards, allowing travelers to compare different approaches to winemaking within a single region. The tour is especially interesting for those who want to discover South America’s wine culture beyond the most popular European destinations.

5. Prague Historic Pub Tour – Prague, Czech Republic. One of the two beer tours in the top 10 shifts the focus from vineyards to historic pubs. During the walk, tourists visit several establishments while learning about Prague’s beer traditions. This is a more urban and informal format that pairs well with an evening tour of the Czech capital’s city center.

6. Tour and Wine Tasting in Mykonian Land – Mykonos, Greece. A wine tasting tour in Mykonos offers a glimpse of a different side of the island, which is usually associated with beaches and nightlife. The tour introduces visitors to local winemaking traditions and the island’s local produce. It’s a great option for travelers looking to add an authentic culinary experience to their beach vacation.

7. Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti Wines Day Tour – Florence, Italy. Another Tuscan tour on this list combines several popular destinations at once. Participants visit Siena, San Gimignano, and the Chianti wine region, tasting local wines along the way. This format is more like an action-packed one-day trip through Tuscany than a classic wine tour.

8. Toledo Tour & Vineyard Experience – Madrid, Spain. The tour combines a trip to historic Toledo with a visit to a vineyard and a Spanish wine tasting. This allows travelers to enjoy both a cultural excursion and a culinary experience in a single day. The itinerary may be particularly convenient for those based in Madrid who don’t want to plan a separate trip through the wine regions.

9. Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour – Santorini, Greece. One of the most atmospheric itineraries on this list centers around local wine, dinner, and the sunset. Winemaking on Santorini has its own unique characteristics due to the island’s volcanic soil, so the tasting experience here differs from classic wine tours on the European mainland. The format focuses not only on gastronomy but also on the atmosphere of the journey itself.

10. Royal Historic Pubs Walking Tour – London, United Kingdom. Rounding out the top ten is a walk through London’s historic pubs. The route introduces visitors to British pub culture and establishments tied to the city’s history. This is yet another example of how a gastronomic tour can be centered not on wineries or restaurants, but on traditional hubs of social life.

The list clearly illustrates just how diverse modern wine and gastronomic tourism has become. Some travelers head to the classic vineyards of Tuscany, the Douro, or Stellenbosch, while others opt for sunset tastings in Santorini or the historic pubs of Prague and London. Europe occupies eight out of ten spots in the ranking, while South Africa and Chile represent two strong wine destinations outside the continent.

Earlier, we wrote about Skyscanner’s top 10 cities in the world for walking.

Why does Europe dominate TripAdvisor’s gastronomic rankings?

Europe has effectively claimed the lion’s share of TripAdvisor’s gastronomic rankings: eight out of ten spots in both food tours and wine and beer tours. And this is hardly a coincidence. Here, gastronomy is very often not a separate activity, but part of the journey itself—just as important as architecture, museums, or nature.

In many European destinations, tourists don’t have to choose between a sightseeing tour and a tasting. In Tuscany, winery visits easily combine with a trip through the hills and medieval towns. In Porto, wine tasting becomes part of a journey through the Douro Valley, and in Barcelona, tapas and local wine complement a trip to Montserrat. In Croatia, a gastronomic tour can even be combined with a trip to the Krka Waterfalls.

Another important detail of the ranking is that travelers are increasingly looking not for “the most expensive restaurant,” but for a local experience that’s hard to replicate on their own. That’s why, alongside French cheeses and Tuscan wines, the list now includes Osaka’s street food, the markets of Athens, the pubs of Prague and London, and the small eateries of Reykjavík. People aren’t just interested in tasting a dish—they want to understand why it’s eaten here, who prepares it, and what role it plays in the city’s life.

That’s exactly why culinary tours are increasingly resembling short cultural expeditions. In just a few hours, they let you explore a neighborhood, chat with locals, sample a few signature dishes, and gain the context that’s often missing from a typical restaurant dinner.

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We remind you! Popular European tourist destinations are becoming increasingly crowded, so travelers are looking for alternatives without the crowds. In 2026, attention is turning to countries that remain off the beaten path but offer unique experiences, affordable prices, and an authentic atmosphere. Read more about 5 European countries that are rarely visited by tourists.

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